BAR STOOL SIZING GUIDE
When buying bar stools, many people are after comfort, and to get the most comfort from your stools, it is important that they fit well in the proposed location. This means that the size of the stools is of paramount importance and often makes a good starting point when choosing which style to go for. Choosing the correct size not only maximises the comfort of your stool, it also means you will utilise the space within your bar or kitchen more effectively, and aid to the overall layout and design of your environment.
SEAT HEIGHT
To sit comfortably you must allow enough room for your legs and a small gap above. This allows for a comfortable, ergonomic seating position and gives you space to move your legs around. Below is a chart outlining the standard surface heights you may find, as well as their corresponding, recommended seat height. We have also included dining table height as a comparison.
SURFACE HEIGHT |
RECOMMENDED SEAT HEIGHT |
|
DINING TABLE HEIGHT |
75cm |
45 - 48cm |
KITCHEN BAR HEIGHT |
90cm |
65 - 70cm |
COMMERCIAL BAR HEIGHT |
100 -110cm |
75 - 80cm |
SEAT WIDTH & BACKREST HEIGHT
When designing your bar area, we all have an idea of the amount of seats needed, usually the number of family members, each needing a stool. Experience dictates that you need at least 10 - 15cm between the stools, giving them space to rotate so individuals can get on and off the stools, as well as to stop them knocking into each other. Differing styles of stools have varying widths; for example stools with arms are always the widest of the designs found, tending to be approximately 15cm wider than armless stools. As an example, 3 stools with arms, each being 15cm wider, will occupy 45cm more space than armless ones. Backless stools are always the most compact in design and are a great space saving option, easily stored under the bar area. However, backrests provide more back support and promote an ergonomic seating position, but they also occupy more visual space.
BACKREST HEIGHT |
SEAT WIDTH RANGE |
AVERAGE SEAT WIDTH |
|
BACKLESS - WITH LEGS |
0cm |
34 - 45cm |
38cm |
BACKLESS - GAS LIFT |
0 - 8cm |
38 - 42cm |
39cm |
MID HEIGHT BACKREST |
18 - 27cm |
38 - 45cm |
42cm |
HIGH BACKREST |
30 - 38cm |
38 - 50cm |
43cm |
WITH ARMS |
18 - 30cm |
51 - 60cm |
54cm |
SEAT DEPTH & OVERALL STOOL DEPTH
Often overlooked, we supply both of these dimensions as they are often vital. Seat depth is the distance from the front of the seat through to the front of the backrest i.e. the part of the seat you actually sit on. The overall depth however is the distance from the front of the stool to the back of the backrest i.e the dimensions that the stool actually occupies.
FOOTREST WIDTH
The majority of footrests have a width of 31cm and are of a semi circular shape that rotate with the seat when moved. Circular footrests are approx 36 - 38cm in diameter, in proportion to the base. As the price of the bar stool increases the overall design becomes more complex, often including a unique footrest design. These are usually made of a thicker gauge steel and have a tendency to be larger, again in proportion with the wider base.
BASE DIAMETER
Bar stool base diameters range from 38cm through to 50cm, but the vast majority have a diameter of 38 - 42.5cm, a larger seat usually resulting in a wider base to increase stability. Also, as the stool price increases so does the build quality; the manufacturers in turn increasing the thickness of the steel used and also the diameter of the base. Commercial bar stools are used at a higher seat height than in a kitchen environment, so again in order to maintain stability the base diameter increases.
