Counter Height Tables Vs. Traditional

Table Heights

• The top of a counter-height table, as the name implies, is at the same level as a typical kitchen counter -- approximately 36 inches. This height is to be distinguished from a traditional table, which is 30 inches, and "serving counter" or bar height, which is roughly 42 inches, according to the All Barstools.com or Concrete Countertops websites. It's important to focus on the actual measurements, because tables of both heights are referred to by different names. For example, counter-height tables are sometimes called casual tables or gathering tables. Traditional tables are also referred to as standard height or dining height.

Physical Considerations

• The 6-inch difference between these two styles has a major impact on the physical demands placed on people using the table. Anyone who eats a quick breakfast seated at a counter understands some of the benefits of a counter-height table. They do not require the effort of plopping down in a standard chair and rising again, allowing most people to make faster, easier use of the table. But children, those of particularly short height, the elderly or those who use wheelchairs face the prospect of hauling themselves up onto a seat at a counter-height table. When seated in a standard chair, most people's feet will be on the ground. When using a chair for a counter-height table, most people's feet are propped on the chair itself.

Aesthetic Considerations

• Both counter-height and standard tables have implied roles in the home. Counter-height tables are seen as more casual, for quick meals or a friendly drink. They can easily double as counter space because they are closer to waist level for most.. Standard tables however, are important in a home's aesthetics and function. Better Homes and Gardens advises. This is easily illustrated with the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Not everyone strives for an extravagant dinner, but it is common for 10 or more people, from grandfather in a wheelchair to baby in a highchair, to sit around an elaborately set table. This level of formality is associated with a traditional table.

Important Information to Have

• Tables and chairs must be matched in height. And, because not all non-standard tables are 36 inches tall, taller stools and chairs available also vary in height. Typically, a chair seat should be 10 inches below the table top, All Barstools.com states. In every case, the chairs should be paired with the actual height of the table, not paired based on the name given.