A bar stool can cost you anywhere between $159 to upwards of $1,300, depending on the quality of construction, style, and fabric. The mid-range price for a bar stool is between $299 and $450.

Read on for our picks of the top bar stools.

• Best Overall: AllModern Kody Upholstered Bar and Counter Stools.
• Best Budget: Fender 30-inch Bar Stool.
• Best Splurge: Strick & Bolton Laffut Velvet Counter-Height Stool.
• Best Adjustable: Simpli Home Sheldon Adjustable Swivel Bar Stool.
• Best Backless: Jai Solid Wood Bar Stool.

The Most Comfortable Bar Stools For Your Home

• Leopard Swivel Bar Stool – Best Overall.
• Zuri Furniture Bar Stool – Runner Up.
• Duhome Velvet Bar Stool – Best Backless Stool.
• Manchester Swivel Bar Stool – Best Wooden Finish.
• CHITA Counter Height Swivel Barstool – Most Comfortable Fabric Stool.

When selecting a counter stool, measure the height of the counter. A good rule of thumb is that the seat of the stool should be 12 inches below the underside of the counter. Product names can be misleading. Don’t assume that a “counter stool” or “bar stool” will match your standard counter or home bar.

Bar height stools generally have seat heights that are around 28 inches high (28 to 32 inches as a rule) in order to fit under table tops with a height of 40 to 42 inches. Counter stools have a seat height of 24 to 27 inches high for table surfaces that are 36 inches high.

Bar stools are typically five to six inches taller than counter stools, making them ideal for a traditional bar counter, which typically fall between 40 and 42 inches high. Here’s all that math again: 36-inch high counter table or kitchen island + 24-inch counter stool = perfect counter solution.

Counter stools can be used on bar counters, adjustable height restaurant tables, kitchen tops or in any dining area. Standard height for a counter height on the average stands 36″ above floor level. Naturally, a counter stool seat will measure 24″ to 27″ from the ground up.

A: Counter heights and their stools are typically lower than bar stools, but not that low! The standard counter height is 34-39 inches high, so a counter stool should have a seat height 24-29 inches tall. At 25 inches, it can slip underneath the kitchen counter while leaving a little over 10 inches of legroom.

Bar height tables are named as such because they are most frequently found in bars and restaurants. They are used to encourage casual conversation as the height of the corresponding bar height stools (30” to 36” high seats) cause those seated to remain very close to eye level with those standing.

Injuries resulting from a bar stool accident may include: sprains; broken bones (especially the arm and wrist areas when trying to break a fall); and back injuries, especially injuries to the tailbone. Some bar stool injuries can be severe and can result in long-term conditions or disabilities.

David Portnoy

A bar-height table generally measures in the 40- to 42-inch height range. A counter-height table runs about 34 to 36 inches tall, and standard dining-height tables range from 28 to 30 inches tall. How do I choose chairs or stools for the counter and bar-height tables?

Counter height stools are taller than chairs and typically measure 24”- 27” high at the seat. These stools are designed to be used at counter height tables, which measure between 35”- 39” high.

about 36 inches

42”

42 inches

Generally, there are three standard height options for breakfast bar counters: 30 inches, 36 inches and 42 inches above the floor. Within these parameters, the counter height is often staggered so that the work area is either higher or lower than the portion intended for eating, depending on the individual application.

Design Considerations

• Typical home and commercial bar height is 42-inches from the floor to the bar surface.
• A section of the bar should be 30″ above the finished floor to accommodate wheelchairs if desired.
• Home bar tops are usually between 12- to 16-inches wide.

How tall should a barstool be for a 42-inch counter? For a 42” counter, which is the standard height for a bar counter, the best barstool height is between 29” and 33”.