A barstool is judged in the first few seconds: either your knees fit under the counter and your feet find somewhere to rest, or they don't. Most of that comes down to a handful of measurements taken before you choose a model, not after it arrives.
This guide covers the difference between counter and bar height, the gap you need between seat and worktop, footrests, backrests and how much space to leave for each stool. The same checks apply to a kitchen island at home and to a bar counter in a hotel or restaurant.
Counter height or bar height: measure the surface first
Start with the height of the surface, measured from the finished floor to the top of the worktop. Two ranges cover almost every kitchen and bar:
- Counter height: a worktop of roughly 90–95 cm, the usual height for kitchen counters and islands. It pairs with a stool seat of about 63–68 cm.
- Bar height: a surface of roughly 105–110 cm, common for raised bars and some breakfast ledges. It pairs with a seat of about 73–80 cm.
The two are not interchangeable. A bar-height stool at a 90 cm island pushes your thighs against the worktop; a counter stool at a 110 cm bar leaves the surface at chest level. If your island has a raised ledge on one side, measure the part people will actually sit at.
The seat-to-counter gap
The figure that decides comfort is the distance between the top of the seat and the underside of the worktop. A common rule is 25–30 cm. With less than about 20 cm, thighs touch the counter edge when you lean forward; with more than about 33 cm, the surface feels too high for eating or working on a laptop.
Measure to the underside, not the top. A 4 cm stone worktop and a 2 cm one give different results with the same stool, and any apron, drawer or frame rail under the overhang reduces the gap further. Upholstered seats also compress slightly when you sit, so a padded seat can be a centimetre or so higher than a hard one.
Knee space matters as much as height. An overhang of about 25–30 cm lets you sit close to the counter without turning sideways; at bar height around 25 cm is usually enough, because the legs hang more vertically.
Footrests: where your feet go
At seat heights of 65 cm and above, most adults' feet do not reach the floor. Without a footrest, the weight sits on the back of the thighs and people start shifting after a few minutes. A footrest typically sits about 40–45 cm below the seat, which supports the feet with the knees bent at a comfortable angle.
- Check that the footrest is deep enough for the whole sole, not just the toes.
- If the household includes children or people of very different heights, a footrest slightly lower than ideal suits more people than one that is slightly higher.
- A hard-wearing finish on the footrest copes with shoes far better than a painted or upholstered surface.
Backless, low back or full back
The backrest decides how long people will stay seated.
- Backless stools slide fully under the overhang and keep sight lines open across the kitchen. They suit short breakfasts and quick drinks.
- Low backs, rising roughly 20–25 cm above the seat, support the lower back without blocking the view. They are a sensible middle ground for an island that is also used for homework or a laptop.
- Full backs are the choice for long dinners or a bar where guests stay for an evening. They take more visual space and rarely tuck under the counter.
If the stools should disappear under the worktop when not in use, compare the height at the top of the backrest with the underside of the counter. Armrests add comfort but need roughly 10 cm more width per stool.
Spacing and clearance
Allow about 60 cm of counter length per stool, measured centre to centre, as a minimum. For upholstered stools, armrests or swivel seats, 65–75 cm is more comfortable. A practical way to count: divide the usable counter length by 65 and round down, so a 200 cm island takes three stools comfortably, not four.
Behind the stools, leave at least 90 cm between the back of an occupied stool and the next wall or cabinet. If this is the main route through the kitchen, 110–120 cm lets someone pass without asking guests to pull in. Our post on how circulation patterns influence furniture placement explains how to plan these routes across a whole room.
Choosing a model and upholstery
The Sitdesign barstool collection includes several models, such as the Sky barstool, the Anna barstool and the Rope barstool. Every piece is handmade in our own factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, and custom dimensions are available on request, which helps when a counter falls outside the usual ranges.
Kitchen stools see food, hands and constant movement. Genuine leather wipes clean and softens with use; we work only with genuine leather, in 76 colours across 12 colour families, with Italian leathers forming our top leather group. Mid tones such as tan, taupe or grey hide marks more easily than very pale or very dark finishes. Fabric upholstery is also possible, and we accept customer's own material (COM). Our leather materials page has more on the options.
Send us the height of your counter, the underside measurement and the length available, and we will tell you which seat height suits it and how many stools fit. Leather samples are sent on request. Contact us for samples and a quote.
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