How High Should Wardrobe Handles Be?
Contemplating the perfect height for your wardrobe handles, you step back and take in the clean lines of your newly fitted doors. While the handles might seem like a minor detail, their placement can have a huge impact on the functionality and aesthetics of your space.
Getting the height just right is key to both the look and the feel of your wardrobe, bringing balance to the design while making everyday use effortless – but how high should wardrobe handles be exactly?
Find out how high to position your wardrobe handles for a finish that’s both stylish and practical.
How high should wardrobe handles be?
Wardrobe handles are generally installed around 900mm to 1100mm from the floor. This is considered to be the ideal height for most adults, allowing a comfortable reach without the need for too much bending or stretching. This height is ideal from an aesthetic perspective, too, offering a balanced look by being fairly central on the wardrobe doors.
However, you should also consider the individual needs of the wardrobe’s primary users and adjust the height of the handles accordingly.
- Children’s wardrobes should have slightly lower handles, around 750mm to 900mm from the floor.
- Wardrobes for tall individuals should have slightly higher handles, around 1100mm to 1200mm from the floor.
A good way to check you’ve got the height right before permanently screwing the handles into place is to temporarily attach the handles with masking tape. Doing this will allow you and anyone else who will be using the wardrobe to test that the height is ideal and make sure everything looks good from a style perspective.
Image courtesy of @landmasslondon
Knobs or pulls?
Before installing your wardrobe handles, you’ll need to decide whether you’d prefer them to be knobs or pulls. While it largely comes down to personal preference, there are a few factors that should inform your decision:
- Style and design: Knobs generally offer a more traditional or classic look and blend into the space for a more subtle touch. Pulls tend to have a sleeker, modern look and often stand out more than knobs.
- Size of wardrobe: Larger wardrobes benefit from pulls as they provide more surface area to grip, making them much easier to open. If you prefer the aesthetic of knobs, save these for smaller wardrobes – they won’t overwhelm the design and will help keep your space balanced.
- Ease of use: Pulls are generally easier to grab, making them a more ergonomic and accessible option. Knobs can sometimes be harder to grip and pull, especially for children or elderly users.
“Before you install your wardrobe handles, take a moment to think about how you want them to look and feel. Do you prefer the simplicity of knobs or the practicality of pulls? While it largely comes down to personal preference, pulls can offer a more streamlined, contemporary vibe—especially on larger wardrobe doors—whereas knobs lend themselves to a softer, more classic look.”
Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Interiors Expert and Co-Founder
If your bedrooms include both wardrobes and drawers, it’s common to use pulls for the wardrobe and knobs for the drawers. Just make sure you choose the same style of wardrobe handles and drawer knobs for a cohesive look.
Image courtesy of Made by Husk
How to fit your wardrobe handles
Once you’ve decided on a height for your wardrobe handles, it’s time to install them. However, careful measurement and planning is required to ensure a professional-looking finish.
What you’ll need:
- Wardrobe handles
- Screws (usually come with the handles)
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Pencil
- Masking tape (optional)
- Spirit level (optional)
- Drill bit (same size as the handle screws)
Instructions:
- Decide on handle placement: Work out the best height for your handles using a tape measure and the guidance above. You should be able to comfortably open the wardrobe without excessive bending or stretching.
- Mark where the holes will go: Use a pencil for this – you can put masking tape on the surface first if you want to avoid pencil marks on the wardrobe. If your handles have two screws, measure the distance between the holes on the handle and transfer that spacing onto the door.
- Check alignment: Use a spirit level or handle template to ensure the handles on each door line up consistently. You might also want to attach the handles with masking tape at this point to check that you’re happy with the positioning before drilling.
- Drill holes: Select a drill bit that matches the screw size, then drill your holes. Make sure to go slowly to prevent the wardrobe door from splintering or cracking.
- Attach handles: Feed the screws from the inside of the door through the holes. Align the handle and tighten the screws using a screwdriver.
Tips for creating a cohesive look
When selecting and installing your wardrobe handles, care must be taken to ensure a sophisticated, cohesive look that complements the rest of your interior design scheme.
For a wardrobe that’s as stylish as it is functional, make sure you consider the following:
1. Match with other hardware
One of the easiest ways to create a cohesive look is to match your wardrobe handles to the other hardware in the room. If the room features gold light switches and sockets, for instance, opt for gold wardrobe handles to tie the space together.
Similarly, think about the style of your wardrobe handles in relation to other hardware. If vintage lighting fixtures are used in the room, choose handles in a similar vintage style. Similarly, sleek, modern handles will complement more contemporary lighting fixtures.
“When choosing wardrobe hardware, think beyond the doors—look at the bigger picture. Matching the finish to your bedside lighting, curtain poles, or even plug sockets helps create a sense of cohesion in the room. It’s those subtle links that make a space feel calm and curated.”
Lyz Igwe, Colour Expert at Dowsing & Reynolds
For rooms that embrace lots of different textures, consider opting for knurled door handles instead of those with a smooth finish.
2. Think about handle size
The size of your handles is also an important consideration, and they should be proportionate to the size of your wardrobe for a cohesive look. Small handles would look out of place on large wardrobes, and would also make them much more difficult to open. Similarly, large handles would look odd on small wardrobes, dwarfing them and throwing the balance of the space off.
Image courtesy of @studiosidika
3. Prioritise symmetry
Most wardrobes feature at least two handles, so you’ll need to make sure they align with each other for a cohesive look. Misaligned handles can be a huge eyesore, and they’ll also make it more difficult for you to open your wardrobe with ease.
To ensure your wardrobe handles are symmetrically aligned, always measure and mark the exact position where the handles will be placed before drilling your holes.
