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CopperZinc · Help & Resources

Size & Measuring Guide

The right hardware should feel considered, not oversized or lost. Use this guide to choose proportions, measure existing holes and select the right size before you order.

Cabinet hardware Door hardware Measuring
01
Before you choose

Start with the proportions.

Hardware is a small detail, but its scale has a surprisingly large effect on a piece of furniture. Start with the width of the drawer or door, then work towards a handle size that feels balanced within it.

There is no single correct handle length. The most useful starting point is the relationship between the hardware and the front it sits on.

For many cabinet fronts, positioning the handle around one-third of the front width creates a restrained, architectural proportion. Moving towards two-thirds produces a stronger, more contemporary look.

Cabinet / drawer width
1/3 1/2 2/3
A useful visual starting point is approximately one-third of the cabinet front width. The final choice depends on the style, surrounding hardware and the proportions of the room.
A

Centre-to-centre (CTC)

CTC is the distance between the centres of the two fixing holes. This is the measurement you need when replacing an existing handle without drilling new holes.

CTC
B

Overall length

Overall length is the complete outside-to-outside dimension of the handle. It is useful for judging how the hardware will look on the drawer or door, but it is not the fixing measurement.

Overall

Common measurements

Metric Approx. imperial Typical reference
64 mm 2.52″ Small drawers & compact fronts
96 mm 3.78″ Small to medium drawers
128 mm 5.04″ Medium cabinet fronts
160 mm 6.30″ Medium to large drawers
192 mm 7.56″ Large drawer fronts
224 mm 8.82″ Large cabinet fronts
256 mm 10.08″ Wide drawer fronts
320 mm 12.60″ Extra-wide fronts
02
Cabinet hardware

Choosing a handle for drawers & cabinets.

Measure the width of the drawer or cabinet front first. Then consider how much of that width you want the handle to occupy.

Shorter handles create a quieter appearance. Longer handles give a more generous grip and tend to work particularly well on wide drawers and tall cabinetry.

If you are replacing existing handles, measure the current fixing holes before choosing a new size.

Front width Useful starting point
Up to 300 mm Knob or short pull
300–500 mm 96–160 mm CTC
500–700 mm 160–224 mm CTC
700 mm+ 192–320 mm+ CTC
Proportion calculator

Find a starting size for your drawer.

mm
Recommended handle size · CTC
192 mm
Range: 200–400 mm CTC for a 1/3 to 2/3 proportion
This is a proportion guide rather than a rule. Always check the exact fixing dimensions of the product you are considering.
Don't forget

Consider projection as well as length.

Two handles can have the same CTC measurement but feel very different in use. The distance a handle projects from the cabinet affects grip, clearance and the visual weight of the hardware.

Projection
03
Alternative hardware

Knobs & T-bars.

Knobs

Knobs are ideal for smaller drawers, doors and furniture pieces where a single fixing point keeps the composition simple.

On larger fronts, using two knobs can create a more generous grip while maintaining a symmetrical appearance.

T-bars

T-bars give a more linear appearance while retaining the simplicity of a single fixing point.

Their compact footprint can work particularly well on narrower cabinet fronts and bedside furniture.

Using two knobs? Keep the fixing points comfortably inside the edges of the drawer front and position them symmetrically around the centre. Measure the complete front before drilling.
04
Door hardware

Measure the door before ordering.

Door handles require a few additional measurements because the handle has to work with the lock, latch and thickness of the door.

If you are replacing existing hardware, photograph the current setup and record every relevant measurement before removing it.

The most important dimensions are the door thickness, the fixing arrangement and the position of the existing lock or latch.

01

Door thickness

Measure the door itself rather than relying on the nominal thickness used when the door was purchased.

02

Existing fixing points

Record the distance between existing fixing points if you want to avoid drilling new holes.

03

Backset

Check the distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the spindle or lock mechanism.

!
Replacing existing door hardware?

Do not order from appearance alone. Existing lock cases, spindles and fixing arrangements can differ even when two handles look similar.

05
Cabinet construction

Hinges need a different approach.

Hinges are governed by the construction of the cabinet and door, rather than simply by the visible size of the hardware.

Before choosing replacement hinges, identify the cabinet type, door overlay and existing hinge system.

For concealed hinges, the existing cup hole and mounting arrangement are particularly important.

Placement

Keep hinge positions consistent.

For multiple-door cabinetry, consistent vertical positioning helps the entire run feel intentional. Follow the requirements of the specific hinge system rather than copying positions from a different cabinet.

  • Identify the hinge type
  • Check the existing cup or mounting holes
  • Measure door overlay
  • Confirm the opening angle and clearance
06
The final detail

Size and finish work together.

Scale determines how much visual weight the hardware carries. Finish determines how that weight reads against the surrounding materials.

A darker finish can create stronger definition, while a warmer brass finish can blend more softly into timber, stone and painted cabinetry.

When using several sizes in one room, keeping the finish consistent can help the different proportions feel like part of the same collection.

Satin Brass
Antique Brass
Matte Black
Satin Nickel
One useful rule: If several cabinet fronts are visible together, choose a consistent visual language first. You can then vary handle size according to the dimensions of each individual front.
07
Questions

Measuring questions, answered.

Need a second opinion?

Not sure which size is right?

Send us your measurements and a photo of the cabinet or door. We can help you narrow down the right proportion before you order.

Get in touch
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