Ordering a custom drawer box sounds simple until the new box arrives a fraction too wide, too deep or built for the wrong slide system. A drawer front can hide the box when the cabinet is closed, but the hardware underneath still depends on accurate dimensions.
The safest approach is to identify the slides first, measure the cabinet opening carefully and give the manufacturer finished outside dimensions unless its order form asks for something different.
Identify the Drawer Slide Before Measuring
Side mount and undermount slides do not use the same clearances. Side mount slides sit between the drawer box and the cabinet walls. Undermount slides are concealed below the box and usually require a specific bottom recess, rear notches and locking device holes.
Do not assume the replacement can copy an old box if the hardware is also changing. A box made for side mount slides may not work with a concealed undermount system without different dimensions and machining.
Find the slide brand and model whenever possible. Installation instructions provide the required width deduction, drawer length and bottom position. Those figures can vary between manufacturers and product lines.
Measure the Cabinet Opening in Several Places
Remove the old drawer and measure the clear opening from side to side. Check the width near the front, middle and back. Older cabinets are not always perfectly square, so using one measurement can lead to a box that binds farther inside.
Use the smallest reliable opening measurement as the starting point. Measure the opening height as well, allowing enough room for the drawer box, slide hardware and any adjustment the system requires.
For depth, measure from the front mounting area to the first obstruction at the back. Watch for hinges, plumbing, electrical boxes, cabinet backs or face frame parts that reduce usable space.
Keep the Drawer Front Out of Box Measurements
The decorative drawer front and the drawer box are separate measurements. The front may overlap the cabinet opening, sit inset within it or cover several edges differently. Including that front in the box depth or width is a common ordering mistake.
Measure the box itself from outside edge to outside edge. Width is left to right, height is bottom to top and depth is the front of the box to the back. Record all three dimensions clearly and use the same unit throughout the order.
If the old front will be reused, note how it attaches and mark its original position before removing it.
Allow for the Exact Slide Requirements
Undermount slides often require the drawer length to match an available runner length. The box may also need the bottom positioned one half inch above the lower edge, depending on the selected system. Rear notching and drilling allow the runner hooks and locking devices to engage.
Side mount slides generally require space on both sides of the box. The required clearance should come from the hardware manufacturer, not a general online rule.
A cabinet maker ordering several boxes should confirm that every opening uses the same hardware. Remodelled kitchens sometimes contain more than one slide type.
Check Bottom Placement and Special Options
Bottom placement affects slide clearance and usable interior height. It also matters when the drawer will carry cookware, files, tools or another concentrated load.
Tell the manufacturer whether the box needs notching, drilling, clips, dividers, file slots or a scoop. These details are easier to machine during production than alter on the jobsite. Photographs of the opening, old drawer and slide labels can help prevent misunderstandings.
Before submitting the order, compare every dimension with the cabinet one final time. A short review costs less than remaking a custom box.
Order Custom Replacement Drawer Boxes
Drawer Connection has manufactured custom dovetail, dowel, plywood, melamine and solid wood drawer boxes in Mesa since 1997. The company accepts small and large orders, offers nationwide shipping and can provide notching, drilling, glides and other custom options. For help reviewing measurements or placing an order, call Drawer Connection at 877 917 4887.
References
https://www.dcdrawers.com/dovetail_drawers.htm
https://www.dcdrawers.com/why-is-plywood-a-good-drawer-box-material/
https://www.blum.com/us/en/products/runnersystems/tandem/downloads-videos/
https://www.eaglewoodworking.com/blog/how-to-measure-drawer-slides
https://www.drawer.com/product-information/tips-and-tricks/how-to-measure-for-custom-drawers
