Soft Close vs Push to Open Drawer Runners: How Each One Works

 

Short answer: a soft close runner adds a damper that catches the drawer near the end of its travel and draws it shut quietly. Push to open replaces the handle with a touch latch, push the front to release it and on the Eurofit DS46 Push To Open Soft Close the damped closing action is built in as well. The trade-off is load: across the same DS46 series, standard close is rated 45kg per pair, soft close 35kg and push to open soft close 30kg.

Please note: all specifications on this page are taken from the Eurofit 2026 catalogue and apply to Eurofit drawer runners only. Other manufacturers’ mechanisms and ratings will differ. If you are fitting another brand, work from that manufacturer’s own specification.

How does a soft close drawer runner work?

A soft close runner carries a damper. For most of the closing stroke the drawer moves normally; in the last few centimetres the damper engages, absorbs the momentum and pulls the drawer gently to a stop.

The practical effect is that a drawer cannot be slammed. That matters most in bedrooms and offices, where noise is the complaint, and on heavier drawers, where a slammed drawer shocks both the runner and the joint between the drawer front and the box.

How does push to open work?

Push to open uses a sprung touch latch. The drawer sits flush with no handle; press the front and the latch releases and pushes the drawer out far enough to grip. It is the mechanism behind handleless kitchen designs, where an unbroken run of fronts is the whole point.

Our DS46 Push To Open Soft Close combines both mechanisms, touch latch to open, damped action to close. So a handleless drawer still shuts quietly.

The trade-off: mechanism costs load capacity

This is the part rarely spelled out. The mechanism occupies space inside the same runner profile, so as you add features the rated load comes down. The DS46 series shows it clearly, because all three variants share the same 46 x 12.7mm profile:

Eurofit DS46 variants compared
Variant	Load per pair at 450mm	Lengths	Opening
DS46 Standard Close	45kg	10 lengths, 250–750mm	Handle or knob
DS46 Soft Close	35kg	5 lengths, 350–550mm	Handle or knob
DS46 Push To Open Soft Close	30kg	7 lengths, 300–600mm	Touch latch, no handle

 

Note the length ranges narrow too. If you need a 750mm drawer in this series, standard close is the only variant that goes that far. All three give 100% full extension and a quick release drawer member.

Which runners have soft close built in?

Two Eurofit systems include it as standard rather than as a variant:

• DS86 concealed: full extension with integrated soft close, six lengths from 250mm to 500mm. Nothing to specify separately.
• DS80 slim drawer sides: full extension with integrated soft close, four drawer side heights and seven lengths from 250mm to 550mm, rated 30kg throughout.

Can you add soft close to a runner that does not have it?

On the DS7 metal drawer system, yes. Worth knowing before you replace a whole set:

• DS7 single wall metal system: the DS90012 soft close mechanism plus the DS90013 activator convert it, one of each per drawer set. The DS7 is self closing as standard, so this turns a self-close action into a damped one.

Which should you choose?

If you want…	Choose
Handleless fronts and clean lines	DS46 Push To Open Soft Close
Quiet closing with conventional handles	DS46 Soft Close, or DS86 / DS80 for built-in
Maximum load in this series	DS46 Standard Close at 45kg
Long drawers over 550mm	DS46 Standard Close, or step up to DS53
A concealed runner with soft close	DS86 concealed

Frequently asked questions

Do these figures apply to other brands of drawer runner?

No. These ratings and lengths are Eurofit specifications from our 2026 catalogue. Other manufacturers’ mechanisms differ, so use the specification for the runner you are fitting.

Does soft close reduce how much a drawer can hold?

Within a series, yes. The DS46 drops from 45kg standard close to 35kg soft close and 30kg with push to open soft close, because the mechanism shares the same profile. If you need both damping and a high load, move up a series rather than accepting the lower figure.

Can you have push to open and soft close together?

Yes, that is exactly what the DS46 Push To Open Soft Close is. Touch latch to open, damped action to close, rated 30kg per pair.

Is push to open suitable for a kitchen with children?

Consider it carefully. A touch latch opens with a light push anywhere on the front, which is easier for a child to trigger than a handle. For lower drawers you may prefer soft close with conventional handles.

Will a soft close drawer still close if pushed gently?

Yes. The damper engages in the last part of the travel and completes the closing action, so a gentle push is enough.

Browse the range

Soft close runners, push to open runners, concealed runners, slim drawer sides and soft closing dampers.

All specifications on this page relate to Eurofit drawer runners and are taken from the Eurofit 2026 catalogue. Figures for other manufacturers’ products will differ — always check the specification for the runner you are fitting.