For a standard 91 cm (36 in) kitchen counter, choose a stool with a seat 61 to 66 cm (24 to 26 in) off the floor. The rule behind that: leave about 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) between the top of the seat and the top of the counter.
In a first condo, the island often doubles as the dining table, so the stools get used every day and the height is worth getting right. Want it worked out for your own kitchen? Use the Island Planner. It gives you seat height, how many stools fit, the room you need behind them and pendant height, in cm or inches.
Seat height chart
| Surface and height | Seat height to look for |
|---|---|
| Dining table, 76 cm (30 in) | 46 to 51 cm (18 to 20 in) |
| Lower counter, 89 cm (35 in) | 59 to 64 cm (23 to 25 in) |
| Standard counter, 91 cm (36 in) | 61 to 66 cm (24 to 26 in) |
| Taller counter, 94 cm (37 in) | 64 to 69 cm (25 to 27 in) |
| Bar ledge, 107 cm (42 in) | 77 to 82 cm (30 to 32 in) |
Each row takes 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) off the surface height, rounded to the nearest centimetre. Up to about 94 cm (37 in), you want counter stools. At 102 to 107 cm (40 to 42 in), you want bar stools.
How to measure your counter
- Measure from the floor to the top of the counter where you will sit. Check both ends, since floors are not always level.
- Look under the overhang. A thick stone top, a support bracket or a ledge lowers the space your legs actually get, so note anything that hangs below the edge.
- Take 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) off the counter height. That is the seat height range to shop for.
Seat height on a product page is measured from the floor to the top of the seat, not to the top of the back. Some listings show the overall height first, so make sure you are reading the right number.
Why 25 to 30 cm
With less than about 25 cm (10 in), thighs meet the underside of the counter and getting on and off is awkward. With more than about 30 cm (12 in), the counter sits high, like a kid at the grown-ups' table. Retailers pair stools and counters the same way: Costco Canada's barstool guide matches counter-height surfaces of 89 to 91 cm (35 to 36 in) with 61 to 66 cm (24 to 26 in) counter stools, and bar-height surfaces of 102 to 107 cm (40 to 42 in) with 71 to 84 cm (28 to 33 in) bar stools.
Counter height or bar height?
A standard kitchen counter is about 91 cm (36 in) high, so counter stools are what lots of condo kitchens need. Bar height, about 102 to 107 cm (40 to 42 in), often shows up as a raised ledge on the back of a peninsula. If your counter has two levels, measure the one you will actually sit at. A bar stool at a counter leaves your knees jammed, and a counter stool at a bar ledge leaves you reaching up for your plate.
Knee room matters too
Seat height is only half of comfort. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) suggests a knee space 61 cm (24 in) wide and 38 cm (15 in) deep for each person at a 91 cm (36 in) counter. If your overhang is shallower, people tend to sit a little sideways, and a slimmer stool helps. The Island Planner flags this when you enter your overhang depth.
Before you order
- Feet: at counter height, feet do not reach the floor, so look for a rung or footrest you can rest on through a long breakfast.
- Width: check the stool's widest point against your spacing. Our guide to how many stools fit at your island covers it.
- Floors and neighbours: felt pads on the feet protect hard floors and keep scraping noise down for the unit below.
A stool that fits a 91 cm counter
The TA Counter Stool has a 65 cm (25.6 in) seat, which leaves 26 cm (10.2 in) under a 91 cm (36 in) counter, inside the comfortable range. Its moulded polypropylene seat sits on a slim black metal base, it is 45.5 cm (18 in) wide, and it comes in seven seat colours. Two are $399, applied at checkout, and it ships free in all 10 provinces.
For a light to match, see The Island, or check our guide to how high to hang pendants over an island.
Last checked October 2026.
Sources
- NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines with Access Standards, Guideline 9 (seating clearance)
- Costco Canada barstool guide (counter, bar and stool heights)
- TA Counter Stool product page (seat height and size)