Modern Stools

What Height Stool Do I Need?

Measure from the floor to the underside of the counter, then subtract 10 to 12 inches. A 36 inch kitchen counter wants a 24 to 26 inch counter stool. A 42 inch bar wants a 28 to 30 inch bar stool. A 30 inch desk or table wants a standard 18 inch seat. Anything less than 9 inches of clearance and knees hit the underside.

How Many Stools Fit at My Island?

Allow 26 to 30 inches per stool measured along the counter, more if the stools have arms or swivel. A 6 foot island takes three comfortably, four at a squeeze. Leave at least 6 inches between stools so people are not touching elbows, and check the overhang: you want 12 inches of counter projecting over the base for knees, 15 if the stools are tall.

Should Bar Stools Have Backs?

Backs make a stool somewhere to sit for an hour rather than a few minutes, which matters if the island is where your family actually eats. Backless stools tuck fully under the counter and disappear, which matters in a small kitchen or an open plan room where the island is in the sight line. If the counter is a thoroughfare, backless usually wins.

Do Swivel Stools Need More Space?

Yes. A swivel needs clear floor around its full rotation, so allow a few extra inches on each side and avoid them in a tight galley. They are worth it where people get on and off frequently, because you do not have to push the stool back to leave. Look for a return mechanism if the stools are visible from the living area, otherwise they end up facing every direction.