The seat should be about 9–11 inches from the bottom of the countertop. Anything higher or lower will be uncomfortable and look disproportionate.
Tip: allow at least 12”-18” inches of knee space between the stool's edge and the bar or counter. Since most people need at least 2 feet of personal space from other people when eating, 24” inches of space per bar stool should be allocated to ensure a comfortable dining setting.
Typically, you're going to want to allow 10-12″ from the top of the stool seat to the understide of your countertop. Standard countertop height is 36-39″ high, so you'll want a seat that is 24-26″ from the floor, leaving that room for leg clearance under the countertop.
Heights of counter stools are generally 24″-26″ inches from floor to seat. Pair with a table or counter 36″-39″ in height. Heights of bar stools are generally 28″-30″ from floor to seat. Pair with a table or counter 40″-42″ in height.
Measure the length of counter you have available for seating. The general rule of thumb is to allow 26 to 30 inches from the middle of one stool to the middle of the next. You should leave about 8 to 10 inches between seats. Keep in mind that an armed stool will need more room than an armless stool.
The ideal stool seat height is 24 to 26 inches, leaving about 10 to 12 inches of space between the stool seat and the underside of the counter. This gap gives you and your guests optimal legroom to sit comfortably without feeling cramped.
For a raised bar with stools, the standard overhang is typically 12 inches to accommodate the bar stools, while the raised bar should be between 42 to 48 inches tall. If space is tight and you expect users to be mostly standing at the bar, you could reduce the overhang to eight inches.
Standard counter stool heights are typically 24 to 27 inches tall.
Bar height stools generally have seat heights that are around 28 inches high (28 to 32 inches as a rule) in order to fit under table tops with a height of 40 to 42 inches. Counter stools have a seat height of 24 to 27 inches high for table surfaces that are 36 inches high.
Kitchen Counter Height Stools
If you are looking for a stool to fit under a standard kitchen counter height, we would advise you to purchase a stool that is between 610-670mm (24 to 26 Inches) high, in order to fit under the 890-910mm (35 to 36 Inches) counter table.
Allocate 24 inches of seating space for each person for optimal comfort. Divide your counter length by 24 to calculate the number of stools. Example: A 72-inch counter divided by 24 equals 3 stools.
The Standard Counter Height
Kitchen – The standard kitchen counter height is 36 inches (3 feet) above the floor.
Spectator Height
If your kitchen counter or pub table is high such as 46" to 48", you need a stool with a 34” high seat.
You will want to leave adequate space behind the stools when pushed out for seating so that people can still walk behind them. Our recommendation is three feet of space for the most accessible movement, but you shouldn't drop below two feet if you can help it.
How much overhang do you need for a kitchen island? Most islands require a slight countertop overhang to ensure diners have plenty of legroom when seated. 12 inches is the ideal rough size for an overhang, but the clearance around the island is your first priority.
Most overhangs tend to be 10" - 12" deep, and most bar stool seats tend to be about 16" deep, so they usually won't push all the way into the edge of your countertop.
As a rule of thumb, the optimum space between a seat and the table surface is 250mm. This allows for plenty of legroom, as well as the perfect configuration for easy access to drinks and bar nibbles!
Counter stools come in two main styles - with and without backrests. Backless stools have a simple, clean-lined look that fits seamlessly into contemporary kitchens. However, stools with backrests offer considerable ergonomic and comfort advantages that make them the better option for long-term satisfaction.
For context, the most common bar stool widths are 15", 17", and 21". To find out how many bar stools you can reasonably fit, measure the width of your counter or bar and keep this number in mind while browsing for bar stools. We recommend leaving 26" – 30" between the centers of each bar stool.
Bar stools, counter stools, and tables are often built to standard sizes, although not every structure adheres to these dimensions. Bar stools' overall height is 42" with a seat height between 29" and 31" while counter stools' over all height is 36" with a seat height between 24" to 27".
Do barstools and dining chairs have to match? No, they definitely don't have to match, and this is more of a personal preference than a rule.
Measuring Stool Heights
We recommend keeping 9 to 12 inches between the seat and the underside of your tabletop to give you enough leg room.
Counter-Height Stools
Slightly higher than a dining table, the height of a counter-height table or eating surface will be between 35 and 40 inches tall. A counter-height bar stool will have a seat height from 22 to 26 inches.
If you can't find the proper stool that fits the height of your countertop, the best solution is to cut down your stool to fit what you need. Rob Robillard of A Concord Carpenter, shows us how to build a jig that ensures each stool leg is cut to the exact same height.