Do you also have a near-panic attack feeling when you try to get something from a drawer and you find out that the drawer is jammed?
Imagine a moment – a situation, you’re getting late for the date that you have been waiting for, you are ready and you want to get that ring or that perfume or that piece of jewelry out of your drawer and only at that moment, you find out that it is jammed.
I bet that nothing can be more infuriating than such a moment/situation. 99 out of 100 times, it happens because of jammed drawer slides.
The irony is that most of us don’t even know about the apparently simple, but highly complex mechanism that opens and shuts drawers with a swift pull or push.
This is what this article is all about. In this article, you will get to know about the best drawer slides, their types, an in-depth review of each of the seven slides that I picked for this list, and a buyer’s guide + FAQs section to educate you on drawer slides.
What We Have Covered
Types of Drawer Slides & Best Pick
In this section, you will find out the best-picked drawer slides based on one or another distinct quality.
- Soft Close Glides
- Side Mount Slides
- Undermount
- Bestseller
- Best Budget
Top Drawer Slides With Soft Close and Full Extension
In this section, you will read a detailed review (features, pros and cons) of each of the top seven drawer slides.
1. Friho Side Mount Drawer Slides – Editor’s Choice
Friho’s drawer slides that I picked for this review come in a pack of 5 pairs of 10 slides. These are full-extension side mount slides that you can buy without having to worry about their quality or longevity.
Side Mount Slides
The first thing that you need to know about these slides is the type of slides they are. They are side mount standard slides that most of the drawers at one’s home usually have.
5 Pair of 10 Slides
The pack that you’ll get will include 5 pairs of 10 slides. While the pack does not include the mounting brackets, it includes mounting screws.
Different Sizes
The size that I picked for this review (click the link and buy it), is 10-inch slides, but this is the smallest size on the list; you can buy 12”, 14”, 16”, 18” or 20” length slides if you want.
Steel Ball-Bearing Action
The inside mechanism of slides is what make a bad or good pair of drawer slides. This one has a steel ball-bearing action; the benefits of this mechanism include fast, precise and easy opening and closing.
Full Extension
This is a full extension drawer slides kit. What is full extension in this case? Well, you know when you wish that you were able to open your drawer to the maximum limit of the slides? This is what full-extension slides are for.
Made of Zinc Plated Cold Rolled Steel
These things are moist/rust-free forever. How come? These slides are made of cold-rolled steel. In case you don’t know, cold-rolled steel does not only look better than hot-rolled one, but it is stronger too. Plus, zinc plating protects it from corrosion.
Lever Disconnect for Easy Removal
The lever disconnect feature allows you to swiftly and easily remove the drawer from the cabinet.
Non-Handed
The pair of slides that you get are non-handed: means you can use any of them on any side of the drawer.
Positive Stops
These drawer rails come with positive stops; this detail is technical, but precisely, positive stops control the open and close positions of a drawer.
2. ProMark Full Extension Drawer Slide – Best Soft Close Pack
This pack of 10 slides by ProMark is different from the other pack with the same name mentioned in the best picks section. This one is a side-mount pack, but not a soft-close one, while that one is a soft-close pack. In case you are bent on high-quality side-mount slides, but you do not care about soft-close features, this pack is the best that you can get.
10 Pair Pack
It is important to know how many slides you will get in a pack because these details can be confusing. This is a 10-pack deal and each pack consists of 1 pair of slides. There are obviously 2 slides in each pair.
22” Slides
Unlike the above-mentioned pack, this one is only available in one size. You get 22” deep drawer slides. The good thing is that this is most of the time, the maximum required size of slides because it provides enough depth.
Full Extension
Just like the above-reviewed drawer slides, this pack also consists of full extension drawer slides. As it has been explained before, a full extension drawer slider is one that allows you to open the drawer to full extent of the slider.
Cold Rolled Steel
These drawer slides are also made of cold-rolled steel. You can tell this from the fine surface of these drawer slides. However, cold-rolled steel does more than looking finer than the hot-rolled one; it is sturdier and stronger than the other type.
Non-Handed
As it was the case with the previously reviewed drawer slides, this set is also of non-handed drawer slides. You can use any of them to any of the two sides of a drawer.
