What Is the Proper Height for Bar Stools?

While there is a standard height known as bar height, there are other heights used for bar stools for other purposes. Thirty inches is the standard height of your basic bar stool, but you might prefer a taller or shorter stool for the bar or island in your kitchen. In that case, the proper height depends on who will be sitting on the stools and the height of your bar area. Does this Spark an idea?

Bar Stools Heights

Most bar stools are built for the average bar, which is 40 to 42 inches tall. Thirty inch stools put the sitter's knees 10 to 12 inches below the lip of the bar, which is the most comfortable arrangement for the average-sized person. Unless you are really tall or really short, you should find that a bar stool at this height, combined with a foot bar between the seat and the floor, is pretty comfortable, and doesn't put too much pressure on the backs of your thighs.

Taller Stools

Taller stools, either 34- or 36-inch stools, are for taller people and taller bars. People six feet and taller might be uncomfortable on a 30-inch bar stool because their longer legs won't fit as well under the table. The 30-inch bar stool is the standard because it fits well with the manufacturing standard for kitchen counters, which are typically about two inches higher than a bar, but bars and kitchen counters are getting taller, and the 36-inch stool is also gaining popularity. According to 4barstools.com, the 36-inch stool has a more elegant appearance, as well, which might further explain its popularity.

Shorter Stools

Twenty-four inch bar stools are an excellent choice for children. It is just the right height for their shorter workspaces and their shorter legs. Shorter stools are a good choice for artists, who work well at that height, and also for people who like to spend their spare time tinkering in the garage at a workbench. This size is helpful because it's also easier to sit and stand repeatedly without feeling as if you are literally climbing up and down; that also makes it a nice choice for a food prep area in the kitchen.