How Many Bar Stools Do I Need? Ideal Spacing Tips

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How Many Bar Stools Do I Need? Ideal Spacing Tips

So you’re looking at buying new bar stools but find yourself wondering, ‘How many bar stools do I need? It’s a great question and one that many Lakeland Furniture customers ask themselves when it comes to buying bar stools. But don’t worry! We’re here to help.

Figuring out how many bar stools you can fit in a designated space can be confusing. To do this you need to take into account the following things:

  • Bar stool width
  • Bar stool spacing
  • The size of your counter

Put simply, the answer will depend on a few key factors. First, you need to ask yourself: 

  • How big is the space? 
  • How many people live in the home? 
  • How often will you use the bar stools? 

Once you have these, you’re halfway to knowing how many stools are right for your space. To make it easy for you, we've put together a list of important questions. Answer these to determine how many bar stools you need for your kitchen or breakfast bar.

How Wide is the Average Bar Stool?

On average a bar stool has an approx. seat width of 40cm. If you choose a stool with arms this will take the seat width to around 50cm-60cm. If you have a particular bar stool in mind that you like, it’s worth checking the dimensions to ensure accurate measurements.

How far Apart Should I Space my Bar Stools?

You should space your bar stools roughly 20cm apart from each other at the breakfast bar or kitchen counter. This allows you free movement to swivel and therefore easy access in and out. 

However, if you think you might need more room than the average person or you have a small household, you might want to increase this distance! Ultimately, it's up to you but we always recommend a minimum of 20cm.

How Many Bar Stools Do I Need for My Counter?

So, how many stools do you actually need? Based on the above information, as a general guide for an average bar stool, you should allow approximately 60cm width per stool to be comfortable. So if you've got an island bench which is 6ft long, 3 average size bar stools will give you ample room to remain comfortable while seated. 

However, there is a more accurate way to work out how many bar stools you should get, as detailed below.

How Many Bar Stools Should I get?

There are two ways to work out how many bar stools you can get. The first method is if you already know how many stools you require. The second way is if you already know which specific bar stool you would like.

Method #1

If you know you need 4 stools, as you have 4 family members, we would recommend the following method:

  1. Measure the length of your countertop and divide by the amount of bar stools you need. This will give you the amount of space you have per person.
  2. Work out how much of this space is for the stool and how much is for mounting and dismounting. To get this, take the space per person and minus space for mounting/dismounting (Space per person – 20cm).
  3. This will leave you with the remaining space you have for the stools. You can now filter stools by width to ensure your stools are within your space guidelines.

How to Wrok Out How Many Barstools you can fit in your space

Method #2

If you already have a specific bar stool in mind, you can use the width of that stool to work out how many you can fit within your designated space.

  1. Measure the length of your countertop and the width your bar stool
  2. Add 20cm to the width of the stool to allow for space to mount/dismount (Width + 20cm)
  3. Divide the length of the counter top by the new bar stool width.
  4. Round the answer down to the nearest whole number. This is how many stools you can have within this space.

How to work how many bar stools you can fit

Bar Stools for Kitchen Islands

The type of counter you place your bar stool at will often determine the number of stools you need. Countertops generally have one side which you can place stools at where the other side is used for food preparation or workspace. In comparison, kitchen islands are often double sided and so the number of stools for an island is greater. Below, you can find the average number of stools you can fit, depending on the size of your kitchen counter or island.

How Many Bar Stools for a 6 Foot Island?

If you have a 6ft countertop you can fit 3 average size bar stool.

If you have a 6ft kitchen island you can fit 6 average sized bar stools.

How Many Stools for a 6ft Island

 

How many bar stools can you fit at a 8 foot island?

If you have a 8ft counter top you can fit 4 average size bar stool.

If you have a 8ft Kitchen island you can fit 8 average sized bar stools.

How Many Bar Stools for a 8ft Island

How many bar stools can you fit at a 10 foot island?

If you have a 10ft counter top you can fit 5 average size bar stool.

If you have a 10ft Kitchen island you can fit 10 average sized bar stools.

 

How Many bar stools for a 10ft Island

How far Should a Bar Stool be From the Counter?

The depth of a stool seat will vary, though this is generally between 43-55cm.  If space is tight, to maximise your kitchen island, consider adjustable stools with small or low backrests. They can be stored under the countertop when not in use. Otherwise, as most bar stools are not fixed to the floor, the actual distance from the countertop doesn't matter. Each person can adjust to their own preference!

Find Your Perfect Bar Stool

Now that you know how many bar stools you need for your space, you’ll want to know where to find them. With 20 years’ experience, Lakeland Furniture offers the latest in high-quality bar stools at the most affordable prices. Plus, with quick delivery and brilliant best customer service, you’ll never need to shop anywhere else for your bar stools. 

Trust the bar stool experts and browse our extensive range.



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