Looking to set up a breakfast bar in your home and wondering the kinds of dimensions to set it up to be right? You need not fret because you have arrived at the right place. Our goal here is to answer this fundamental question of how high should a breakfast bar be?
How To Measure The Bar Stools?
In answering this question about how high should a breakfast bar be, we shall start it out with the steps to take to measure the bar’s stools. Here below are the steps and how to go about them:
Step I: Find out the right or desired height
It all begins by knowing the height above the ground that each bar stool is supposed to be. This is a metric you arrive at by factoring the floor-to-height of the room, the heights of the anticipated guests, and whether the guests are children or adults. The metric forms the basis of the other dimensions you have in mind.
Step II: Determine the length of the bar
Next, you have to determine the length of the bar and by extension the number of stools you may possibly fit across that length. The length of the bar depends on the space available, the number of guests you would wish the bar to accommodate, and the quantity of the foods and drinks you intend to serve there.
Step III: Determine the dimensions of each stool
Now determine the dimensions of each stool. This you arrive at by dividing the length of the bar by the number of stools you intend to fit across it. You should also take care of the space in between the stools that enable the guests to embark and disembark conveniently.
Step IV: Consider the style of stool
The unique styles of the stools also have a bearing on the final dimensions thereof. Some styles demand that you set aside too much space in between two stools while others demand only a paltry amount of space. Be honest and fair in your assessment of the style to counter minimal squeeze and cramped up.
Step V: Take care of the legroom
As part and parcel of determining the amount of space to set aside within two or more stools, you have to pay some keen attention to the legroom as well. The amount of legroom depends on the heights of the guests and the leeway you would wish to grant them when embarking and disembarking the stools.
Step VI: Be mindful of the configurations
Configuration refers to the manner in which the stools may be placed alongside each other. This usually has a bearing on the kind of comfort that one might feel as well as the purpose for which the seating arrangement is intended to achieve in the first place.
Step VII: Round it up with the applicable styles and patterns
As a last measure, you have to care also for the applicable styles and patterns. For instance, could you also be intent on making the area appear more beautiful or merely want to sit? You may have to conduct some honest assessments of your intents before proceeding to make a choice of measurement.
Standard Breakfast Bar Height
As part of answering the thorny question of how high should a breakfast bar be, there is the issue of the standard breakfast bar height. This simply refers to the bare minimum height that applies to all kinds of guests and seating options regardless of the rooms or places where the bars are located.
These parameters determine this height:
Standard Height Options
There are three main standard height options that come as a default on all the bars we have around. These are the 30 inches, 36 inches, and 42 inches above the floor respectively. They are the ones that you will find etched on the seat when you buy the same from the outlet you choose.
Elevation of the Work Area
How high would you wish your work area to be elevated? This also has a bearing on the standard height of the bar you subsequently pick for the job. Be sure to assess this as candidly and openly as can be to be certain that the height you pick meets your needs as nearly as possible.
Unique Individual Preferences
A typical bar is often used by many individuals. Each individual that uses these bars have a voice or say on the kind of height that may be necessary for their comfort and convenience. You have to take care of this as well when attempting to find a suitable bar height.
Desired Levels of Comfort
The specific height of the bar also determines the standard height that may be suitable for your use. Each person feels comfortable in certain places and points. You have to see to it that the height you settle on is able to meet the unique needs of each individual without faltering.
Heights of Individual Stools
Of course, the height of each stool has to blend well with the height of the bar you choose to use them alongside. Thus, you must also factor into consideration these heights for the avoidance of any doubts or ending up with any mismatches along the way.
Intended Longevity of Use
How long in total would you wish to make great use of this bar? A bar that is to serve you for a longer duration has to be flexible enough to accommodate the needs of many people for a prolonged duration of time. That is to negate the need to dispose of it and acquire a fresh one in its stead.
Breakfast Bar Height And Width
Now that we have answered how high should a breakfast bar be, we get a step further and peek into the breakfast bar height and width. Below are the leading factors that determine these twin metrics:
Heights of the Users
These bars are used by people of varying heights. You have to take care of the heights of these people to see to it that they blend well with those of the bars. That is to prevent a mismatch between these twin metrics that may end up causing unnecessary discomforts in the course of the engagements of these items.
