Pull out cabinet drawers are typically made from 3 materials…wood, metal, and plastic. Let’s look at the pros & cons of each material.

First wood. Here wood includes all the various hardwoods, softwoods, bamboo, and even the glued woods…plywood, and glued sawdust…melamine. The materials are readily available…they come in a variety of grains, color, hardness, and can be joined and carved in different ways. All this, and the ease with which wood can be cut to any given dimension, allows a high degree of relatively inexpensive customization. If you want a really tight fit, custom wood is the way to go. The main con of wood…it is the most prone to water damage. If damaged…it typically is not fixable…throw it out…and try to replace it.

Metal drawers are either solid metal, or, wire mesh. The mesh is either rubber or chrome coated. Metal is the hardest of the materials, and expensive to shape…thus expensive to customize. Virtually all product comes in standard sizes….which for the homeowner means you may have to accept a less than ideal fit. Solid metal drawers are typically built for industrial (tool box cabinets) and commercial (filing cabinets) applications. For kitchen applications, the only solid metal drawer I am aware of is the Blum Metabox line which requires assembly prior to installation and is quite pricey. Rubber coated wire baskets are typically designed and priced for the low end of the market, and most would agree, do not have a reputation for quality. Chrome coated wire mesh baskets are classy and durable…typically come with full extension rails…and are relatively affordable. The only con with chrome wire mesh drawers is the basket contains nothing smaller than the mesh dimension, so thin objects can protrude out the side and potentially jam the drawer and certainly no dust, lint, or water is contained.

Finally, plastic.  Plastic drawers are like steel drawers, in that, for typical kitchen applications, they are not suitable for custom work…thus only standard sizes are available. ( You could 3D print a custom drawer, but for practical purposes…No). Plastic drawers are able to contain fluids indefinitely without damage to the drawer, and are easy to clean with soap and water. The con…no customization, including color.