Push Latches & Magnetic Catches: Cabinet Closing Mechanisms Explained

September 29, 2025

A push latch, also known as a push-to-open mechanism, is a spring-assisted fitting that opens handleless furniture fronts with light pressure. A magnetic catch, on the other hand, secures closed doors against the carcase using magnetic force. Both systems are used in professional cabinet making to achieve a clean, handleless design for cupboards and drawers.

What are push latches and magnetic catches exactly?

A push latch operates with an integrated spring and a catch mechanism. Similar to the mechanics inside a ballpoint pen, pressing the furniture front releases a pin that pushes the door or drawer forward by a defined distance. Afterwards, the front can be gripped manually from behind and opened completely.

The magnetic catch consists of a plastic or metal housing with an embedded magnet and a metallic counter-plate mounted on the inside of the door. Its main function is to keep lightweight doors flush and securely held against the carcase without mechanical latching.

Important for planning: a standard push-to-open system works mechanically opposite to a soft-close damper. While the opener must actively push the front away, a damper slows it down.

Types and technical variants

In furniture construction, a distinction is made between various designs and integration levels:

Surface-mounted vs. drilled-in version: Push latches are available as surface-mounted housings that screw to the inside of the carcase using an adapter plate, or as cylindrical variants designed for flush drilling into the carcase side (edge).
Magnetic push latches: These models combine the spring force of the opener with a magnet at the tip. The magnet holds the door in the closed position. This requires specialised, unsprung hinges without their own closing catch.
Runner systems for drawers: For drawers, the push-to-open function is usually integrated directly into the runner. Drawer runners push to open release upon pressing the front. If drawers need to open handleless yet close softly, this requires specialised hybrid runners that link the ejection unit and soft-close damper via a synchronisation module. Standard drawer runners with soft close do not have this ejection function.
Hinge compatibility: For the smooth operation of push openers on hinged doors, completely unsprung concealed hinges / cabinet hinges are ideally used.

Dimensions, standards, and typical values

Specific tolerances and dimensions must be observed during installation and construction:

Drilling diameter: For push-in push latches, the required hole diameter in the carcase edge is usually exactly 10 mm.
Ejection travel (stroke): The distance the pin pushes the door open varies between 14 mm - 40 mm depending on the model. For large fronts, a longer stroke is required to provide sufficient clearance for gripping behind.
Trigger gap (gap dimension): For the mechanism to release, the door must be pushed slightly inward. For this purpose, a mandatory gap of 1.5 mm - 2.5 mm must be set between the front and the carcase.
Holding force: For magnetic catches, force is often specified in Newtons. Typical values for standard furniture doors range from 20 N - 40 N (equivalent to approximately 2 to 4 kg of pull force). Heavy-duty magnetic catches reach up to 100 N.

Application and professional selection

Selecting the right closing mechanism depends on the weight of the front, the desired joint pattern, and the type of hinges used. When installing magnetic catches, the counter-plate must meet the magnet completely flat. Slotted holes on the catch housing facilitate fine depth adjustment.

When retrofitting a push latch, the installer must check whether the existing hinges are compatible. A standard hinge such as the concealed hinges / cabinet hinges 110 degrees with a strong integrated spring closure works against the ejection pin. In this case, the push latch must be sized with sufficient strength. Concealed hinges / cabinet hinges with soft close must not be installed with purely mechanical push systems, as the damping cylinder blocks the ejection of the door.