Edge Pull Handles Explained: Sizes, Finishes and Uses

If you love the look of a handleless kitchen but still need something to grip, edge pull handles are the answer. They give you a clean, uninterrupted run of units with no handle on the face, yet they are comfortable and easy to use. This guide explains what edge pull handles are, where they work best, and how to choose and fit them.

Supplied by Trade Door Handles, trusted UK supplier of architectural ironmongery since 1976, with quick nationwide delivery.

Edge pull handles are slim handles that fit to the top or side edge of a door or drawer rather than to the face. You hook your fingers over the edge and into the pull to open the unit, so there is no knob or bar breaking the flat front. This makes them a discreet, ergonomic and minimalist solution: they sit on the edge of a door or drawer, let you open and close with ease, and keep a clean, contemporary look throughout.

Because the handle lives on the edge, edge pull handles are the go-to fitting for handleless kitchens and modern cabinetry, where a seamless face is the whole point. They are equally at home on wardrobes, bedroom furniture and bathroom units, anywhere a smooth, uncluttered look is wanted.

You will see edge pull handles listed under several names, and it helps to know they are the same thing. Because you use a fingertip to pull the door open, many suppliers call them finger pull handles, finger edge pulls or simply finger pulls. On units you will also see finger pulls for cabinets, finger pulls for drawers, cabinet finger pulls and kitchen finger pull handles - all the same idea. Cabinet edge pulls and edge cabinet pulls are the same fitting again, just described by where they go. Because the handle tucks onto the edge and stays off the face, some people call them hidden finger pulls or concealed handles. Whichever term you searched for, you are looking at a slim pull that fixes to the edge of a door or drawer.

The strength of edge pull handles is a completely clean cabinet face, so they suit any project built around a minimalist, handleless look. Common uses include:

• Handleless kitchen doors and drawer fronts
• Fitted and freestanding wardrobes
• Bedroom furniture, bedside units and chests
• Bathroom and vanity units
• Home office and utility cabinetry
• Lightweight sliding and pocket doors

On a drawer, edge pull handles typically fit to the top edge of the front. On a door, it fits to the leading side edge, opposite the hinges. Fitted this way, edge pull handles give a grip exactly where your hand naturally reaches, without a single fitting showing on the face.

The rise of the handleless kitchen is the main reason edge pull handles have become so popular. Edge pull handles are one of the simplest and most affordable ways to get the sleek, handleless look without the cost of a routed rail or an integrated J-pull profile. Fit edge pull handles to the top of your drawers and the sides of your doors, choose one finish throughout, and you get a clean, designer result on a sensible budget.

Most quality edge pull handles are made from solid metal for strength and a lasting feel. Solid brass is common because it plates into a wide range of finishes and wears well; stainless steel and aluminium are popular for a crisp, modern look and for commercial use; and zinc alloy is used for budget ranges. A well-made edge pull has smooth, comfortable edges so it feels good in daily use.

Because they are usually brass or steel based, edge pull handles come in the same broad choice of finishes as the rest of your ironmongery. The most popular include:

• Matt black, the standout choice for modern and handleless kitchens, so black finger pulls are always in demand
• Satin, brushed and antique brass, and a warm brass edge pull for a softer, traditional look
• Polished and satin chrome, for a clean, classic finish
• Satin nickel, which pairs well with stainless appliances
• Satin and polished stainless steel, hard wearing for heavy use

Choosing a single finish and carrying it across your handles, hinges and switches gives a co-ordinated, considered result.

Edge pull handles come in a range of lengths to suit different doors and drawers. These edge pull handles run from short pulls for narrow drawers to longer profiles for full-height doors. As a general guide, a shorter pull suits a small drawer while a longer pull gives a better grip on a tall door, so the key is to match the length to the unit and keep it in proportion.

Fitting is different from a face-mounted knob or bar, because the pull wraps over or fixes to the edge of the door. In most cases the pull screws to the back or edge of the front so it hooks over the top or side. A typical fitting goes like this:

1. Decide whether the edge pull handle goes on the top edge (drawers) or side edge (doors)
2. Mark the position centrally and squarely on the edge
3. Drill the fixing holes to match the pull, taking care not to break through the face
4. Screw the pull firmly in place and check it sits flush and level
5. Open and close the unit to confirm a comfortable, snag-free grip

• Always check the door or drawer front is thick enough for the pull you have chosen
• Use the manufacturer's template where one is supplied
• Mock up the position with tape before drilling to be sure of the reach
• Fit all pulls at a consistent height and depth for a tidy, professional finish

If you are weighing up your options, it helps to see how edge pull handles compare with the alternatives:

• Edge pull handles vs flush pulls: a flush pull is recessed into the face of the door, while an edge pull sits on the edge with nothing on the face at all. Both suit minimalist schemes, and many handleless kitchens use edge pulls on the fronts and flush pulls on any sliding elements.
• Edge pull handles vs knobs and bar handles: a knob or bar gives a fuller grip but protrudes from the face. Edge pull handles keep the face completely clean, which is the whole appeal of the handleless look.
• Edge pull handles vs integrated rails: a routed handleless rail or J-pull is built into the cabinetry and costs far more. An edge pull delivers a similar look at a fraction of the price and is easy to fit or change later.

For a clean, modern, handleless finish on a sensible budget, edge pull handles are hard to beat, which is why they have become a staple of contemporary joinery.

We supply edge pull handles from many of the UK's leading names. Browse the full selection in our cabinet edge pulls collection, which sits within our wider kitchen and cabinet hardware range. For hand-finished, characterful ranges see From The Anvil, and for classic, well-priced options in a wide choice of finishes, Carlisle Brass is hard to beat.

If you want to carry a single finish right through your home, we strongly suggest Heritage Brass. Everything Heritage Brass make is manufactured from brass and plated to a consistent finish, from window and door furniture to cabinet hardware, and even plug sockets and light switches, so matching your edge pull handles to the rest of the room is simple.