Cabinet Pull Placement
Calculate exactly where to drill holes for cabinet handles and knobs.
Use the Cabinet Pull Placement
This cabinet pull placement calculator converts door and drawer dimensions into repeatable hardware locations. Use it to document centerlines and drilling offsets before making a template or drilling finished cabinetry.
Open the interactive calculator to enter your measurements and generate a project plan.
Measure each front and each pull
Measure the actual door or drawer front, not the cabinet opening. Record pull center-to-center spacing separately from overall pull length.
Group identical fronts, but verify that left- and right-hand doors are mirrored correctly. Appliance panels and unusually wide drawers may need a separate decision.
Choose a consistent reference
On framed doors, hardware is often aligned with the rail and stile geometry. On slab fronts, edge offsets or centered placement provide the repeatable reference.
Build a labeled test template and verify it against every front type. A story stick or drilling jig reduces transcription errors across a large kitchen.
Drill safely and cleanly
Confirm screw length against the combined door and pull-base thickness. Clamp a backing block where practical to reduce breakout as the bit exits.
Drill one representative front, install the pull, and inspect it from normal standing distance before drilling the remainder.
Centered hole positions
front center ± half of the pull center-to-center distance
For a centered pull, calculate from the front's centerline, not from the pull's overall length.
| Dimension | Meaning | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Center-to-center | Distance between screw holes | Drilling |
| Overall length | End-to-end pull size | Visual clearance |
| Projection | Distance pull stands out | Hand and door clearance |
| Screw length | Fastener shaft length | Secure installation |
Frequently asked questions
Should I round hardware measurements?
Enter the measurements you can verify, then keep the calculator's more precise result while laying out the project. Marking from one reference edge prevents small rounding differences from accumulating.
Should I measure in more than one place?
Yes. Walls, ceilings, and cabinets are rarely perfectly square. Measure at both ends and near the center, then plan around the tightest usable dimension.
Should wide drawers use two pulls?
That is a design and usability choice. If using two, calculate a balanced pair from the drawer centerline and test hand placement before drilling.