Guide to Choosing the Right Stool Height: Bar, Counter & Table Stools
April 19, 2021
Est. Reading Time: 5 Mins
Whether you’re sitting down for a quick snack at your counter or enjoying a cocktail at your home bar, dining stools are a casual, versatile, and stylish seating option in your home!
La-Z-Boy, a retailer of Canadian-made custom living room furniture, also offers custom-made dining room furniture, including stools. This is thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Canadian-based company Canadel Custom Dining.
When shopping for the perfect stool, there are many factors to consider. Arguably, however, the most important thing is that the stool measurements allow you and your guests to sit at a comfortable height.
With so many options, it can be difficult to know where to begin and how to take the correct measurements.
In this article, we will help simplify the measuring process and act as a guide to choosing the right stool for any dining room seat height. We will also cover all types of stools, such as barstools, counter stools and table stools.
In This Article…
- How to measure the Perfect Stool
- Standard Dimensions Based on Stool Type
- Stool Selection at La-Z-Boy
How to Measure for the Perfect Stool
Before you go browsing for stools, the first step is to measure! It is always important to Measure Your Space before purchasing any new furniture item.
To find a stool that is the perfect match, you will need to measure the height of the surface, the height of the stool, and the length of the surface.
To accurately determine your counter or table’s height, measure from the floor to the top of the surface. The surface refers to the top of the table, bar or counter.
Stools mostly have standard height ranges. But, other surfaces in your home do not come standard, so it is always important to take measurements yourself.
Once you have measured the height of the surface, make sure that your stool height is 10 inches shorter. This allows room to sit comfortably with legs underneath the surface. To determine the stool’s height, measure from the floor to the top of the seat.
If you intend to add multiple stools to your kitchen or dining room surface, you will need to account for the width of each stool. This is where your measurement of the surface length will come in handy!
It is recommended to leave at least 6 to 11 inches of space between each stool. By knowing the surface length of your bar, counter, or tabletop, you can calculate how many stools you will need based on recommended space between each one.
- For stools 16 to 18 inches wide, leave at least 6 inches between them.
- For stools 19 to 20 inches wide, leave at least 8 to 11 inches between them.
- For stools 16 to 18 inches wide with a swivel functionality, it is also recommended to leave 8 to 11 inches between them.
Standard Dimensions Based On Stool Type
With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
Now that you understand the importance of measurements, it may be helpful to follow the standard dimensions of stools and surfaces as a guide.
There are three main stool types: bar, counter, and table.
*The info graphic below shows a fourth type which is the extra-tall bar stool. While this is an option, it is not as common as the other three stool types.
Standard Bar Stool Height
Barstools should range anywhere from 29 to 32 inches. To allow for about 10 inches of legroom, these stools should be paired with bar heights between 41 to 43 inches.
Regarding the less common extra-tall bar stools, also referred to as "spectator-height stools," they measure between 33 to 36 inches from the floor and are suitable for bar heights ranging from 44 to 47 inches.
Standard Counter Stool Height
Counter-height stools are usually shorter than bar stools, measuring between 23 to 28 inches from the ground. These stools are a perfect match for 35 to 37-inch-high countertops, which happen to be the average height of most kitchen counters, coordinating well with the height of most kitchen appliances.
Standard Table Stool Height
Finally, the standard tabletop surface is typically 28 to 30 inches tall, which means you will need a table stool with a seat height of around 18 to 20 inches from the floor.
Stool Selection at La-Z-Boy
Now that you know which stool measurements are right for you, let’s take a look at some of our La-Z-Boy dining stool selections.
Canadel Custom Dining
As mentioned, Canadel is the main dining room supplier for La-Z-Boy Ottawa & Kingston. Based in Quebec, Canada, this company specializes in North American-made, hand-crafted, and customizable dining room furniture of the highest quality.
In fact, there is a local Canadel showroom in Kanata, adjacent to the Kanata La-Z-Boy.
Canadel offers a variety of dining furniture across an assortment of stylish collections. In addition to dining tables, dining chairs, benches, and buffets, Canadel also offers a beautiful selection of stools.
Thanks to Canadel’s U-design tool, you can customize your dining stool effortlessly among its 35+ models.
Across all of its dining furniture collections, Canadel offers dining stools that have similar options available. For height specifically, you can choose between a 30-inch option, which is best suited for bar height, or a 24-inch option, which is recommended for either a counter or table height.
To learn more about Canadel, Take a look at any of our Canadel collection review articles:
1. Canadel Collection
Kincaid & Hammary
In addition to stools offered by Canadel, La-Z-Boy also carries a variety of stools supplied by our subsidiary brands, Kincaid and Hammary.
Hammary and Kincaid, which were established in the United States, were acquired by La-Z-Boy in 2015 and now operate as its subsidiaries.
Kincaid and Hammary have many different collections of dining room furniture to choose from, all with varying degrees of style and taste.
If you are in search of a wooden barstool, you might appreciate specific stool selections from Kincaid, which is renowned for its meticulous attention to wooden detailing. Alternatively, you may prefer Hammary's versatility, with more than 70 collections to choose from.
The dining stools below are just some examples that you can find from Hammary and Kincaid. Make sure to speak to a La-Z-Boy Design Consultant for all the latest info on our dining stools.
What's Next?
With your measurements in hand, you are one step closer to finding the perfect stool for casual and versatile enjoyment! Why not get started at La-Z-Boy?
Our team of expert design consultants and talented interior designers would be happy to help you find a stool that not only matches your measurement requirements but also exceeds your style expectations.
Take advantage of our complimentary design services to ensure that the stool you choose coordinates seamlessly with the style of your kitchen, dining room, or home bar.
Visit us at a local Ottawa or Kingston showroom to start shopping today. If you prefer to plan ahead, schedule a visit online.
Related Links:
The Cost of a Dining Room Chair: Factors that Affect Cost & Deciding How Much to Spend
Cost to Reupholster a Chair: Dining, Living, and Leather Chairs
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