The Standard Height of a Dining Chair

Seat Height of Dining Chairs

• The seat of a dining room chair is approximately 18 to 20 inches from the floor. Standard kitchen and dining tables are typically 28 to 30 inches from the floor, so the 18- to 20-inch seat height follows the 10- to 12-inch rule.

Seat Height of Counter Chairs or Stools

• Kitchen counters and counter-height tables are 36 inches from the floor. Therefore, standard dining chairs are too short for counter overhangs or counter-height tables. Look instead for counter stools or counter chairs, which have a seat height of 24 to 26 inches.

Seat Height of Bar Chairs or Stools

• If you use a bar-height table for dining, bar stools will seat you high enough to eat comfortably. Bar-height tables are 42 inches from the floor, which puts the seat height of bar stools in the 30- to 32-inch range.

Other Considerations

• When measuring the height of dining chairs, seat height is the measurement to go by. The height of the back of chairs varies greatly from design to design. However, the height of the back of the chair is a matter of personal preference and has no bearing on how well a chair works with a dining table. If the chairs you choose have arms, measure them before you buy to ensure that the arms will fit under the table rather than bump into it. Always take a tape measure with you when furniture shopping as looks can be deceiving.