How to Measure Drawer Slides?

When your drawers are stuck, binding, simply not moving, or making unpleasant noises, you may need to replace your drawer slides. Whether you are installing replacement drawers or replacing the slide hardware on your existing drawers, knowing how to measure drawer slides is essential to the use and longevity of your drawers.


What you need to measure drawer slides.

Tape measure

Possibly a screwdriver

Measuring drawer slides step by step

Remove the drawer from the cabinet

Measure the box, not the drawer front

Measure the width of the drawer and the width of the cabinet opening

Check the inside of the cabinet and the outside of the drawer

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1. Remove the drawer from the cabinet

This is the time when you don't want to estimate - accuracy is key. Removing the drawer may require some handling. Most drawers require you to fully unfold the drawer, then lift it up and it comes out immediately. If this does not work, guide the drawer so that it is mostly extended, then lift the back of the drawer to eject the wheels from the rails. If none of these options work, you may need to use a screwdriver to remove the wheels from the rails.


2. Measure the box, not the drawer front

Since the front of the drawer serves to prevent the drawer from entering the cabinet, it should not be measured. Start at the back of the box and measure to the front of the box, excluding the front of the drawer. After determining the length, round the number down. For example, if the length of the drawer is 20 ½ inches, you will need to purchase 20 inch drawer slides.


3. Measure the width of the drawer and the width of the cabinet opening

If the difference between the width of the drawer and the width of the opening is within 1/8 inch, you can use full pull-out guides. If they are less than or greater than 1/8 inch, you will need to use bottom mount rails or do some carpentry work to make the drawers work with the new slides.

Drawer Slide

4. Check the inside of the cabinet and the outside of the drawers

Premature wear on drawer slides may be caused by improper installation or design. Smaller slides may have been used to avoid rubbing the inside of the cabinet. If this is the case, you will also need to use smaller slides to avoid the same problem.


5. After measuring, if you are still unsure of the slide size to purchase, keep the drawer handy

You may be confused, but you can be sure that the person selling your slides will know how to measure your drawers and can provide you with slides that fit perfectly.



Bonus tip: Always replace drawer slides as a group. Replacing only one side of a drawer slide may cause the drawer to become unstable. This may damage the drawer or the drawer may fall out of its housing and cause injury.

The source is from here.