Bar Stool Glossary: Heights, Materials and Standards Explained
By Alexandra PetterssonReviewed by Alexander TjernströmUpdated
The two measurements that matter most are seat height and counter height: a counter stool has a 26 in seat for a counter of 35 to 36 in, and a bar stool has a 30 in seat for a counter of 39 to 40 in. Between seat and counter, leave 9 to 10 in of legroom. This glossary explains every other term you will meet when choosing a bar stool, grouped by topic, with a link to the guide that covers each one in depth.
Buying a bar stool comes with its own vocabulary: counter height and bar height, overhang and knee clearance, bouclé and Martindale, powder coating and EN 16139. Retailers use the words loosely, and some mean different things in the UK and the US. This glossary gives each term a plain definition and, where it is a measurement, the figure in inches. Terms are grouped by topic: heights and sizes, seats and shapes, wood and steel, upholstery, standards, and care. Where a term deserves more than a line, we link to the guide that explains it in full. Every figure here matches the rest of our guides and the specifications of the stools we make in our own factory in Malmö, Sweden.
What do the bar stool height and size terms mean?
A dimension drawing of Bruno.
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.
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 of 35 to 36 in
Bar height
A raised bar counter of 39 to 40 in
Legroom
The gap from seat to the underside of the counter: 9 to 10 in
Overhang
How far the countertop projects past the cabinets: 12 to 16 in, 10 in minimum
Spacing
Distance between stools, center to center: 21.5 in, 23.5 in with armrests
Custom height
A seat height made to order for a non-standard counter; on our steel models only
What are the words for bar stool seats and shapes?
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 you can comfortably sit.
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; allow 23.5 in per stool
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
What do the wood and steel terms mean?
Powder coating in our factory in Malmö.
Frame terms describe what a stool is made of and how it is held together, which decides how long it lasts. Solid wood can be repaired and refinished; veneer cannot. Welded and glued joints stay tight; bolted joints loosen with use.
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
What do bouclé, Martindale and other upholstery terms mean?
Samples of our upholstery fabrics.
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 a standard abrasion test: the higher, the longer it keeps its surface.
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
An abrasion test that counts the rubs a fabric survives; 40,000 or more suits commercial use
Pilling
Small balls of fiber that form on a worn fabric surface
Cold-cut foam
Foam cut to shape from a block, used under our seats
What do EN 16139, EN 1021 and other standards mean?
Standards are independent tests that prove 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.
The European strength and stability 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 for upholstery in commercial and public spaces
TB117
The Californian flammability standard for upholstered furniture
Load rating
The weight a stool is designed to carry; 440 lbs on every by Crea stool
RISE
Research Institutes of Sweden, which has tested our steel stools to EN 16139
What do the care and spare-part terms mean?
Felt pads protect the floor and keep the stool level.
Care terms describe what keeps a stool looking new and standing still. Most problems, from a wobble to a scratched floor, start at the feet, which is why felt pads matter more than any cleaning product.
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 stops screws on bolted stools working loose
Warranty
Every by Crea stool comes with a 10-year warranty
The terms that matter most
If you remember only four terms, make them seat height, counter height, legroom and overhang: a 26 in seat for an 35 to 36 in counter, a 30 in seat for a 39 to 40 in bar, 9 to 10 in of legroom and 12 to 16 in of overhang. After that, look for solid wood or welded steel, a Martindale rating that suits your use and a stated load rating. Our stools are made in our own factory in Malmö, Sweden, rated for 440 lbs and covered by a 10-year warranty.
Bar Stool Height Guide: 26 in, 30 in or a Custom Seat HeightChoose a 26 in seat for a kitchen counter or island 35 to 36 in high, and a 30 in seat for a bar counter 39...
Counter Stools vs Bar Stools: What Is the Difference?The difference is height. A counter stool has a seat of about 26 in and fits a kitchen counter or island 35 to 36 in high....
How Much Legroom Do Bar Stools Need? Knee Clearance ExplainedLeave 9 to 10 in between the top of the seat and the underside of the counter; that is the vertical legroom. Then make sure the...
Kitchen Island Overhang for Seating: How Much Do You Need?For comfortable seating, a kitchen island needs an overhang of 12 to 16 in on the seating side: the depth of countertop that projects past the...
Bar Stool Upholstery Guide: Vegan Leather, Velvet or Bouclé?Choose vegan leather for the most practical seat: it wipes clean and is rated for 300,000 Martindale rubs. Choose velvet for a soft, rich surface that...
Bar Stool Weight Capacity: How Much Weight Can a Bar Stool Hold?Look for a stated load rating of at least 330 lbs for daily family use, backed by a recognized strength test. Every by Crea bar stool...
