Perhaps the most important thing you need to do is decide what height of stool will suit your needs. When choosing your bar stool it is a good idea to keep the height of the surface it will be paired with in consideration. If you intend to have the stool be a freestanding piece, then this is not as important, but usually most designs will offer several heights. We will go into detail about the four types shortly.
You will want 10 to 12 inches difference between the top of the seat and the surface the stool for maximum comfort. In order to determine what size is best for you, measure the distance from the floor to the top of the surface you are pairing the stool with. If your table or counter has an overhang (or skirt), measure from the floor to the bottom of the overhang for the best fit to your bar stool.
There are three types of heights that you will encounter when shopping for bar stools:
• Bar: 29 – 32", most commonly used with home bars
• Counter: 24 – 28", used in casual dining, pub sets and at kitchen islands
• Spectator: 33 – 36", also known as "extra-tall" stools, typically used in commercial settings
One final fitting consideration is how many stools you can put around your table or at your nook. Industry standard is to allow 26 – 30" from the center of each bar stool, as shown in the diagram to the left. You'll want to account for enough elbow room so that each person sitting at the counter has enough space to move freely while eating.
