Where should I position a drawer knob?

A drawer knob should be centred horizontally on the drawer front. Vertically, place it at the geometric centre or slightly above centre for visual balance. For tall drawers, placing the knob in the upper third feels more natural.

What is the standard hole spacing for bar pulls?

Common hole spacings (centre-to-centre) for bar pulls are 96mm, 128mm, 160mm, and 192mm. The most common is 128mm. Always measure your specific pull to confirm the hole spacing before drilling.

Should pulls be at the exact centre of a drawer?

This calculator defaults to the exact geometric centre, which is a safe and widely used placement. Some designers prefer to nudge the pull slightly above centre (typically 5-10mm) for visual balance, because the eye perceives exact centre as slightly low. To do this, enter a positive value in the optional "Visual center offset" field under Advanced options — it is left at 0 (true centre) by default.

How do I make a drilling template?

Create a template from thin plywood or MDF with holes drilled at the correct positions. Add reference edges that align with the drawer front edges. This ensures consistent placement across multiple drawers.

WoodCalcs

Drawer Pull Positioning Calculator — Centre Pulls & Knobs

Calculate exact hole positions for centring drawer pulls, knobs, and cup handles on drawer fronts.

Drawer Width

Width of drawer front

Drawer Height

Height of drawer front

Pull TypeKnob/cup = one centred hole; bar pull = two holes at the centre-to-centre spacing

Number of Drawers

How We Calculate This

This calculator determines exact hole positions for centring drawer hardware on drawer fronts. By default it places the pull at the exact geometric centre; the optional offsets below shift it upward when you want the visual-centre look.

Centre point

Horizontal centre = Drawer width / 2

Vertical centre = Drawer height / 2 - Visual offset - Top-heavy bias

Both the visual offset and top-heavy bias default to 0, so the out-of-the-box result is the true geometric centre. A positive value in either field moves the pull upward (towards the top edge).

Bar pull holes

Left hole = Centre X - (Pull width / 2)

Right hole = Centre X + (Pull width / 2)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify measurements and material quantities before cutting or purchasing.