5 Types of Drawer Slides: Complete Selection Guide

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Plus, learn about special features like soft-close and full extension

Co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: May 8, 2026 Fact Checked

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Common Types of Drawer Slides

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Drawer Slide Mechanisms

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Drawer Slide Extensions

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Choosing Drawer Slides

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Determining Drawer Slide Length

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Maintaining Drawer Slides

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Whether you're ordering new cabinets, building them yourself, or renovating existing cabinetry, the type of drawer slide you choose matters—a lot. The drawer slide type determines how smoothly the drawer glides out, how softly it closes, and what kind of items you can store inside. Don't stress, though, because we're here to help make the decision process easier. In this article, we'll guide you through 5 common types of drawer slides, plus various drawer slide mechanisms and extension options. We'll also offer tips on choosing the right drawer slide type for your needs and more!

What are the different types of drawer slides?

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An illustration of the 5 most common types of drawer slides.

The standard drawer slide used in most home cabinetry is a side-mount. This slide is mounted to the sides of the cabinet and the drawer box. Their only drawback is that you can see it when you open the drawer. Here are a few other common types of drawer slides:

Undermount: A sliding track running along the bottom corners of the cabinet.
Center-mount: A single rail on the bottom of the cabinet, with rollers on either side to help guide the drawer into place.
Wooden runners: Rectangular pieces of plywood attached to the sides of the cabinet that act as sliding guides for the drawer.
Friction: A system that relies on friction between the drawer box and the cabinet interior to keep it secure. It uses no runners, rails, or slide hardware.

Section 1 of 6:

Common Types of Drawer Slides

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Side-mount This type of drawer slide is mounted on the sides of the cabinet, as well as the sides of the drawer box. The mounts on the drawer box slide onto the mounts in the cabinet. It has a medium-to-heavy-duty load capacity and is usually easy to install. Just keep in mind that your drawers may need to be at least 1 in (2.5 cm) narrower than normal to fit the slides inside the cabinet. Side-mount slides are also visible from the outside when the drawer is open. That might bother some people who prefer their drawer hardware to stay invisible.^{[1]
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- Average price: $10-20 per pair
- Load capacity: Medium-duty (50-100 lb or 23-45 kg) to heavy-duty (100+ lb or 45+ kg)
- Extensions: Full or 3/4
- Best for: Kitchen, office, bathroom, and garage cabinets
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Undermount Undermount drawer slides are installed in the bottom corners of the cabinet. Each slide consists of a track that the drawer box slides onto via a simple clip. An undermount slide is stable and can hold a lot of weight. Plus, you can't see it when you pull the drawer out of the cabinet. Keep in mind, though, that your drawer might have less space on the inside. That's because the bottom of the drawer needs to be recessed to accommodate the track.^{[2]
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- Average price: $25 per pair
- Load capacity: Medium-duty (50-100 lb or 23-45 kg) to heavy-duty (100+ lb or 45+ kg)
- Extensions: Full
- Best for: Kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, office desk and files, and built-ins
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Center-mount This drawer slide consists of a single rail that attaches to the bottom of the cabinet. To either side of the cabinet, in the doorway, are 2 rollers that help the drawer stay aligned. A center-mount slide is cheap and easy to install, but it's challenging to keep the drawer lined up straight whenever you have to pull it out or push it back in. It also doesn't hold much weight, so you're more limited on what types of items you can store in a drawer that uses this slide.^{[3]
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- Average price: $10 each
- Load capacity: Light-duty (50 lb or 23 kg)
- Extensions: ¾
- Best for: Side tables, trash can cabinets, and other light-use furniture
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Wooden runners Wooden runners are rectangular pieces of plywood attached to the inside of the cabinet. In this system, the drawers are also equipped with pieces of plywood on either side, called rails. The rails slide between the runners inside the cabinet. It's a simple and durable slide, but you may need to apply wax to the rails and the runners to ensure smooth opening and closing.^{[4]
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- Average price: $15
- Load capacity: Light-duty (50 lb or 23 kg)
- Extensions: Full and 3/4
- Best for: Side tables, bathroom vanities, and other light-use furniture
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Friction The most basic drawer slide doesn't use any extra rails, runners, slides, or other hardware. It's a system where the drawer box slides into the cabinet. It's a cheap solution that's easy to DIY, and it works best for storing lightweight objects. If the drawer is weighed down, it will be harder to open and close.^{[5]
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- Load capacity: Light-duty (50 lb or 23 kg)
- Extensions: Full
- Best for: Side tables, low-weight storage cabinets, other light-use furniture

Section 2 of 6:

Types of Drawer Slide Mechanisms

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Ball bearings Drawer slides with ball-bearing mechanisms contain tiny steel ball bearings, which help the drawer glide smoothly along the track. It's common in side-mounted and under-mounted slides, and it's more secure than roller tracks.^{[6]
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- Average price: $15 per pair
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Rollers Rollers are small wheels attached to side-mounts that guide the drawer box in and out of the cabinet. This is the cheapest mechanism you can get. While it's functional, it also tends to bend over time, which may make it harder for you to slide the drawer easily further down the road. Another issue with drawer slides with rollers is that if they're not installed perfectly level, they might roll open on their own.^{[7]
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- Average price: $10
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Soft-close Soft-close drawer slides come with dampers that make them close softly and silently, rather than slamming shut. They cost a little extra, but they might be a good investment if you have kids or just want to cut down on noise in general.^{[8]
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- Average price: $12 per pair
- Can you retrofit soft-close drawer slides into existing cabinets? Yes, says home improvement specialist Ryaan Tuttle, you can definitely install new, soft-close drawer slides into your old cabinetry. Simply remove the existing slides and install the new ones in the same place.^{[9]
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  - Pro tip: Measure the length of the drawer to find the right length for your drawer slide.
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Push-to-open A push-to-open drawer slide does exactly what it sounds like it does: if you push lightly on the drawer front, it slides open. This saves the need for drawer pulls on the outside, so your drawer fronts look as clean and minimalistic as possible.^{[10]
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- Average price: $16 per pair
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Self-close Self-closing drawers close on their own, provided you push them at least partway in. Once the drawer reaches a certain point on the track, it either descends a small ramp and shuts, or it activates a spring that pulls it closed.^{[11]
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Research source} Unlike soft-close slides, self-close slides don't have dampers, so the drawer makes a noise when it shuts.
- Average price: $12 per pair

