How to Measure Cabinet Handle Hole Centres
Replacing cabinet handles is usually straightforward when the new hardware matches the existing fixing holes. This guide shows exactly what to measure, what the numbers mean and what to do when your old holes do not match a standard size.
Measure your handles
What does “hole centre” mean?
Hole centre is the installation measurement between two fixing points. It may also be described as centre to centre, CTC, C/C, fixing centres or hole spacing.
Centre to centre
The distance from the centre of one mounting hole to the centre of the other.
End to end
The full physical length of the handle. It affects appearance, not whether existing holes align.
Distance from the door
How far the handle stands away from the cabinet front. This affects grip and clearance.
Usable hand space
The space available behind the handle for fingers. Check this separately from the hole-centre size.
How to measure cabinet handle hole centres.
For the most reliable result, remove one existing handle and measure the actual fixing positions rather than estimating from the visible ends of the handle.
Remove one handle.
Unscrew one existing handle so the two mounting holes are clearly visible. You only need one representative handle from each different size used in the room.
Measure centre to centre.
Place a rigid ruler across the holes and measure from the centre of the first hole to the centre of the second. Record the exact measurement in millimetres.
Match the measurement.
Choose a replacement handle with the same hole-centre measurement wherever possible. 128mm existing holes should be matched with a 128mm handle.
Do not choose the “closest” size.
If your existing holes measure 150mm, a 160mm handle will not line up simply because it is the nearest listed size. Recheck the measurement, then either find an exact match or plan for new holes and concealment of the old ones.
Measure from the holes — or from the fixings at the back.
Removing one handle is usually the clearest method, but the fixing positions can sometimes be measured from the rear of the door or drawer if the screw centres are easy to identify.
Measure the exposed holes.
With the handle removed, the centres are easier to see and you avoid guessing where the fixing points sit beneath decorative ends or bases.
Measure the screw centres at the back.
If the rear fixings are clearly visible and aligned, you can measure centre to centre there. Measure carefully and confirm before ordering a full kitchen quantity.
Common cabinet handle hole centres.
In Australian cabinet hardware, you will often see metric hole centres such as 96mm, 128mm, 160mm, 192mm and 224mm. These are useful reference sizes, but there is no single Australian standard that every handle must follow.
| Hole centre | What it means | Replacement check |
|---|---|---|
| 96mm | The two mounting-hole centres are 96mm apart. | Use a 96mm replacement when the existing holes measure 96mm centre to centre. |
| 128mm | The two mounting-hole centres are 128mm apart. | Use a 128mm replacement when the existing holes measure 128mm centre to centre. |
| 160mm | The two mounting-hole centres are 160mm apart. | Use a 160mm replacement when the existing holes measure 160mm centre to centre. |
| 192mm | The two mounting-hole centres are 192mm apart. | Use a 192mm replacement when the existing holes measure 192mm centre to centre. |
| 224mm | The two mounting-hole centres are 224mm apart. | Use a 224mm replacement when the existing holes measure 224mm centre to centre. |
These are commonly encountered metric sizes, not a universal Australian standard. For visual proportion advice, see the Cabinet Handle Size Guide.
Browse handles in a matching size.
Explore our solid brass bar-handle collections, then choose the matching hole-centre option on the product page.
Size availability varies by handle range. Confirm the selected product's hole-centre option and full dimensions before ordering.
Older or imported cabinetry can be different.
Do not assume an existing handle uses one of these measurements. Older kitchens, custom joinery and imported hardware may use uncommon metric or imperial spacings. Measure the actual holes before ordering.
What if the existing holes do not match?
A non-standard measurement does not necessarily mean the cabinetry cannot be updated, but the replacement needs more planning.
Not every cabinet handle is measured the same way.
Hole-centre measurement is essential for two-fixing pulls, but other hardware types need additional dimensions.
Bar pulls
Measure centre to centre between the two mounting holes. Then check overall length and projection.
Knobs
Knobs normally use one fixing hole, so there is no two-hole centre measurement. Check knob diameter, projection and screw compatibility.
Cup pulls
Check the fixing centres listed by the manufacturer as well as overall width and projection. The visible shape can make end-to-end measuring misleading.
Lip / edge pulls
Check the product drawing for overall length, fixing layout, projection and the cabinet edge thickness required for installation.
Check more than the hole centres.
A matching fixing size tells you the handle can line up. It does not guarantee the new handle will look, feel or install exactly like the old one.
Hole centre
Does the new handle exactly match the existing fixing spacing?
Overall length
Will the new handle cover old marks and suit the scale of the door or drawer?
Projection
Is there enough hand clearance without interfering with adjacent fronts?
Screws & panel
Check the supplied screw length against the thickness of the cabinet front rather than assuming every fixing is identical.
Three measuring mistakes to avoid.
Most replacement problems start with measuring the wrong dimension or assuming the whole kitchen uses the same hardware.
Measuring end to end.
The overall handle length does not tell you where the fixing holes are. Use centre-to-centre spacing for replacement fit.
Measuring edge to edge.
