Counter Height vs. Bar Height Stools: How to Pick the Right Size
Buying stools that are too tall is the most common kitchen-island mistake, and it's an easy one to avoid. You need one number: the height of your counter. Here's how to turn it into the right stool, how many stools fit, and five stools with their real seat heights.
1. Measure your counter, then subtract 10 to 12 inches
Measure from the floor to the top of the counter. Then look for a stool whose seat sits 10 to 12 inches below that. That gap leaves room for your legs under the counter without putting your elbows up at your chin.
| Your surface | Typical height | Stool seat height |
|---|---|---|
| Dining table | 28 to 30 in | 17 to 19 in (a dining chair) |
| Kitchen counter or island | 35 to 37 in | 24 to 27 in (counter stool) |
| Bar or pub table | 40 to 42 in | 28 to 32 in (bar stool) |
Most kitchen islands are 36 inches tall, so most kitchens need counter stools, not bar stools. Bar stools are for raised bars and pub-height tables.
Always check the seat height on a product page, not the overall height. The overall height includes the back.
2. Leave 26 to 30 inches per stool
Space stools 26 to 30 inches apart, measured from the center of one seat to the center of the next. Go closer to 30 inches for stools with arms or a swivel.
A quick way to count: divide the length of your island's seating side by 26 and round down.
- 6-foot island (72 in): 2 stools
- 7-foot island (84 in): 3 stools
- 8-foot island (96 in): 3 stools, or 4 slim backless ones
3. Check the overhang
Your knees need somewhere to go. A countertop overhang of at least 12 inches on the seating side is comfortable for most adults. With less than about 10 inches, people end up sitting sideways.
4. Backs, footrests and fabric
- Low backs are the best everyday choice: they support you without blocking the view across the kitchen.
- Backless stools tuck fully under the counter, which helps in a tight kitchen.
- A footrest matters more than people think. Without one, a counter stool gets uncomfortable fast.
- Velvet and boucle add warmth to a kitchen full of hard surfaces. Choose a darker color if the stools will see daily use.
Five stools with real seat heights
Sigfred Velvet Counter Stool (Set of 2), $169. A curved velvet shell with a low back on slim black legs with a footrest. Seat height 23.5 inches, made for standard 36-inch counters. Shown in Gold; also in six other colors. See the Sigfred Velvet Counter Stool
Dallas Counter Stool (Set of 2), $129. A scoop seat with a low back on four black legs with a footrest. Seat height 23.5 inches. See the Dallas Counter Stool
Dallas Bar Stool (Set of 2), $172. The same shape, sized for a bar. Seat height 29.5 inches, for surfaces around 40 to 42 inches tall. See the Dallas Bar Stool
Amelia Velvet Bar / Counter Stool (Set of 2), $199. Channel-tufted velvet on a black frame. Choose the 24-inch seat height for a kitchen counter. Shown in Cognac. See the Amelia Velvet Stool
Oscar Boucle Bar / Counter Stool (Set of 2), $279. A boucle seat with a cane back on a black cantilever frame. Choose the counter version with a 24-inch seat height for a standard island. Shown in Black. See the Oscar Boucle Stool
The short version
- Measure your counter.
- Subtract 10 to 12 inches. That's your seat height.
- Allow 26 to 30 inches per stool.
- Make sure there's at least 12 inches of overhang.
Every stool above is picked for quality at a fair price and ships free. Shop all counter and bar stools at Inmod.