I have bought bar stools twice and returned them twice — different occasions, same mistake. I measured the wrong thing both times. Here is what actually matters: measure the clearance — the distance from the floor to the underside of the counter overhang. You want 9-13 inches of knee room between the seat and the bottom of the counter.
Standard kitchen counters sit at 36 inches and need a 24-26 inch seat. Bar-height counters at 40-42 inches need a 28-30 inch seat. The kitchen island pendant lights come in counter and bar heights, which eliminates the guesswork. I have four at my island now and they've been there for over a year with no complaints from anyone who has sat in them.
Last thing to check: seat width versus stool spacing. Measure the full overhang length, subtract 12 inches for the two ends, and divide by 28 to get your maximum stool count.
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Sarah at The Kinney Home built a kitchen banquette for family dining — her thinking about seat height and table clearance applies directly to the bar stool question.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what height bar stool I need?
Measure from floor to underside of the counter. You want 9-13 inches of knee clearance. Counter height (36") needs a 24-26" stool. Bar height (42") needs a 28-30" stool.
What is the difference between counter height and bar height stools?
Counter height: 24-26" seat for 36" counters. Bar height: 28-30" seat for 40-42" counters. Wrong height makes eating uncomfortable.
How far apart should bar stools be spaced?
Allow 26-30 inches center-to-center. Leave 6 inches minimum between edges of adjacent seats.
