Modern bar stools

Nine stools in this group list a seat height, and they do not all match. 30 modern bar stools are here, with curved, upholstered and bucket backs, 14 padded. Measure your ledge, then read the seat height on the page before you count.

Seat heights that do not all match

The listed seat heights start at 27 1/2 and climb to 30 1/4 inches, on 9 stools. Four of those sit at 29 inches or taller. The other five sit lower, at 27 1/2 to 28 1/2.

That matters at the ledge. A 28-inch seat under a 40-inch bar leaves 12 inches, and under a 42-inch bar it leaves 14. The first sits at the edge of the 10 to 12 inch comfort range, and the second is past it. So measure the ledge, subtract the gap you want, and match the seat to the number.

Overall heights, back included, run 41 to 44 inches in the four examples.

Backs, frames and seats

Styles run curved back on 9, upholstered back on 8, bucket on 6, square back on 3, slat back on 2 and cane on 1. Padded backs appear on 14 stools, and upholstery options on 16. Colors move on from season to season, so request a swatch before you commit a row.

Frames are metal on 22, wood on 5 and wood-look metal on 4. Seats are vinyl on 20, wood on 13 and fabric on 4. Prices range from $98 to $202. Indoor use is listed on 29 stools, and none lists patio use.

Footprints and spacing

Four examples show the range. A metal bar stool measures 24 1/4 by 24 1/2 inches, and it stands 44 inches tall. A metal bar stool at 17 1/2 by 20 inches stands 41.

Those two widths decide the spacing. Allow 24 to 30 inches center to center per stool. A 24 1/4-inch stool at 24-inch spacing would touch its neighbor, so the wide one belongs at 30. Say a 12-foot ledge, 144 inches: four of the wide stools at 30, or six of the slim ones at 24.

Other bar-height seats

If you want no back at all, see backless bar stools. For a lower counter, counter stools is the page. For a more classic shape, try traditional bar stools.

Draw your ledge in a cafe plan and drop the stools in at the spacing you chose. If the last stool lands in front of the door, drop one.