Positive Stops
This one also comes with positive stops. You enjoy better opening and closing when your drawer slides have these positive stops.
Steel Ball-Bearing Mechanism
We know what steel ball-bearing do; we know what they do in fans and many other mechanical products. But one wonders as to what is the main benefit of using steel ball-bearing in drawer slides. The first benefit is that steel ball-bearing works better than roller guides when in high temperature and the second benefit is how comfortable they make the opening and closing of drawers.
Lever Disconnect Design
Due to how the carpenter makes a cabinet or how you use it, you must agree that opening a drawer often becomes a difficult job because the drawer is tucked so hard inside the cabinet. Lever disconnect design makes sure that you easily open the drawer.
3. Blum 563H Full Extension Drawer Slides – Best Under-Mount Slides
In case side-mount drawer sliders are not your thing and you want something different and with its own benefits – this pack of under-mount drawer slides may please you. These soft-closing under-mount slides are preferred because a) they can be adjusted without tools, and b) they work better with soft-closing mechanisms.
1 Pack of 2 Drawer Slides
It is important to know what you get when you buy this pack. It is one pack consisting of 2 drawer slides. Since these are under-mount slides, it is important to note that they are not non-handed and you must use them wisely.
Different Sizes
While the size I picked here is 21”, you can go to the same link and choose from other sizes if you want to. These slides are available in 9”, 12” 15”, 18” and 21” lengths.
Accessories
The good thing about Blum is that unlike its rival brands – big ones – it provides all required accessories with the package. Apart from the slides, you get locking devices, rear mounting brackets and screws etc.
Undermount Slides
These slides are under-mount slides. As the name suggests, slides are nailed underneath the drawers and not on the sides. As I’ve explained, these slides are preferred because they remain concealed and it is because of them that your drawers have a neat, clean and slick profile.
Concealed Drawer Runners
Speaking of how these slides keep opening and cleaning neat and clean, one must understand how the concealed drawer runners work. These slides come with TANDEM and BLUMOTION concealed runners. They are installed on the backside before you install the slides.
Holes for Depth Adjustment
There are elongated holes on the front side of these slides. You can use them to adjust the depth; it is because of this useful feature that a 21” pack of slides can be used in most of the cabinets, with minor adjustment.
Exceptional Load Capacity
You must have seen those drawers that tend to lean downwards. This happens because of substandard material used in the drawer slides. These slides from Blum have exceptional load capacity; they can bear maximum static load of 100lb.
4. Promark 20 Inch Self Close Drawer Slides
Again, this should not be confused with other 10 pair packs from ProMark. While the name and many features of the both of these packs are the same, there is one key difference. This one is a soft-close one, while the previously reviewed one is a pack of simple side-mount slides (the non-soft-closing ones).
Pack of 10 Side Mount Slides
What you get when you buy by clicking on the link is a pack of 10 pairs of slides, with 20 slides in total. These are side mount slides – pretty standard slide systems that you see mostly in drawers.
Soft/Self Close Slides
When it comes to the type of these slides, what makes them better than most of the side-mount slides is that they are soft or self-close slides. These slides are so highly sought after because unlike those loud and free-rolling slides that most of us see every day, they have a soft-closing mechanism. That mechanism takes over the closing process before the drawer is completely shut and silently closes the drawer.
Available in Different Sizes
The size that you get by default is 22” slides, but in case you want a size smaller than that, you can pick from 16”, 18” and 20” slides.
Lever Disconnect Feature
Just like in case of all high-quality drawer slides, these slides also have a lever disconnect feature. This feature makes it super easy to remove the drawer from the cabinet.
Lifetime Warranty
There is a limited lifetime warranty on these slides from ProMark. This definitely reflects ProMark’s confidence in this product.
Made of Cold Rolled Steel
Just like other side-mount slides from ProMark (the non-soft-closing ones), these slides are also made of cold-rolled steel. The biggest benefit of using this type of process is that the product becomes stronger and sturdier than those processed in hot-rolled steel.
Maximum Load Capacity 100lbs
Just like the Blum drawer slides, these too are made of industrial-grade steel that ensures maximum load capacity. These slides (and the drawer) can easily withstand a load up to 100lbs.
