When new restaurants are designed, or existing restaurants are renovated, business owners often hire architects and/or designers to be involved in the process. Knowing the proper height requirements between barstools and bases is one of the more difficult parts of designing a restaurant space. The relationship between the height of the bar tables and bar stool seating is a key factor in the comfort of restaurant customers. This article provides valuable advice for architects and designers regarding the proper height spacing of bar tables, bars and barstools.
1. Restaurant Bar Stool Sizes
Barstools are typically manufactured in three sizes, measured from the floor to the top of the seat. The typical measurements from the floor to the seat top are 18”, 24” and 30”. While these three measurements are typical, 99% of all commercial restaurant bar stools are the 30” height. An 18” tall bar stool can be used anywhere that you would use a chair, as 18” is the same height as most commercial chair seats, when measured from the floor to the top of the chair seat. A 24” bar stool is typically used with a 36” counter found in a residential home.
2. Barstool and Bar Heights
The main reason the 30” bar stool is used 99% of the time in restaurants is that the most common restaurant bar height is 42”. Sometimes bars are made at heights other than 42”, which can cause problems. The height of the barstool in relationship to the bar top is not as big an issue for bar tops that are constructed under 42”, but bar tops that are constructed over 42” tall can cause major problems. There are barstools that are manufactured in heights over 30” to match up to a taller bar, but these commercial bar stools tend to be harder to find, more expensive, and are available in a much more limited selection. Also, safety issues can arise when bar tops are over 42” and bar stools are too tall for customers.
3. Bar Top to Barstool Seat Height Relationship
The difference between the top of the bar stool seat and the top of the bar should be 12”. More than a 12” difference will make customers of average height uncomfortable even if the difference is just one inch. People that are very knowledgeable about customer comfort construct the restaurant bar top and the bar stool so that the seat difference is between 10” and 12”. For example, with a standard bar stool height of 30”, the average customer will be very comfortable at a bar table or bar that is between 40” and 41” tall. One or two inches may seem pretty insignificant, but it is those little differences that make customers want to come back to the restaurant, because they are sitting at barstools properly matched to the height of bars and where they feel comfortable.
This restaurant bar stool height information is a small sample of the many valuable tips regarding commercial bar stools available from Missouri Table & Chair. Click the link below to download the free e-book with all ten tips.
