Clear or silver anodised
The most popular handle finish: hard, scratch resistant and easy to clean. 10 – 15 µm is typical indoors.
Handle and edge profiles
G Profile Aluminium & G Profile Handles
A G profile is an aluminium extrusion that fits over the edge of a cabinet door or panel and forms a built-in finger pull, so the front stays clean without a separate handle. Metline supplies G profile handles and related G sections in 6063 aluminium, anodised, powder coated or wood-grain finished, sized for standard board thicknesses and cut to length for furniture makers worldwide.
- Use
- Handleless door edge pull
- Alloy
- 6063-T5 / T6
- Boards
- 16 – 22 mm typical
- Finishes
- Anodised, powder, wood grain
What is a G profile?
Seen from the end, the profile looks like a letter G: one part clamps or slots onto the door edge and the hooked lip curls outwards to leave a finger space. You open the door by hooking your fingers behind the lip.
On base units the G profile normally runs along the top edge of each door or drawer front; on wall units it runs along the bottom edge. Because the handle is the full width of the door, it is equally easy to reach from any position, and there are no projecting knobs to catch clothing in a narrow kitchen or corridor.
The G profile belongs to a family of "handleless" systems. A J profile is similar but usually shallower, giving a more discreet lip. A Gola or channel system is different in principle: it is fixed to the carcass between doors, not to the doors themselves, and creates a recessed finger groove behind the door edge. G and J profiles are cheaper and simpler to fit to existing door designs; Gola systems give the cleanest look but require carcasses designed for them.
Outside furniture, G-shaped extrusions are used as glazing and edge profiles that grip a glass or panel edge on one side and present a hook or return on the other, for example in partition systems and LED lighting coves.
Board sizes, dimensions and lengths
| Feature | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board thickness | 16, 18, 19, 22 mm (5/8, 3/4 in) | 18 mm is the most common kitchen door thickness |
| Profile height | About 25 – 60 mm | Taller profiles give a deeper finger pull and more visible metal |
| Lip projection | About 10 – 25 mm | Set by how far the door can project without clashing |
| Wall thickness | About 1.2 – 2 mm | Heavier sections for tall or heavy doors |
| Lengths | Mill lengths of about 3 – 6 m, or cut to door width | Cut lengths with deburred or mitred ends |
A profile is a few tenths of a millimetre wider inside than the nominal board so that it can be pressed or glued on; board thickness varies by manufacturer and edge-banding, so measure a finished door before confirming the size. For custom designs we work from your CAD drawing and confirm die availability.
Alloys and tempers
6063 is the standard alloy for handle profiles. Its low alloy content gives a smooth extruded surface and the most uniform anodised colour, and it extrudes the thin, curved lip of a G section accurately. 6060 performs much the same. Heavier G sections that carry load, such as glass-retaining profiles or long cabinet rails, can be made in 6061 or 6082.
| Alloy and temper | Standard and size band | Tensile strength, min. | Yield strength (0.2 %), min. | Elongation, min. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6060-T5 | EN 755-2, wall ≤ 5 mm | 160 MPa | 120 MPa | 8 % |
| 6063-T5 | ASTM B221, ≤ 12.5 mm | 150 MPa (22 ksi) | 110 MPa (16 ksi) | 7 – 8 % |
| 6063-T6 | ASTM B221 / EN 755-2 | 205 – 215 MPa (30 ksi) | 170 MPa (25 ksi) | 8 % |
| 6061-T6 / T6511 | ASTM B221 / B308 | 260 MPa (38 ksi) | 240 MPa (35 ksi) | 8 % |
| 6082-T6 | EN 755-2, open profile ≤ 5 mm | 290 MPa | 250 MPa | 8 % |
Specified minimums for extruded profiles; thicker walls fall into different bands. Typical values run 10 – 20 % higher (6061-T6 typically 310 MPa tensile, 276 MPa yield). Design to the minimums and the actual figures on the mill certificate.
| Alloy | Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Cr | Zn | Ti |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6060 | 0.30 – 0.6 | 0.10 – 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.35 – 0.6 | 0.05 | 0.15 | 0.10 |
| 6063 | 0.20 – 0.6 | 0.35 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.45 – 0.9 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| 6061 | 0.40 – 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.15 – 0.40 | 0.15 | 0.8 – 1.2 | 0.04 – 0.35 | 0.25 | 0.15 |
| 6082 | 0.7 – 1.3 | 0.50 | 0.10 | 0.40 – 1.0 | 0.6 – 1.2 | 0.25 | 0.20 | 0.10 |
Single values are maximums. Others 0.05 % each, 0.15 % total; aluminium is the remainder. Limits follow the Aluminum Association registrations and EN 573-3.
