Bar Stool Size Guide - What Height and width Should my bar stool be?

Choosing the right bar stool size for your home is confusing. With so many different variations in sizes of breakfast bars, counter tops and kitchen islands, finding the correct height stool is important. 

Choose the wrong size stools and you could be sitting too low or having to slouch if too high.  Neither of these options is comfortable! 

In this guide, we’ll explain how to choose the right stool size; covering height, width, depth and distance from the counter.

How to Choose the Right Bar Stool Height

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this conundrum. Instead, you need to look at your personal circumstances. There are a few key areas to factor in. Let’s run through them.

Room size

Thinking about the room you want your bar stools in, what size have you got available? Have you got space for big stools? Back and armrests increase the size considerably, so they may not be the most suitable if you’re working with a compact space. 

Backless stools without armrests are much smaller and need less space, so these are a great option to consider if you want to keep things sleek and streamlined.

Legroom 

We always recommend leaving 25-30cm legroom between the top of the stool seat and the counter/table/island, so you’ve got room to sit comfortably. 

How do you work out how tall a bar stool should be for the perfect legroom? Simply Measure from the underside of the counter to the floor and subtract 25-30cm, depending on the amount of room you require.

Distance Between Bar Stools 

Another important factor to consider is how many bar stools will comfortably fit around your kitchen island. The average seat width is about 42cm, but this increases to around 55cm if the stool has arms. 

You should also try to leave 15 cm between each stool. This gives you room to turn or eat and drink comfortably at the kitchen bar. 

Space Between the Bar Stool and Counter

Another key thing to consider is the depth of the stool, as this determines how much space you need between the bar stool and the counter. The depth and backrest go hand in hand, as a big backrest will add to the overall depth of the stool. The average seat depth is 40cm, but you can add between 5-12cm to this measurement if you choose bar stools with a backrest.

Consider your space and the traffic around where you’re placing the bar stools. Do you want to tuck them under the counter when not in use? The stool depth and backrest height will have a big impact on how they fit. If your kitchen space is limited, consider going for a backless option.

Bar Stool Height

Finally, one of the most crucial factors to take into consideration is stool height. Bar stools range in seat height from 58-92cm and each height is best suited to a particular area. 

There are four main types of bar stools:

• Counter stools
• Bar height stools
• Extra tall stools
• Adjustable height stools

Let’s take a look at each of these options for bar stool heights and where you should use them. 

Counter Stools 

• 58-72cm seat height

These bar stools are most commonly used in the kitchen or breakfast area, as they fit nicely at counters, short breakfast bars and kitchen islands.

Two of our most popular counter stools are the Hamilton Fixed Height Bar Stool and the Longdale Fixed Height Bar Stool.

Bar Height Stools

• 74-82cm seat height

If you’ve got a taller breakfast bar (approx. 104-109cm in height) then a slightly taller bar height stool is a good choice. A breakfast bar of this height is usually raised above the standard kitchen worktop height.

Two of our most popular bar height stools are the Moritz Bar Stool and the Athena Bar Stool.

Extra Tall Stools 

• 84-92cm seat height

Extra tall stools are most commonly used commercially at bars and restaurants. We’ve also seen an increase in people choosing these models for their own garden bars. 

Adjustable Height Stools

• 60-82cm seat height

Adjustable height stools are the most common style of stool on the market, as they’re incredibly versatile. The gas lift adjustment allows you to use them in a variety of roles, as they generally have a seat height of anywhere from 60-82cm. 

Two of our most popular adjustable height stools are the Cuban and Flo bar stools.

Bar Stool Height Chart

 

Bar Stool Type	Measurements
Counter height stools	58cm-72cm
Bar height stools	74cm-82cm
Extra tall stools	84cm-92cm
Adjustable height stools	60cm-82cm

How do I Measure my Bar Stool Height?

There are two different height measurements to consider when shopping for bar stools: the seat height and the overall height.

Seat height is the measurement from the floor to the top of the seat pad. This might be, naturally, how you measure what bar stools you can fit in. However, the overall height is the height from the floor to the counter or bar with the seat underneath. 

It might be useful to use the overall height measurement when checking whether a bar stool will fit in your home or not!

We include all measurements in the product listings to make it as easy as possible to find the perfect-sized bar stool for your home.

Bar Stools at Lakeland Furniture

After following these steps, you’re now ready to shop! Choosing the right height bar stool for your kitchen, home or workspace will be easy.  The hardest part will be choosing which style you want from our bar stools range. 

Shop our extensive range of bar stools today.