Choose the drawer hardware before deciding the drawer width. Side-mount slides, undermount runners and a wooden runner system require different clearances and construction. A drawer built to a generic subtraction rule can become an expensive box that fits none of them.
Establish the envelope
A compact example might be 450 mm wide, 350 mm deep and 550 mm high. These are planning dimensions, not a complete load-tested plan. Make a cardboard outline beside the bed and check the mattress height, baseboard and space needed to open the drawer.
| Decision | Record before cutting |
|---|---|
| Drawer system | Manufacturer, model, nominal length and required clearances |
| Front style | Inset or overlay, with intended gaps |
| Case material | Actual thickness, including edge treatment |
| Back | Thickness and how it affects available depth |
| Top | Plywood or solid wood, with appropriate attachment |
Work backward to the drawer box
With 18 mm full-height sides inside a 450 mm outside width, the clear opening begins at 414 mm. That is the case opening, not the drawer width. Subtract the exact hardware allowances from it. For undermount slides, follow the manufacturer's drawer-bottom and notch requirements as well.
Depth also needs a stack-up: front position, runner length, rear clearance and back thickness. Draw a side section before purchasing runners. A nominally 350 mm deep cabinet does not necessarily accept a 350 mm slide.
Build the case before fitting the front
Cut opposing parts together where practical and mark reference faces. Dry-assemble, check diagonals and make sure the runner mounting surfaces are parallel. A square opening at the front does not prove the whole case is untwisted.
Install the hardware to its instructions, then fit the drawer box. Only after it runs freely should you trim and position the visible front. Use spacers for consistent gaps rather than chasing one corner at a time.
Finish the practical checks
Open the loaded drawer and check the furniture's stability. Use an appropriate anti-tip attachment where required; do not assume a small cabinet cannot tip. Make sure screw tips cannot enter the drawer space and that the drawer stops reliably.
The final cut list belongs to the chosen hardware. Save its installation sheet with the project so a replacement slide can be matched later.
Related workshop guides
- Drawer bottom sizing: grooves, support and runner clearance
- Fit inset drawer fronts without chasing the gap around the opening
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