Tall Bar Stools
Tall barstools are necessary when you need seating for high counters or tables. However, there are circumstances when you may want to purchase tall barstools even when standard-height stools will suffice.
First, you need to know how to properly measure stool heights. Barstools are sold by seat height, which is measured from the floor to the top of the seat (not the seatback!). A standard barstool is usually 30 inches high. This is the correct stool height for many kitchen counters and commercial tables in restaurants, which tend to run 40 to 44 inches in height.
The basic rule of thumb is to allow for 8-12 inches between the top of the seat and the bottom of the counter or table. This provides ample room for people with thin legs or thick legs. No one wants to sit in a barstool that won't let him get close to his drink or food, after all.
So, you can get standard barstools for most home uses (kitchen counters, breakfast nook tables, rec rooms, etc.), but what if you have extra tall counters or tables? That's why they make tall barstools!
In some homes and businesses, the counters and tables are built in the 4-foot range (46-48 inches high). Standard barstools would result in too much distance between the seat height and countertop. All but the tallest people would feel like their food and drinks were right in their faces. With tall barstools, which are typically 34-38 inches high (floor to seat), the problem is solved.
Another scenario that calls for tall barstools with standard-height tables or counters are when the stool has no armrests and you want to work at a computer. In this situation, it's more comfortable for most people to hold their hands a bit lower and sit farther away from the keyboard while typing to avoid overstressing their forearm muscles. They can tuck their elbows in for more support and they won't miss the armrests.
Articles Of Interest
