Drawer pulls do a lot of work in a kitchen, bathroom or wardrobe. They are the hardware you reach for most often, and they also set the visual rhythm of a run of cabinetry. Choosing the right size and placing it well makes a surprising difference to how finished a room feels.
This guide covers how to size brass drawer pulls, what hole centres mean, how to handle stacked drawers and pot drawers, and what to check when you are replacing existing hardware. If you would like to see the options while you read, our full range of brass cabinet handles includes pulls for drawers of every width.
Overall length vs hole centres
Two measurements matter when you choose a drawer handle.
- Overall length is the full length of the handle from end to end. This is what you see, and it drives how the handle looks on the drawer front.
- Hole centres (also called centre to centre, or CTC) is the distance between the middle of one screw hole and the middle of the other. This is what you drill, and it decides whether a new handle will fit existing holes.
The gap between the two varies by design. A handle with a slim bar and short ends might be only 13mm longer than its hole centres, while one with longer projecting ends might be 50mm longer or more. That is why it pays to check both numbers on every design. Our handle sizing guide explains this in more detail.
The one-third rule of thumb
The simplest starting point for brass drawer handles is to choose a pull whose overall length is roughly one third of the drawer width.
- A 450mm drawer suits a handle of around 150mm overall.
- A 600mm drawer suits a handle of around 200mm overall.
- A 900mm drawer suits a handle of around 300mm overall.
This is a guide rather than a rule. A minimal kitchen might use slightly longer pulls for a sleek, linear look. A traditional or heritage kitchen might use shorter pulls, or cup pulls and knobs, for a more classic feel. What matters most is consistency across the room.
Common hole centres and the drawers they suit
Below are the most common hole centre sizes in cabinet hardware, with the drawer widths they typically suit. Overall length will depend on the design you choose.
| Hole centres | Typical drawer width | Common uses |
|---|---|---|
| 96mm | 250mm to 350mm | Narrow drawers, vanity drawers, small bedside tables |
| 128mm | 350mm to 450mm | Standard narrow kitchen drawers, bathroom vanities |
| 160mm | 450mm to 600mm | Standard kitchen drawers, dressers |
| 192mm | 600mm to 750mm | Wider kitchen drawers, wardrobe drawers |
| 256mm | 750mm to 900mm | Wide drawers, larger pot drawers |
| 320mm | 900mm and wider | Wide pot drawers, pantry and tall doors |
To give a few real examples from our range: the solid brass Shift handle comes in 146mm (96mm hole centres), 184mm (128mm hole centres) and 376mm (320mm hole centres). The solid brass Vera handle in 200mm has 160mm hole centres, and the solid brass Halo handle in 232mm has 192mm hole centres. The brass Monaco handle comes in 205mm (192mm hole centres) and 333mm (320mm hole centres). Each product page lists the hole centres for every size, so check there before you drill.
Placement on the drawer front
Once you know the size, the next question is where it goes.
Horizontal centring
Most drawer pulls are centred horizontally on the drawer front. Measure the width, halve it, and mark the centre line. Then measure half the hole centre distance either side to mark your two holes.
Vertical position
For most drawers, the pull sits on the vertical centre of the drawer front. On deeper drawers, some people prefer to place it a little higher, closer to the top edge, so it is easier to reach without bending. Whichever you choose, keep it the same across the run so the handles line up.
For a full walk-through, including doors and overhead cabinets, see our cabinet hardware placement and sizing guide.
Stacked drawers vs pot drawers
Stacked drawers
A bank of three or four drawers of different heights is common in Australian kitchens. The neatest approach is usually to use the same pull on every drawer and align them on a shared vertical line. If the top drawer is shallow, centre the pull on that drawer front. For the deeper drawers below, you can either centre each pull on its own drawer, or set them all the same distance from the top edge. Both look tidy, as long as you stay consistent.
Pot drawers
Pot drawers are wide and heavy when full, so they benefit from a longer, sturdier pull. A handle with 256mm or 320mm hole centres gives you a comfortable grip and spreads the load across the drawer front. On very wide drawers, around 1,000mm or more, two smaller pulls placed about a quarter of the width in from each side can look balanced and make opening easier.
Mixing pulls and knobs
Some kitchens pair drawer pulls with knobs on doors or small drawers. If you go this way, keep the finish the same. Our brass cabinet knobs come in the same tones as our pulls.
Measuring when you replace drawer pulls
If you are updating existing hardware and would rather not drill new holes, the key number is the hole centres of your current handles.
- Remove one handle and measure from the centre of one screw hole to the centre of the other, in millimetres.
- Check a few drawers, as older kitchens sometimes have more than one size.
- Look for a new handle with the same hole centres. The overall length can differ, as long as the screw holes line up.
Our guide on how to measure replacement hardware covers this step by step, including what to do if your old holes don't match a standard size.
A note for trade customers
If you are a builder, joiner or designer working on a larger project, our trade page has details on working with us.
Frequently asked questions
What size brass drawer pulls should I use?
A good starting point is a pull roughly one third of the drawer width. For a 600mm drawer, that means a handle of around 200mm overall. Adjust slightly longer or shorter to suit your style.
What does hole centre mean?
Hole centres is the distance between the middle of one screw hole and the middle of the other. It is the measurement you need to match when replacing handles without drilling new holes.
Should all drawer pulls in a kitchen be the same size?
Not necessarily. Many kitchens use one size on standard drawers and a longer size on pot drawers. Keeping the same design and finish throughout keeps the look cohesive.
Where should a pull go on a deep drawer?
Either centred on the drawer front or set a consistent distance from the top edge. Placing it a little higher can make deep drawers easier to open.
Can I use two pulls on one drawer?
Yes. On drawers around 1,000mm wide or more, two pulls placed about a quarter of the width in from each side look balanced and make the drawer easier to open evenly.
