Buildmat's Guide to Choosing Cabinet Handles: Finishes, Styles & Sizes

Cabinet handles are the full stop on a kitchen or bathroom renovation. You can spend months choosing stone benchtops and cabinetry profiles, then undo all of your interior design work with door hardware that feels like an afterthought.

The good news is (and we've seen this time and time again) that cabinet handles are also one of the most cost-effective and impactful upgrades you can make on a new build or a tired kitchen that needs a refresh without a full reno.

Our guide covers everything you need to know about high-quality cabinet handles: types and styles of cabinet handles, how to nail the size and hole spacing, which finishes last, how to match hardware to your kitchen aesthetic, and the practical stuff people rarely talk about (like whether to use the same handles throughout your whole home or mix things up)

We stock and sell cabinet handles every day. Here’s what we’ve learned.

In This Guide

• Types of cabinet handles (and when to use each)
• How to choose the right size handle
• Hole spacing: the measurement that matters most
• Cabinet handle finishes compared
• Matching handles to your kitchen or bathroom style
• Handles for bathrooms vs kitchens — is there a difference?
• How to mix metals without it looking like a mistake
• Momo Handles: what makes them different
• Common mistakes when buying cabinet handles
• Frequently asked questions

Types of Cabinet Handles (and When to Use Each)

Cabinet handles broadly split into pulls, knobs and integrated/handleless solutions. Within pulls, there are about six distinct styles worth knowing.

Bar Pulls / D-Pulls

The default in most contemporary Australian kitchens. A bar pull/door pull is a straight handle mounted at two points; a D handle curves back toward the cabinet face. Both are clean, easy to grip, and suit almost any kitchen style from minimalist to Hamptons. They typically come in lengths from 96mm to 600mm+ for appliance doors.

Best for: Drawers, overhead cabinets, pantry doors, appliance panels. 

Lip Pulls

A lip pull handle (or half moon handles) sits flush with the bottom edge of a cabinet door or drawer face — you hook your fingers underneath rather than wrapping them around a bar. The result is a lower-profile look that suits handleless or near-handleless kitchen designs. Particularly popular in fluted, shaker and contemporary profiles.

Best for: Lower cabinet doors and drawers where a recessed look is desired. Momo’s Ferrara Lip Pull is one of Australia’s most specified. 

Cup Pulls / Bin Pulls

A curved, U-shaped cabinet pull handle that curves down from two mounting points. Cup pull handles have strong heritage associations — they suit Shaker, farmhouse and mid-century kitchens particularly well. Currently seeing a revival in brushed brass and antique bronze.

Best for: Drawers (especially lower drawers), traditional or heritage-inspired kitchens. 

Cabinet Knobs

Single-point fixings — a screw goes through the cabinet face and into the knob. Knob handles work best on doors (where you’re rotating your wrist to open) rather than drawers (where a straight pull is more ergonomic). Round, square and faceted profiles are all widely available.

Best for: Cabinet doors, particularly in traditional, Hamptons, country and mid-century kitchens. Pair knobs on doors with pulls on drawers for a classic look.

Edge Pulls / Finger Pulls

Flush pull handles are recessed channels machined into the edge or face of a cabinet: you slide your fingers in rather than grabbing a protruding handle. Creates an almost seamless look. Common in handle-free European-style kitchens.

Best for: Minimalist kitchens, handleless cabinetry designs, sliding doors. 

Appliance Pulls

Appliance pull handles are longer bar pulls — typically 600mm and above — designed for fridge panels, full-height pantry doors and oven cabinetry. Proportioned to feel natural when you’re pulling with your whole hand rather than two fingers. 

How to Choose the Right Cabinet Handle Size

We tell all our customers that cabinet handle size is part visual proportion, part ergonomics. The handle needs to look balanced against the cabinet face and feel comfortable to use every day.

A rough sizing guide for Australian standard cabinetry:

• Standard drawer (450–600mm wide): 128–160mm centre-to-centre pull
• Wide drawer (600–900mm): 256–320mm pull, or two 128mm pulls
• Standard cabinet door (600mm wide): 96–128mm pull or a single knob
• Tall pantry or full-height door: 600mm+ appliance pull, or two 256mm pulls stacked
• Upper cabinet door: 96mm pull or a knob — shorter handles suit overhead cabinets because they’re typically narrower

These are starting points, not rules. In contemporary design, we're seeing a strong trend toward oversized bar pulls – using a 256mm or 320mm pull on a drawer that’s technically only 600mm wide. The proportional contrast creates a deliberate, design-forward look. Whether that suits your kitchen depends on the overall aesthetic you’re going for.

The easiest way to test sizing before committing: cut strips of masking tape to the handle’s length and stick them to the cabinet face. Live with it for a day.

Hole Spacing (The Measurement That Matters Most)

Centre-to-centre (CTC) measurement is the distance between the two mounting holes on a bar pull. This is the critical number when ordering handles — not the overall length of the handle. A handle listed as “160mm” will typically have 128mm CTC, with the extra length being the body that extends beyond the fixings on each side.

