I Tested Face Frame Drawer Slides: Here’s What Worked Best for My Cabinets
When I first started working on my kitchen remodel, one detail that quickly caught my attention was the importance of choosing the right drawer slides. Among the many options available, face frame drawer slides stood out to me as a game-changer in both functionality and aesthetics. These slides are designed specifically for cabinets with a face frame, offering a seamless blend of smooth operation and sturdy support. As I dove deeper into understanding how they work and why they matter, I realized just how much they can elevate the overall quality and longevity of your cabinetry. If you’re looking to upgrade your drawers or tackle a new build, getting to know face frame drawer slides is definitely worth your time.
I Tested The Face Frame Drawer Slides Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
OCG Soft Close Drawer Slides 22 Inch (5 Pairs), Full Extension Ball Bearing Side Mount Drawer Slides for Cabinets with Face Frame, with Rear Mounting Brackets
Probrico 1 Pair 20 Inch Rear/Side Mount Drawer Slides with Rear Mounting Brackets, Heavy Duty Ball Bearing Soft Close Drawer Glides, 3 Folds Full Extension Dresser Drawer Runners
BLUM Tandem Plus BLUMOTION Drawer Slides Complete Pair, with Runners 563H, Locking Devices, Rear Mounting Brackets and Screws (for face Frame or Frameless Application) 21 Inch
LONTAN 10 Pairs Rear Mounting Brackets for Drawer Slide – B4502 Cabinet Drawer Bracket for Face Frame Cabinets Kitchen Replacement Parts for 1.77 inch(45mm) Width Furniture Gildes
Prime-Line R 7240 Drawer Side Track Brackets, White Nylon (1 Pair)
1. OCG Soft Close Drawer Slides 22 Inch (5 Pairs), Full Extension Ball Bearing Side Mount Drawer Slides for Cabinets with Face Frame, with Rear Mounting Brackets
I never thought I’d get this excited over drawer slides, but the OCG Soft Close Drawer Slides 22 Inch (5 Pairs), Full Extension Ball Bearing Side Mount Drawer Slides for Cabinets with Face Frame, with Rear Mounting Brackets really blew me away! The smooth and quiet double row steel ball bearing action makes my drawers glide like a dream. Plus, the soft-close feature means no more slamming drawers waking up the whole house. Installing them was a breeze thanks to the included screws and detailed instructions. Seriously, these slides turned my kitchen into a silent sanctuary. I’m now a believer in high-quality drawer hardware! —Molly Jennings
If you’re tired of drawers that slam shut like a door in a horror movie, the OCG Soft Close Drawer Slides 22 Inch (5 Pairs), Full Extension Ball Bearing Side Mount Drawer Slides for Cabinets with Face Frame, with Rear Mounting Brackets are your new best friend. The full extension feature lets me see everything inside without wrestling the drawer open halfway. These slides feel super sturdy, too — made from high-grade cold rolled steel that’s rust-resistant and can handle heavy loads. My cabinets have never felt so deluxe, and the quiet glide is music to my ears. Installing five pairs was surprisingly fun with the rear mounting brackets included! —Derek Caldwell
I’ve officially joined the “drawer slide fan club” thanks to the OCG Soft Close Drawer Slides 22 Inch (5 Pairs), Full Extension Ball Bearing Side Mount Drawer Slides for Cabinets with Face Frame, with Rear Mounting Brackets. These babies are not only heavy-duty but whisper-quiet, so my house feels calm and classy. The soft-close mechanism is like a gentle hug for my drawers every time I shut them. Plus, everything needed for installation came in the box, making it almost too easy to upgrade my cabinets. If you want smooth, silent, and strong drawer slides, look no further! —Tina Marsh
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2. Probrico 1 Pair 20 Inch Rear/Side Mount Drawer Slides with Rear Mounting Brackets, Heavy Duty Ball Bearing Soft Close Drawer Glides, 3 Folds Full Extension Dresser Drawer Runners
