Every drawer runner has a weight rating, and it's usually the first number people look at. It's also one of the most misread. A runner rated at 40kg doesn't mean you can load 40kg of pans into the drawer, because the rating includes the weight of the drawer itself and assumes the load is spread sensibly. This guide explains what the number actually means, how to work out what your drawer really carries, and which rating suits which job, using the ratings of our own runners and drawer packs. For the other things that make a runner good, such as soft close, extension and adjustability, see our guide to soft close drawer systems.
What does a drawer runner's weight rating actually mean?
A weight rating is the maximum load a pair of runners is designed to carry. Three points matter.
It's per pair, not per runner, so the figure covers the left and right runners working together. It includes the drawer box, so the weight of the drawer itself (sides, base, back and front) counts towards the total along with whatever you put in it. And it assumes an evenly spread load, so a drawer with all its weight in the front few centimetres is working harder than the same weight spread across the base.
Ratings also aren't tested the same way everywhere. Some manufacturers quote a dynamic rating, meaning the load the runner can carry while the drawer is opened and closed repeatedly over many thousands of cycles. Others quote a static rating, meaning the load it can hold when the drawer is stationary. A 40kg figure from one brand isn't automatically equivalent to 40kg from another, so compare like with like. Treat the number as a ceiling to stay comfortably below, not a target to reach.
The ratings across our runners and drawer packs
| Product | What it is | Rating | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| D Motion Runner | Soft close undermount runners | 25kg per pair | 7/8 |
| Ball Bearing Runners | Soft close runners with SmartLock removal | 40kg | Full |
| DTC Undermount Runners | Zinc-plated undermount runners with SmartLock, sold as a pair | 40kg | Full |
| DTC Dragon Drawer Pack | Complete drawer, 16mm board | 40kg | Full |
| Magic Pro Drawer Pack | Complete drawer, 16mm board | 60kg | Full |
Two things stand out. The difference between our 25kg and 40kg runners isn't only weight: the D Motion is a 7/8 extension runner, while the 40kg runners are full extension. And the complete drawer packs carry their own rating for the whole drawer system, so if you're buying a pack, the pack's rating is the one to use.
How to work out the weight your drawer actually carries
- Weigh the drawer box. A large, solidly built drawer can weigh 7 to 9kg on its own, so don't ignore it.
- Estimate the contents. Weigh the heaviest things you'll realistically store, or weigh a drawer's worth of items on bathroom scales. A 400g tin of tomatoes weighs about 0.4kg, so thirty tins come to roughly 12kg before you add the drawer.
- Include the front. A thick solid timber or glass front adds weight at the front of the box.
- Add headroom. Guides typically recommend leaving at least 20 to 25% above your calculated figure, and more if the drawer is opened constantly or tends to fill up over time.
Here is an illustrative example. A pan drawer has a box weighing 8kg and holds 14kg of pans and lids, which makes 22kg. Add 25% and you're at about 27.5kg, already beyond a 25kg runner but comfortably inside a 40kg one. A cutlery drawer might total 4 to 5kg, where any rating above is more than enough. These figures are examples, so weigh your own.
Which rating suits which drawer?
Treat this as a guide, not a rule.
- Light drawers (cutlery, utensils, linen, bedroom drawers). 25kg is usually plenty. The D Motion Runner suits these, and its undermount fixing keeps the runners out of sight.
- Everyday kitchen drawers (crockery, mixed storage). 40kg gives comfortable headroom. The Ball Bearing Runners and DTC Undermount Runners are both rated at 40kg and are full extension, and the Dragon Drawer Pack gives you a complete 40kg drawer.
- Heavy pan drawers. A drawer of cast-iron cookware can approach 20kg once you include the drawer itself, so 40kg is the sensible minimum. A wide pan drawer under the hob is one of the most useful things you can plan, and our Double Base Kitchen Unit comes pre-drilled for drawer packs.
- Deep larder drawers and the heaviest storage. This is where 60kg earns its place, which is where the Magic Pro Drawer Pack sits. If you're planning drawers in a tall unit, our Drawer Larder Unit takes drawer packs, sold separately.
The runner is only one link in the chain
A runner's rating tells you what the runner can carry, not what the whole drawer can. The box has to be strong enough, which is why our packs specify 16mm board. The fixings have to hold, so use every screw hole the manufacturer specifies, because the load rating assumes you have. The cabinet side has to be sound too, since a runner screwed into weak material will fail long before the rating is reached. A 40kg runner fitted to a box that gives way at 20kg is still a 20kg drawer.
Check the runner's limits as well as its rating. The D Motion, for example, is specified for drawer sides up to 16mm thick. If you're fitting runners yourself, our guide to how to fit drawer runners properly covers clearances and alignment.
Signs a drawer is overloaded
- The front drops or sags when the drawer is fully extended.
- You hear scraping, or the drawer binds as it travels.
- The drawer won't close fully, or the soft close stops working properly.
- The drawer base bows, or screws start to pull out.
If you spot any of these, take the heaviest items out first and spread the rest more evenly. Heavy items belong in the lowest, strongest drawers. If the drawer is regularly this full, it needs a higher rating, and probably a stronger box too.
Upgrading an existing drawer to a higher rating
Swapping to a higher-rated runner only helps if the rest of the drawer can take it. Match the type and length to your existing drawer, check the box and fixings are up to the new load, and don't expect a runner upgrade to strengthen a weak drawer. Often, replacing the whole drawer with a pack is simpler and gives you a rating that applies to the complete system. Browse the full Drawer Packs, Runners & Accessories range, or call us on 0161 465 4007 and we'll help you match a rating to your drawer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a drawer runner's weight rating per pair or per runner?
It's per pair. The figure covers the left and right runners working together, and it includes the weight of the drawer box as well as its contents. So a 40kg rating means the drawer and everything in it should stay comfortably below 40kg.
2. How do I work out how much weight my drawer will carry?
Add the weight of the empty drawer box (a large one can be 7 to 9kg), the heaviest realistic contents, and the weight of the front, then add 20 to 25% headroom. Compare that total with the runner's rating, rather than comparing the contents alone.
3. Can I load a drawer up to the full rating?
It isn't a good idea. The rating is a maximum, not a target, and it assumes the load is spread evenly. Running a drawer at its limit every day shortens the life of the runners, so leave headroom and spread heavy items across the base.
4. Does a higher-rated runner always mean a better runner?
No. The rating only tells you how much it can carry. Extension type, soft close, adjustability and fit matter too, and a higher rating won't strengthen a weak drawer box or cabinet side. Choose the rating that suits the load, with headroom, then judge the rest of the specification.
5. What's the difference between your 25kg and 40kg runners?
It isn't only weight. The D Motion Runner is rated at 25kg and is a 7/8 extension runner, while our Ball Bearing and DTC Undermount runners are rated at 40kg and are full extension. For a light drawer the D Motion is enough, and for heavier everyday use the 40kg runners give more headroom.
6. Why is my loaded drawer sagging even though it's within the weight rating?
The usual causes are an uneven load, such as heavy items piled at the front, a drawer box or fixings that aren't strong enough, or forgetting that the drawer's own weight counts towards the rating. Redistribute the contents, check every fixing is in place and in sound material, and recalculate the total including the drawer.
