Designing your dream kitchen or bar area is about more than choosing the furniture styles you like. It's also important to choose stools that fit with your kitchen counters seamlessly. Need a bit of help determining the right height for counter stools? Read ahead for easy tips and tricks in this bar stool height guide.

Counter Stools Size Guide

What are counter-height stools? These stools pair with a counter space, kitchen island, or bar. Counter heights are generally taller than standard tables, so it’s important to have the correct stool height to match.

Height

How tall are counter-height stools? A counter stool is anywhere between 24" and 27" in height. They pair best with tables, bars, or counters that are 35" – 39" tall. We recommend leaving 9" – 13"’of space between the top of your stool and the underside of the table or counter for ample legroom.

Width

You also want to leave enough space in between stools to give guests room to comfortably move about. This will help you decide how many stools to purchase. First, measure the width of your counter or space. For counter-height stools that are 16" – 18" wide, there should be 21" – 22" of space for each stool. For stools that are 19" – 22" wide, there should be 24" – 25" of space for each stool.

Counter Stool Back Styles

Since counter stools are perfect for bar-height seating and kitchen counter seating, you want to choose a back that is comfortable and fits into your design.

Full Back: A full-back stool provides the most support for your back, which is a great option if you’re going to use your counters frequently for meals, socializing, and spending time in your kitchen.

Low Back: Low-back stools are a modern and sleek take on a full-back stool style. This style still gives you some back support but also makes it easier to see your bar or countertops to take in the full design.

Backless: These stools are the most casual counter stools and do not have any back support.

Counter Stool Features

Whether you are looking for kitchen bar stools or bar-height seating, these features can make your space even more comfortable and customizable.
Armless: Armless counter-height stools do not have arms and leave more space in between stools when they're paired or in a trio.This makes it easier to get into and out of the chair. An armless design also feels more casual and appropriate for a kitchen island or breakfast bar.

With Arms: Counter-height stools with arms feel more luxurious and have an added element of comfort. Keep in mind that you’ll need to account for the extra space arms take up and add another inch or two of space in between each stool.

Swivel: The swivel feature is great for making access to your seating and counter space easy. Keep in mind that you will also need to leave an inch or two of extra space between your chairs to accommodate for the space a swivel feature requires.

Footrest: Add another relaxation feature to your counter-height stools with a footrest. These are usually rungs added to the lower half of the stool’s legs to give you something to rest your feet on as you sit. They are a great addition to keep your legs from dangling.

Assembled: Forget the stress of assembling your counter stools by purchasing them preassembled. This is a great option for those with limited mobility or concerns about assembling furniture on their own. These stools come already built and are easy to unbox.

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