We chose the bar stools for Meredith + Daniel’s kitchen. Although we arrived at an obvious and eternally perfect classic (Bertoia!), I looked at a lot of examples of bar & counter stools. Lucky you, they’re detailed below.
First though, let’s have a lesson about rules for bar stools and counter stools:
What’s the difference between a bar stool & counter stool?
If you’ve ever shopped for kitchen stools, you’ve noticed that they come in two heights. The standard height for a bar stool is 30″, while the average height for a counter stool is about 26″.
How to choose the right height bar & counter stool?
You’ll want 8″ to 12″ of leg room between the stool and the bottom of your counter/table.
Consider the overhang.
You might find that counters with a very deep overhang call for a slightly shorter stool.
How much space should you allot between stools?
For stools 16″-18″ wide, allow about 22″ of space between them. For stools 19″-22″ wide, allow about 24″ of breathing room. Leave even more space for swivel stools and stools with arms.
Shop modern bar stools & counter stools from StyleCarrot partners.
[This post was updated with new items in September 2020]
![Mid Century Modern Bar & Counter Stools](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Counter-Bar-Stools-1a.jpg?resize=500%2C700&ssl=1)
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![Mid Century Modern Bar & Counter Stools](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/counter-bar-stools-2a.jpg?resize=500%2C700&ssl=1)
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![Modern Bar Stools With Backs Modern Counter Stools](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/bar-counter-stools-3a-.jpg?resize=500%2C700&ssl=1)
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![](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/counter-bar-stools-4a.jpg?resize=500%2C700&ssl=1)
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![Modern Bar Stools With Backs Modern Counter Stools](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/bar-counter-stools-5a.jpg?resize=500%2C700&ssl=1)
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![Modern Bar Stools With Backs Gold Counter Stools](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/bar-stool-counter-stool-6a.jpg?resize=500%2C700&ssl=1)
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![Mid Century Modern Bar & Counter Stools](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/bar-stool-counter-stool-7a.jpg?resize=500%2C700&ssl=1)
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![Modern Bar Stools With Backs Modern Counter Stools](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/bar-stool-counter-kitchen-8c.jpg?resize=500%2C700&ssl=1)
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I didn’t even realize that the stools I use in Boston and Cape Cod are
Last Minute bar stools by Patricia Urquiola.![stylecarrot-counter-stool-patricia-urquiola](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/stylecarrot-counter-stool-patricia-urquiola-e1346513557248.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1)
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![Serena & Lily Home Furnishings & Accessories In Every Color](https://i0.wp.com/stylecarrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ad-serena-lily-product-rainbow.jpg?resize=728%2C90&ssl=1)