Counter Stool Buying Guide

JustCounterStools.com makes it easy to find the counter stools that are the right size and style for your needs. We mention size first for a good reason: there are inherent size differences between counter stools and bar stools that could affect your quest for the perfect stool. These simple tips will help you to determine the right stool size for your needs and how many stools will fit comfortably at your kitchen island or home bar.

Getting the height right

Get the measuring tape out from your sewing kit or tool drawer and check the height of the counter or table where you intend to place your counter stools. Measure to the top of the counter, not the bottom. Don't worry about 1/16ths or 1/8ths; close to the nearest inch should do. Once you have your measurement, match it up with the diagrams below, and you'll know which size category to go shopping in. It's as simple as that!

With these diagrams, keep in mind that the seat heights are measured from the floor to the top of the seat.

Counter Stools. Counter height sounds pretty tall, but a counter-height bar stool is actually shorter than a bar stool. It measures from 23 to 28 inches from the floor to the seat. This is the stool height you need if your counter measurement is 35 to 37 inches.	Bar Stools. Don't set the bar too low when you're buying bar stools. They're a bit taller than counter stools, with a seat height measurement between 29 and 32 inches from floor to seat top. Bar stools are what you'll need if your counter measurement is 41 to 43 inches.	Extra Tall Bar Stools. This one's pretty straightforward. An extra-tall bar stool is just like its name, with a seat height measurement from floor to seat top of between 33 and 36 inches. Shop for extra-tall stools if your table or counter height measurement is around 44 to 47 inches.

The breadth of hospitality

With counter or bar stools, three's only a crowd if you didn't measure the space ahead of time. Here's a little trick that will give your guests plenty of elbow room. The hospitality industry standard is to allow 26 to 30 inches from the center of one bar stool to another. (FYI, though it doesn't affect the measurement, the width of a typical bar or counter stool is 18 inches.) As you can see from our Bar Stool Spacing diagram, a counter with a width of 84 inches and a standard of 28 inches from one stool center to another could thus accommodate three stools.

Choose a style

This one's all up to you! JustCounterStools.com offers a huge variety of counter stools in many different styles and materials. You can also choose from a selection of design features, including with or without arm rests, with or without seat backs, adjustable or stationary height, swivel or non-swivel (or memory swivel), upholstered or non-upholstered, and much more. Whatever your style preference, you'll find great selection and prices at JustCounterStools.com.