Handle size is the one kitchen decision that is awkward to undo. This guide covers how cabinet handle size is measured, the standard cabinet handle sizes in mm stocked in India, and which size suits drawers, shutters and tall units. All of them are stocked across our 107 cabinet handles.
Why cabinet handle size matters
Fit: a handle is fixed through holes drilled in the front, so its hole spacing must match those holes exactly. Proportion: a handle in scale with the front looks deliberate; an undersized one reads as an afterthought.
How to measure cabinet handle size: centre-to-centre
Handle size is quoted centre-to-centre, written CC: the distance between the centres of the two screw holes, not the full length of the handle, which is usually a little longer. When replacing a handle, CC is the only number that has to match.
- 1. Remove the old handle so both holes are visible.
- 2. Measure centre of hole to centre of hole with a steel rule, in millimetres.
- 3. With only the loose handle, measure between the centres of the two threaded posts on the back.
- 4. Round to the nearest standard size: 127 or 129 mm means a 128 mm handle.
- 5. Note the figure so every front in that run gets the same size.
Standard cabinet handle sizes in India
The CC sizes stocked for cabinets and wardrobes in India are 96, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, 288 and 320 mm. Each is a multiple of 32 mm, the spacing used in system-drilled cabinetry. Above 320 mm you are into long handles, which run up to 960 and 1,000 mm.
| CC size | Suits (rule of thumb) | Example made in this size |
|---|---|---|
| 96 mm | Spice pull-outs, narrow drawers, vanities | Graphite Slim Cabinet Handle (96, 160, 224, 288 mm) |
| 128 mm | Standard drawers and shutters up to about 450 mm | Siena Slim Oval Handle, ceramic (128, 160, 192 mm) |
| 160 mm | The all-round size: 400–500 mm drawers, most shutters | Solero Classic Long Handle (160, 224, 320, 416 mm) |
| 192 mm | Drawers around 600 mm | Persona T-Bar Cabinet Handle (192, 320, 448 mm) |
| 224 mm | Wide drawers and pull-outs, 600–900 mm | Forma Classic Bar Handle (96, 160, 224, 288 mm) |
| 256 mm | Wide pot drawers, under-sink doors | Stretto Compact Bar Handle (42, 96, 256, 450 mm) |
| 288 mm | Tall units, wardrobe shutters | Satin Slim Wardrobe Handle (64, 128, 288, 896 mm) |
| 320 mm | Tall units, wardrobe shutters, widest pull-outs | Meridian Slim Long Handle (160, 224, 320, 448 mm) |
As a rule of thumb, a handle looks balanced at roughly one-third to one-half of the front's width: a 450 mm drawer takes 160 mm, a 600 mm drawer carries 192 or 224 mm, a 900 mm pot drawer wants 288 or 320 mm. Between sizes, go up rather than down.
96 mm vs 128 mm handle
Both fit a standard drawer and differ by only 32 mm. Under about 300 mm of front, 96 mm sits comfortably and 128 mm crowds the edges; on a 400–450 mm drawer, 128 mm looks right and 96 mm looks small. If the holes are already drilled, the decision is made; if not, 128 mm is the safer choice above spice-pull-out width.
Drawers, shutters and tall units
Handle size for kitchen drawers is the most visible, because the handle sits horizontally, centred on the width. 128 and 160 mm cover most base-unit drawers, 192 and 224 mm suit fronts of 600 mm and wider, and the deepest pot drawers take 256 mm and above. One size on every drawer in a run keeps the lines straight.
On a hinged shutter the handle is mounted vertically near the opening edge, so size matters less; 128 or 160 mm is usual. The same size as your drawers, or one smaller, keeps the kitchen consistent.
Pantry towers, appliance housings and wardrobe shutters take 288 and 320 mm, or long handles from 448 mm up to 960 and 1,000 mm, mounted vertically. Our wardrobe handles (102 designs) and the wardrobe handle size guide cover the heights.
Replacing old handles without re-drilling
Match the CC and you can change design, finish and overall length without touching the front: a 160 mm handle from any series fits the holes left by any other 160 mm handle, and screws are included with every piece. If the old holes read an off-standard figure, the previous handle may have been sized in inches, as most of the wooden designs are; one inch is 25.4 mm. A bigger size than the holes allow means drilling new holes and filling the old ones. Otherwise a knob, which uses a single hole, can usually reuse one of the existing two.
When a knob is the better choice
A knob uses one hole, so there is no CC to match. Knobs suit fronts where a bar would crowd the edges: spice drawers, glass-fronted display units and vanities. Our knobs range has 98 designs from ₹199, and the ceramic range (93 designs) pairs knobs in 35, 45 and 60 mm with handles from 64 to 224 mm; see the ceramic knobs and handles guide. Several designs come as both handle and knob, so a kitchen can mix the two without mixing styles: the Forma Classic Bar Handle above is also made as a knob.
Buying tips
- Home Trial: order up to five designs, one piece per design, at 50% off; keep what you love and return the rest. One piece held against your own drawer settles the size question.
- Pack pricing applies automatically at checkout across designs and sizes: 5% off at 6 or more pieces, 10% at 12 or more, 15% at 18 or more, plus a further 10% off orders above ₹10,000. Mixed sizes count as one pack.
- Screws are included. Orders dispatch within 24 hours, Monday to Saturday, from Mumbai and arrive in 3 to 5 days across India; shipping is free over ₹5,000, and unused pieces can be returned within 7 days.
- Keep one design and one finish, whether Matte Black, Antique Brass, PVD Gold or Rose Gold, and let the sizes vary with the fronts. Browse by finish at shop by finish.
In short
Measure centre-to-centre, round to the nearest standard size, and match it exactly when replacing. On new fronts, keep the handle at a third to a half of the width: 128 or 160 mm for everyday drawers and shutters, 192 to 320 mm on wide and tall fronts, long handles for wardrobes. One design, one finish, and a Home Trial piece first.
