Choosing the Right Counter or Bar Stool Height

A rising home trend in California is have a home or an apartment with an open space plan. More homes than ever before have a living room that extends into the dining/ eating area which then leads into the kitchen rather than being divided by walls. Because of this, having functional furniture that lends to an open-space look is imperative. Creating an “open feel” can be easily accomplished in the dining area by incorporating the right kind of counter or bar height chair with your kitchen counter or bar table.

Below you will find the most common chair heights which are regular, counter height and bar height stools. The following guide will assist you in pairing your dining space with the ideal chair.

Before you begin to look for the chair that suits your needs, measure your kitchen counter or counter height table first.

	Regular Height	Counter Height Table	Bar Height
Surface Height from the Floor	28” to 31”	35” to 37”	40” to 42”
Chair/ Stool Height	17” to 19”	24” to 27”	28” to 33”

Regular Chairs:

Regular sized chairs are typically 17” to 19” high and are the perfect fit for a regular dining or kitchen table. If the chair has cushioned upholstery, the chair height will typically be 2” to 3” higher. Over time, the cushion will be “broken in” and naturally go down a few centimeters.

Counter Height Stools:

The stools are taller than regular chairs and commonly range between 24” to 27” in height which is a complementary height that fits beneath a kitchen counter, breakfast nook or a 36” counter height table. For optimized comfort, leave 8” to 12” of leg room between the bottom of the table and stool.

Bar Height Stools:

Bar height stools are usually 28” to 33” and frequently used at local bars, restaurants and at home wet bars. This 30-inch stool is the ideal height for a 42-inch counter top or bar table. These stools are also used at workstations for graphic design tables or a garage workspace.