Breakfast Bar Stools: Height, Overhang and Choosing the Right Stool

It is built for short, informal meals rather than a full dinner, which is why it is narrower than a table and why the stools matter more than the chairs at a dining table would.

Breakfast bars come in three common forms. A countertop-height bar is simply the island or peninsula countertop extended on the seating side, at 35 to 36 in. A raised breakfast bar sits on an upstand above the countertop, usually at 39 to 41.7 in, and hides the washing-up from the seats. A wall-mounted bar is a deep shelf fixed to a wall or window, at whatever height it was fitted. Each takes a different stool, so identify yours before you shop.

A countertop-height breakfast bar of 35 to 36 in takes a 26 in counter stool; a raised breakfast bar of 39 to 40 in takes a 30 in bar stool.

Raised breakfast bars are often built outside these ranges, at 40.5 to 41.7 in, and a wall-mounted bar can be at almost any height. For those, a standard stool is usually slightly wrong, and a custom seat height fits better. Enter your breakfast bar's height below to see which seat height fits.

Countertop-height bars need the deeper end of that range, because you sit lower and closer; for raised bars, our planning range is 10 to 12 in.

If your breakfast bar has little or no overhang, sitting side-on is usually the only option and a stool with a backrest will feel cramped; a backless stool that you can turn on is the better choice. Wall-mounted bars need the same depth as any other: a shelf narrower than 12 in is a place to rest a cup, not to eat. Whether an overhang or shelf needs brackets depends on the material and thickness of the countertop, and the specification of your countertop supplier applies; our guide to kitchen island overhang explains the figures in detail.

A 47 in (4 ft) breakfast bar seats two, 71 in (6 ft) seats three and 94 in (8 ft) seats four. Slim stools gain a seat on the lengths in between: a 59 in (5 ft) bar takes three of them.

Keep the center of the last stool at least 11 in from the end of the bar, or 15 in where a wall closes it, so nobody is sitting half off the countertop. Leave at least 35.5 in of clear floor behind the countertop edge, and 43 in if people walk behind seated guests. Our guides to how many stools fit and bar stool spacing cover every length.