Where to put cabinet knobs and pulls: a placement guide

Hardware in the wrong spot makes a new kitchen look off, even if nobody can say why. These are the placements our installers use, and they work for almost every shaker or slab door.

Base cabinet doors

Put knobs or vertical pulls on the top corner opposite the hinge, about 2" to 3" down from the top and centered on the stile (the frame edge) of a shaker door.

Wall cabinet doors

Mirror the base doors: the bottom corner opposite the hinge, about 2" to 3" up from the bottom, so they are easy to reach.

Drawers

Center pulls horizontally on the drawer front. On shaker fronts, center on the top rail or on the whole front (both are common; pick one and use it everywhere). Drawers 30" and wider look best with two pulls, each about a third of the way in, or one long pull. The cabinet hardware size calculator picks the length.

Tall pantry and appliance panels

Tall doors take long pulls (12" or more) mounted vertically near the handle side at a comfortable height, roughly aligned with the base cabinet hardware. Fridge and dishwasher panels use appliance pulls built for the load.

Install tip

Use a hardware jig or template so every hole lines up, and drill from the front with tape over the spot to prevent chipping. Order a couple of spares; finishes vary between batches. See cabinet hardware and the hardware buying guide.

Common questions

Where do knobs go on lower cabinet doors?

On the top corner opposite the hinge, about 2" to 3" down from the top of the door.

Should drawer pulls be centered?

Yes, horizontally. Vertically, center on the top rail of a shaker drawer or on the whole front, and stay consistent.

Do wide drawers need two pulls?

Drawers 30" and wider look and work better with two pulls or one long pull.