Cabinet Hardware Calculator: Knob and Pull Placement

Drill marks, pull size and spacing for every door and drawer

Project Details
Enter your measurements and requirements
Results
Calculated estimates for your project
Pulls on this front1
Hole 15-7/8" from left, 3" from top
Hole 212-1/8" from left, 3" from top
Pull center-to-center6-5/16" (recommended)
Size checkWithin the usual 1/4 to 1/2 of the width
Drill bit5/32 in for 8-32 screws

Turn these numbers into a build plan.

  • 18" x 6" front size
  • 9.00" x 3.00" center
  • 6.30" hole spacing
5-7/8" from left, 3" from top
Printable 1:1 drill template

Print at 100% (no fit to page), check the 1 in scale bar with a ruler, then tape it to the front with the center line on your mark.

1 in

Doing the whole kitchen? Build your hardware schedule

List each group of doors and drawers once. We size the pulls, say where they go, and total what to buy.

Doors get:
TypeWidth (in)How manyHardware and placement

Knob

2.5" in from the opening edge, 2.5" down from the top

Knob

2.5" in from the opening edge, 2.5" up from the bottom

6.3" pull

Centered across 18" and on the drawer front height

Shopping list (18 pieces)

  • 14 x Knob
  • 4 x 6.3" pull
  • 22 screws (most hardware includes them; buy 2 spare pieces for mistakes)

Keep the whole schedule, check pieces off as you install.

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Project plan · built from your numbers

Install 6.3" CC pulls on 18" fronts

Drill and mount 6.3" pulls centered at 9.00" across and 3.00" down on 18" x 6" fronts, with one jig setting so every pull lines up. Planned for 10 fronts; change the count to match your kitchen.

Materials
$72
Time
1 afternoon
Level
Beginner
7 steps 8 tools 4 materials
  1. 1

    Count fronts and confirm pull spacing

    Count every drawer and door that needs hardware. Measure the pull's screw holes center to center; this plan uses 6.30". Pulls are sold by center-to-center, so check before buying.

    • Count drawers and doors
    • Measure an actual pull
    • Buy 1 or 2 spares
  2. 2

    Mark a test front

    On one 18" x 6" front, put tape where the pull goes, mark center at 9.00" from the side and 3.00" from the top, then mark holes 3.15" each side of center.

    • Tape over the drilling area
    • Mark center lines
    • Hold the pull up and look before drilling
  3. 3

    Set the jig

    Set the jig to the marks so it references the same edge on every front. Keep pulls at least 2.00" from any edge.

    • Lock the jig fences
    • Note which edge it references
    • Mark the jig setting on tape
01 · Your numbers
Front size
18" x 6"
Center
9.00" x 3.00"
Hole spacing
6.30"
Est. cost
$72
02 · The plan

7 steps · 8 tools · 4 materials

4 more steps, the full tool list and a shopping list you can check off as you go.

03 · Finished

Your plan is 60% built. Save it.

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Install 6.3" CC pulls on 18" fronts

Finished in 1 afternoon · $72 DIY

Built for your front size of 18" x 6". Your first plan saves free. No card needed.

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How to measure cabinet pulls

Pulls are measured center-to-center (CC), the distance between the centers of the two screw holes. Overall length is the full bar, usually 1 to 2 in longer. To match an existing pull, measure an existing hole pair edge to edge on the same side of each hole; that is the same as center to center.

  1. Measure the center-to-center. Measure from the center of one screw hole to the center of the other, not the overall length of the pull. That number (3 in, 96 mm, 128 mm and so on) is how pulls are sold.
  2. Pick the placement. Doors: 2.5 in in from the edge opposite the hinges, near the top corner on base doors and the bottom corner on uppers. Drawers: centered, with two pulls on fronts 24 in and wider.
  3. Mark and tape. Run painter's tape where the pull goes, mark the hole positions from this calculator, or tape on the printed 1:1 template.
  4. Drill. Drill straight through with a 5/32 in bit for 8-32 screws (5 mm for M4), with a scrap block behind the front to stop blowout.
  5. Install and check. Screw the pull on, check it is level, and use the same jig setting on every matching front.

Standard drawer pull hole spacing

Drawer widthPullsSuggested center-to-center
12 in13-3/4" (96 mm)
15 in15-1/16" (128 mm)
18 in16-5/16" (160 mm)
21 in17-9/16" (192 mm)
24 in23-3/4" (96 mm)
30 in25-1/16" (128 mm)
36 in26-5/16" (160 mm)

The common sizes are 3 in (76 mm), 3-3/4 in (96 mm), 5-1/16 in (128 mm), 6-5/16 in (160 mm) and 7-9/16 in (192 mm). Pick one per kitchen and use it across drawers of similar width.

Worked examples

FrontPullsHoles (from left, from top)
30 in base drawer, 128 mm pull25", 3-1/2"; 10", 3-1/2"; 20", 3-1/2"; 25", 3-1/2"
15 in upper door, knob, hinged left112-1/2", 27-1/2"
36 in wide drawer, auto-sized pulls25-7/8", 5"; 12-1/8", 5"; 23-7/8", 5"; 30-1/8", 5"

Building new doors too? Size them first with the cabinet door calculator, then hang the boxes with the cabinet installation cheat sheet. Finishing the room? The trim calculator covers crown and toe kick.

Cabinet hardware FAQ

What is center-to-center on a cabinet pull?

The distance between the centers of the two screw holes. It is printed on the package and is how pulls are sized: a pull sold as 3-3/4 in (96 mm) has screw holes 3-3/4 in apart, even if the bar itself is 5 in long.

What is the standard drawer pull hole spacing?

3 in (76 mm) is the traditional US standard. 3-3/4 in (96 mm) and 5-1/16 in (128 mm) are the most common modern sizes, then 160 mm, 192 mm and up for wide drawers.

What is the 1/3 rule for cabinet pulls?

Choose a pull about a third of the drawer width. An 18 in drawer gets a pull around 6 in (160 mm CC); a 30 in drawer around 10 in. It is a guideline, not a rule; anything from a quarter to a half of the width looks intentional.

How many pulls go on a 30 inch drawer?

Either one long pull of about 10 in CC centered on the drawer, or two smaller pulls each centered on a quarter of the width (7-1/2 in from each end). This calculator suggests two from 24 in up.

Should I use knobs or pulls on upper cabinets?

Either works. Knobs are traditional on upper doors and pulls on drawers; a 3 to 4 in pull mounted vertically on uppers reads more modern. Keep one style per run.

Does hardware go on the hinge side?

No. Hardware goes on the side that opens, opposite the hinges, usually 2.5 in in from that edge, and 2.5 in down from the top on base doors or up from the bottom on uppers.

What drill bit size for cabinet hardware?

5/32 in for the 8-32 screws most US hardware uses, or 5 mm for M4 metric screws. Drill from the face with a backer block to avoid tear-out.

How do I fill old cabinet hardware holes?

Glue in a matching wood dowel or plug, trim flush and sand, or use a two-part wood filler for painted doors. Prime and paint over it, or cover with a backplate.

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Plan the whole project

Doing the whole kitchen? Save your hardware schedule

Add each front to the schedule above and save it: the shopping list by pull size, a drill template per group, and a mark, drill, install checklist on your phone at the cabinet. The calculators and cheat sheets stay free, no account required.

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