Undermount Drawer Glide vs. Underside Drawer Glides

Function

• Drawer glides not only control the movement of a drawer, but they also determine how much weight a drawer can support. An undermount drawer glide also is known as a center-mount glide because it's centered on the bottom of a drawer. An undermount glide is a light-duty mechanism that supports drawers weighing up to 75 pounds. Underside drawer glides often consist of two metal tracks that sit across from each other at the sides of a drawer bottom. The two tracks bear more weight than an undermount glide, generally supporting drawers weighing up to 120 pounds.

Design

• One advantage of using an undermount drawer glide is that it isn’t visible on the sides of a drawer when it’s open. That's important to some homeowners and designers who don't want drawer hardware to hamper the appearance of cabinet designs. Underside glides sometimes fit behind drawer sides that slightly overhang the bottom of a drawer. In such cases, the glides aren’t visible on the sides of a drawer. However, some underside glides curve around the sides of a drawer bottom for added support, so a portion of each glide is visible when the drawer is open.

Installation

• Undermount drawer glides are usually easier to install because there is just one track to align. The two tracks that make up underside glides are more challenging to install. The tracks must be spaced evenly on the drawer bottom so they're aligned with each other. It’s particularly difficult to align them when a drawer’s corners aren’t square. A drawer won't operate smoothly if the tracks are misaligned.

Varieties

• An undermount drawer glide usually costs less than underside glides, but the variety of glides presents a wide pricing range. For example, some glides disconnect and allow you to remove a drawer from a cabinet. Glides also have shock-absorbing capabilities that minimize noise and damage when a drawer is slammed shut. Some glides have self-lubricating ball bearings that don't require any additional lubrication to keep drawers operating smoothly. The more features a glide offers, the more it usually costs.