What Is The Standard Bar Height? (Stool & Countertop Dimensions)

A bar can be a great place to spend time with family and friends. Whether eating, enjoying a drink, or just enjoying company, a bar can be a great place to do all of those things. The trick comes down to finding the right height for a bar.

The standard bar height is 42 inches tall, but you can customize a bar for a specific height. You can find bars that measure closer to 36 inches, and that is the standard height for a counter table. It is common to find bars that measure 40 inches tall, but 42 inches is the universal standard bar height.

The main reason that the standard bar height is 42” is due to comfort. The 42” height is not only the most optimal but the most ergonomic of heights that are meant to accommodate both standing and sitting users.

Moreover, it is a great height for people to lean up against. Most importantly, it is the right height and within easy reach of someone who is standing. This allows them to set their drinks or food down without the need to lean over.

Keep in mind. A bar is meant primarily for leisure activities. If you are looking for a good, seated work surface, a bar is probably too high to be comfortable. Consider moving your workspace elsewhere.

When you are trying to figure out the length of a bar, figure that it is around 2’ wide for every person or barstool when it comes to commercial applications. For home setups, you can add in a little more space for optimal comfort.

Bars that have a rail radius corner, which might not have the requisite space to seat the average person comfortably. Longer lengths of bar tend to cost far more than the typical size because they are considered custom.

The general dimensions for a bar are as follows: a drip edge of 0.5” x 1.25”, a bar top of 0.75” x 16”, a sub-top of 0.75” x 15.5625”, an overhang of 8.5-10”, and a glass rail of 0.75” x 6”. Depending on your setup and budget, this can change according to your specifications. The more custom you get, the more expensive the setup will be. It is best to stay with the 42” height as well since this is what most standard barstools will tailor to.

When you start to look into the options for stools and chairs, you will find that there are not only a ton of different designs but heights as well. Knowing the standard heights for each style is important when ensuring that you have the right implementation.

The three options that you have to concern yourself with are standard height chairs, counter height chairs, and bar height chairs (or barstools, generally). Each has its own standard height that will play into the level of comfort that you experience with each type of seating arrangement.

1. Standard Height Chairs. You may also see these referred to as table height chairs. These are the easiest to choose from since they are made to fit standard table sizes of 28-30”. Most café chairs will measure at about 16-23” in height and you can even find the seat in a plethora of different styles.

This style is great for lunchrooms or break rooms and can come in traditional styles. Best of all, they are easy to both move and transport, stacking away for greater convenience. They come in both upholstered and unupholstered options as well.

2. Counter Height Chairs. These are slightly taller than the standard height chair but still shorter than your average bar height chair. The average measurement for a counter height chair is somewhere between the 24” and 27” range.

These chairs/stools redesigned to reach up to counter heights, which fall in the 35-39” range. You may not see these at restaurants or bars, but it tends to be ideal for office breakrooms and residential settings. It provides greater options when it comes to seating and can be quite visually appealing, especially when used in traditional breakrooms.

3. Bar Height Stools/Chairs. These are the tallest of seating options, typically falling somewhere between 28” and 33” at the seat. The barstools/chairs are generally in for bar tops in the 41-43” range and are considered to be too tall for counters and tables.

The most common place that you see this type of chair or stool is in restaurants and bars. You may also see them in homemade bars as well.

The bar counter height is generally about 6” taller than your standard counter height. When this happens, it is not uncommon for designers to raise part of the kitchen counter in order to accommodate that height.

Raised breakfast bar. When part of the kitchen countertop is raised to match the bar, this is known as a raised breakfast bar. This helps block the view of any cooking mess and food prep when implementing an open floor plan. A raised bar can also keep little kids from being able to touch any potentially hot items up on top.

Kitchen bars. Extended counters are generally another option when it comes to a kitchen bar. Instead of simply raising the counter height, the counter would remain at a standard height and would then have an overhang that allows for a small amount of seating. Then, there is a level surface for food preparation and any guests can be face-to-face with their host during the preparation.

A bar may seem the same no matter what, but there are technical differences to be had. A wet bar, for instance, has a sink with running water. Having access to running water means being able to both create and serve drinks more easily when guests are nearby. Moreover, it means a quicker and easier cleanup experience.

Wet bars can be located in kitchens, but it is not uncommon for them to be found in a basement or living room, either. Like most regular bars, a wet bar has a standard height of 42” as well.

Storage. Wet bars are also an adequate place to store both food and drink items. There are cabinets that can hold beverages, bar snacks, and glassware as well. And, depending on the size of the bar, you can even keep plates, silverware, and products for cleaning nearby.

Fridge. Another thing that a lot of wet bars seem to have is a regular or mini-fridge used to keep beverages cold. For larger spaces, wet bars can have a U or L shape design; smaller spaces tend to just be flush to the wall.