Knobs vs. Pulls: How To Choose Which One I Should Use? - DC Drawers (2023)

If you are searching for “knobs vs pulls“, “knobs or pulls“, “knobs or pulls on upper cabinets” or “should I use knobs or pulls on kitchen cabinets“; This post should help answer your question!

While it might seem like small detail, the details matter for well designed kitchens. Not only will the choice of hardware affect the look of your kitchen, one choice may be more ergonomic.

The Kitchen Is A Gathering Place

Your kitchen is the main part of the home and many people consider it the most vital part of a house. You probably start your day off with coffee or a quick meal in the kitchen with your family. Everyone seems to gather together to socialize in the kitchen and it is where your meals are cooked and eaten together. Kitchens are a bonding area of your home. Whenever you, your family or guests are attracted to your kitchen and they want to spend time in it, you know your kitchen is a success.

Having a great looking and functioning kitchen is well worth the investment in the health and happiness of your family, so that means that all the little details do matter. Whenever you are designing your kitchen, you will normally start with the appliances and cabinets and from there everything is personalized with pulls, knobs, corbels or aprons. There is a lot of hardware to consider and often times the smallest will make a big impact.

Importance of Kitchen Cabinet Pulls and knobs

A small detail in your kitchen will be the knobs and pulls that are on your drawers and cabinets. The hardware that you pick out shouldn’t be something that you forget in the process of updating or remodeling. Cabinet pulls and knobs aren’t always considered like they should be, but the style that you pick can really impact the feel of your kitchen space. The hardware is just as important as your cabinets.

Shape, Style, Finishes

When you begin to shop around for your pulls and knobs, you will certainly found out that there is a huge selection of shapes, styles and finishes. For instance, modern styled pulls will pair well with cabinets that are in a modern kitchen that give sleek essence of elegance in the space. If you are wanting to have an old world feel, then using antique styled knobs could be what you are needing to compliment the décor. It could be a bit overwhelming when you are coming to the topic of knobs versus pulls, but is a choice that will deserve your time and consideration.

After you have selected new cabinets as well as appliances for the kitchen, the last thing that you want have to do is deal with the hardware, which is why many people don’t think too much about pulls and knobs. Most people also know that their kitchen space needs to be updated, but they don’t want to throw thousands of dollars into a remodeling project. Luckily, just swapping out the pulls and knobs can make a big difference in how your kitchen looks and you will spend only a fraction of the cost that comes with a renovation.

Knob vs. Pull Costs

The cost of knobs and pulls will vary, depending on which option you go with. Knobs can start at a couple of dollars for one but if you choose a high end option like a knob that happens to be made of unique Swarovski crystal, it could hundreds of dollars.

Pulls are normally more expensive than a knob because they are much larger, but just like knobs there are a variety of prices that will depend it on the option picked. Normal kitchen cabinet pulls start a couple of dollars but if you are looking for embellished antique bronze options then you are looking at hundreds of dollars. Cup pulls are going to be more expensive to start with, but the less expensive options start at about $7.

Guidelines for Choosing Kitchen Cabinet Knobs vs. Pulls

It is vital that you pick cabinet hardware that will compliment your kitchen décor and accentuate the features. Normally people just want the hardware to coordinate with the handles on the appliances. The colors need to work well together and the finishes shouldn’t clash at all. Different shapes can make your kitchen feel cluttered and you should use your personal preferences and functionality to choose if you should go with a pull or a knob, but there are a few guidelines that you need to follow that will work with your cabinet style.

Knobs or Pulls for Shaker Style Cabinets?

This is the most common style of cabinet and it will give you flexibility with the design and they work with bin/cup pulls or knobs. Shakers are known for being simple and having clean lines, so simple hardware such as round knobs are often used.

Traditional steel or nickel knobs or pulls are very common as well as ceramic of vintage glass knobs. Vintage pulls that have exposed screws give an industrial or classic feel to a new kitchen that has these cabinets. Tubular pulls which may be long or short will often modernize traditional kitchens which these types of cabinet. Flat bar pulls will give it a contemporary edge while a wire pull will make it more traditional. Footed or arched bar pulls will give it a classic look to a shaker cabinet.

Knobs or Pulls for Flat Paneled Cabinets?

Most often these cabinets are seen in contemporary or modern kitchens. They embrace minimal embellishments to focus on natural materials. Using subtle hardware pieces are best like stainless steel bar pulls. You will often see extended, long versions on drawers or doors.

If you are one to prefer square edges, you can pick a flat bar pull. A recessed pull will offer you functional options that work well for kitchens with a lot of traffic. If you are looking for a minimalist look, then you may think about discreet tab pulls for flat styled cabinets.

Knobs or Pulls for Inset Cabinets?

An inset cabinet will give you inset, flush doors that have an edge detail that shows craftsmanship. Most inset cabinets will have exposed hinges, which will give you something to consider as many people prefer pulls or knobs to match the hinges. Both knobs and pulls are paired with an inset cabinet.

