How to Select Drawer Slides

Decide what type of connection you want. Drawer slides come in two primary types: side rollers or center-bottom rollers. Side rollers consist of everything you need to effectively create a sliding shelf. Made of metal, side rollers contain the rollers, the extension arm and the drawer support. You simply screw the side roller into the inside wall of your furniture and then set the drawer into the side roller frame. In contrast, center-bottom rollers consist of a track in which your drawer sits. You must screw a wheel to the bottom of your drawer, and this wheel moves within the track.

Decide on the desired length of extension. Some slides extend the entire length of the slide. Although full-extension slides provide the maximum drawer opening, a fully extended slide may not support a drawer. Consequently, the drawer can collapse or fall out of the guide. Three-quarter slides do not open completely, but drawers with these slides remain supported by the guides.

Examine the disconnect, which determines how you detach the drawer from the metal housing. Some center rollers simply lift out of the track. Side rollers sometimes have a latch that you must depress. Know how the drawer disconnects, because a complicated disconnect can make removing a drawer troublesome.

Compare prices. For instance, individual drawer slides can cost from $5 to $25. Drawer-slide sets often cost $25 to $50. Name-brand drawer slides might cost twice what off-brand slides cost, but off-brand drawer slides may or may not have the same quality of construction. Try not to sacrifice quality for a few dollars, but don’t overspend on marketing and pretty packaging.

Determine whether the drawer slide is “self-contained.” Some drawer slides come with all screws and components necessary for attachment, but in some cases, you are only buying the slide. If the drawer slide does not come with all appropriate components, you will have to select the right screws to fit your slide. You might find this bothersome, and it could increase the overall cost of the project.

Match the slide size to the size of the drawer. Drawer slides range in size from 16 to 30 inches. Measure your drawer, and then compare that measurement to the size specifications on the slide’s packaging. Slides that are too small will not properly support the back end of the drawer. Slides that are too large will not fit the space.

Select the proper weight ratio. Manufacturers rate drawer slides according to how much weight they support. Lightweight slides can hold 50 to 75 pounds. Midrange slides support 75 to 120 pounds. High-strength slides hold from 120 to 500 pounds. A slide with an inadequate weight rating will ultimately break and damage the slide and the piece of furniture in which you install it.

Compare features. Some slides simply pull forward. Some have lifting or rotating mechanisms that can lift a drawer at a slight angle. Some have notches built into the slide so that the drawer catches and locks in these notches. Some have self-cleaning ball bearings that keep the slide moving smoothly. Look for features that complement your wood project.