When shopping for drawer slides, you may come across undermount drawer slides. They are characterized by their bottom-based mounting location. Undermount drawer slides are mounted to the bottom or underside of drawers.
Most drawer slides fall under one of two categories: side-mount or undermount. Side-mount drawer slides are mounted to the sides of the drawers, whereas undermount drawer slides are mounted to the bottom. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Below are some of the top pros and cons of undermount drawer slides.
Pro: High Load Capacity
Undermount drawer slides have a high load capacity. They can typically handle heavier loads than side-mount drawer slides. Drawers themselves usually aren’t very heavy. When filled with materials or objects, though, they can stress the drawer slides holding the drawers in place. For heavy loads, undermount drawer slides are the way to go. Their bottom-based mounting location allows them to withstand more weight than side-mount drawer slides.
Pro: Aesthetics
Some people prefer undermount drawer slides for their aesthetics. When you open the drawers with which they are used, you won’t see them. Undermount drawer slides are installed underneath drawers on the bottom. Therefore, you can open and close the drawers without seeing them. Side-mount drawer slides, in comparison, are typically visible. You’ll see side-mount drawer slides on the sides of open drawers.
Pro: Maximum Storage Space
Undermount drawer slides allow for maximum storage space. Since they are mounted to the bottom of drawers, they allow drawers to be wider. With side-mount drawer slides, drawers have to be at least somewhat narrower so that they can accommodate the side-mount slides. For wide drawers with maximum storage space, you may want to choose undermount drawer slides for this reason.
Con: Cost
Undermount drawer slides often cost more than side-mount drawer slides. If you’re on a tight budget — or if you need to buy many drawer slides — you may want to choose side-mount drawer slides, instead. Side-mount drawer slides feature a simpler design that translates into a lower price.
Con: Height Restrictions
Another potential disadvantage of undermount drawer slides is height restrictions. Because they are mounted to the bottom of drawers, they take up vertical space. If you’re working with shallow drawers with limited vertical clearance, undermount drawer slides may not fit. Side-mount drawer slides, though, don’t take up any vertical space. They are installed on the sides where they provide a smooth opening and closing action.