Drawer Slide Types Guide: Sizes, Functions & How to Choose | Dong Hung Hardware Vietnam

Drawer slides (drawer runners) let kitchen, wardrobe, desk and filing-cabinet drawers open and close smoothly while carrying load. Choosing the wrong slide is a common factory mistake: drawers jam, sag after a few months, or must be rebuilt because of wrong dimensions. This guide classifies drawer slides by type, function and size, with drawer-box formulas so you can order correctly the first time.

1. Drawer slide types (construction)

Type	Construction / mounting	Advantages	Typical use
3-section ball bearing slide	3 nested steel members on ball bearings; side mount	Low cost, durable, full extension	Kitchen, wardrobe, desk, filing cabinet
Soft-close ball bearing slide	Ball bearing slide + damper at end of travel	Quiet self-closing, no slamming	Mid-range kitchens and apartments
Push-to-open slide	Ball bearing slide with spring release	Handle-free fronts	Modern flat-panel furniture
Undermount (concealed) slide	Hidden under the drawer bottom	Clean look, smooth, usually soft-close	Premium kitchens, walk-in wardrobes
Metal drawer box (tandem box)	Undermount slide with steel drawer sides	Fast assembly, uniform, strong	Pot & pan drawers
Roller slide (epoxy, L-type)	2 members with nylon rollers; side + bottom	Lowest price	Small drawers, budget furniture (~3/4 extension)
Heavy-duty slide	Wide ball bearing slide, thick steel, lock-in/out	High load	Tool cabinets, warehouse drawers, machinery
Keyboard slide	Twin slides under desktop	Hidden keyboard tray	Office desks
Sliding door track	Top/bottom track with rollers	Saves opening space	Sliding wardrobes, partitions

2. By function

• Extension: full extension (3-section, premium undermount) vs. 3/4 extension (roller, 2-section).
• Closing: standard – soft-close – push-to-open.
• Mounting: side mount – undermount – under-desk.
• Load: light – medium (kitchen, wardrobe) – heavy (tools, files, storage).
• Material: zinc-plated steel (indoor), epoxy-coated steel (roller slides), stainless steel (humid or coastal areas).

3. By size

Slide length	Inches (approx.)	Suitable cabinet inner depth
250 mm	10"	about 27–30 cm
300 mm	12"	about 32–35 cm
350 mm	14"	about 37–40 cm
400 mm	16"	about 42–45 cm
450 mm	18"	about 47–50 cm
500 mm	20"	about 52–55 cm (common base kitchen cabinet)
550–600 mm	22–24"	57 cm and deeper

Slide width (height) determines load capacity:

Ball slide width	Typical load / pair	Use
27–35 mm	light, about 15–25 kg	Small drawers, keyboard trays
42–45 mm	about 30–45 kg	Most common: kitchen, wardrobe, desk
53 mm	about 60–80 kg	Wide drawers, filing, heavy pots
76 mm+	over 100 kg	Tool cabinets, industrial

Load ratings are typical market values; each brand and steel thickness differs – we confirm exact specs for each item when you order.

4. Drawer box formulas

Slide type	Drawer width	Drawer depth	Note
Side-mount ball slide	Inner cabinet width − 25 mm (≈12.7 mm per side)	≥ slide length	Cabinet sides must be parallel within ±1 mm
Roller slide	Inner width − about 25 mm	≈ slide length	Mount at the bottom edge of the drawer side
Undermount / metal box	Per manufacturer chart (usually inner width − 10~16 mm)	= slide length	Drawer sides usually 16 mm; recessed bottom

5. Quick selection guide

• Base kitchen cabinet: soft-close ball slide 42–45 mm, 450–500 mm; premium projects use undermount or metal drawer boxes.
• Wardrobe, bedside: 3-section ball slide 350–450 mm.
• Desk: 35–42 mm ball slide, 250–400 mm.
• Filing / tool cabinet: 53 mm or heavy-duty slide.
• Humid / coastal: stainless steel slides.

6. Retail prices (VND, Vietnam)

Item	Size	Retail excl. VAT	Retail incl. 8% VAT
3-section ball slide NEO white	42 × 250 mm	52,000	56,200
3-section ball slide NEO white	42 × 300 mm	59,000	63,700
3-section ball slide KEV black	45 × 300 mm	55,200	59,600
3-section ball slide KEV	45 × 350 mm	64,400	69,600
3-section ball slide KEV	45 × 400 mm	73,600	79,500
3-section ball slide KEV black	45 × 450 mm	82,800	89,400
3-section ball slide KEV black	45 × 500 mm	92,000	99,400
Sliding door track	3 m	99,000 /pair	106,900 /pair
Sliding door roller	set	18,000	19,400
Soft-close, undermount, push-to-open	300–500 mm	On request	On request

Reference retail prices per set, effective 12/11/2026. For bulk or export quantities, contact us on Zalo/WhatsApp for wholesale quotes.

📖 Vietnamese version: Phân loại ray trượt

DONG HUNG TECHNICAL TRADING JOINT STOCK COMPANY (Dong Hung Hardware, since 2004)
Wholesale furniture hardware: drawer slides, hinges, adhesives, fittings for woodworking factories.
📍 30/8C Hai Ba Trung St., Dong Tac Quarter, Di An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📞 +84 908 186 387 – 💬 Zalo / WhatsApp: +84 933 034 768
✉️ info@donghunghardware.com

Send us your cabinet inner dimensions and quantity – we recommend the right slide and quote wholesale prices the same day. Domestic delivery across Vietnam; export orders welcome.