Guides / Kitchen · Published 2026-10-30
Counter vs bar stools: leave 10–12″ under the counter
A bar stool at a kitchen counter hits your knees.
The rule is a 10–12″ (25–30 cm) gap between the seat and the counter top. A standard 36″ kitchen counter takes counter stools with a 24–26″ seat; a 42″ bar takes bar stools with a 28–30″ seat; a 30″ table takes chairs around 18″. Check the listing's seat height, not the overall height. For how many fit, give each person 24″ of counter (26–30″ for wide or swivel stools): a 96″ counter seats 4.
Put this to work.
Start with the free download, or get the full product.
Download freeSee the full productKeep reading
Kitchen landing areas: 15″ by the fridge, 24″ + 18″ at the sinkKitchen · 2026-10-30Kitchen work triangle: legs 4–9 ft, 26 ft maxKitchen · 2026-10-27Island seating: 24″ per stool, 15″ knee spaceKitchen · 2026-10-27Ceiling heights: 7 ft rooms, 6′8″ baths, 5 ft on slopesBathroom · 2026-11-01Seating group: keep seats within 8 ft and float them off the wallLiving room · 2026-11-01Kitchen remodel timeline: plan first, then about 12 weeks on siteRenovation · 2026-11-01