There's nothing more annoying than slamming drawers—loud, damaging to cabinet hardware, and just plain frustrating. But you don't need to replace your entire setup to fix it: add a soft close mechanism to your existing drawer slides, and you'll get smooth, quiet drawers for cheap. This upgrade works with most standard drawer slides, so you won't have to toss out your current cabinet hardware,a huge win for your wallet.
I've tested dozens of drawer upgrades, and most soft close mechanism kits are overpriced,they force you to replace the whole drawer slide system, which wastes time and money. But the Rock Hardware kit I use (no sponsorship, just a happy buyer) works seamlessly with your current cabinet hardware and drawer slides. Let's break down the easy steps, so you can get your soft-close drawers up and running fast.
Why This Kit Beats Full Drawer Slide Replacements
This soft close mechanism upgrade is a no-brainer for most homes—here's why:
Fits right onto your existing drawer slides (no full replacement needed)
Costs a fraction of what full drawer slide systems cost
Takes 20 minutes or less per drawer to install
Works for kitchen, bathroom, or dresser drawers
Protects your cabinet hardware from wear caused by slamming
The only small catch: you need side-mounted drawer slides (the kind that attach to the cabinet walls, not the bottom or center). If your drawer slides are mounted high up on the drawer sides (instead of lower down), this might not fit—but that's rare for most home setups.
What's in the Soft Close Mechanism Kit?
Keep it simple—this soft close mechanism kit has exactly what you need, no extra junk:
1 long metal bracket (mounts inside the cabinet, along the wall where the drawer slides sit)
1 small plastic piece (attaches to the drawer, so it can engage with the bracket)
2 types of screws: long ones for securing the bracket to the cabinet, short ones for the drawer piece
Easy-to-follow instructions (no confusing tech terms—great for beginners)
Pro tip: Don't mix up the screws! The long ones are designed to grip the thick cabinet wood without splitting it, while the short ones keep the plastic piece secure without drilling through the drawer. This little detail protects your cabinet hardware and drawer from damage.
Step 1: Remove the Drawer from the Drawer Slides
First, open the drawer fully--you need to access the drawer slides clearly. Then lift the drawer slightly (about an inch) and pull it out,most modern drawer slides let you do this without tools. The instructions say to empty the drawer, but you can skip that if it's not overly heavy (like a drawer with just utensils). Saves time, and as long as the drawer slides aren't strained, it's totally fine.
Step 2: Install the Cabinet Bracket on the Drawer Slide
The metal bracket needs to sit perfectly on your drawer slide—alignment here is key for the soft close mechanism to work. Here's how:
Slide the bracket onto the drawer slide (it should rest flat on top, no overhang on the sides).
Line up the front edge of the bracket with the front edge of the cabinet—use the small "ears" on the bracket's sides to keep it straight.
Pre-drill tiny holes with a small bit (this prevents wood splitting, which protects your cabinet hardware). Drill just a little way into the cabinet wall—no need to go all the way through.
Screw the bracket in with the long screws—tighten until snug, but not too hard (over-tightening strips holes, which ruins your cabinet hardware). Use the front upper and rear upper holes— the instructions specify these for a reason, so don't use other holes!
Step 3: Attach the Plastic Piece (Drawer Alignment Is Critical!)
This small plastic piece is what makes the soft close mechanism work—it "catches" the bracket when you close the drawer. So drawer alignment here is make-or-break. Follow these steps:
Hold the plastic piece against the side of the drawer (the same side as the cabinet bracket and drawer slide). Slide it forward until it hits the back of the drawer's front panel—this keeps it from shifting later.
Use two fingers (one on top, one on bottom) to hold it in place—this lets you adjust it up or down easily.
Slide the drawer partway into the cabinet (not all the way closed). You want the plastic piece to just barely touch the metal bracket—if it's too high or low, the soft close mechanism won't engage; if it's too tight, the drawer will stick. Take your time with drawer alignment—this step makes all the difference.
Mark the oval holes on the plastic piece with a pencil (these ovals let you fine-tuning later, so don't skip).
Pre-drill tiny holes in the center of the ovals, then attach the plastic piece with two short screws—leave them a little loose for now (you'll fine-tune drawer alignment next).
Step 4: Fine-Tune Drawer Alignment and Secure the Piece
Now test the soft close mechanism by sliding the drawer in and out a few times. If it sticks or doesn't close softly, adjust the plastic piece using the oval holes—this is where drawer alignment gets precise:
If it's too high: Loosen the screws slightly, push the plastic piece down, then retighten.
If it's too low: Lift the piece up and retighten.
Once the drawer glides smoothly and the soft close mechanism works, add the third short screw to the plastic piece's middle hole—this locks it in place so drawer alignment stays perfect. Again, don't over-tighten—you don't want to damage the drawer or the piece.
Step 5: Test the Soft Close Mechanism and Fix Common Issues
Now for the fun part—close the drawer! If it slams instead of closing softly, don't panic,that's the most common mistake. The metal bracket comes from the factory in the "closed" position, so you need to open it manually first. Pull the drawer out, reach inside, and push the small lever on the bracket back,you'll hear a tiny "click" when it's open. Now try again—smooth, quiet, just like you wanted.
If the drawer pops out of the soft close mechanism when you open it, your drawer slides might have extra play (the drawer wiggles up and down). Fix this with a small scrap of wood (10-15mm thick that about a quarter to three-eighths of an inch). Mount it inside the cabinet, right above the metal bracket—this stops the drawer from lifting and popping out. Pre-drill, screw it in, and test that your soft close mechanism will work perfectly now.
Final Verdict
This soft close mechanism changed my kitchen—no more early-morning slams waking up the kids, no more wear on my cabinet hardware, and it was so easy to install. The only tiny downside: there's a little extra resistance when you open the drawer (from the soft close mechanism), but it's nothing you'll notice after a day or two.
Quick Success Recap
Pre-drill to avoid splitting.
Take time with drawer alignment.
Open the bracket before testing.
Use scrap wood for loose drawers.
Tried this? Have questions about drawer slides, soft close mechanism kits, or Ficgoal's cabinet hardware? Drop a comment—I'm happy to help!
