Bar stools with backs

Six of our bar stools have a backrest: a low back on Freja and Ebba, a full back on Philip and Ted, and armrests on Bruno and Carl. Choose a back if you sit for more than about 20 minutes; every stool is made in Malmö and rated for 440 lbs.

Ebba bar stools in solid oak at a stainless steel kitchen island
26 in, Counter height seat
30 in, Bar height seat
10 years, Warranty
Find your stool

Which stool fits your kitchen?

Four questions to your seat height, how many fit and the stools that suit you.

How high is your counter?

35 to 36 in, Kitchen island39 to 40 in, Bar counterSomething else, Set your heightNot sure, How to measure
Prefer to measure yourself? Read the height guide
Four Freja bar stools with black frames at a concrete kitchen island
Before you choose

Five things worth knowing.

26 inSeat
9 to 10 inLegroom
35 to 36 inUnderside

Which seat height fits your counter?

26 in for most islands.

Most kitchen islands take a 26 in seat and most bar counters a 30 in seat. If your counter falls outside both ranges, our steel stools can be made at any seat height from 18.1 to 35.5 in.

Seat height by counter height, measured to the underside
Counter heightTypical counterSeat heightLegroom
35 to 36 inKitchen island, standard countertop26 in9 to 10 in
36.6 to 38.5 inThick stone top, raised plinthCustom, 27 to 29 in9 to 10 in
39 to 40 inBar counter, raised breakfast bar30 in9 to 10 in
40.5 to 41.7 inTall bar or breakfast barCustom, 30.5 to 32.3 in9 to 10 in
Height guide
Seating side 71 in

How many bar stools fit my island?

3 stools on 71 in.

At 21.5 in each, standard or slim. Drag to try your length.

Divide the seating side by 21.5 in and round down, or by 19.5 in for slim stools such as Svea, Eva, Ebba and Freja. A 71 in island seats three.

21.5 in, Standard stool
19.5 in, Slim stool
23.5 in, Carl
How many guide
Backless
Freja
Low back
Philip
Full back
Bruno
Armrests

With a back or without?

Our rule of thumb: a back for sits over about 20 minutes.

As a rule of thumb, choose a backrest if you sit for more than about 20 minutes. Backless stools slide fully under the counter, which suits quick breakfasts and small kitchens.

Backless
Svea, Eva
Low back
Freja, Ebba
Full back
Philip, Ted
Armrests
Bruno, Carl
Backrest guide
Eva bar stool in solid dark oakOak
Freja bar stool with a black steel frameSteel

Oak or steel?

Warm oak or slim steel.

Oak for warmth, visible grain and a frame you can refinish. Steel for a slim line, more frame colors and custom heights.

Oak
Eva, Ebba, Ted, Carl26 and 30 in
Steel
Freja, Svea, Philip, Bruno26, 30 in and custom
Wood vs metal guide
300,000, Vegan leather
130,000, Velvet
50,000, Bouclé

Which upholstery?

Vegan leather, velvet or bouclé.

Vegan leather wipes clean, velvet hides wear, bouclé feels warmest. All three are above the 30,000 Martindale rubs usually specified for commercial seating.

Martindale rubs: vegan leather 300,000, velvet 130,000, bouclé 50,000.

Compare the models

Pick the models you want to compare. Every model is made in our factory in Malmö.

Bar stools with backs
Freja Frejafrom $399Low back Philip Philipfrom $499Full back Ebba Ebbafrom $529Low back Ted Tedfrom $669Full back Bruno Brunofrom $519Armrests Carl Carlfrom $699Armrests
Material
SteelSteelSolid oakSolid oakSteelSolid oak
Backrest
LowFullLow barFullFull, armrestsFull, armrests
Overall width
16 in17.5 in15 in17.5 in18.5 in21.5 in
Overall depth
15 in17.5 in15 in17.5 in17.5 in17.5 in
Overall height
31 in36.5 in31 in36.5 in36.5 in (armrests 33.9 in)36.5 in
Footrest below seat
16.5 in16.5 inNot specified17.5 in16.5 in17.5 in
Spacing per stool
19.5 in21.5 in19.5 in21.5 in21.5 in23.5 in
Seat heights
26, 30 in and custom26, 30 in and custom26 and 30 in26 and 30 in26, 30 in and custom26 and 30 in
Tested to
EN 16139 level 1, assessedEN 16139 level 1Not testedNot testedEN 16139 level 2Not tested

Overall height is at a 26 in seat; add 4 in at 30 in. Every model is rated for 440 lbs, delivered fully assembled and covered by a 10-year warranty.

Made, tested and guaranteed in Sweden

Unfinished Ebba bar stools in raw oak at the by Crea factory

Made in our own factory in Malmö

Steel is cut, bent and welded, oak is machined and joined, and seats are upholstered by hand. Only the raw materials come from suppliers.

How our bar stools are made
TIG welding a Philip bar stool frame

Tested by RISE, Sweden

EN 16139 is the European strength and durability standard for non-domestic seating. RISE tested Bruno to level 2 and Philip to level 1, and assessed Freja and Svea as meeting level 1 on the basis of that testing. Separately, we rate every stool for 440 lbs.

Weight capacity explained
Upholstery fabric being marked by hand

10-year warranty, delivered fully assembled

Spare parts are available, and the screw-mounted cushions on Freja and Svea can be replaced.

How to care for your stools
by Crea fabric samples

Try one at home

Order a test stool you can return, or fabric, wood and frame samples to hold against your kitchen.

Order samples

Guides and answers

In-depth guides, one question each, and quick answers to the most common questions.

What is the difference between a low back and a high back bar stool?

A low back supports the lower back and ends below the counter edge; on Freja it ends at 31.1 in. A high back reaches the shoulder blades and ends above the counter; on Philip it ends at 36.6 in.

Do bar stools with backs take up more space?

Only above the counter and behind it. The seat footprint is the same, but a full-back stool cannot slide fully under the countertop, so plan at least 35.5 in of floor behind the island.

What is the most comfortable type of bar stool?

For most people, an upholstered stool with a full backrest, a footrest and, for the longest sits, armrests. In our range: Philip, Bruno and Carl.

Can I mix bar stools with and without backs?

Yes. It usually works best when they share a frame color and seat height. A common layout is backed stools along the middle of the island and a backless stool at the end.

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