Hole Centres (CC) for Furniture Handles: How to Measure and Calculate Correctly

March 19, 2026

The hole centre distance (often abbreviated as CC or BA) on furniture handles refers to the exact measurement in millimetres between the centres of the two fixing holes. This dimension is crucial when replacing handles, as it must align perfectly with the existing drill holes in the furniture front. In the furniture fittings industry, the hole spacing is almost universally based on the standard System 32.

What Exactly Are Hole Centres (CC/BA)?

In hardware technology and technical drawings, the hole spacing is usually referred to as the hole centres or BA (drilling distance). It exclusively defines the distance from the centre of the left threaded hole to the centre of the right threaded hole on the back of a handle.

The overall length of the handle is secondary for the actual installation. Just as a vehicle's wheelbase dictates the position of the axles regardless of the overall body length, the hole centres determine the exact position of the screws in the furniture front. When fitting cup handles, bar handles, or bow handles, the correct hole spacing is strictly necessary to mount new fittings onto pre-drilled fronts without mechanical tension.

Dimensions, Standards, and System 32

European cabinet making and hardware manufacturing follow a fixed industrial standard: System 32. This means that the distance between two drill holes is always a multiple of 32 mm. Therefore, when measuring a furniture handle, the resulting dimension will always be divisible by 32, subject to minor manufacturing tolerances.

Typical hole centre dimensions in furniture hardware include:

Small handles and knobs (with anti-twist pins): Furniture handles 32 mm or 64 mm.
Standard dimensions for drawers and cupboard doors: Furniture handles 96 mm and Furniture handles 128 mm.
Long bar handles: 160 mm, 192 mm, 224 mm, 256 mm, up to over 320 mm.

How to Measure and Calculate Hole Centres Correctly

To identify the correct fixing distance, the measurement must be taken precisely. Measuring the outer edges of the handle will lead to inaccurate results.

Required Tools:

Folding rule (tape measure) or caliper
Cross-head screwdriver (PZ or PH, matching the screw head)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Remove the handle: Loosen and remove the screws from the inside of the front.
Position the measuring points: Measure directly on the front from the centre of the left drilled hole to the centre of the right drilled hole. Alternatively, turn the dismantled handle over and measure from thread centre to thread centre.
Check the dimension: The reading in millimetres must be a multiple of 32.
Account for tolerances: If your rule shows 127 mm or 129 mm, the nominal design standard is always 128 mm.

Practical Application and Selection

When updating handles on existing cabinet fronts, the hole centre spacing is the only limiting technical dimension. You can freely choose the design, shape, or surface finish independently of this. Whether you select matt lacquered fittings or polished Furniture handles chrome, it has no impact on technical compatibility as long as the hole centres match.

Precise alignment is especially vital for heavily used panels where you plan to install sturdy Furniture handles kitchen made from stainless steel or die-cast zinc. Mounting is typically carried out using metric M4 machine screws. The required screw length depends on the material thickness of the front panel (typically 16 mm or 19 mm chipboard).