Hole Centres (CC) for Furniture Handles: How to Measure & Standard Sizes

October 28, 2025

The hole centre distance (CC) on furniture handles refers to the exact measurement between the centre points of the two fixing holes. It is specified in millimetres (mm) and is generally based on System 32 in furniture manufacturing. Knowing the exact hole centre distance is essential for fitting replacement handles to cabinets or drawers without having to drill new holes.

What Exactly Are Hole Centres?

The hole centre distance – often referred to in trade circles as centre-to-centre (CC) or hole pitch – is the most critical technical dimension when choosing two-point handles. It defines the distance from the centre of the left drill hole to the centre of the right drill hole on the furniture front.

Hole centres represent the mechanical DNA of a furniture handle: if this measurement does not match the existing drill holes in the front precisely, the handle cannot be installed. It is crucial to distinguish the hole centre distance from the overall length of the handle. A bar handle, for example, may have an overall length of 200 mm, whilst the actual hole centre distance for the threaded screws (usually M4) is only 160 mm.

Dimensions and Standards: The System 32

In the European furniture industry, drill holes for fittings follow a standardised grid: the System 32. This means that the distance between two drill holes is almost always a multiple of 32 mm. This grid allows for streamlined industrial manufacturing of cabinet carcasses and fronts.

Typical standard sizes for hole centres include:

64 mm
96 mm
128 mm
160 mm (common standard size, see Furniture Handles 160mm)
192 mm (often used for wider drawers, see Furniture Handles 192mm)
224 mm
256 mm (for heavy-duty pull-outs, see Furniture Handles 256mm)
320 mm

Note: On older furniture or bespoke pieces, non-standard dimensions may occasionally occur. In such cases, precise measurement is essential.

How to Measure Hole Centres Correctly: Step-by-Step

To determine the correct hole centres on an existing furniture front or a replacement handle, proceed as follows:

Dismantling: Loosen the screws on the inside of the front and remove the old handle.
Position the tool: Ideally, use a caliper or a precise folding ruler.
Centre to centre: Measure the distance from the exact centre of the left drill hole to the exact centre of the right drill hole.
Alternative method: Measure from the left edge of the left hole to the left edge of the right hole. The result is identical to the centre-to-centre distance and is often easier to read.
Check: Check whether the measured value is divisible by 32 (e.g. 128 / 32 = 4). If this is the case, it is a standard dimension.

Application & Selection by Material and Style

Once the hole centre distance is established, selection depends on the visual and tactile requirements of the furniture front. For dark, matt fronts, Furniture Handles Matt Black are frequently chosen, as they create a striking contrast and are resistant to fingerprints.

For kitchens and wet rooms, corrosion-resistant materials are recommended. In these environments, Furniture Handles Stainless Steel or anodised Furniture Handles Aluminium are the preferred technical choice. Interior design styles can also be varied easily with the same hole centres: a 160 mm handle can be upgraded directly from a classic design to Modern Furniture Handles, provided the dimension is matched precisely.

Related Terms

System 32: An international standard in furniture manufacturing based on a 32 mm grid for hole lines and hardware fittings.
Furniture Knob: A single-point handle that requires only a single drill hole (no hole centre distance), unlike a pull handle.
Overall Length: The absolute outer dimension of a handle, which is always greater than or equal to the hole centre distance.
M4 Thread: The standard metric thread for furniture handle fixing screws.