Why it replaced the ply drawer
A traditional drawer is a plywood box on separate side-mounted runners. It works, but the ply sides eat 26–32 mm of internal width each side, the runner alignment depends entirely on the fitter, and the box racks over time. A tandem box has 13 mm steel sides, arrives square from the factory, carries 30–70 kg and opens fully every time. In a Mumbai kitchen where internal width is always short, the extra 30 mm of usable space per drawer is not trivial.
| System | Side height | Load rating | Price per set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic tandem, single wall | 86 mm | 30 kg | ₹2,600–3,800 |
| Tandem with gallery rail | 86 + 2 rails | 30–40 kg | ₹3,800–5,200 |
| Tall tandem, glass side | 199 mm + glass | 40 kg | ₹5,200–7,500 |
| Deep pan drawer | 118–199 mm | 50–70 kg | ₹4,500–7,000 |
| Ply drawer on ball runners | 18 mm ply | 25–35 kg | ₹1,400–2,400 |
Specifying them properly
- Depth must match the carcass: 450 mm and 500 mm are standard, and a 500 mm box in a 450 mm unit is a common and expensive ordering error.
- Pan drawers under a hob need the 50–70 kg rating — a stack of steel pans is heavier than people estimate.
- Soft-close is standard on branded systems; confirm it is not an add-on line.
- Add a cutlery tray sized to the internal box, not to the unit.
Drawers versus shutters, the real argument
Below counter height, drawers beat doors every time. A base unit with a shutter requires you to crouch and reach into darkness; three drawers bring everything to you. The cost difference on a 600 mm base unit is roughly ₹9,000–16,000 — and it is the single change that most improves how a kitchen feels to use. We put drawers in every base unit we can and reserve doors for the sink unit and the tall unit. See kitchen costs in Mumbai.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tandem box better than a normal drawer?+
Yes, in every respect except price. It is square from the factory, carries more, extends fully, gains internal width and lasts longer. A ply drawer on ball-bearing runners is the reasonable budget alternative.
What load can a tandem box carry?+
30 kg for standard systems, 50–70 kg for deep pan drawers. Under a hob, specify the higher rating — a loaded pan drawer regularly exceeds 40 kg and an under-rated runner will start dragging within a year.
Can tandem boxes be retrofitted?+
Into an existing carcass, sometimes — the internal width and depth must match a standard system size and the carcass must be square. It is usually done when shutters are being replaced anyway.
Which brand of tandem box is best?+
Hettich and Hafele dominate Indian residential work and both are reliable with good spares availability. Blum is the premium option. The important thing is that the brand is named in the BOQ, so it cannot be substituted on site.