24 October 2026 · AHIHQ Traders Team

Drawer rails sizes and cabinet hardware: a fitting and buying guide

Drawer rails sizes are given by length, and the ball-bearing drawer rails sold at AHIHQ Traders come in 10", 12", 14", 16", 18" and 20". Choose the longest rail that fits the inside depth of the cabinet. In Nairobi, in October 2026, a carton of 15 pairs costs from KSh 2,720 (10") to KSh 5,005 (20"), and the same range includes the T-handles, drawer locks, door stoppers, pullers and shelf brackets that finish a cabinet job, all sold wholesale by the carton.

Cabinet hardware at a glance

Item Sizes or models Pack Pack price (Oct 2026)
Drawer rails, ball bearing 10", 12", 14", 16", 18", 20" Carton of 15 pairs KSh 2,720 to KSh 5,005
T-handle 96mm Silver, Golden, Black Carton of 200 KSh 13,050 to KSh 13,920
T-handle 128mm Silver and Golden, Black Carton of 200 KSh 15,950 to KSh 16,820
Drawer lock 138-22C Xiaoboshi 138-22C Carton of 20 dozen KSh 16,820
Door stopper 801B, HX-130 Carton of 240 or 200 KSh 34,800 to KSh 43,500
Door puller 4", 5", 6" Carton of 50 or 100 dozen KSh 8,700 to KSh 10,875
Shelf brackets 6" x 8" to 12" x 14" Carton of 120 to 288 KSh 5,220 to KSh 8,355

What drawer rail sizes are there?

A ball-bearing drawer rail is a pair of telescopic runners. One half screws to the side of the cabinet and the other to the side of the drawer. Balls run between them, so the drawer slides smoothly. One pair fits one drawer.

The Knicker ball-bearing drawer rails are packed in cartons of 15 pairs, enough for 15 drawers:

Length Pack Pack price Per pair
10" Carton of 15 pairs KSh 2,720 about KSh 181 a pair
12" Carton of 15 pairs KSh 3,045 about KSh 203 a pair
14" Carton of 15 pairs KSh 3,480 about KSh 232 a pair
16" Carton of 15 pairs KSh 3,915 about KSh 261 a pair
18" Carton of 15 pairs KSh 4,350 about KSh 290 a pair
20" Carton of 15 pairs KSh 5,005 about KSh 334 a pair

How do you measure for drawer rails?

  • Measure the depth. Measure inside the cabinet, from the front edge to the back panel. Choose the longest rail that is no longer than that depth. A 17" deep cabinet takes a 16" rail, not an 18".
  • Allow side clearance. Side-mounted ball-bearing rails need a gap between the drawer box and the cabinet side. It is usually about half an inch each side, but measure the rail you have before you cut the drawer box.
  • Match drawer length to rail length. Make the drawer box at least as long as the rail, so the drawer half of the rail is fully supported.
  • Keep them level and parallel. Mark both sides at the same height with a spirit level and a try square. Rails that are out of line make the drawer stiff.

Fix the rails with short screws that will not go through the board. MDF screws suit chipboard and MDF cabinets.

T-handles: 96mm or 128mm?

The size of a T-handle is the distance between the centres of its two screw holes. The 96mm T-handle suits small drawers and narrow doors. The 128mm T-handle suits wider drawers, wardrobe doors and tall doors. When replacing handles, measure the old hole centres so the new handles fit the existing holes.

Both are packed in cartons of 200. 96mm is KSh 13,050 in Silver or Golden (about KSh 65 a piece) and KSh 13,920 in Black (about KSh 70 a piece). 128mm is KSh 15,950 in Silver and Golden (about KSh 80 a piece) and KSh 16,820 in Black (about KSh 84 a piece).

Drawer locks, door stoppers and door pullers

A drawer lock fits behind the drawer front with the key cylinder through a hole in the front. It is used on office desks, cash drawers and bedside units. The Xiaoboshi drawer lock 138-22C is KSh 16,820 for a carton of 20 dozen, about KSh 70 a piece.

A door stopper stops a door, or its handle, hitting the wall when it swings open. The Knicker door stopper comes as model 801B, KSh 34,800 for a carton of 240 (about KSh 145 a piece), or HX-130, KSh 43,500 for a carton of 200 (about KSh 218 a piece).

A door puller is a simple pull handle for cupboard doors, drawers and light doors with no lock. The Knicker door puller is 4" at KSh 8,700 for 100 dozen (about KSh 7 a piece), 5" at KSh 10,875 for 100 dozen (about KSh 9 a piece) and 6" at KSh 10,150 for 50 dozen (about KSh 17 a piece).

Which shelf bracket size?

A shelf bracket is an L-shaped bracket. The two figures are the lengths of its two arms. Choose a bracket whose shelf arm is close to the depth of the shelf, and fix it into the wall with wall plugs and wood screws.

  • 6" x 8": KSh 8,355 for 288, about KSh 29 a piece.
  • 8" x 10": KSh 5,220 for 144, about KSh 36 a piece.
  • 10" x 12": KSh 6,265 for 144, about KSh 44 a piece.
  • 12" x 14": KSh 6,960 for 120, about KSh 58 a piece.

Which one should you buy?

Where to buy

Every line above is in the door furniture and locks section of the tools and hardware range. The range is sold wholesale only: each product is sold by its pack (carton, case, bag or bundle), never as a single piece. Prices quoted here are wholesale pack prices in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2026. Buy online or at the trade counter at Royal Business Park, opposite Complast, Old Mombasa Road, Nairobi, open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 to 17:30. Pay by M-Pesa or card. Delivery is KSh 350 flat anywhere in Kenya, and free on orders over KSh 15,000. For a trade quote, send your list through the trade page or on WhatsApp +254 724 505 919.

Related guides

Common questions

What size drawer rail do I need for a 50cm deep cabinet?

50cm is just under 20". Measure the inside depth exactly; if it is under 20", use an 18" rail.

Are drawer rails sold in pairs?

Yes. Each pair does one drawer, and they are packed in cartons of 15 pairs.

Can I buy one pair of drawer rails?

No. This range is sold by the carton only. If you need one or two pairs, share a carton with another carpenter or keep the rest as stock.

What does a T-handle size like 128mm mean?

It is the distance between the centres of the two screw holes, not the overall length of the handle.

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