Outdoor Bar Stools

Measure from the floor to the underside of your table or counter, then subtract about 10 to 12 inches for legroom. Counter-height surfaces of 35 to 39 inches want a seat around 24 to 27 inches, and bar-height surfaces of 40 to 43 inches want a seat around 28 to 31 inches. Getting this right is the difference between sitting comfortably and reaching up or hunching over.

It comes down to seat height and the table each one pairs with. Counter-height stools sit lower, around 24 to 27 inches, for kitchen islands and counters near 36 inches. Bar-height stools sit around 28 to 31 inches for taller pub and bar tables near 40 to 43 inches. Measure your surface before you choose.

Cast aluminum, powder-coated steel, and HDPE ask for nothing beyond a wipe-down and won't rust or fade. Solid wood like acacia and eucalyptus lasts well but wants a yearly coat of exterior oil to hold its color, or it silvers to gray. All-weather wicker and woven rope hold up with almost no care, and the cushions are the part to keep dry.

The frames generally can, especially aluminum, steel, HDPE, and all-weather wicker. Cushions are the limiting factor, since outdoor fabric is water resistant rather than waterproof and repeated soaking shortens its life. Bringing cushions in over winter or using a cover does more for a stool's lifespan than anything else.

Most ship flat and go together in well under half an hour with the included hardware. Folding stools arrive ready to use with no assembly at all. Larger bar sets sometimes arrive in two boxes that may not turn up on the same day, so wait until everything is in hand before you start.

If you already have a bar or counter, buy the stools alone and match the seat height to your surface. If you're starting from nothing, a bar set gives you the table and stools sized to each other, so the heights already line up and there's nothing to measure.