Cabinet & Drawer Handles

Brass kitchen cupboard handles and drawer pulls

Every handle on this page is made of brass, and each is a cabinet, cupboard or drawer handle, so you can carry one finish from your kitchen units to a dresser, sideboard or wardrobe. We stock modern and traditional designs, from pull handles for doors to smaller pulls for drawers.

A few are shell handles, the cup handles you hook your fingers beneath, long a favourite on drawers in farmhouse and period kitchens. Whatever the shape, a pull you reach for daily should feel comfortable and leave enough room for your knuckles.

Measuring hole centres for cupboard handles

Hole centres are the distance from the middle of one fixing hole to the middle of the other, and they are the one measurement to get right when you replace old handles. Each product page gives the hole centres, so measure your existing holes before you order and look for a handle that matches them exactly. Even a small difference leaves you filling the old holes and drilling again.

Measure from centre to centre rather than edge to edge, ideally in millimetres, and check more than one door, as older kitchens are not always consistent. Go by the hole centres, not the overall length of a handle. If your doors and drawers have no holes yet, you can choose purely on look and comfort, then mark the positions with a simple template so the handles line up.

Choosing a length for kitchen handles

Length is where looks and comfort meet. A longer pull is easier to grip on a tall larder door or a deep pan drawer, while a short pull or shell handle suits a narrow drawer or a small wall cupboard. Where a design comes in more than one length, you can keep one look across the whole kitchen, with the shorter size on drawers and a longer one on doors.

For a tidy result, fit pulls upright on doors, near the top corner on base units and near the bottom corner on wall cupboards, and fit them level on drawers, centred across the front. Before you drill, hold a handle in place with masking tape, then open and close the door to check it feels right.

Brass and antique silver finishes for cabinet handles

Every handle here comes in a brass finish, and the finish can settle the look of a room more than the shape does. Finish options include bright, reflective polished brass and darker, aged antique brass, along with natural brass and satin brass. Satin has a soft, low sheen that tends to show fewer fingerprints than a polished surface.

Most handles can also be ordered in antique silver, a cooler, aged finish that sits well in pale or painted kitchens, while the handle itself is still made of brass. Check the product page for the finishes a handle comes in, then use one finish throughout for a calm, consistent look, or keep brass for the kitchen and antique silver for bedroom furniture.

Modern, traditional and industrial drawer handles

Most of the handles here have a modern look that suits flat slab doors and plain drawer fronts, where a clean line of brass adds warmth without fuss. We also stock traditional designs for panelled and painted kitchens, dressers and chests of drawers, where a softer, older shape feels at home.

A few have an industrial edge that suits a pared-back, utilitarian look. Some have a knurled grip, a finely textured surface that gives your fingers extra purchase, which is handy on a drawer you open with floury or wet hands. Mixing styles across a room is fine if you keep to one finish.

Fixing screws and fitting cabinet handles

Fixing screws come with a handle only where its product page says so. Read the details before you plan your fitting. Where screws are included, check that they suit the thickness of your doors and drawer fronts. A drawer with a separate front panel fixed to the box may need longer screws than a door, while a screw that is too long can stop the handle pulling tight.

When you drill, measure twice, mark the centres clearly and keep the drill straight, with a scrap of timber held behind the door so the back does not splinter. If you are unsure which screws you need, ask us before you start.

Patina and care for brass handles

An unlacquered brass finish darkens with handling, slowly settling into a soft, lived-in patina, and that gentle change is a large part of the charm of brass. If you would rather your handles stayed brighter for longer, ask us whether the finish you like is lacquered before you order.

For everyday care, wipe your handles with a soft dry cloth to lift dust and fingerprints. Avoid abrasive pads, bleach and strong sprays, which can dull or strip a finish, and do not polish an antique finish, as polish wears away the aged colour.