Standard CTC spacings in Australian cabinetry:

• 32mm — knobs and small pulls
• 64mm — small drawers
• 96mm — standard drawer and door handle
• 128mm — most common in Australian kitchens
• 160mm, 192mm, 256mm, 320mm, 384mm, 448mm — wider drawers and appliance pulls

If you’re replacing existing handles, measure your current CTC before ordering — matching the spacing means no new holes in the cabinet faces. If you’re fitting out new cabinetry, decide on CTC first and brief your cabinet maker to pre-drill accordingly.

A few Momo Handle ranges — including Belgravia, Barrington and Bellevue — are available across multiple CTC spacings, which makes them particularly flexible for whole-kitchen specifications.

Cabinet Handle Finishes Compared

Finish choice affects look, durability and maintenance. Here’s a quick comparison of the most popular finishes in Australian kitchens and bathrooms we're seeing right now. 

Matte Black

Black kitchen cabinet handles are the most specified finish in contemporary Australian kitchens. Works against white, timber, stone grey, navy and green cabinetry. Non-reflective surface hides fingerprints better than polished finishes. The tradeoff: most matte black handles use a PVD or powder-coat over brass or zinc alloy — quality varies considerably across brands. Look for solid brass substrates and PVD coating for longevity. 

Brushed Brass / Aged Brass

Brass has moved from dated to dominant in the past three years. Brushed brass suits warm-toned kitchens — cream, off-white, sage, dusty pink, timber veneer. Aged brass has a slightly more complex, warm-toned appearance that works well in Hamptons and heritage kitchens. Explore brushed brass kitchen cabinet handles and antique brass kitchen cabinet handles.

Brushed Nickel / Satin Nickel

The reliable all-rounder. Cool-toned and understated, brushed nickel suits contemporary, Scandi and industrial kitchens. Pairs well with stainless steel appliances. Less fashionable than it was five years ago but genuinely timeless — it’s unlikely to date in the way polished chrome did. Browse brushed nickel kitchen cabinet handles.

Gunmetal / Charcoal

Darker and warmer than matte black, gunmetal handles have a slight metallic sheen that black doesn’t. Works well in kitchens with dark stone or concrete-look benchtops, and in bathrooms with dark porcelain or terrazzo. A good choice if matte black feels flat but you still want a dark hardware tone.

Chrome

Chrome has a crisper, cooler look than nickel. Brushed chrome is easier to maintain than polished (fingerprints and water marks show less). Polished chrome suits contemporary and commercial-style kitchens where you’re deliberately going for a sleek, reflective finish. Browse chrome kitchen cabinet handles.

Timber (Solid Timber and Timber Composite)

Walnut, oak, blackbutt and American oak timber handles add warmth and organic texture that no metal finish can replicate. Quality timber handles use offcuts from sustainable or reclaimed timber sources. Works particularly well in kitchens where you’re mixing natural materials: stone, timber veneer, linen joinery. Browse wooden kitchen cabinet handles and Momo timber knobs.

Matching Cabinet Handles to Your Kitchen Style

Handle selection should reinforce the design intent of the space, not fight it. Here’s our reccomendations to kitchen styles and the handles that work best.

Contemporary / Minimalist

Keep it understated. Matte black or brushed nickel bar pulls in 128–256mm. Lip pulls for a cleaner profile. Consider handleless lower cabinets with bar pulls on overhead. Avoid ornate profiles — simple square or round section bar.

Hamptons / Coastal

Classic D-pulls or cup pulls in brushed nickel, brushed brass or chrome. Knobs on upper cabinet doors, pulls on drawers is a traditional Hamptons combination. Avoid matte black — too stark against white and pale timber joinery.

Shaker

Cup pulls, bin pulls, knobs or simple D-pulls. Brushed brass, antique bronze or matte black. Shaker profiles have a lot of detail in the door face — let the handle be simple and complement the cabinet rather than compete with it.

Japandi / Scandi

Understated profiles. Timber knobs or pulls pair beautifully with the natural materials typical of this style. Brushed nickel and matte black also work. Avoid ornate or decorative hardware — restraint is the point.

Industrial

Raw, textured, and structural. Gunmetal or matte black bar pulls with visible hardware. Knurled bar pulls add tactile interest. Exposed fixing screws can be a deliberate design feature. Browse black kitchen cabinet handles.

Heritage / Victorian

Antique bronze, aged brass, or oil-rubbed bronze. Cup pulls, ring pulls and period-appropriate knobs. Browse antique brass kitchen cabinet handles for heritage-leaning options.

Handles for Bathrooms vs Kitchens – Is There a Difference?

Functionally, a cabinet handle is a cabinet handle. But there are a few considerations specific to bathrooms worth knowing.