Knobs or Pulls for Distressed Cabinets?

Using rustic hardware will pair nicely with a distressed cabinet look. You should consider adding back plates for unique Mediterranean style or antique or rustic knobs or bronzed pulls.

Knobs or Pulls for Louvered Cabinets?

Both knobs and pulls will work with a louvered cabinet, but knobs are quite common. You should keep in mind that a louvered cabinet will have more details than a solid, plain cabinet. There is more to look at, so they will require more attention, which is why people pick classic or simple pulls and knobs to compliment the cabinets.

Knobs or Pulls for Beadboard Cabinets?

These cabinets will give your kitchen a cottage chic type of look, which goes nicely with cup pulls or knobs. Similar to louvered cabinets there is more details to look at, so simple hardware will work best. Adding elaborate hardware would be too distracting and take from the character of the beadboard.

Choose Knobs or Pulls Based On Your Personal Style

You should really pick your hardware based on your personal preferences, goals for functionality and kitchen style. If you have a concern about your resale value, and you recognize that most popular hardware finishes are bronze, satin, and nickel. There are also aren’t hard set rules that you need to follow when it comes to adding final details to the kitchen and most people just pick a combination of pulls and knobs. If you aren’t sure about what you should pick, it is best to check out the pros and cons.

Cabinet Knobs vs. Pulls – Pros and Cons

The choice between knobs vs. pulls isn’t that easy as both have positives and negatives. You should keep in mind that you will be using them every day. Whatever you pick, should feel natural in your hand and flow with the décor of the kitchen. You need to consider the look you are wanting, your budget, the décor and style of the kitchen, ease of use, weight of drawers and ease of cleaning as well as other things.

Everything you need to know about knobs

Knobs are a basic kitchen hardware, and they are easy to replace on your own. They are often installed using a single screw. Knobs will come in different sizes and shapes and are made from various materials like ceramic, marble, glass, crystal, zinc, stone, brass, stainless steel and more. There are common shapes such as birdcage, round and square. There are also plenty of novelty pulls that you can pick from, so you are able to add an element of your personality to the kitchen.

Pros for picking Knobs:

• You have many options. You will have almost endless options for knobs. You can pick something luxurious to accent an elegant, formal kitchen of something economical. Small or large, wood, or colorful, square or round, there will be an option. You can get detailed and personal when you pick a knob for your kitchen.
• Knobs are a bit cheaper. You can purchase a knob for lower than a pull. High end knobs will cost a bit more, but if you are looking for economical, then you will find plenty of inexpensive knobs.
• Knobs are really easy to install. You can install them in minutes and they will transform your kitchen. They are put on using a single screw, so you just have to unscrew the old knob and put the new one on.
• Round knobs will never be crooked. Knows that are attached by screws, and screws can get lose over time. If you pick a round knob, then it will always be centered. Novelty knobs, knobs that aren’t round, square knobs can lose the center and look like they are unbalanced when the screw becomes loose. However, it isn’t a hard problem to fix, it just can be annoying to see them in our kitchen which is why many people stick to round knobs. There are knob brands that have brads at the base that will stick to the cabinet to prevent it from rotating.

Cons for picking knobs:

• They can be hard to clean. If you pick a novelty knob, or highly embellished knobs they could be hard to clean. Messy hands, grease splatters, and occasional spills will happen. But adding personalized knobs will add flair to the kitchen, but if you aren’t able to keep them clean easily, then you may replace them sooner than later.
• Knobs are hard to grab. Whenever you compare a knob to pulls, a knob is harder to grab on to and pull on. If a person has a disability or arthritis, then it can be an issue.
• Some knobs can catch on clothing. Although a pull that extends can catch clothing, knobs can do it too. Depending on the location, shape and size of the knob, it can catch on clothing and become annoying.

Everything to know about Pulls

Pulls are easy to install and they usually take more than 1 screw. Most pulls will require 2 screws and similar to knobs, there are multiple options. The most common pulls will include:

• Birdcage
• Ring pulls
• Bar pulls
• Bail/drop handle pull
• Arch pulls
• Bin pulls/ cup pulls

There are a lot of lengths available, but the common one is 3 to 4 inches. Length is vital because if it is too small, the cabinet will be overpowering. This can be a problem with heavy appliance doors. If you are using a small pull, it could warp over time. If it is too large, it can be overwhelming. You can mark your cabinets with painter’s tape to find the length you want.

Should I Use Knobs Or Pulls On Kitchen Cabinets?

Which is better a pull or a knob? There isn’t a definite answer. It is based on your personal preference and the elements of your kitchen. You should give extra thought to function and make the choice for your needs. You will often find that a combination of pulls and knobs work best, so there isn’t a lack of options and variety to pick from. And if you need quality drawer boxes for your new kitchen or replacement drawer boxes Drawer Connection has everything you need! You can buy replacement knobs and pulls at MKRemodeling.com.