Drawer Slides DIY

Slide the drawer out and remove it from the cabinet.

Mark a point at the front and rear of the drawer side 1 inch from the bottom edge, then connect a pencil line between these two points using a straight edge. Repeat on the opposite drawer side. This is the drawer slide's centerline.

Rest the drawer upright on one side. Fully extend one of the drawer slides and position the narrower, inner arm against the drawer side, aligned with the centerline marked in Step 2. Allow the wider, outer arm to extend past the rear of the drawer. Mark the center points of each of the elongated screw holes in the narrow slide arm along the centerline using a center punch or awl.

Flip the drawer over horizontally and repeat step 3 on the other side of the drawer.

Mark the drawer slide location in the drawer opening. Measure vertically from the bottom of the opening and make a pencil mark at 1 1/4 inches on both sides in the opening. Extend a level line from the mark at both sides of the opening to the rear wall of the cabinet using a level.

Hold the wider side of a fully extended drawer slide against the right side of the drawer opening, aligning the screw holes in the slide arm with the horizontal pencil line marked in Step 5. Use a center punch or awl to mark each of the screw hole centers. Repeat to mark the screw hole centers for the left side of the drawer opening.

Install the right side drawer slide by aligning the wider arm of the extended slide with the horizontal pencil line in the drawer opening, then secure in place with the screws provided using a screwdriver. The front edge of the wider slide arm should be positioned flush with the inside edge of the cabinet face.

Repeat Step 7 to install the left side drawer slide, then fully extend the narrower arms of both slides.

Position the drawer between the two extended slide arms and align the screw holes marked in Step 3. Secure the drawer to the slide arms with the screws provided using a screwdriver.

Slide the mounted drawer in and out on the opening to verify proper movement and that the drawer face fits tight against the cabinet when closed. If adjustment is necessary, loosen the slide screws on the drawer sides to move the drawer within the elongated holes.