When buying bar stools for your kitchen counter or home bar, it’s important to consider style and what materials would be best suited for your space – but not, however, before determining the right height. The right bar-stool height allows you and others to sit comfortably. The stools should sit low enough so that your legs are not squished, but high enough for you to rest your arms on the counter. Measure the height of your counter or table before browsing for stools. Then use this guide to narrow down your selection and determine the right height.
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Chair stools: Chair stools are shorter and often used with tables or low counters. Their seat height is usually measured at 18 inches and best paired with surfaces at 28 to 30 inches high.
Counter stools: If you have a kitchen counter, a counter stool is probably your best choice. These stools are around 24 to 26 inches tall (from floor to seat) and used with counters that are 35 to 39 inches from the floor. Continue reading below for difference between bar stool height vs counter height.
Bar stools: For counters that are 41 to 43 inches high, use bar stools. These stools are typically 28 to 30 inches tall and better for higher counters. If you have a counter taller than 44 inches, search for a stool that has a seat 33 to 36 inches above the floor.
If you’re ever unsure about the right height, keep in mind that the general rule of thumb is to have a seat that is 10 inches below your counter. Other factors may come into play as well. For example, if your bar stools have arm rests, you can place your arms on the arm rests rather than the counter; the bar stool seat can therefore be lower.
Once you have the right height determined, you can narrow down your search even more by considering your room’s style and which materials would be most comfortable. If you’re finding stools for your home bar, padding might not be necessary. For dining, however, the extra cushion would make meals more enjoyable.