Non-Handed
These are non-handed slides just like the other pack of slides from Pro-Mark; you can use any of them on any side of a drawer.
Steel Ball-Bearing Mechanism
These slides also feature a steel ball-bearing mechanism. Steel ball-bearings are the reason why you open and shut drawers with such ease and comfort.
5. Gobrico Side/Rear Mounting Drawer slides
This is our best budget drawer slides pack that costs less than $101 at the time of writing this review. However, affordable price is not the only reason why you should consider buying this pack. It got Amazon’s Choice tag for high-quality material and soft/self-close design.
Side-Mount Slides
What you get when you buy this pack are 10 pairs of 22” slides with a total number of 20 slides. These are standard side-mount slides so unless you want under-mount ones, you can fearlessly buy these high-quality slides.
Available in Different Sizes
While 22” is the size that you get by default, you can still choose from a range of other sizes when you go to the Amazon listing by clicking the link. Other available sizes are 12”, 14”, 16”, 18”, 20” and 24”.
Soft/Self Close Feature
This is sort of the best deal that you can get. Not only this pack of slides is the most affordable one, but it seems to be checking all the boxes (self-closing, full-extension, 10 pairs, and whatnot).
Steel Ball-Bearing Mechanism
While Gobrico’s pack of 20 slides is affordable, it has almost all of the important features that you notice in case of expensive and high-quality drawer slides from companies like ProMark and others. One of the features is a steel ball-bearing mechanism that makes opening and closing easier.
Accessories Included
Another good news about this pack of slides is that you would not have to buy essential accessories separately; everything that is needed for installation and functioning of these slides is included in the pack. These accessories include slides, brackets, and installation screws.
Full Extension
All these slides are full-extension slides, which means that after installing these slides properly, you should be able to open the drawer to the full extent (size) of these slides.
Remove Buckle for Easy Removal of Drawer
This thing is exactly what removal levers are. You can use this to swiftly remove the drawer from the cabinet.
6. LONTAN SL4502S3-22 Drawer slides
One of the few brands that are known for manufacturing high-quality soft-close side-mount slides is LONTON. This particular pack of slides from LONTON got Amazon’s Choice tag for amazing reviews and overall rating.
10 Pair of Side-Mount Slides
If you click the link above, you will get a pack of 10 pairs of high-quality side-mount slides. There are 20 slides in total.
Soft Close
This is not your ordinary pack of side-mount slides, these slides have a soft-close mechanism. This self/soft close feature is due to the hydraulic damping trigger that automatically closes the drawer without the slamming noise.
Come in Different Sizes
While by default you will be given the option to buy 22” slides, on the listing there are other sizes also. You can choose 16”, 18” or 20” long slides if 22” is not what you need.
Made of Cold Rolled Steel
These slides are made of cold-rolled steel: the usual material used on top of the line drawer slides. And there is Zinc plating/coating on steel to protect it from corrosion.
Steel Ball-Bearing Mechanism
This pack of drawer slides also has the steel ball-bearing mechanism inside each slide. This helps with swift and easy opening and closure. There are 2 rows of steel balls in each slide which keep the drawer from derailing.
Double Anti-Drop Function
This is something new and different from the pretty usual features that you notice in the case of every other drawer slide pack. The double anti-drop function keeps the drawer from coming out of the cabinet.
Full Extension
These slides are full extension slides just like all other slides that I’ve reviewed so far. Full-extension means that you get to open the drawer to the full extent of the slides.
Snap-on Design
Another unique feature: unlike the lever function that you must have noticed in almost all slides that I’ve reviewed in this list, these slides have nylon detachable snaps that you push or pull for installation or removal of the drawer.
7. LONTAN SL4502S3-16 1 Pair Drawer Slides
In case you do not need a big pack of 5 to 10 pairs of drawer slides, but you only need slides for one drawer, you should definitely go for this option. This is the only 1 pair pack that I picked for this list and its features are simply just as amazing as they can be in case of any top of the line soft-closing drawer slides.
1 Pair of Side-Mount Slides
So, the most important detail that you should know is that this is a pack of one pair of (two) slides. These are side-mount slides: the standard style and type of drawer slides.