For a handle, strength is rarely the limit; surface quality, colour match between batches and straightness matter more. That is why the alloy, extrusion and anodising batch should be kept consistent for a single project.
Finishes for G profile aluminium
Colour anodised
Black, champagne, gold, bronze and stainless-look shades. Order from one batch to avoid colour variation.
Brushed and anodised
Mechanically brushed before anodising for a satin, stainless-steel look that hides fingerprints.
Powder coated
Any RAL colour, matt or gloss, to match painted doors exactly.
Wood grain
Sublimation transfer over powder coat for timber-look kitchens and wardrobes.
Polished / bright
Chemically brightened or polished before anodising for a chrome-like finish, often in 6463 or 6063.
Anodic films can be specified to ISO 7599 or a Qualanod class; powder coatings to Qualicoat. Protective film on the visible face is recommended through fitting.
Processing and fitting G profiles
- CutCut to door width with a fine-tooth carbide blade; deburr ends. Mitre where profiles turn a corner.
- Prepare the doorDepending on the profile, square the top edge, rout a groove or a rebate to receive the profile leg.
- FixPress the profile on with adhesive (for example a polyurethane or MS-polymer adhesive) and, where designed for it, screw through the back leg.
- Finish endsFit end caps or leave clean-cut ends, depending on the design.
- Check gapsConfirm that the lip does not clash with the worktop, adjacent doors or the carcass when the door opens.
Pre-processing such as cutting to length, drilling, punching and mitring can be carried out before shipping, so profiles arrive ready to fit.
Where G profiles are used
- Kitchens: handleless base, tall and wall-unit doors and drawer fronts
- Wardrobes and bedrooms: sliding and hinged wardrobe doors, chests of drawers
- Bathrooms and offices: vanity units, filing and storage cabinets
- Glass partitions: edge and retaining profiles for glass and panel walls
- LED lighting: profiles that conceal an LED strip and conduct heat away from it
- Façade details: small hook and edge sections in curtain-wall and cladding systems
| System | Fixed to | Appearance | When to choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| G profile | Door edge | Visible metal lip along each door | Retrofit or standard carcasses; strong grip |
| J profile | Door edge | Slimmer, shallower lip | Discreet look, shallow doors |
| Gola / channel | Carcass | Recessed groove between doors | New kitchens designed around the system |
| Bar handle | Door face | Separate projecting handle | Traditional look, lowest cost |
Standards, tolerances and packing
Profiles are produced to EN 755 (material and properties) or ASTM B221, with dimensional tolerances to EN 12020-2 for precision 6060/6063 sections or EN 755-9. Visible-face finish, colour and straightness are checked on each batch, and each delivery carries a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1. RoHS or REACH declarations can be supplied where your market requires them.
Finished profiles are protected with film on decorative faces, interleaved with foam or paper, bundled in plastic wrap or packed in cartons, and crated for export so that the lip is not bent in transit.
References and standards
- EN 755-2 – Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles: mechanical properties
- EN 12020-2 – Extruded precision profiles in alloys EN AW-6060 and EN AW-6063: tolerances
- ASTM B221 – Extruded bars, rods, wire, profiles and tubes (aluminium and its alloys)
- ISO 7599 – Anodizing of aluminium and its alloys: decorative and protective anodic oxidation coatings
G profile aluminium handles: frequently asked questions
What is a G profile handle?
An aluminium extrusion fixed along the edge of a door or drawer front, shaped like a G in section, whose curled lip forms a full-width finger pull. It gives a handleless look without changing the cabinet carcass.
What is the difference between a G profile and a Gola profile?
A G profile is fixed to each door edge. A Gola profile is fixed to the cabinet carcass and forms a recessed groove behind the door edges, so the doors themselves carry no handle at all.
Which board thickness do G profiles fit?
Most are made for 18 mm doors, with versions for 16, 19 and 22 mm boards. Measure your finished door, including edge banding, and choose a profile to match or send a drawing for a custom section.
Which finish is most durable for a kitchen handle?
Anodising is hard, scratch resistant and easy to clean, so clear, black or champagne anodised profiles are the most hard-wearing. Powder coating is better when you need an exact colour match.
Can you supply G profiles cut to door width?
Yes. Profiles can be cut to length, mitred, drilled and protected with film, then packed per order so they are ready to fit.
Need G profile handles or sections?
Send your board thickness, finish and lengths, or a drawing, and we will confirm the profile and price.
