The Best Drawer Slides

Zengest Ball-Bearing Drawer Slides

Slide on over

With all the advantages of smooth gliding, extra durability, and great value, this is our favorite drawer slide.

Best Overall

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Zengest has created an all-purpose drawer slide that checks all the boxes for bedroom furniture, sliding cabinet doors, office cabinets, and bathroom cabinets. This slide is strong, made from high-grade, cold-rolled steel that can hold up to 100 pounds. But it’s also quiet and smooth thanks to a ball-bearing shaft that also creates less noise during opening and closing. The slides are rust-proof and corrosion-resistant, too, and they’re very easy to install.

Pros:

• Internal rail separation is simple and easy to install
• Available in four lengths
• 12 screws included

Cons:

• Screw holes are not deburred
• No installation guide included

Promark Soft/Self-Closing Side Mount Drawer Slides

Soft touch

Featuring both soft-closing and self-closing mechanisms, these drawer slides are silent and convenient.

Best Soft Closing Slides

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Designed for both frameless and face frame applications, the Promark drawer slide features an ultra-smooth soft-close function, while continuous bearings ensure smooth and quiet performance. Made from cold-rolled steel, these side-mounting sliders can withstand weights up to 100 pounds. Promark slides can be configured to use as either soft-closing or self-closing ones depending on your preference. And with 15 different sizes and quantities to choose from, they’re versatile enough for almost any application.

Pros:

• True full-extension slides
• Strong and sturdy
• Brackets snap into place without additional hardware

Cons:

• Does not include mounting hardware
• Must be installed absolutely square for soft-close to function

Knobonly 22-Inch Drawer Slides

Large and in charge

With a hefty load-bearing capacity and long extension, these are some heavy-duty drawer slides.

Best For Large Drawers

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Compatible with most major drawer and cabinet types and ideal for new construction, remodeling, and replacement projects, the Knobonly drawer slides are made for the biggest, toughest jobs. Equally suitable for the home or garage, these full-extension, 22-inch drawer slides are made from high-grade, cold-rolled steel with zinc plating. The ball bearings are rated for heavy-duty use up to 100 pounds, too. Knobonly also provides the added flexibility of drawer slides with rear-mounting brackets. With that said, we recommend you always check your drawer configuration before purchasing the appropriate drawer slide.

Pros:

• Includes all mounting hardware and instructions
• Also available in sizes down to 12 inches
• Can be purchased in packages from one to ten units

Cons:

• Hard to open until broken in
• Longer slides may require two people for installation

Tobinice Soft-Close Drawer Slides

Slide into savings

With a per-unit cost much lower than the competition, this is a tremendous value for soft-closing drawer slides.

Best Value

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Tobinice offers packages of six pairs of heavy-duty, soft-closing drawer slides in sizes ranging from 16 to 24 inches. We like these packages because, on a per-unit basis, the cost nets out to far less than some other brands. Despite the low cost, these slides do not skimp on quality or durability. They’re manufactured with zinc-plated solid steel and load-tested for 100 pounds, while the ball-bearing action provides smooth and effortless soft-closing action. The double-spring design produces less noise at closing and opening, and with the easy installation guide, you can have these set up in your drawers in no time.

Pros:

• Available in packs of two and six
• Hydraulic cylinder operates in hot and cold temperatures
• Rust- and corrosion-resistant

Cons:

• Front and rear mounting brackets not included
• Fewer ball bearings than other models

Blum Tandem Drawer Slides

Strong slide

Featuring a steel and zinc construction with very little plastic included, these drawer slides have the durability you need.

Best Durability

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With 100-pound static load-bearing capacity, full-extension, and soft closing, these Blum tandem drawer slides offer durability with smooth function. We love that the drawer slides have elongated holes for depth adjustment. There are also bottom mount holes that allow you to mount the slide to a shelf or to the bottom of the cabinet. Best of all, these drawer slides are high in steel and zinc and low in plastic, making them sturdy, dependable, and long-lasting. They fit multiple drawer side thicknesses, and they come as a complete kit with 12 runners, 12 locking devices, 12 rear brackets (for face frame applications), and screws.

Pros:

• Full extension and soft closing
• 100-pound static load-bearing capacity
• Available in 15-, 18-, and 21-inch sets

Cons:

• Included screws may be too long for bottom mounting
• Does not come with mounting instructions

Frequently Asked Questions

How many types of drawer slides are there?

There are five popular styles of drawer slides: ball-bearing, soft-close, bottom-mount, side-mount, and center-mount. Soft-close and ball-bearing are often options that can be used in the other three types of slides. It’s important to confirm which type of slide your drawers require before purchasing your hardware and to check whether front- or back-mounting brackets are required.

What is the difference between “soft-close” and “self-close” in drawer slides?

A self-close drawer slide has a hinge or slide built-in that pulls the drawer or closed. Soft-closing means that once the door is pushed, it glides to a certain point, and then hydraulics take over. The mechanism eases the drawer to the closed position, silently and gently.

My wood drawers stick and are difficult to open. Why is that?

Typically, the culprit is moisture. If moisture gets into the wood, the wood swells, and if there are any wood components in your drawer slides, the wooden elements will stick. Take the drawer out and put it in an air-conditioned room. This will draw the moisture out of the wood.