Short answer
Height terms describe two things that must match: the height of the counter and the height of the seat.
The gap between them, the legroom, decides whether a stool is comfortable, and the overhang decides whether your knees fit. Get these four right and everything else is a matter of taste.
Our bar stool height guide explains how to measure your counter, and the guide to counter vs bar stools explains the two standard heights.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Seat height | From the floor to the top of the seat: 26 in for counter stools, 30 in for bar stools |
| Counter height | A kitchen countertop or island, typically 35 to 36 in |
| Bar height | A raised bar counter, typically 39 to 40 in |
| Legroom | The gap from seat to the underside of the counter: we recommend 9 to 10 in |
| Overhang | How far the countertop projects past the cabinets: we recommend 12 to 16 in, 10 in minimum |
| Spacing | Distance between stools, center to center: 21.5 in as a starting point, 19.5 in for slim stools |
| Custom height | A seat height made to order for a non-standard counter; on our steel models only |
Shape terms describe how much support a stool gives.
A backless stool is the lightest and slides under the counter; a low backrest supports the lower back; a full backrest and armrests turn a stool into something close to a dining chair. The more support, the longer most people sit comfortably.
Our guides to backless vs back bar stools, seat size and swivel vs fixed stools cover each choice.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Counter stool | A stool with a seat of about 26 in, for kitchen counters and islands |
| Bar stool | Strictly, a stool with a seat of about 30 in; also used for any tall stool |
| Backless stool | A stool with no backrest, such as Eva and Svea; slides fully under the counter |
| Low backrest | A backrest that supports the lower back only, such as Ebba |
| Armrests | Arm supports for long meals, on Bruno and Carl; the overall width of the stool, measured across the armrests, sets the spacing |
| Footrest | The bar your feet rest on, about 16 to 18 in below the seat |
| Swivel stool | A seat that turns on a mechanism; all by Crea stools are fixed |
Frame terms describe what a stool is made of and how it is held together, which has a large effect on how well it holds up.
Solid wood can be repaired and refinished; veneer usually cannot. In our experience, welded and glued joints stay tight, while bolted joints can loosen with use.
Our guides to oak bar stools, powder-coated steel and how our bar stools are made go into detail.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Solid oak | Oak all the way through, which can be sanded and refinished |
| Veneer | A thin layer of wood glued over another material, usually particleboard or plywood |
| FSC-certified | Wood from forests managed to the Forest Stewardship Council's standards |
| Dark oak | Solid oak stained before lacquering, so the grain still shows |
| Powder coating | Powder sprayed onto steel with an electrostatic charge and baked into a hard layer |
| RAL 9005 | The standard code for jet black; our black frames, at gloss level 30 |
| Welded joint | Steel parts fused into one piece, with no screws to loosen |
| Flat-pack | Delivered in parts for home assembly; our stools are delivered fully assembled |
Upholstery terms describe the seat fabric and how well it wears.
The key figure is the Martindale rating, the number of rubs a fabric survives in the Martindale abrasion test, ISO 12947: the higher, the longer it generally keeps its surface.
Our guides to bar stool upholstery, bouclé bar stools and velvet bar stools compare the fabrics.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Bouclé | A fabric woven from looped yarn, with a soft, textured surface; ours is rated for 50,000 rubs |
| Velvet | A fabric with a short, dense pile that changes with the light; ours is rated for 130,000 rubs |
| Vegan leather | A leather-look material with no animal content that wipes clean; ours is rated for 300,000 rubs |
| Martindale | The abrasion test of ISO 12947, which counts the rubs a fabric survives; as a rule of thumb, we look for at least 30,000 rubs for commercial seating |
| Pilling | Small balls of fiber that form on a worn fabric surface |
| Cold-cure foam | High-resilience foam cured at a low temperature, which holds its shape well; used under our seats |
Standards set independent tests that show what a stool can take.
For strength, EN 16139 is the one to ask for; for fire safety, the test depends on the market. A load rating tells you the weight a stool is designed for, but only a test tells you it has been proven.
Our guides to bar stool weight capacity and commercial bar stools explain how to use them.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| EN 16139 | The European strength and durability standard for non-domestic seating; level 2 is for extreme use |
| EN 1021-1 and -2 | European fire tests for upholstery against a smouldering cigarette and a match flame |
| CRIB 5 | A British fire test under BS 5852 for upholstery in UK contract, commercial and public spaces |
| CAL TB 117 | California Technical Bulletin 117, the Californian flammability standard for upholstered furniture |
| Load rating | The weight a stool is designed to carry; our own rating is 440 lbs on every by Crea stool |
| RISE | Research Institutes of Sweden. Under EN 16139:2025, 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 |
Care terms describe what keeps a stool looking new and standing still.
Many problems, from a wobble to a scratched floor, start at the feet, which is why felt pads matter as much as any cleaning product.
Our guides to cleaning bar stools and fixing a wobbly bar stool cover the details.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Felt pads | Felt glides under each foot that protect the floor and keep the stool level |
| Plastic feet | Hard caps for the feet, for heavier use |
| Replaceable cushion | A seat cushion fixed with screws that can be swapped; on Freja and Svea, two screws |
| Matt lacquer | The clear finish on our oak, which seals the wood and needs no oiling |
| Threadlocker | A removable liquid that helps stop screws on bolted stools working loose |
| Warranty | Every by Crea stool comes with a 10-year warranty |
Freja Counter StoolFrom $39916 in wide · low back
Ebba Counter StoolFrom $52915 in wide · low back
Eva Counter StoolFrom $52915 in wide · backless
Bruno Counter StoolFrom $52918.5 in wide · armrests
