What Size Drawer Runners Do I Need? How to Measure Before You Buy

 

Short answer: three measurements decide it. Internal cabinet depth sets the runner length,  choose the longest runner that fits inside it. Internal cabinet width sets the drawer box width, minus a deduction that depends on the runner series: for Eurofit runners that is 26mm on medium duty and 38.4mm on heavy duty. Loaded drawer weight decides which series you need. Measure inside the carcase, never outside.

Please note: every figure on this page: drawer box deductions, lengths, load ratings and minimum depths is taken from the Eurofit 2026 catalogue and applies to Eurofit drawer runners only. Other manufacturers build to different profiles and tolerances, so their clearances and ratings will differ. If you are fitting another brand, work from that manufacturer’s own specification.

The three measurements

• Internal depth — from the front opening to the inside face of the back panel. Sets the maximum runner length.
• Internal width — side panel to side panel. Sets the drawer box width once the runner deduction is applied.
• Loaded weight — the drawer at its heaviest, not its average.

Measure inside the carcase, at the height the drawer will actually sit. If a bank of drawers is going into one cabinet, measure top, middle and bottom and work to the smallest figure.

What length runner do I need?

Choose the longest runner that fits within the internal depth. A runner longer than the internal depth will not close; a shorter one simply gives a little less drawer depth. Available lengths across the Eurofit range:

Eurofit drawer runner lengths by series
Series	Type	Lengths
DS35	Medium duty, side mount	400mm and 450mm from stock
DS46 Standard Close	Medium duty, side mount	10 lengths, 250–750mm
DS46 Soft Close	Medium duty, side mount	5 lengths, 350–550mm
DS46 Push To Open Soft Close	Medium duty, side mount	7 lengths, 300–600mm
DS53	Heavy duty, side mount	11 lengths, 350–1200mm
DS76	Heavy duty, side mount	26 lengths, 254mm (10in) to 1524mm (60in)
DS86	Concealed, soft close	6 lengths, 250–500mm
DS80	Slim drawer sides, soft close	7 lengths, 250–550mm

How wide should the drawer box be?

This is where most fitting problems start. The deduction is set by the runner you have chosen, so check it before you cut timber, it is not the same figure across the range, and it is not the same as other manufacturers use.

Drawer box width: Eurofit runners
Series	Drawer box width
DS35 and all DS46 variants	Internal cabinet width − 26mm (±2mm)
DS53 and DS76 heavy duty	Internal cabinet width − 38.4mm (±2mm)
DS7 single wall metal system	Back and base panel width = internal cabinet width − 31mm
DS86 concealed	No side deduction. Needs a minimum cabinet depth of nominal length + 13mm, and a drawer side no thicker than 16mm

Worked example, DS46: measure the internal cabinet width, then take 26mm off it. An internal width of 464mm gives a 438mm drawer box width.

Which load rating do I need?

Rate for the drawer full, not the drawer as drawn. Ratings below are Eurofit figures, per pair at 450mm.

Eurofit drawer runner load ratings (per pair at 450mm)
Series	Load per pair	Suited to
DS7 single wall metal	25kg	Economical kitchen, bedroom and contract furniture
DS46 Push To Open Soft Close	30kg	Handleless kitchen and furniture designs
DS80 slim drawer sides	30kg	All heights and lengths in the range
DS35	35kg	Slim 35 x 12.6mm profile where space is tight
DS46 Soft Close	35kg	Bedroom, office, anywhere quiet closing matters
DS46 Standard Close	45kg	General-purpose kitchen, bedroom and office
DS53	118kg	Vehicle conversions, tool storage, understairs storage
DS76	227kg	Industrial storage, server racks, heaviest vehicle builds

Runner length changes the load rating

Load ratings are quoted at 450mm and fall away as runners get longer, which catches people out on deep drawers. The DS53 is a good illustration:

DS53 length	350mm	450mm	600mm	800mm	1200mm
Load per pair	110kg	118kg	95kg	75kg	52kg

So a 1200mm DS53 carries less than half what the same runner manages at 450mm. Always check the rating at the length you are actually buying.

Frequently asked questions

Do these figures apply to other brands of drawer runner?

No. Every measurement, clearance and load rating on this page is specific to Eurofit drawer runners and comes from our own 2026 catalogue. Runner profiles, mounting positions and tolerances vary between manufacturers, so a drawer box cut to our deductions may not suit another brand’s runner. If you are fitting a different make, use that manufacturer’s specification.

Do drawer runners come in pairs?

Yes. Runners are sold in pairs, one pair per drawer and every load rating we quote is for the pair rather than the individual runner.

What if my cabinet depth falls between two runner lengths?

Go down to the shorter length. A runner that is slightly too long cannot be made to fit; a shorter one simply gives a little less drawer depth.

Is the drawer box deduction the same for every runner?

No, and this is the most common mistake. Across the Eurofit range, medium-duty DS35 and DS46 runners need 26mm off the internal width while heavy-duty DS53 and DS76 need 38.4mm. Build a box for one and fit the other and it will not go in.

Can concealed runners go in any cabinet?

Not quite. The DS86 concealed runner needs a minimum cabinet depth of the nominal runner length plus 13mm and a drawer side no thicker than 16mm. Check both before ordering.

Choosing your runners

With those three figures in hand the range narrows fast. Browse by duty — light, medium or heavy duty — or by feature: soft close, push to open, concealed or metal drawer sides.

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 so always check the specification for the runner you are fitting.