Calculating your hardware needs is a process of counting and applying a few rules of thumb.

1. Count Doors and Drawers: Start with a simple count of the number of cabinet doors and drawers you need to outfit.
2. Determine Hinge Count: For each cabinet door, apply the height rule: 2 hinges for doors up to 40" tall, 3 hinges for doors between 40" and 60", and 4 hinges for doors taller than 60".
3. Determine Handle/Knob Count: Each drawer typically gets one handle or knob. For doors, use one handle for doors up to 24" wide. For wider doors, consider using two knobs or a single, longer pull for better leverage and a balanced look.
4. Select Handle Size: For pulls, a common design rule is to choose a pull that is approximately 1/3 the width of the drawer or door it's mounted on. For very wide drawers, using two smaller pulls is a common solution.

• Cabinet Hardware: The knobs, pulls, hinges, and slides used to operate and decorate cabinets.
• Knob: A single-point handle, typically round or square, attached with one screw.
• Pull: A handle that is grasped and is attached with two or more screws.
• Center-to-Center: The distance between the centers of the screw holes on a cabinet pull. This is the most critical measurement when choosing pulls.
• Hinge Overlay: For European-style hinges, this is the amount the cabinet door overlays the cabinet frame when closed.

"When you're installing hardware, consistency is key. I highly recommend investing in a cabinet hardware jig. It's a template that allows you to set your handle positions once and then repeat them perfectly on every single door and drawer. It ensures all your handles are level and spaced identically, which is very difficult to do by measuring each one individually. A good jig saves a massive amount of time and eliminates the risk of a mis-drilled hole, which can ruin a finished door." - Professional Kitchen Installer

Standard 24" Base Cabinet: This cabinet has one 6" high drawer and two 24" high doors below it.
The calculator would recommend: 1 handle for the drawer, 2 handles for the doors (1 each), and 4 hinges total (2 for each door). For pulls, it might recommend a 4-6" pull for the drawer and an 8" pull for the doors.

A 36" Wide, 3-Drawer Base Cabinet: All drawers are 36" wide.
Because the drawers are wide, the calculator would likely recommend using two knobs or pulls on each drawer for a balanced look and easier operation, for a total of 6 handles.

• Inconsistent Placement: Handles that are not perfectly aligned horizontally and vertically can make an entire kitchen look sloppy.
• Choosing Pulls with Odd Sizing: Sticking to standard center-to-center measurements (e.g., 3", 4", 96mm) makes it much easier to find replacements in the future.
• Using Screws That Are Too Long/Short: The screws must be long enough to get a secure grip but not so long they poke through the other side or interfere with the contents.
• Ignoring the Style: The hardware should complement the style of the cabinets (e.g., modern bar pulls for shaker cabinets, traditional knobs for raised panel doors).

• Kitchen Remodeling: Planning the full hardware needs for a new kitchen installation.
• Furniture Making: Determining hardware for dressers, nightstands, and entertainment centers.
• Cabinet Refacing: Calculating new hardware when updating existing cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
• Budgeting: Estimating the total cost of hardware, which can be a significant part of a cabinet project's budget.