How to Choose Bar Stools – Like A Pro!

Bar stools are a useful addition to any cafe or bar and help maximise your floor space. You’d think that choosing bar stools wouldn’t take up much of your time, after all, it can’t be that difficult, can it? However, with so many points to consider knowing how to choose bar stools is key to getting the right ones for your venue. We’ve put together a quick guide to help you navigate the minefield of bar stools.

How to choose bar stools – 4 points to consider

1. Height

One of the most common mistakes customers make is to order the wrong height of stool. As well as looking out of proportion, the wrong height stool can make it difficult to reach the counter or there is insufficient space for your knees to sit beneath the table.

Our bar stools are supplied in 3 heights: 46cm, 66cm, and 76cm or small, medium, and large – a bit like Goldilocks and the 3 bears ????

46cm stool – This is the smallest of our stools and is designed to be used with our standard height cafe tables.

66cm stool – This height of stool is ideal for use with bar counters

76cm stool – The tallest of our stools, these can be used with dry bar tables, also known as poseur tables.

2. Style

Having settled on the height you need the next thing on our how to choose bar stools guide is to decide on the style of stool that you want. The most commonly used stools in cafes and bars include:

• Backless stools – These are a great option if space is limited. For instance, they work well grouped around communal tables because more people can be fitted in. Furthermore, they can be pushed beneath a table or counter taking up less room when they’re not in use. On the downside, because they have no backrest  people often find themselves slouching, so they’re not ideal for long-term use.
• Stools with backs – These provide support for an individual’s back and because they’re usually upholstered, they’re more comfortable too. The downside is that they won’t fit beneath a counter or table and the back is visible when a person enters your cafe.
• Swivel stools – We regard these as more sociable stools since people seated on them can easily swivel to talk to the person next to them or to see what’s going on behind them. On the downside, they could be subjected to abuse by younger people spinning around on them more frequently causing additional wear and tear.

3. Keep your distance

As well as the height and style of your potential new bar stools, you also need to be aware of the length of your bar or communal table to help determine how many you need to purchase. As a rule of thumb, we recommend leaving around 60cm between each stool to prevent customers from knocking elbows when they eat. To leave sufficient space for a person’s knees to fit beneath the counter, it’s recommended to ensure your bar stools sit around 22cm to 30cm beneath the underside of the counter.

4. Material

Finally, the last thing to know when learning how to choose bar stools is the best material to select. Often this depends on personal preference, but it can also be determined by your décor and where the stools are to be used. Wood is a popular choice because it adds a feeling of warmth but it’s not good for outdoor use. Metal is great for industrial themes and can be powder-coated to match your décor. For outdoor use, we recommend polypropylene, which is UV treated, weatherproof, and requires little to no maintenance.

Ready to shop? Now you know exactly how to choose bar stools why not head on over to our online store where you’ll find we have an extensive range of bar stools for all tastes and budgets. We also have a showroom where you can take a closer look before you buy.