How Much Space Should Be Between Bar Stool and Counter?

The gap between a bar stool seat and the counter above it is the measurement that decides whether island seating is genuinely comfortable or merely decorative. This article sets out the 25cm to 30cm clearance range and explains why sitting outside it causes knee contact at one end and shoulder strain at the other. We cover the second measurement most people forget, the horizontal knee space created by the counter overhang, and how much you need for forward facing seating. There is guidance on measuring to the lowest obstruction rather than the worktop surface, how soft seat padding quietly changes your clearance, how much walkway to leave behind occupied stools in a typical UK kitchen, and a simple mock up test you can do at home before ordering....