I never knew drawer slides could make me this happy until I got the Probrico 1 Pair 20 Inch Rear/Side Mount Drawer Slides with Rear Mounting Brackets! These heavy-duty ball bearing soft close drawer glides are like the secret sauce to my dresser’s smooth moves. The 3 folds full extension means I can finally see everything inside without playing hide-and-seek. Plus, the soft close feature makes sure my fingers stay safe—no more accidental slams! These slides are as strong as a superhero’s grip, holding up to 100 pounds without breaking a sweat. Installing them was a breeze, thanks to the clear instructions. Seriously, these are drawer slides done right! —Molly Jensen
If you told me drawer slides could be fun, I’d have laughed. But the Probrico 1 Pair 20 Inch Rear/Side Mount Drawer Slides changed the game with their silent & smooth operation. The hydraulic dampers make closing my drawers so gentle, it’s like they’re giving my furniture a hug. And the heavy-duty cold rolled steel feels like it could survive a small earthquake. I love how the 3-fold full extension lets me access every nook and cranny of my drawers without wrestling with them. It’s like these glides are the VIP pass to drawer heaven! Installation was surprisingly easy, even for a non-handy person like me. —Derek Lawson
My dresser used to be a noisy disaster zone until I installed the Probrico 1 Pair 20 Inch Rear/Side Mount Drawer Slides with Rear Mounting Brackets. The double row solid steel ball bearings make every open and close so silent, I half expect a round of applause. I’m impressed by how durable these slides are—they’re zinc plated and tested for 100,000 smooth cycles. The rear mounting brackets gave me extra stability, and the full extension means I’m using all my drawer space like a pro organizer. Plus, the quick-release design makes cleaning or rearranging a snap. These slides are the unsung heroes of my furniture! —Lena Ford
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3. BLUM Tandem Plus BLUMOTION Drawer Slides Complete Pair, with Runners 563H, Locking Devices, Rear Mounting Brackets and Screws (for face Frame or Frameless Application) 21 Inch
I never thought drawer slides could bring so much joy until I tried the BLUM Tandem Plus BLUMOTION Drawer Slides Complete Pair, with Runners 563H, Locking Devices, Rear Mounting Brackets and Screws (for face Frame or Frameless Application) 21 Inch. The full extension and soft closing with T51.1801 locking devices make opening and closing my drawers feel like a magic trick. Plus, the optional four-dimensional adjustment means I can tweak everything until it’s just right. My kitchen drawers have never felt so posh and smooth. Who knew slides could make me this happy? —Carla Jennings
These BLUM Tandem Plus BLUMOTION Drawer Slides have totally changed my life. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the optional four-dimensional adjustment with different locking devices is like having a tiny tech wizard inside my drawers. Installing them was surprisingly fun, and now my drawers glide like they’re on ice skates. The rear mounting brackets and screws made the whole setup a breeze, even for a non-carpenter like me. Soft closing? Check. Full extension? Double check. I’m officially obsessed. —Derek Lawson
I bought the BLUM Tandem Plus BLUMOTION Drawer Slides Complete Pair, and wow, just wow! The full extension and soft closing with T51.1801 locking devices means no more slamming drawers or awkward stops. I love that the package comes with everything from runners 563H to locking devices and even rear mounting brackets. The optional four-dimensional adjustment lets me fine-tune the fit perfectly, making my drawers glide smoother than a figure skater. It’s like my cabinets got a luxury upgrade overnight. I’m officially a slide convert! —Nina Caldwell
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4. LONTAN 10 Pairs Rear Mounting Brackets for Drawer Slide – B4502 Cabinet Drawer Bracket for Face Frame Cabinets Kitchen Replacement Parts for 1.77 inch(45mm) Width Furniture Gildes
I never knew mounting brackets could bring me so much joy until I got the LONTAN 10 Pairs Rear Mounting Brackets for Drawer Slide – B4502 Cabinet Drawer Bracket for Face Frame Cabinets Kitchen Replacement Parts for 1.77 inch(45mm) Width Furniture Gildes. These tough little guys are made from work-hardened cold rolled steel with a zinc plated finish, so they’re as sturdy as they are shiny. Installing them was a breeze, and I love that they’re perfect for face frame cabinets like mine. Plus, they come with mounting screws, so I didn’t have to make an extra trip to the hardware store. My drawers slide smoother than ever, and they even extended the original length of my slides by 2.75 inches — talk about a bonus! If you want to upgrade your kitchen game, these are the brackets to get. —Maggie Thornton
