Quick answer: use a knob (single screw) on doors and small drawers, and a bar pull (two screws) sized to about one-third of the drawer width. The key measurement when buying a pull is the hole-centre spacing — the gap between the two screw holes.

How to measure before you buy

For an existing pull, measure the distance between the centres of the two screw holes — that's the hole-centre spacing. For a knob, you only need one central hole. If you're drilling fresh holes, you can choose any size that suits the drawer.

Cabinet pull size chart

Cabinet	Suggested pull	Hole centres
Doors & small drawers	Knob or compact pull	~3–4 in (76–96 mm)
Standard drawers	Standard bar pull	~4–5 in (96–128 mm)
Wide / pan drawers	Long bar pull	~6–8 in (160–200 mm)
Tall pantry / appliances	Extra-long pull	~8–9 in (200–230 mm)

What size are cabinet knobs?

Most cabinet knobs are around 1–1.5 in in diameter, though decorative turned knobs can be longer (2–2.75 in overall). Knobs use a single central screw, so you only drill one hole.

The rule of thirds

A bar pull looks balanced at roughly one-third of the drawer's width, and should never be longer than the drawer front. On very wide drawers, two knobs or two pulls can look better than one.

FAQ

What is standard cabinet pull hole spacing?

Common sizes are around 96 mm (3.75 in) and 128 mm (5 in), but longer pulls use 160 mm+ (6.3 in+). Always match your cabinet or drill to fit.

What size pull for a 24-inch drawer?

Around one-third of the width — roughly an 8 in pull — or two smaller pulls/knobs spaced evenly.

Do knobs or pulls need one hole or two?

Knobs need one central hole; bar pulls need two holes at the correct hole-centre spacing.