Types of drawer runners | eHow UK

This overstuffed drawer can open and close thanks to its drawer runners.

kitchen drawer image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com

A standard drawer runner style, side-mounted runners affix to either side of the drawer, leaving them visible whenever the drawer is open. Most of the less expensive drawer runners are side mounted, such as Blum s Standard and Metabox designs. Side-mounted drawer runners generally affix to wooden drawers, a common material for cabinetry, though you can also find them with hardware for attaching to metal or plastic drawers.

A more aesthetically-minded alternative to standard side-mounted runners, bottom-mounted drawer runners are invisible throughout drawer operation. Some manufacturers may also refer to them as under-mount or concealed runners. If you re planning to install the drawers yourself, first check whether installing side- or bottom-mounted runners is easier, paying particular attention to the orientation and workspace around very low drawers.