The volume of the Meals to be served
Different areas serve different volumes of the meals. The volumes of the meals served hinge on a large part of the width of the bars. That means you have to pick a wider bar for more volume of food and a narrower one for limited volume.
Respective Heights of each Stool
Other than the users, it is the heights of the stools that are the second most determining trait or aspect of the heights of the stools. Yet again for the avoidance of any mismatch, you have to see to it that the stools you use blend well with the overall height of the bars you have in place.
Anticipated Levels of Traffic
How many patrons do you plan to serve on the whole? A larger volume of traffic definitely needs a larger and wider bar top compared to the smaller volume of traffic. You have to conduct some honest assessments here to ensure that there be no confusion or inconsistencies.
Total Lifetime of Use
A bar that is to be used for a fairly long duration of time has to let you vary its heights as need be. The logic here is that there is the need to meet the expectations of various cadres of persons throughout their entire lifetime. A rigid one may most likely get obsolete too soon!
The Comfort and Support Required
As a last consideration, you should also figure out the degree of comfort and the support you require or look up to in these items. Choose a wider and stable bar for added support and maximum comfort. That should especially be the case if you want to serve many meals.
Standard Breakfast Bar Depth
In order for the seated guests to eat comfortably, they need this bar to come at a depth that is likewise comfortable for them. A number of factors do converge to set and determine this depth for you. Here below, we identify and explain these factors in their entirety for you:
Legroom Anticipated
How much legroom do your guests anticipate? The amount of legroom is directly determined by the heights of the guests. A taller guest will usually require greater legroom to cater to the extra length of the legs they do possess. For them, the depth will have to be raised higher.
Heights of the Users
The heights of the users also come in handy. A user who is too tall requires a depth that is higher than that who is too short. The reason is to bring the bar top to a level that is comfortable and convenient for them. To be on the safe side, this height may have to be set and adjusted as need be.
Weight of the Users
A weightier user is generally more likely to have a bigger body. Consequently, such a user will also demand great clearance between the bar top and the thighs. This calls for a depth that is too high. On the flip side, a skinny person demands a depth that is somewhat lower.
Desired Extent of the Clearance
Over and above the weights of the users, there are other factors that may also determine the amount or the extent of the clearance that the user may have to contend with while partaking of the meals from the countertops. These could be personal preferences, frequency of embarking and disembarking, and so on. They too have to be cared for.
Planned Duration of Sitting
If you plan to sit alongside these bars for durations that are too long, you need one that has a higher depth. That is to allow your legs the rooms to stretch out and about without any unnecessary hindrances. On the other hand, if you plan to use yours only occasionally, a lower depth may be suitable.
Nature of the Occasion at Hand
Some occasions like parties and anniversaries generally demand lots of leg rooms and frequent playfulness. For them, the bars have to possess higher depths that make for smoother and unimpeded motions if and when the need to do so arises. If the bar is only for home use, nothing much ought to come from it.
Standard Breakfast Bar Depth
Your standard breakfast bar depth may be determined by the following metrics:
Height from the Floor
The height of the bar from the floor is by far the single most determinant of the depth. A bar that is elevated too high from the floor tends to have a depth that is similarly higher. However, that which is close to the floor has a lower depth to allow for some great clearance.
Speed of Embarking and Disembarking
How fast would you want to embark and disembark the stool? If you plan to do so at a pace that is somewhat fast, you may need some extra clearance. That in turn demands a depth that is somewhat raised or elevated at a comfortable distance from the floor.
Anticipated Nature of Overall Comfort
There is a direct correlation between the depth and the degree of comfort that may be attained from the same. To be truly comfortable, you need to have a depth that is appropriately elevated to give your legs some room to get in and out pretty fine, fast, and comfortable.
When all factors are put into consideration, your standard breakfast bar ought to have a depth of no less than 12 inches (30 cm). Then again this metric ought to be adjustable to allow for maximum comfort all the while of use and engagements.
How High Should A Counter Height Breakfast Bar Be?
The precise height of the breakfast bar is largely informed by a confluence of these many factors:
Height of the User
How tall the user is perhaps is the most significant determinant of the height of the breakfast bar. A bar that is to be used by a taller user has to be higher than that which is to be used by a shorter user. The reason is somewhat obvious. A taller user needs some exceptional legroom and clearance from the floor.
