If you're building or repairing a cabinet, you know that drawer slides are a key consideration in your home improvement project. Basically, drawer slides are sets of metal rails that allow drawers to move in and out of the cabinet.

Ball-bearing drawer slides are the most common types of drawer slides. These are made with steel ball bearings that roll in a thin track, enabling the drawer to open and close smoothly. Read this guide to learn more about these drawer slide types so you can select the right ones for a successful cabinet installation or repair.

Choosing the Right Drawer Slide Types

When browsing for the right type of drawer slides, there are a few things to keep in mind. Look at factors like mount type, extension options, and features to help you find the right drawer slide types for your home.

Mount Type

There are three basic mounting options for metal drawer slides: side mount, bottom mount (aka undermount), or center mount. Consider the amount of space between your drawer box and the cabinet opening before choosing a mount type.

Side Mount: Side-mount slides attach horizontally to the sides of the drawer box and to the cabinet body. These drawer slides require about 1/2 inch of clearance between the slides and the sides of the cabinet opening, limiting the horizontal width of the drawer.

Bottom Mount: Bottom-mount slides are attached to the bottom left- and right-hand sides of the drawer box, and are completely concealed beneath the drawer. Compared to side-mount slides, bottom-mount slides offer slightly more storage area inside the drawer because they don't require as much space on the sides for clearance. However, there is a little less height inside the drawer because bottom-mount slides require added clearance beneath the drawer.

Center Mount:Center-mount slides feature a single slide running down the middle of the underside of the drawer. These older types of drawer slides are most often sold as replacement pieces for older cabinets. Center-mount drawer slides have limited weight capacity, and the required clearance depends on the thickness of the slide.

Extension Options

There are three basic extension options for your drawer slides: full extension, 3/4 extension, or over-travel.

Full Extension: Full extension slides allow you to open the drawer the full length of the slide, providing easy access to the entire drawer. Since these slides may become less sturdy with heavier weight, check the load rating to ensure you're not overloading them.

3/4 Extension: Three-quarter extension slides allow you to open the drawer partially out of the cabinet, as the drawer box only extends 75% of the length of the slide. Keep in mind, these slides can make it difficult to access items at the very back of the drawer.

Over-Travel: Over-travel slides open beyond full extension, so the drawer pulls out past the front of the cabinet. These slides are ideal if you have a large countertop or other ledge that would otherwise block the full visibility and accessibility of the contents of your drawer.

Features

Drawer slide types typically include one of three basic motion features: soft-closing, self-closing, or push-to-open.

Soft-Closing:Soft-closing drawer slides use a damping mechanism that slows the closing of the drawer in the final few inches. This helps prevent noise and drawer-content shifting, and it reduces wear and tear on the drawer slide.

Self-Closing: Self-closing ball-bearing drawer slides use a spring mechanism so the drawer can close on its own in the final few inches. This way, you don't have to worry about leaving drawers slightly open or closing them too hard and having them bounce back.

Push-to-Open:These types of drawer slides eliminate the need for drawer pulls, providing a modern look and enabling you to save space and enjoy maximum clearance in tight corners. When you push on the drawer face, a spring mechanism pops the drawer open enough so you can easily reach in and pull it open completely.

Load Rating

Standard metal drawer slides are typically rated for loads of about 75 to 150 lbs. – enough to support weight for everyday kitchen use. For tool drawers, large file drawers, and other drawers that need to support more weight, consider heavy-duty slides. With thicker metal and more ball bearings to maximize durability, heavy-duty drawer slides can support anywhere from 150 to 500 lbs.

Slide Length

To determine the length you'll need for side-mount or center-mount drawer slides, measure the distance from the front edge of your cabinet to the inside face of the cabinet back, and then subtract 1 inch. If you're purchasing bottom-mount slides, measure the drawer length and choose slides that are the same length.

Now that you've reviewed the different types of drawer slides, you can confidently purchase the right ones for your home improvement project.

Written by Robyn Tellefsen.