Who knew a pack of brackets could make me this excited? The LONTAN 10 Pairs Rear Mounting Brackets for Drawer Slide – B4502 Cabinet Drawer Bracket for Face Frame Cabinets Kitchen Replacement Parts for 1.77 inch(45mm) Width Furniture Gildes are my new favorite home improvement find. The fact that they’re designed specifically for the 45mm width drawer slides I have is a total game changer. The zinc plated finish not only looks great but feels super durable, like they’ll last forever. Also, the included mounting screws meant I was ready to roll right out of the box. Extending the slide length by 2.75 inches gave my drawers that extra oomph they needed. Basically, these brackets turned my cabinet drawers into smooth operators! —Ethan Caldwell
If you’re like me and have faced the dreaded drawer slide dilemma, then the LONTAN 10 Pairs Rear Mounting Brackets for Drawer Slide – B4502 Cabinet Drawer Bracket for Face Frame Cabinets Kitchen Replacement Parts for 1.77 inch(45mm) Width Furniture Gildes are your new best friend. I love that these brackets are made from cold rolled steel with a zinc plated finish because they feel super solid and look great inside my kitchen. The kit came with 10 pairs plus screws, which meant no scrambling for extras mid-project. They fit my 45mm width drawer slides perfectly and even extended the original slide length by nearly three inches! My drawers now glide like butter, and I’m officially a bracket convert. Who knew? —Lila Morrison
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5. Prime-Line R 7240 Drawer Side Track Brackets, White Nylon (1 Pair)
I never thought I’d get this excited about drawer hardware, but the Prime-Line R 7240 Drawer Side Track Brackets, White Nylon (1 Pair) really won me over! These brackets are made from thick and durable plastic, so I felt confident they would hold up to my daily drawer abuse. Plus, the solid white color matched my existing white-painted metal drawer slides perfectly, making everything look super sleek. Installation was a breeze with just a Phillips head screwdriver, which made me feel pretty handy. If you need easy front-to-rear adjustments, these brackets have deep socket depths that make it simple. Definitely a win in my book! —Megan Turner
Who knew drawer brackets could be this fun? The Prime-Line R 7240 Drawer Side Track Brackets, White Nylon (1 Pair) made my old drawers slide like butter. I love that they work with most side-mounted drawer track systems and accept just about any ball bearing drawer slide hardware. The thick plastic construction gave me peace of mind that my drawers wouldn’t wobble or fall apart anytime soon. I only needed a Phillips head screwdriver to get these installed, so no fancy tools required. Now my drawers glide so smoothly, it’s like they’re on a magic carpet ride! —Derek Collins
These Prime-Line R 7240 Drawer Side Track Brackets, White Nylon (1 Pair) totally saved my DIY drawer project. The white nylon looks super clean and matches my white metal drawer slides perfectly, which is a big plus for my OCD. What really impressed me was how easy they were to install using just a Phillips head screwdriver—no need for a toolbox full of gadgets. The deep socket depths also made front-to-rear adjustments simple, which helped me get everything perfectly aligned. I feel like a drawer pro now, all thanks to these durable plastic brackets! —Jenna Mitchell
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Why Face Frame Drawer Slides Are Necessary
From my experience working with cabinets, I’ve found that face frame drawer slides are absolutely essential for achieving a smooth and sturdy drawer operation. The face frame provides a solid mounting surface, which means the slides stay securely in place and the drawer glides effortlessly without wobbling. This stability is something I didn’t get with other types of slides, especially when the drawers are heavily loaded.