• Humidity and corrosion resistance: Bathrooms have higher moisture levels than kitchens. Handles in bathroom vanities should use solid brass (naturally corrosion-resistant), stainless steel, or have a quality PVD finish. Avoid zinc alloy handles with thin electroplating in direct shower splash zones — they’ll fail within a few years.
• Size: Bathroom vanities typically have narrower drawers and doors than kitchen cabinetry. 96mm and 128mm CTC are the most common in vanity hardware. Browse bathroom cabinet handles — the range is curated specifically for vanity applications.
• Finish consistency with tapware: The strongest bathroom looks coordinate the finish of handles with tapware and accessories. If you’ve chosen matte black basin mixers, matte black vanity handles pull the room together. Browse bathroom tapware and match to your handle finish.

How to Mix Metals (Without It Looking Like a Mistake)

Mixing metals is mainstream in 2025 Australian kitchen design, but there’s a difference between intentional layering and hardware that just looks mismatched. A few principles:

• Anchor with one dominant finish. Your handles should generally be one finish throughout the kitchen. Introduce a second metal as an accent — in tapware, pendant lights, or appliance trim.
• Stick to two metals maximum. Matte black handles + brushed brass tapware works. Matte black + brushed brass + polished chrome + gunmetal is chaos.
• Temperature matters. Warm metals (brass, gold, bronze) work together. Cool metals (nickel, chrome, stainless) work together. Mixing warm and cool — brushed brass handles with chrome tapware — is harder to pull off.
• Different functions, different finishes. Handles, tapware, appliances and lighting are in different functional categories — each can have a different metal as long as the overall palette is deliberate.

Why We Always Recommend Momo Handles

Momo Handles is one of the most widely specified cabinet hardware brands in Australia, and for good reason. A few things set them apart from generic imported hardware. 

• Material quality: Momo uses solid brass, zinc alloy and solid timber — materials with genuine weight and longevity, not thin cast metal over hollow cores.
• Range breadth: Across Belgravia, Barrington, Bellevue, Manhattan, Pembrey, Sussex and more — you can hardware an entire home in a coherent style, not just a kitchen.
• Finish range: Matte black, brushed brass, antique bronze, brushed nickel, chrome, gunmetal, and natural timber — most ranges are available in 4–8 finishes, designed to coordinate with common tapware palettes.
• Hole spacing coverage: Multiple CTC options (32mm, 64mm, 96mm, 128mm and above) across key ranges, which makes them practical for renovation projects where you’re matching existing drilling.

Buildmat is one of Australia’s most trusted stockists of Momo Handles, with the full range available online.

Common Mistakes We See When Buying Cabinet Handles

• Ordering by overall length instead of CTC: The most common mistake. A 160mm handle has 128mm CTC — if your cabinets are pre-drilled for 128mm, only order 128mm CTC handles.
• Buying everything online without seeing it first: Handles look different at scale. Colours vary between screens. If you’re specifying a whole kitchen, come and see the hardware in person at our Selection Centre in Hughesdale, or order a sample piece first.
• Prioritising trend over longevity: If polished copper feels right in 2025 but you’re not planning to renovate again for 15 years, consider whether that finish will still feel right in 2035. Brushed brass and matte black have shown more staying power than most.
• Underspecifying for appliance doors: A 128mm handle on a full-height integrated fridge looks undersized and feels awkward to use. Browse appliance pull handles to proportion your hardware to the scale of the door.
• Choosing finish before cabinetry colour: Confirm your joinery finish and benchtop before locking in hardware. Handle selection is much easier once you have swatches of the actual materials in front of you.

FAQs 

What is the most popular cabinet handle finish in Australia right now?

Matte black remains the most widely specified finish in new builds and renovations, followed closely by brushed brass. Gunmetal and brushed nickel are also strong. Bronze finishes are gaining ground, driven by warmer interior palettes.

How do I know what size handles to buy for my kitchen?

Measure the centre-to-centre (CTC) distance between your existing holes if replacing old handles. For new cabinetry, 128mm CTC is the Australian standard for drawers — brief your cabinet maker to pre-drill at this spacing unless you’ve already chosen a handle with a different measurement.

Can I use kitchen cabinet handles in a bathroom?

Yes, with the right finish selection. Solid brass with PVD coating, solid stainless steel, or quality powder-coat finishes will handle bathroom humidity. See bathroom cabinet handles for the curated bathroom-ready range.

How many handles will I need for a kitchen renovation?

A typical Australian kitchen has 20–40 hardware pieces — a mix of drawer pulls, door handles and potentially knobs. Count your drawers and doors separately, then add extras if you have a pantry or appliance panels. Always order 10–15% more than you think you need to account for future repairs or additions.

Still have questions about cabinet handles? Talk to us.

Every kitchen or bathroom renovation is different. If you've got a specific questions or you're weighing up different cabinet handles and can't decide, give us a call on 1300 123 122 or drop us an email at sales@buildmat.com.au.

We're based in Dandenong South in Melbourne (where you'll find our showroom) but ship nationally – and we'd genuinely rather spend ten minutes helping you choose the right product than have you order the wrong one.

We also have a beautiful selection centre at 45 Warrigal Rd, Hughesdale, where you can book in with one of our experts and have them walk you through your options. It's a great way to see Momo Handles (and Alma handles) in person and get personalised advice.