Custom Height Bar Stools: When You Need One and How It Works

Short answer

25 cm
Subtract from the counter height
4
steel models in custom heights

Counter height minus about 25 cm, welded to order on our steel stools.

Breakfast Bar Stool Freja with black frame and ivory bouclé cushions at a kitchen counter.
Freja Bar Stool · from ¥89,700

Most bar stools come in two heights because most counters come in two heights. But many kitchens are not standard: a thick stone top adds a few centimetres, an older kitchen sits lower, a raised breakfast bar ends up somewhere in between. At those counters a standard stool is often slightly wrong, either tight under the worktop or too far below it, and a cushion rarely fixes that. A custom seat height solves it at the source. This guide explains when a custom height is worth it, how to work out the exact seat height you need, which of our stools can be made to a custom height and why, and what stays the same when a stool is built for your counter.

What is a custom height bar stool?

It is a bar stool whose frame is made to give a seat height other than the two standards, 66 cm and 76 cm, so that it fits a specific counter.

Freja 66 dimension drawing
Freja's frame drawing: on a custom height, only the frame changes.

The seat, backrest, upholstery and finish are the same as on the standard stool; only the height of the frame changes.

Custom heights are possible on steel stools because the frame is cut and welded from tube, so the legs can be made to the length your counter needs. Solid oak stools are machined from parts of fixed dimensions, which is why our oak range comes in the two standard heights only. Our bar stool height guide explains the standards in full.

When do I need a custom seat height?

When your counter, measured to its underside, falls outside the standard ranges of 89 to 92 cm and 99 to 102 cm.

At a 95 cm counter, for example, a 66 cm seat leaves 29 cm of legroom and a 76 cm seat only 19 cm; neither sits in the 23 to 26 cm range we recommend.

The table shows the counters where a custom height gives a noticeably better fit. In our experience, thick stone worktops on otherwise standard cabinets are the most common reason, followed by raised breakfast bars and older or bespoke kitchens.

Counters that call for a custom seat height, measured to the underside
Counter heightSeat height that fitsCommon reason
85 to 88 cm60 to 64 cmOlder kitchens, low worktops
93 to 98 cm68 to 74 cmThick stone tops, raised plinths
103 to 106 cm78 to 82 cmRaised breakfast bars, home bars
107 to 110 cm82 to 86 cmTall bars and peninsulas

How do I work out my custom seat height?

Measure from the floor to the underside of the counter where your knees will be, then subtract about 25 cm.

That puts the seat in the middle of our recommended 23 to 26 cm range. A 95 cm counter needs a seat of about 70 cm; a 105 cm counter, about 80 cm.

If the counter has an apron, a support rail or a drawer under the overhang, measure to the lowest of these. For an upholstered seat, the upper end of the range is fine, because the cushion compresses slightly. The calculator in our bar stool height guide does the sum for you.

Which bar stools can be made in a custom height?

Our four steel stools: Freja, with a low backrest; Philip, with a full upholstered backrest; Bruno, with a full backrest and armrests; and Svea, backless.

All are welded from Swedish precision steel and powder-coated in our factory, so the frame can be made to the height you need.

On Bruno, remember that the armrests rise with the seat and must still pass under the counter edge; tell us your counter height and we will confirm the fit. Our oak stools, Eva, Ebba, Ted and Carl, come in 66 and 76 cm seat heights only. See steel bar stools for the four models in detail.

Bar Stool Bruno – Black – Jade Black Leather at a modern kitchen island with marble countertop.
On Bruno, the armrests rise with the seat and must pass under the counter.

How is a custom height bar stool made?

It is made to order in our own factory in Malmö: the frame is cut and welded to your height, powder-coated, upholstered by hand and checked, then delivered fully assembled like every other stool we make.

Nothing is added or bolted on to change the height; the frame is simply built taller or shorter.

That is why a custom height stool carries the same 200 kg load rating and the same 10-year warranty as the standard sizes. Our guide to how our bar stools are made shows each step in the factory.

Person using a grinder with sparks flying, wearing protective gloves and a helmet.
Custom height frames are cut and welded to order in Malmö.

How do I order a custom height?

Choose the model, measure your counter to the underside, subtract about 25 cm, and order through Design Your Own on the product page, or contact us with your counter height if you are unsure.

We will confirm the seat height before the frame is made.

If you are between two sizes, tell us how you will use the stool: for long meals, sit slightly lower; for quick breakfasts, slightly higher is fine. Order fabric samples at the same time so the height and the upholstery are decided together.

Custom height, in short

89 to 92 cm
The standard 66 cm seat.
99 to 102 cm
The standard 76 cm seat.
Custom
Anything else, welded to order in Malmö.

If your counter is outside 89 to 92 cm or 99 to 102 cm to its underside, a custom seat height will usually fit better than a standard stool. Subtract about 25 cm from the counter height, choose Freja, Philip, Bruno or Svea, and order through Design Your Own. Each custom stool is welded to order in our own factory in Malmö, Sweden, delivered fully assembled, rated for 200 kg and covered by a 10-year warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a bar stool with an 80 cm seat?

Yes, as a custom height on Freja, Philip, Bruno or Svea. An 80 cm seat fits a counter of about 103 to 106 cm.

What seat height do I need for a 95 cm counter?

About 70 cm. That leaves 25 cm of legroom, in the middle of the range we recommend. Neither 66 nor 76 cm fits well.

Do you make oak bar stools in custom heights?

No. Our oak stools come in 66 and 76 cm seat heights. Custom heights are made on our steel models.

Do custom height stools have the same warranty?

Custom height stools carry the same 10-year warranty and 200 kg load rating as standard sizes.

How do I measure for a custom height bar stool?

Measure from the floor to the underside of the counter, including any apron or rail, and subtract about 25 cm.

Can I shorten a standard bar stool myself?

We do not recommend it: cutting a frame damages the finish and changes where the footrest sits. A stool made to the right height is the better answer.

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