When picking furniture for a dining room or kitchen, you must consider more than color and style. One of the most overlooked factors concerning dining set tables and chairs is their height.
Imagine moving into a different residence, believing your old or newly bought counter height stools will work in the space. You move in, only to realize they’re too short for the bar or counter height in the kitchen. Now, you have a set of barstools you don’t know what to do with, and you need to buy a new dining set to suit your new patio or kitchen. So assess and measure your spaces and start planning.
Which bar or counter height will be the most practical for building a new home? What height should the stool be relative to the bar counter? What is the ideal dining table and chair height to accommodate the height of the people who use them most? Continue reading for some handy guidelines. Let’s start by understanding different table and chair heights.
Chair and Table Size Comparison
Choose chairs of the correct height and design to keep your family members and guests comfortable when seated at the dining room table, kitchen, or bar counter. A seat or chair arms that are too high or too low can be uncomfortable. So bear the following in mind when making your selection.
Bar Height vs. Dining Tables Height
A dining height tabletop will measure 28 to 30 inches tall – around 2.5 feet, so your dining set chairs must allow a seated person to clear this height. In contrast, bar height is usually around 42 inches (3.5 feet), making it ideal for standing or sitting on higher barstools.
Dining Height vs. Counter Height
A standard counter height table is 36 inches tall (3 feet). Counters and counter height tables can be lower or higher depending on the design.
Bar Height vs. Counter Height
The standard bar height is 40 to 46 inches (closer to 4 feet) from the floor, higher than your traditional kitchen counter. This contrast helps create a space that’s pleasing to the eye. However, the furnishings are in proportion and have appropriate dimensions.
Now, let’s discuss the height of each type of table.
Dining Height
Let’s start with dining height, which tends to be the most common and familiar option of the three. Most restaurants have dining height table setups, as do dining room, outdoor patio, bistro, and other dining table designs.
Most of us want a table setup that allows our feet to touch the floor while sitting, the best option being standard dining height chair or bench dimensions. This option is best, as it suits kids and older adults who might have trouble getting in or out of tall seats.
A standard dining height table measures 28 to 30 inches (2.5 feet). Other options – formal dining tables and sizes to host large family gatherings – are on the taller end. The standard dining side chair height is 18 inches but may vary between 17 and 19 inches, depending on the dining table design and the formality level to match. The standard chair back height varies between 32 and 34 inches or taller, depending on table height.
Most regular dining height table dimensions are wheelchair accessible and flexible for hosting larger parties. For instance, when you need more than the six chairs in your dining set, the standard height for chair seats makes it easy to pull up extra lawn-, patio, fold-up, or armchairs from elsewhere in your home.
Counter Height
Whether washing dishes at the kitchen sink, chopping onions on the counter, or cooking at the stove, you’re dealing with a counter height surface. Besides providing food prep space, kitchen counters often offer seating areas perfect for anything from after-school homework to gatherings and happy hours.
There is a casual sit-stand function to counter height surfaces that shorter dining tables or taller bar spaces do not offer. A counter height table imitates this relaxed feel but lets you take it from the kitchen into the dining room, living room, porch, or patio.
Standard counter height table dimensions mimic the height of a typical kitchen counter – 36 inches tall (3 feet) – ranging from 35 to 42 inches for kitchen islands intended for bar-style seating. To align, counter height chair dimensions can be between 23 and 28 inches from floor to seat.
Bar Height
You encounter a bar height surface when you walk into a pub or restaurant and stroll to the bar for a drink. Bar height table dimensions add a casual, modern, pub-style feel to their kitchen, dining room, or patio space.
Bar-style setups are excellent for patios or rooms with magnificent views, as they elevate you slightly to provide a better vantage point. A bar height table is also terrific during social functions because it is easy to pull the stools away to provide a few extra inches of space where guests can stand, set plates or drinks, and converse.
Standard bar height table dimensions measure around 42 inches (3.5 feet), making them ideal for standing or sitting on high bar stools. Depending on the bar height, dimensions are between 29 and 36 inches (2.4 to 3 feet).
Choosing the Best Dining Table Height for Your Home
Consider which table height will suit you best when shopping for a new table-and-chair setup. Your dining chair, bench, counter, or bar stool height depends on your table, counter, or bar height. So, grab your measuring tape and ensure you buy the correct size.
A dining table and side chairs may be the best option if you have a dining room where you host formal occasions or large gatherings. At the same time, a smaller counter or bar height table might be the perfect choice to create a casual, fun gathering spot in your kitchen. It’s also ideal if you have limited space in your home or apartment and not enough room in your dining space for a full dining room table.
Finally, select pieces that complement your overall theme and look good with your cabinets, then dress them up with striking, easily rotatable seasonal accents.
Find Your New Dining Room Furniture at Home Zone Furniture
We proudly offer various table designs, including different heights in the dining, counter, bar, table, and seat height choices. Contact us today if you need help finding the best options when It’s time to replace or update your dining room set.
