Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Sacramento, CA

How tall and deep are kitchen cabinets?

The standard base cabinet is 34½ inches tall and 24 inches deep, according to Bob Vila's 2026 sizing guide. A countertop brings the height to 35 to 36 inches and, with a small front overhang, the depth to about 25 inches. That height lines up with dishwashers, ranges and under-counter appliances.

Upper (wall) cabinets are most commonly 12 inches deep, deeper over a microwave or range and up to 24 inches over a refrigerator. They usually hang 18 inches above the counter, which puts their bottoms about 54 inches off the floor. Common upper heights are 30, 36 and 42 inches. Tall pantry and oven cabinets run 84 to 96 inches tall and are usually 24 inches deep, or 12 inches for brooms and canned goods.

Should kitchen cabinets go to the ceiling?

Only if the math and the room allow it. Uppers that start 54 inches off the floor and stand 42 inches tall reach exactly 96 inches, the height of an 8-foot ceiling. Bob Vila's guide says 42-inch uppers suit 9-foot ceilings, 36-inch uppers suit 8-foot ceilings with trim up to 6 inches, and 30-inch uppers suit 8-foot ceilings with trim up to 12 inches.

In many Sacramento kitchens from the 1970s and 1980s, the space above the uppers is a soffit. Angi notes that soffits can hide wiring, ductwork or plumbing, and that removing one doesn't include rerouting what is inside. Have it opened or inspected before you commit to full-height cabinets.

What should an island or pantry wall include?

An island is usually standard base cabinets on the working side, with shallower 12-, 15- or 18-inch-deep cabinets possible on the back. Under the 2025 California Electrical Code, if an island has no outlet, the wiring must allow one to be added later, and any new island outlet needs an electrical permit. Over a cooktop, upper cabinets need at least 30 inches of clearance, and the range manufacturer's installation instructions also apply.

A pantry wall of tall cabinets works best at full 24-inch depth with roll-out shelves, or at 12 inches where the aisle is tight. Because tall cabinets are top-heavy, they should be screwed to studs, and the Earthquake Country Alliance recommends latches on kitchen cabinet doors so they don't fly open in a quake.

What are kitchen cabinets made of?

Boxes are built from plywood, particleboard or MDF, and doors from solid wood, MDF or a mix of the two. Consumer Reports says stock cabinets are often thinly veneered particleboard, while premium semi-custom lines generally use plywood boxes. For long life, it suggests drawers with solid-wood sides, dovetail joints and a plywood bottom set in grooves, full-extension slides and 3/4-inch plywood shelves.

Every composite panel used in cabinets sold in California must meet the Air Resources Board's Phase 2 formaldehyde limits, and the EPA requires those panels to be labeled TSCA Title VI compliant.

How long do custom kitchen cabinets take?

Plan on an in-home measure, design drawings and approval, then 6 to 12 weeks of building, according to Fixr's 2026 guide, followed by installation. Deliveries should go inside the house, not a hot garage, so the wood adjusts to indoor conditions before it is fastened in place.

The cabinets themselves are exempt finish work under the California Residential Code, but moving the sink, adding circuits or ducting a hood outdoors needs permits. If you are switching from gas to induction, SMUD pays $750 and Roseville Electric up to $600 toward a qualifying cooktop.

Frequently asked questions

Available across the Sacramento area

• Sacramento
• Elk Grove
• Roseville
• Folsom
• Citrus Heights
• Rancho Cordova
• Rocklin
• Lincoln
• Davis
• West Sacramento
• Woodland
• El Dorado Hills
• Carmichael
• Fair Oaks
• Orangevale
• Arden-Arcade
• Antelope
• North Highlands
• Granite Bay
• Gold River
• Rio Linda
• Galt
• Auburn
• Cameron Park
• Placerville
• Loomis