Floor-to-Ceiling Height of the Room
The total height also depends on the available floor-to-ceiling height of the room wherein the bar is to be placed. Of course, a room that has a narrower floor-to-ceiling height can only accommodate a shorter bar while that which has a longer version may accommodate a taller bar.
Amount of Clearance Needed
This refers to the distance between the stool and the countertop. Choose a taller height that may allow for larger clearance if you have a taller user. On the flip side, choose a shorter height if you have a shorter user or intends to meet the needs of a child occupant.
NB: Most bars range from 58-72 cm in height.
How Much Space For Breakfast Bar Stools?
Three major factors converge to determine the amount of space you may have to set aside for your breakfast bar stools. In this segment, we delineate and go ahead to explain these factors for your consideration and how they play out insofar as the amount of space is concerned.
Size of the Bar Top
This is the single most determining factor of the amount of space you may have to set aside for the bar stools. It is determined by multiplying the length and the widths of the bar top. After that, the measurements are translated to the amount of space that may be set aside for its installation.
Distance between two Stools
Some amount of space has to be left in between the two consecutive stools (around 6 inches). The sum total spaces also have a bearing on the total amount of space you may have to dedicate for the installation of your bar stools. This requires that you mark out some measurements and compute the totals conclusively.
Desired Leg Room
Closely related to the above is the amount of legroom you desire to accrue and leverage in the process. For sufficient legroom to be realized, you need to leave aside plenty of space and clearing in between two stools. Leave sufficient space if you want plenty of legroom and tiny space for limited leg rooms.
What Height Should Breakfast Bar Stools Be?
A number of factors converge to determine this height. They are:
The Nature of the Occupants
Taller occupants generally have to make do with similarly higher bar stools. That is to give their feet the room they need to stretch out smoothly and fairly. The shorter occupants on the other hand need to make do only of the shorter stools to allow for easier getting into and out of.
Intended Ease of Getting into or out of the Stools
How easy would you wish that the occupants get into and out of the stools? For easier embarking to be realized, the stool has to be of the right height from the floor. That should also mirror as closely as possible the heights of the users who intend to sit on them.
Mandatory Clearance
As a general rule, there is a mandatory clearance of about 9-13 inches between the seat and the counter of the breakfast bar. This is to allow for smoother embarking and disembarking while at the same time giving off some added comfort to the users.
ON THE WHOLE, A great breakfast bar has to be around 58-72cm high.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In closing our exposition on how high should a breakfast bar be, we now answer some of the frequently asked questions that surround this specific topic:
Q1. How many stools can fit at a 69-inch breakfast bar?
A. 3. That is because a standard stool measures 28 to 33 inches. If you divide 69 by 28 or 33, you get 3. This of course does not take into consideration the spacing between two stools and the other styles that the stools have to adhere to in the course of serving their purposes.
Q2. How many standard heights of the stools do we have?
A. They are yet again three in number. These are the 30 inches, 36 inches, and 42 inches respectively. They may be altered as per the unique heights and the desires of each user to whom it is administered. You have to check whether the heights really meet your needs and expectations or not.
Q3. What is the average overhang for a breakfast bar?
A. Around 25-30 cm. This dimension has been touted to leave some space for the knees to stretch back and forth unhindered. The end result of this arrangement of course is added comfort and minimal disruptions of the free movements of the person seated on the stool.
Q4. How much space do you need for a breakfast bar?
A. A standard breakfast bar measures 42 inches long by 24 inches wide. That means you need no less than 1,000 square inches (6,503 square cm). You have to first and foremost mark out these dimensions on the floor and then proceed now to place the bars as nearly as possible to the exact same place.
Q5. How do I know what size bar stool I need?
A. You have to factor in the heights of the users, the sum total duration of time you may need to dedicate it for your use, the extent of the comfort you may wish to derive from the same, and the frequency with which you may want to devote it for your usage.
Conclusion
There you have it! We have really done the much we can answer the question of how high should a breakfast bar be? The insight we have given you is definitely sufficient now for you to appreciate the item better and set up a great one in your room. How soon do you intend to do this? Kindly let us know in the comments section here below…