Soft Closing
These are soft-closing drawer slides. Just like the above reviewed LONTAN slides, these also have hydraulic dampener that takes charge of closing right before the drawer is about to be shut, and it does so in a silent way.
Made of Cold-Rolled Steel
This pair of slides is also made of cold-rolled steel. As we know, cold-rolled steel coated with Zinc stays strong for years to come and stays free of corrosion.
Steel Ball-Bearing Mechanism
The dual ball-bearing rows in these slides, keep them up and running. You enjoy a smooth and labor-free opening and closure.
Comes in Different Sizes
While the default size that you get when you click the link is 16”, there are other sizes available too. You can choose 18”, 20” and 22” pairs.
Full Extension
This is also a pack of full extension slides; as you know these are the slides that let you open the drawer up to their maximum size.
Multiple Holes for Depth Adjustment
On the front side of these slides, there are elongated holes that you can use for depth adjustment. This means that you can play with the abovementioned sizes of the slides and get the kind of results you want.
Snap-on Design
As explained earlier, nylon snaps make it very easy for you to install or remove the slides.
Accessories
This pack comes with all required accessories such as screws and brackets etc.
Drawer Slides Buyer’s Guide
So, I’ve reviewed 7 best drawer slides that you can buy from Amazon, but there are the inquisitive ones who want to be able to buy their slides on their own.
They want to know what to look for when buying drawer slides. This buyer’s guides and the FAQs section in the end is to help those.
Type of Slides
There are two ways you can categorize these slides. All drawer slides are not the same. For example, there is a category based on whether the drawer slides can soft/self-close or not.
In this list I’ve reviewed both types of slides: those that can self/soft-close and those that shut the drawer with a slamming sound.
The former is the best, but it costs a little more than the latter.
Then there comes another category and that is based on the positioning of slides. Whether you’d love more common, successful and cheap side-mount slides, or you’re willing to pay a little extra for under-mount slides that remain hidden while they work?
Mechanism
A slide is a simple and complex item at the same time. Let us talk about what makes it simple. All slides have to have a sliding mechanism. Either a slide has a roller mechanism that uses plastic or other material wheels to make the inner part roll easily, or a slide comes with steel ball-bearings that do the same thing that rollers do.
While roller drawer slides are cheap, their plastic parts do not last for very long. On the other steel ball-bearings are expensive, but they are sort of there forever and they offer a smoother and easier opening.
Length
This is a very important part: the sort of things that hide in plain sight. Why? Because all of us are so hell-bent on details like soft-close or not and under-mount or side-mount. Definitely, all drawers are not made equal. You have to get the slides based on the size of the drawer.
It is true that elongated holes let you make some depth adjustments, but there is a limit to that customization. In the end, the size of your slides must conform to the size of the drawer.
Weight Capacity
As I said, all drawers are not made equal. There are those that host your DVD collection, there are those that are used to store clothing/hosiery, and then there are those that are used to store tools and heavy items.
You must consider the kind of weight your drawers are going to lift before you pick a drawer slides pack. The best of them can bear weight as much as 100lbs, but this is the limit and you should know that actual weight loading capacity would be less than this.
FAQs
So, what are the most frequently asked questions about drawer slides and what are their answers?
How do I choose a drawer slide?
A simple answer is that you measure from the back of the drawer’s end to its front, including only the measurements of the box. Then round the measurements to the lower number – buy 18” drawer slides for a drawer that is 18 ½” long. However, buying a drawer slide is not that simple – consider other facts too, that I’ve mentioned above.
What kind of drawer slides are best value for money?
In case, if the budget is not a problem, you should buy under-mount, soft-closing drawer slides. Why? Because soft-closing minimizes the accident, trauma, and noise-pollution that result in a case of slamming and because under-mount slides ensure a neat and clean drawer profile.
What to do if you accidentally order slides that are too short for your drawer?
In case the difference isn’t too much (buying 18” slides for a 20” drawer), you should use the slides by leaving a gap on the back-side of the drawer. The front will appear the same.
Do I have to lubricate the slides?
The slides that I’ve reviewed for this post aren’t roller mechanism slides. You do not really need to lubricate them, but only rarely.
Take a look at these products from the same price range, that are available right now on Amazon: