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.
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.
How tall should a bar stool be for a 36 inch counter? For a 36 inch counter, a bar stool should have a height of around 24-26 inches.
A typical overhang for a comfortable seating area should be around 25-30cm (10-12”), this should leave enough knee room and adequate space between the countertop edge and the person seated.
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.
An 8-inch overhang is usually not enough for comfortable seating. While it might work in a pinch, most people will find it too shallow. With an 8-inch overhang, there is not enough legroom, and people's knees are likely to hit the cabinets underneath, making it uncomfortable to sit for any length of time.
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.
If you choose a 28-inch table, for example, it's best to select chairs that are 18 to 19 inches tall. This will allow for enough leg room and a comfortable seating experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a 32-inch table, choose chairs that are 20 to 22 inches tall to avoid feeling cramped.
The correct stool height is generally 10 inches shorter than the counter or tabletop height. Standard stool categories include bar stools (29-32 inches), counter stools (23-28 inches), and table stools (18-20 inches.) Measure both the height of your surface and the space needed between each stool for comfort.
In certain instances, a larger or smaller overhang may be desired. This is more common with custom countertops. Still, while some countertops can have different overhang measurements, 1.5 inches is considered standard for residential homes. The standard countertop overhang for kitchen islands is 12 inches.
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.
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.
For standard barstools with a seat height of 30 inches, a 12 to 15-inch overhang is recommended. For counter-height barstools with a seat height of 24 inches, a 15 to 18-inch overhang is ideal.
According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association guidelines, having at least 36 inches of clearance space around the kitchen island allows for ease of movement and access to kitchen cabinets and appliances.
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.
Counter height stools are around 24 to 27 inches from the floor to the seat. This height is ideal for kitchen islands or counters that are around 36 inches in height.
30" Round Table - seats 3-4 guests. 36" Round Table - seats 4 guests. 42" Round Table - seats 4-5 guests. 48" Round Table - seats 5-6 guests.
Ignoring everything else for the moment, the realistic minimum distance between the chair seat and table top, is around 24cm, with the maximum being around 30cm. The ideal is around 26cm. Most modern chairs have their seat height set at around 50cm from the floor and most dining tables are around 76cms high.
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!
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.
Bar tops are usually around 40 to 42 inches high, so opt for a bar stool about 28 to 30 inches tall.
Ideally, a fully functioning countertop can be flush with the cabinets. An ideal measurement must be followed before doing so – the handle of the cabinets must be between 1” and 2” from the kitchen countertop overhang. The primary purpose here must be the functionality of the cabinets and saving space.
The maximum overhang is no more than 1/3 of the total dimension of the countertop – not to exceed 15”. Overhang greater than 15” requires corbels or flush mounted steel supports. Supports must be designed to bear the weight of the countertop and be mounted to studs or equivalent load bearing structure.
For kitchen countertops, 24 inches (60 point 96 cm) is the standard depth. You can easily reach the back of the counter thanks to this depth which also provides enough workspace. To provide more room for work and storage the depth may be increased to 30 inches (76. 22 cm) or more for islands and peninsulas.