Measure to the centre of each hole, not from the outer edges of the holes. Even a small error can create the wrong result.
Assuming every handle matches.
Measure at least one example of every visibly different handle size before ordering a full set.
Cabinet handle measurement FAQs.
Twenty practical questions customers commonly encounter when measuring or replacing cabinet hardware.
1. How do I measure cabinet handle hole centres?
Remove one existing handle and measure in millimetres from the centre of one mounting hole to the centre of the other. This centre-to-centre measurement is the size to match when choosing a two-fixing replacement handle.
2. What does centre-to-centre, CTC or C/C mean?
These terms describe the same measurement: the distance between the centres of the two fixing holes. Product listings may also call this fixing centres or hole spacing.
3. Is hole centre the same as the overall handle length?
No. Hole centre measures the distance between the mounting screws. Overall length measures the full end-to-end size of the handle and is normally longer than the hole-centre dimension.
4. Do I need to remove the handle before measuring?
Removing one handle is the clearest method because you can see the actual holes. If the screw centres are clearly visible from the rear of the cabinet front, you can sometimes measure them from the back instead.
5. What are common cabinet handle hole-centre sizes in Australia?
Common metric sizes include 96mm, 128mm, 160mm, 192mm and 224mm, along with other sizes depending on the handle design. There is no single universal Australian hole-centre standard, so measure the existing fixing holes rather than assuming the size.
6. Can I measure from the screws on the back of the door or drawer?
Yes, provided the screw centres are clearly visible and accurately aligned with the handle fixings. Measure from the centre of one screw to the centre of the other and confirm the result on another handle if possible.
7. Should I measure in millimetres or inches?
For modern cabinet hardware in Australia, millimetres are generally the most useful measurement. If the existing hardware appears to be imperial, record the exact dimension rather than assuming it matches the nearest metric size.
8. My measurement is 127mm or 159mm. Should I round it?
Do not automatically round. Recheck the centre points and measure again with a rigid ruler. A small discrepancy may be measuring error, but older or custom hardware can also use uncommon spacing. Confirm before ordering.
9. Can I replace a 128mm handle with a 160mm handle without drilling?
No. A 128mm and a 160mm handle use different fixing centres, so they will not fit the same two holes. You would normally need new holes unless the new hardware has a special adjustable fixing system.
10. What if my existing holes do not match a standard size?
First confirm the measurement. If it is genuinely non-standard, look for a handle with an exact matching centre, or plan to redrill and repair or conceal the previous fixing holes.
11. Can a longer replacement handle cover the old holes?
Sometimes, but overall length alone is not enough to know. Check the location and width of the new mounting bases and compare the full product drawing with the old fixing marks before ordering.
12. Can I use a backplate to cover old cabinet handle holes?
A suitable backplate can sometimes conceal old holes or marks when changing fixing centres. It must be large enough to cover the previous area and compatible with the new handle and cabinet design.
13. Can I replace a cabinet knob with a two-hole handle?
Yes, but a knob normally uses one hole while a pull uses two. At least one new hole will usually need to be drilled, and you should plan the position carefully before drilling.
14. Can I replace a two-hole handle with a knob?
It is possible, but one knob fixing will not normally conceal two existing handle holes. The unused hole will need to be repaired or covered unless the new hardware has a base large enough to conceal it.
15. How do I measure a cup pull?
Check the manufacturer's fixing-centre dimension rather than measuring only the visible cup width. Also confirm overall width and projection because the cup shape can extend beyond its fixing points.
16. How do I measure a lip or edge pull?
Use the product drawing. Lip and edge pulls may depend on overall length, fixing-hole layout, projection and the thickness or edge detail of the cabinet front, so hole centre alone may not describe the complete installation.
17. Do all cabinet handles in one kitchen need the same hole centres?
No. A kitchen can use the same handle style in several sizes to suit different drawers and doors. When replacing existing hardware, measure each visibly different handle size rather than assuming they are all the same.
18. Do I need to check screw length as well?
Yes. Screw length needs to suit the thickness of the cabinet front and the handle's fixing depth. Check the supplied hardware and product instructions rather than assuming old screws will always be suitable.
19. How many handles should I measure before ordering?
Measure at least one handle from every visibly different size or style, and spot-check a second handle where practical. Kitchens can contain different hole centres across drawers, doors and later additions.
20. Should I drill new cabinet handle holes before the handles arrive?
For replacement or new installation, it is safer to confirm the actual product dimensions first. Use the manufacturer's drawing or the physical handle and an accurate template before committing to new holes in finished cabinetry.
Continue planning your cabinet hardware.
Use these guides when you need to move from installation compatibility into proportion, style or final placement.
This guide was created by Brass Handles, drawing on more than 10 years of experience in joinery design and technical detailing across kitchens, wardrobes and custom cabinetry. It is written for Australian kitchen, bathroom, wardrobe and joinery projects, where cabinet hardware dimensions are typically specified in millimetres.
We can help you check the measurement.
Send us a clear photo of the existing handle together with the centre-to-centre measurement and cabinet dimensions, and we can help you work out which replacement size to look for.
Contact us