Custom Cabinet Questions and Answers

Standard base cabinets are 24 inches deep, and a countertop with a small overhang brings the total to about 25 inches, according to Bob Vila. Upper cabinets are most often 12 inches deep, deeper over a microwave or range and up to 24 inches over a refrigerator. Tall pantry cabinets are usually 24 inches deep, or 12 inches for shallow storage.

Standard base cabinets are 34½ inches tall without the countertop. A typical 1½-inch countertop brings the work surface to about 36 inches, which matches dishwashers, ranges and other under-counter appliances. Custom cabinet makers can raise or lower bases for very tall or short cooks, but a non-standard height can complicate appliance fit.

Most upper cabinets are 12 inches deep, which Bob Vila notes keeps you from bumping your head while working at the counter. Cabinets over a microwave or range can be up to 18 inches deep and cabinets over a refrigerator up to 24 inches, according to Bob Vila's sizing guide. Uppers usually hang 18 inches above the counter, about 54 inches off the floor.

They can if the height works out. Uppers hung 54 inches off the floor that are 42 inches tall reach 96 inches, exactly an 8-foot ceiling, leaving no room for crown molding. Bob Vila's guide recommends 42-inch uppers for 9-foot ceilings and 30- or 36-inch uppers for 8-foot ceilings with trim. Check any soffit first, since it may hide ducts or wiring.

Installed stock cabinets run about $100 to $300 per linear foot, semi-custom $150 to $650 and custom $500 to $1,230, according to Fixr's 2026 guide. With 25 to 30 linear feet in an average kitchen, Fixr puts most installed kitchen cabinet projects at $4,000 to $14,000. Fully custom kitchens run $15,000 to $30,000 per HomeGuide. These are national figures.

Fixr's 2026 guide puts installation labor at $50 to $200 per linear foot, or $40 to $100 an hour, and says labor is usually 30% to 50% of the total. Modernize's 2026 figures are the same per foot. Custom cabinets cost more to install, about $200 to $300 per linear foot in HomeGuide's estimate, because they take more fitting and scribing.

Cabinet boxes are plywood, particleboard or MDF; face frames and doors are solid wood, MDF or a combination. Consumer Reports says stock cabinets are often thinly veneered particleboard and better lines use plywood boxes. In California, composite panels in cabinets must meet the Air Resources Board's formaldehyde limits and carry a TSCA Title VI label.

Refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes, covers the face frames and exposed sides with new veneer or laminate, and replaces the doors, drawer fronts and usually the hardware. This Old House says the boxes must be structurally sound. Fixr says a pro can reface an average kitchen in three to five days, and Angi's 2026 data averages $7,235 for the job.

Angi's 2026 data puts professional cabinet painting at an average of $938, with most projects from $425 to $1,463. Fixr's 2026 guide is higher, $2,500 to $6,500, or $70 to $125 per door, because it assumes more prep and a sprayed finish. Ask each painter what's included: door removal, spraying, number of coats, primer type and repairs.

A durable enamel over a high-adhesion bonding primer. This Old House reports many pros favor oil-based or alkyd topcoats for a harder film, while latex is easier to use but can take two to three weeks to cure fully. Fixr lists alkyd paint, a water-based paint with alkyd resins, as a balance of cost, durability and VOCs. Buy quality paint.

Fixr says most homeowners choose satin or eggshell, a middle ground between matte, which hides flaws but is harder to clean, and high gloss, which wipes clean but shows every imperfection. Whatever the sheen, the topcoat needs to cure fully before the doors take daily use.

Paint them, refinish them, reface them or simply change the hardware. Fixr's 2026 averages are about $4,000 for painting and $8,250 for refacing, and new hardware alone runs $100 to $1,000 or more. All of these depend on sound boxes; This Old House warns that peeling vinyl-wrapped sides and sagging particleboard shelves mean replacement is the better choice.

About 21 inches from the front of the cabinet to the wall, with the countertop extending 1 to 1½ inches past the front, according to Family Handyman. Shallower vanities can be built for narrow bathrooms. Single-sink vanities are typically 30 to 48 inches wide and double vanities 60 to 72 inches, as long as the toilet keeps its 15-inch side clearance.

Vanities typically measure 32 to 36 inches from the floor to the top of the counter. Family Handyman reports that 32 inches was standard in older homes, while 36-inch comfort-height vanities, the same height as a kitchen counter, have become more popular. An accessible sink counter is set at 34 inches, and vessel sinks call for a lower cabinet.

Angi puts the average walk-in at about 7 by 10 feet and the minimum at about 20 square feet for storage on one wall. With hanging rods on both sides, This Old House says a walk-in should be at least 6 feet wide to leave a 2-foot aisle, and Family Handyman's experts suggest 7 feet for a 3-foot walkway.

Angi's 2026 data averages $2,149 for a custom closet, with reach-ins at $500 to $3,000 and walk-ins at $1,000 to $8,000. Fixr's 2025 guide is higher, with walk-ins at $5,000 to $10,000. Materials, drawers, islands and lighting drive the price, and freestanding wardrobes run about $1,000 to $3,000. These are national figures.

About 12 inches, the most common bookshelf depth according to WoodBin, which fits magazines and most textbooks. Eight-inch shelves suit paperbacks, and 16-inch shelves suit oversized books. Keep spans short: WoodBin's no-sag limit for a 10-inch-wide, 3/4-inch plywood shelf carrying books is about 32 inches, and 26 inches for particleboard.

HomeGuide puts built-in bookshelves at $300 to $850 per linear foot installed, or $2,000 to $7,500 for a typical project, and built-in entertainment centers at $1,500 to $9,000. Fixr's 2024 guide averages $2,700. Solid hardwood, glass doors, drawers and built-in lighting cost more than painted plywood or MDF shelving.

Tall pantry cabinets are usually 24 inches deep to match base cabinets, and 12-inch-deep versions work well for canned goods and cleaning supplies, according to Bob Vila. They typically stand 84 to 96 inches tall. A deep pantry is easier to use with roll-out shelves so items at the back don't get lost.

Generally no for cabinets and countertops alone, which section R105.2 of the California Residential Code exempts as finish work, though cities can amend the list. You do need permits to move plumbing or gas lines, add outlets or hardwired lighting, duct a range hood outdoors or alter walls, windows or doors. Check with your city or county building department.

Yes, for any job over $1,000 in labor and materials, any job that needs a permit and any job where they use employees, under the CSLB's minor work rule as of January 1, 2025. Cabinet makers typically hold the C-6 Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry license or a B General Building license. Verify it on the CSLB's online license check.

No. California limits the down payment on a home improvement contract to $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, and the CSLB says special-order materials are not an exception. The only contractors who may collect more up front are those with a bond or joint control approved by the Registrar of Contractors. Later payments can't exceed the work done or materials delivered.

Not until you know whether the paint contains lead, if the home was built before 1978. The EPA says sanding or scraping lead paint creates dangerous dust and requires anyone paid for the work to be Lead-Safe Certified, unless it disturbs 6 square feet or less per room; demolition is always covered. A certified renovator can test the paint first.