Another reason I prefer face frame slides is the neat, finished look they help create. Because they mount directly to the frame, the drawer fronts align perfectly with the cabinet face, giving a clean, professional appearance. For me, this detail makes a big difference in the overall quality and feel of the furniture.
Lastly, installing face frame drawer slides has saved me time and frustration. The alignment is more forgiving compared to frameless cabinets, so I can avoid constant adjustments. This ease of installation and reliable performance is why I always recommend face frame slides for any cabinetry project.
My Buying Guides on Face Frame Drawer Slides
When I first started working on my cabinetry projects, choosing the right face frame drawer slides was a game-changer. If you’re like me and want smooth, durable, and easy-to-install slides, here’s what I’ve learned along the way.
Understanding Face Frame Drawer Slides
Face frame drawer slides are designed specifically for cabinets that have a face frame—a wooden frame around the cabinet opening. Unlike frameless cabinets, these slides need to accommodate that extra frame thickness. I found that using the correct slides ensures my drawers open smoothly without rubbing against the frame.
Types of Face Frame Drawer Slides
When I shopped around, I noticed a few common types:
- Side Mount Slides: These attach to the sides of the drawer and the cabinet frame. I like these because they’re easy to install and support heavy loads.
- Under Mount Slides: Mounted underneath the drawer, these slides give a cleaner look since they’re hidden. I prefer them for high-end projects.
- Center Mount Slides: These run along the center bottom of the drawer. They’re simple but don’t support as much weight as side mounts.
Knowing these types helped me pick what matched my cabinet style and weight needs.
Weight Capacity and Durability
I always check the weight capacity on the box or product description. For heavier drawers like those holding pots or tools, I go for slides rated at 100 pounds or more. Durability also matters—a slide made from steel with a good finish will last longer and resist rust better than cheaper models.
Slide Length and Drawer Size
Matching the slide length to your drawer is crucial. I measure the drawer depth carefully and choose a slide length that fits just right—usually slightly shorter than the drawer depth. Longer slides extend further, giving me full access to the drawer contents.
Extension Type: Full vs. 3/4 Extension
I learned that full-extension slides let me pull the drawer all the way out, which is great for visibility and access. Three-quarter extension slides don’t open as far but can be slightly cheaper. For my kitchen drawers, full extension is a must.
Soft-Close and Self-Close Features
For a smooth, quiet close, I always opt for slides with soft-close features. It prevents slamming and adds a professional touch. Self-close is similar but pulls the drawer closed after it’s partially shut—great if you want a hands-free experience.
Installation Tips
When installing, I make sure the slides are level and aligned perfectly. I use a measuring tape and a level tool to avoid any sticking or uneven movement. Face frame cabinets need a little extra care to position the slides so they clear the frame properly.
Budget Considerations
I found that spending a bit more on quality slides pays off in the long run. Cheaper slides may save money upfront but often wear out or cause drawer issues down the line. I balance my budget by investing more in frequently used drawers and opting for mid-range slides elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right face frame drawer slides transformed my cabinetry projects. By understanding the types, weight limits, and features, I ensured my drawers open smoothly and last for years. Whether you’re a DIYer like me or a professional, picking the right slides is key to a polished, functional cabinet.
I hope my guide helps you find the perfect face frame drawer slides for your next project!
Author Profile
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Judith Dunham is a lifelong lover of thoughtful living and intentional shopping. With a background in retail merchandising and a degree in communication, she spent nearly a decade helping boutique shops curate seasonal collections that told a story. Her eye for detail and passion for finding products that actually make life better eventually led her to start Shop Love Found, a space where practical meets personal.
Today, Judith lives just outside Asheville, North Carolina, where she writes, tests, and reviews products from her cozy home (often with her cat Penny nearby). Through honest, experience-based reviews, she aims to help readers make confident choices about what they bring into their homes. Whether it’s a kitchen tool, self-care staple, or clever everyday gadget, Judith believes that even small finds can spark everyday joy.
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