Center-to-center, usually written CC or CTC, is the distance between the centres of the two mounting holes on a handle. It is the single most important dimension when you replace or specify cabinet hardware, and it is also the dimension buyers get wrong most often.

What you need

• A steel ruler or a digital caliper
• The old handle, or the cabinet door if the handle is missing
• A pencil and paper (or a photo with the ruler in frame)

The three-minute method

1. Place the handle face-down on a flat surface, or hold it against the door.
2. Measure from the centre of one screw hole to the centre of the other. Do not measure the overall length — that is a different number and it is usually 20–30 mm longer.
3. Write the number down in millimetres. Standard sizes are 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 224 and 320 mm.
4. If the handle is already removed, measure the hole spacing on the door instead: from the centre of one drill hole to the centre of the other.

Common mistakes

• Measuring overall length. A “160 mm handle” in a catalogue normally means 160 mm CC, with an overall length of about 180 mm.
• Measuring edge to edge. Screw holes are 4–5 mm wide, so edge-to-edge readings are always short by one hole diameter.
• Assuming metric equals imperial. A 5 inch pull is 127 mm CC, which is not 128 mm — it looks identical but the screws will not line up.
• Ignoring projection. Projection (how far the handle stands off the door) matters on overlapping drawers and on appliance panels.

When in doubt, send a photo

Put a ruler next to the handle, take a photo straight from above, and send it with your enquiry. Our sales team will confirm the CC, projection and screw length for you before you place an order — that is far cheaper than re-drilling a kitchen.

Replacement tip

If the new handle has a different CC from the old one, you can either fill and re-drill the door, or choose a backplate / adapter plate that covers the old holes. For rentals and quick refurbishments, backplates are usually the better answer.