Section 3 of 6:

Types of Drawer Slide Extensions

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¾ extension A ¾ extension drawer slide allows about ¾ of the drawer length to come out of the cabinet when you pull the handle. This option is the most budget-friendly, but it can be a little frustrating to use, especially if you're storing small items. If any objects slide to the back of the drawer, they'll be harder to see and reach.^{[12]
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- Average price: $10 per pair
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Full extension A full extension drawer slide lets you pull the drawer all the way out and see all its contents. It's definitely more convenient and easier to use than a ¾ extension. But it comes with one potential drawback: the drawer isn't fully supported when it's pulled all the way out. This means that if you store heavy items in it, especially toward the front, it might sag when you fully extend it. As long as you choose a slide with a high load rating, though, it should hold up under whatever you want to store.^{[13]
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- Average price: $14 per pair
- What is load rating? A drawer slide's load rating tells you the maximum amount of weight that the slide can safely hold. This is an important number to know, especially if you plan on storing heavy items in your drawers, or if you want to install slides with a full or over-travel drawer extension.^{[14]
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Over-travel extension An over-travel extension drawer slide extends the back of the drawer past the front of the cabinet when fully opened. This is a good idea if you want to store small boxes or other items with lids, and still be able to open them without taking them out of the drawer. An over-travel drawer system is extremely useful in a garage, a shop, or a craft room, but it's not as practical in a kitchen or a bathroom.^{[15]
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- Average price: $20

Section 4 of 6:

Choosing Drawer Slides: Things to Consider

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Cabinet and drawer dimensions If you're building your own cabinets or renovating old ones, measure the cabinet and drawers carefully. It's very important that your measurements are precise, especially if you're installing undermount and side-mount slides. In most cases, you'll need about ½ in (1.3 cm) of extra space between each side and/or the bottom of the cabinet and the drawer box to fit the slides.^{[16]
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Room size Another thing to consider is how much space you have in the room to pull the drawers out. If you don't have enough room to pull the drawer all the way out of the cabinet, you may have to settle for a ¾ extension slide.
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Load rating Consider what you plan to store inside the drawers, including their weight and size. If you need to store heavy items, like tools, choose side-mount or undermount slides with a heavy-duty load rating of 100 lb (45 kg) or more. If you're planning on using it for lightweight items, like a trash can, an inexpensive center-mount with a light-duty load rating of 50 lb (23 kg) might be all you need.^{[17]
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Budget Side-mount or center-mount drawer slides with plastic rollers and no-frills closing mechanisms are the most budget-friendly options. If you're willing to spend extra money on quality, though, you can't do better than stainless steel, ball-bearing side-mount or undermount slides. These slides are also your best bet if you want soft-close, self-closing, or push-to-close features.^{[18]
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Visual aesthetics Some people don't like to see the drawer slides when they pull the drawer out of the cabinet. If this is you, then you'll want to install undermount slides, which can't be seen from the outside. Let's say that you also prefer how sleek your drawer fronts look without handles. In that case, you should get slides with a push-to-close mechanism, so you can just pop the drawer open with a press of your hand.^{[19]
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Section 5 of 6:

How long should the drawer slide be?

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Choose a drawer slide with the same length as the drawer box. Measure for drawer slides by measuring the length of the drawer box without the drawer front. This is the same length you should look for when shopping for drawer slides.^{[20]
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Research source} You'll typically find the drawer slide length specified in inches (e.g., 12" or 20") on the packaging or in the product description.
- For example, if your drawer box is 15 in (38 cm) long, your drawer slides should also be 15 in (38 cm) long.
- Pro tip: You don't have to account for how far out the drawer will extend when choosing a slide length. Just go by the drawer box length in inches. Once you find slides of the right length to fit your drawer, select one with a ¾, full, or over-travel extension based on how far you want to pull it out.

Section 6 of 6:

How to Maintain Different Drawer Slides

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Wipe off dust and dirt, then apply a silicone-based lubricant. Remove the drawer and wipe down the slides with a dry microfiber towel. Next, squeeze a dime-sized amount of silicone-based lubricant onto the slides and rub it evenly across the metal with a clean cloth. Put the drawer back in the cabinet and open and close it a few times. This will help spread the lubricant around. Your drawer should operate much more smoothly now!^{[21]
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- How often? Every 6-12 months (or whenever you notice the drawer is sticking)
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Rub candle wax on top of wooden drawer rails and runners. If you have old cabinetry or are making your own cabinets with wooden runners, your drawers may stick because of the friction between the wood surfaces. To fix that, remove the drawer from the cabinet and rub a paraffin wax candle over the rails and/or the sides and bottom of the drawer box. Do the same to the runners and/or the bottom and sides of the cabinet where the drawer box inserts. The wax will reduce the friction between the drawer box and the cabinet, so the drawer glides open and closed more easily.^{[22]
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- How often? Every 6-12 months (or whenever you notice the drawer is sticking)