1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) drill-center pulls for small cup pulls and bin pulls
1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) drill-center pulls are the smallest size where the catalog of conventional cup pulls and bin pulls really opens up. The 38.1 mm spec is a recognized cup-pull dimension in both American and European catalogs. It fits narrow inset drawers, small vanity drawers, and built-in furniture with period detail. The size is a strong replacement spec for older traditional kitchens that used small bin pulls on narrow drawer banks.
Where 1 1/2 inch fits
Narrow drawer fronts on inset cabinetry, particularly traditional and shaker-style kitchens with stacked drawer banks. Small bath vanity drawers. Built-in office furniture with file drawers. Drawer fronts in the 6 to 10 inch range where a cup or bin pull provides the right traditional accent. The size also turns up on butler's pantry storage and apothecary-cabinet drawer banks where multiple small drawers share a coherent pull spec.
What hardware looks like at this size
Small cup pulls in a broad range of traditional and transitional styles. Small bin pulls with backplates. Some decorative pulls and Victorian-style hardware in antique brass and aged bronze finishes. A few minimalist bar pulls produce this size, though bar pulls are sparse here. The catalog covers most period finishes, with antique brass, polished nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, and antique copper carrying the broadest selection.
Adjacent sizes worth comparing
Below is 1 3/8 inch (34.9 mm). Above is 1 7/8 inch (47.6 mm). For the traditional category, see cup pulls. When measuring existing hardware at this size, working from the center of each screw hole rather than the outside edges of the pull body avoids a common conversion error that shifts the spec by 1/16 inch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure whether my existing pull has a 1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) drill center?
Measure center-to-center between the two screw holes, not from the outer edges of the pull body. Measuring from the edges instead of the hole centers is a common error that can shift the reading by 1/16 inch or more. If that measurement is 1.5 inches or 38.1 mm, the pull matches this spec and a direct replacement will fit without drilling new holes.
What drawer front widths work well with a 1 1/2 inch drill-center pull?
A 1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) drill-center pull suits drawer fronts roughly in the 6 to 10 inch range, where a small cup or bin pull provides the right visual proportion for a traditional accent. It is particularly well matched to narrow inset drawers on stacked drawer banks, small bath vanity drawers, and built-in furniture such as apothecary-cabinet or butler's pantry storage where multiple small drawers share a single pull spec.
How does the 1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) drill center compare to the adjacent 1 3/8 inch (34.9 mm) size?
The 1 3/8 inch (34.9 mm) size sits just below and is better suited to the very narrowest inset drawers where even 38.1 mm would appear oversized. At 1 1/2 inches, the catalog of conventional cup pulls and bin pulls opens up meaningfully, offering a broader range of traditional and transitional styles, period finishes, and backplate options than are typically available at 1 3/8 inch. If the drawer front is in the lower end of the 6-inch range and the cabinetry is especially delicate in scale, the smaller spec may be worth considering.
What hardware styles and finishes are most widely available at the 1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) drill-center spec?
Small cup pulls and bin pulls with backplates are the dominant hardware types at this size, spanning traditional and transitional styles. Antique brass, polished nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, and antique copper carry the broadest finish selection, making this spec practical for period kitchen and bath renovations. Bar pulls are sparse at this size; shoppers prioritizing a bar pull should consider stepping up to the 1 7/8 inch (47.6 mm) drill center where that category is better represented.
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