Cabinet Handles

Cabinet Handle Types

Cabinet handles are available in a range of forms, each suited to different cabinetry, furniture and design styles. Modern and contemporary cabinet handles tend to favour cleaner lines and restrained profiles, while more traditional designs introduce softer shapes and decorative detail.

• Bar Handles – linear designs suited to modern kitchens, drawers and fitted furniture
• Cup Handles – curved pulls commonly used on drawer fronts and traditional cabinetry
• Bow Handles – gently arched designs suited to both modern and traditional cabinetry
• D Handles – versatile forms suitable for cupboards, drawers and furniture
• Knurled Handles – textured designs with a more defined, contemporary feel

The shape of a handle affects both how cabinetry looks and how it feels to use. Straight bar and D handles provide a practical grip across cupboard doors and drawers, while cup and bow handles introduce a softer profile. Textured and knurled designs allow the hardware itself to become a more noticeable part of the scheme.

Each style is available in a range of finishes and sizes to suit different cabinet layouts and design preferences. Across a larger project, using related handle designs in different lengths can help maintain consistency while keeping the proportions suitable for different doors and drawer fronts.

For a more detailed comparison of styles, sizes and finishes, read our guide to choosing cabinet handles.

Cabinet Handles for Kitchens, Cupboards & Furniture

Cabinet door handles can also be selected based on how they are used across different areas of the home:

• Cupboard Handles – suitable for storage cupboards, furniture and fitted cabinetry
• Wardrobe Handles – designed with the proportions of taller doors and bedroom furniture in mind

Cabinet handles are used across cupboards, drawers and fitted furniture, and are often referred to as kitchen door handles within kitchen and cabinetry projects. The same handle design may work across several applications; the main differences are usually the scale of the door or drawer, the required fixing centres and the proportions you want to achieve.

On standard cabinet doors, a compact handle can provide a balanced and comfortable grip without dominating the front, while wider drawers can accommodate longer handles. Where the project is specifically focused on wardrobes, bedroom furniture or general storage cupboards, the dedicated application collections above provide more detailed guidance.

Cabinet Handle Finishes

Finish plays a defining role in the overall appearance of cabinet handles. Options such as matt black, brass cabinet handles, polished chrome, nickel and gunmetal allow hardware to be coordinated across cabinetry and interiors.

Warm finishes such as brass and bronze can add depth to painted timber and neutral cabinetry, while chrome and nickel offer a cooler appearance that works well alongside stainless-steel appliances and other contemporary fittings. Matt black and gunmetal create stronger contrast and can be used to define the lines of lighter cabinet fronts.

The finish should be considered alongside taps, lighting, hinges and other visible metalwork, but an exact match is not always necessary. What matters most is that the combination feels deliberate. Selecting a consistent finish family across cabinet handles helps create a cohesive result, whether used throughout a kitchen, wardrobe or fitted furniture project.

For a broader comparison of colours, tones and surface finishes, see our cabinet hardware finishes guide.

Choosing the Right Cabinet Hardware

Selecting the correct size, finish and proportion helps create a cohesive result across kitchens, wardrobes and fitted interiors. Style is important, but practical measurements should also be checked before ordering, particularly when existing handles are being replaced.

Cabinet Handle Sizes and Fixing Centres

For handles with two fixing points, the most important measurement is the fixing centre: the distance from the centre of one screw hole to the centre of the other. This is different from the overall length of the handle.

Common cabinet handle fixing centres include 96mm, 128mm, 160mm and 192mm, with longer sizes available for wide drawers and larger doors. If you are replacing existing hardware, matching the current fixing centres can avoid the need to drill new holes. Our guide to measuring cabinet handle centres explains how to take this measurement correctly.

When choosing handles for new cabinetry, where existing fixing holes do not dictate the size, proportion becomes more important. Smaller doors and drawers generally suit shorter handles, while wider drawer fronts and taller doors can carry a longer design without looking out of scale. Our Cabinet Handle Sizes Guide covers fixing centres, drawer widths and handle proportions in more detail.

Planning Handles Across a Complete Project

For a larger cabinetry or fitted-furniture project, it is worth planning the hardware as a complete set rather than choosing each cabinet independently. Start with the most prominent drawers and doors, establish the handle style and finish, then use related sizes across the remaining cabinetry.

You do not necessarily need to use the same type of hardware everywhere. Handles and knobs can be combined within the same project, for example using handles on wider drawers and cabinet knobs on smaller cupboard doors. Keeping the finish, detailing or design family consistent helps the combination look intentional.

Before ordering a full quantity, check the fixing centres, overall dimensions and projection of the chosen handle against the cabinetry. Ordering an individual handle first can also be useful where you want to assess its scale, grip or finish against the cabinet colour before committing to the complete project.

For more detailed guidance on coordinating hardware across kitchens and interiors, refer to our Cabinet & Door Hardware Buying Guide.

Our cabinet handles collection brings together styles suited to kitchens, cupboards, drawers, furniture and fitted interiors. Browse the collections above to narrow the range by handle type or finish, or compare complementary knob styles for smaller doors and drawers.