If you are reading this article, it’s probably because you are trying to figure out how tall your bar top should be in your man cave or entertainment room. Despite what many would lead you to believe, you have a few options to go with. Who knows, going with a nontraditional height may be better for you.
When I built my bar, I went with the kitchen counter height 36 inches with 24-inch stools. This is a good option if you want the most flexibility out of your space, and you still want that bar feel, and a space to do projects. The standard bar height of 42 inches with 30-inch stools Is a good option if you have a lot of space or you want that authentic at-home bar to feel. The final popular height is the dining table height of 30 inches with 18-inch seats. This is a good option for your man cave if you are going for comfort and you don’t care about it feeling like a bar.
What Do I Mean By Bar Top?
Before I get into the specifics about bar top heights, I think it’s worth describing how I am using the word bar top. When I say the bar top, I mean any tabletop that is fixed in place that has multiple uses. This tabletop can come in all kinds of styles. In many cases, a “bar top” won’t look like a bar at all. It may look more like an island. I would urge you to not limit yourself to the typical bar top look. Each height comes with its benefits and drawbacks.
In any room that you plan on entertaining in, it may be worth having some type of tabletop. Believe it or not, you can do much more with a bar top than just drink or eat. This means that it is worth taking the time to choose the right height for your bar top. So now that we are all on the same page, what are the different types of bar tops we can go with?
What Are the Popular Options?
The three heights that are most common for bar tops are:
- Standard bar top is 42 inches tall (30in barstool)
- Kitchen Counter Bar 36 inches atll (24in stool)
- Typical Dining Table is 28-30 inches tall (18in seat)
Standard Bar Height:
Take a second to think about what you think a bar looks like. You are likely thinking about this height of a bar top. The standard height for a commercial bar is 42 inches off the floor. This is the standard height because it is the perfect height to either sit at with a barstool or to stand/lean next to while eating or drinking.
For a 42-inch-high bar, you will most likely want to buy yourself some 30-inch barstools. This combination of 42-inch bar and 30-inch stool is really common. If you have this combo in your man cave, your guests will have the feeling of it being an authentic bar experience. If you really want to pull the room together, include this combo with a pool table or a dartboard.
Kitchen Counter Bar Height:
A bar top that is at kitchen counter height is another great option for your man cave. For this setup, your bar top will be at 36 inches off the ground, and you will want to use 24-inch barstools. Unlike the traditional bar height, at 36 inches, it won’t feel as natural to stand next to with food or drink.
Using this combo of a 36 in high bar top and 24-inch stool, you kind of get the best of both worlds. It feels raised like a standard bar, but it is low enough that it can be used for other activities as well. You can think of this option as getting the best of both worlds.
Dining Table Bar Height:
I don’t think I need to say anything about this height of bar… Sometimes, it may be worth it to just put your bar space at regular dining table height. I know, I know, this doesn’t sound like much of a bar. But hear me out. What is really making this space a bar? It’s what you are putting on it/surrounding it with.
The typical dining table setup is a 30-inch tall table with an 18-inch tall seat. This is not a good option for you if you think people are going to be on their feet a lot. Because it is so much lower than the standard bar, it can potentially feel awkward to be standing and have this bar top in the room as well.
Each one of these options has a purpose.
Should I Go With…
The Standard Height Bar?
You probably want to go with a standard, 42-inch bar if you are going for that authentic bar experience. If you are expecting people to be doing a lot of standing or moving around, this may be a good option for your man cave. This would also be a good option for you if you want your bar area to be the focal point of your room.
The issue with this type of bar is its lack of flexibility. In an earlier article, I write about how to get the most out of a smaller room when building a man cave. I talk about the importance of having furniture that can serve multiple functions. A bar that is 42 inches tall is a little hard to use for anything else. It is a little too high to comfortably use for everyday projects.
If you are lucky enough to have a lot of space, this is a great choice. But if you do not have a lot of space, and you are looking to maximize the space you do have, I will consider a different height.
The Kitchen Counter Height Bar?
Like I mentioned earlier, this is the option that is the best of both worlds. If you want a place for seating that still has that elevated bar feeling, but has that comfy table feel, I think this may be for you. Because it is in the middle, it can serve many roles.
Personally, when I built a bar in my man cave, this is the option I went with. In my man cave, it acts as a half bar, half island. From my experience, this height of bar top is great for everything from sharing a drink with a few friends, to playing cards, to secretly wrapping presents for Christmas.
The 24-inch stools are perfect for this height because they do not feel like you are just sitting at a dining table. I personally feel like this height is a good balance of flexibility and comfort.
The Dining Table Height?
As you may be able to tell by my tone throughout this article, this option is definitely not my favorite. That being said, it still absolutely has its benefits. It may be that you really don’t care about the bar top having that bar feel. I totally get that. It may be that it is more important that people can comfortably sit at your table.
Because this is the typical dining table height, there will NEVER be any shortage of seats that people can pull up. Another benefit of this is it will feel the most familiar height for people to sit at. If you are going for a more comfortable, homey feel for your man cave or entertainment room, this is a great choice.
A potential negative to this height of the bar is that it is a little too low to do projects at. This means it isn’t the most flexible option, but it can be used for more things than the traditionally sized bar top.
Final Thoughts:
I tried to keep my own bias out of this article, but man is it hard. When I built my own bar, I designed the bar to be at kitchen counter height. My experience with this is that it lends itself to be the most flexible, and you can still find seats that feel more interesting than the boring old 18-inch dining table seats. But just because I went with this option does not mean it will be the right choice for you.
Going with the traditional choice of a standard bar height bar top makes a lot of sense if you have a lot of space or you are going for an authentic bar feel. This height of the bar can really bring a room together if it is paired with a pool table or dartboard.
Likewise, going with a bar top that is dining table height makes a lot of sense if you are going for comfort. It also makes a lot of sense if you don’t care about it feeling like a bar at all! Maybe you have a music, sci-fi, or log cabin themed man cave, and you are looking for it to feel more like an island than anything else. That makes a lot of sense to me.
I hope this article clued you in on the options available to you while building a bar. Figure out what your goals are for your man cave and make your space work for you.
Until next time,