Wood Bar Stools: A Commercial Buyer’s Guide

A wood bar stool sets the tone of a bar the way almost nothing else does — it is at eye level, guests touch it for two hours at a time, and it photographs. Designform Furnishings builds commercial wood stools on solid hardwood frames for restaurants, hotels, country clubs, wineries and senior living dining rooms. Tested to hold up to 400 lbs, with a 3-year frame warranty.

Bar height vs. counter height

Bar stools sit at 29–30" for a 42" bar. Counter stools sit at 24–26" for a 36" counter or kitchen island. Most of our wood stool styles are built in both heights on the same frame design, so a bar and an adjacent counter run can match exactly. Allow roughly 24" of bar per stool.

Frame woods

European beech is the standard contract hardwood: dense, consistent and it stains evenly. White oak and rustic oak bring visible grain for farmhouse and coastal rooms; ash suits lighter interiors; American black walnut is the premium choice for steakhouses and club bars. Teak is the only wood we recommend for outdoor bars. Stains are matched by hand and sealed with a catalyzed commercial lacquer that stands up to spills and sanitizer.

The parts that wear

• Footrest — specify a brushed stainless or brass footrest cover. It is an inexpensive, replaceable part, and without it the wood stretcher is scuffed raw within a season.
• Glides — nylon glides for hard floors, and check them at every deep clean; a missing glide gouges wood and tile alike.
• Seat-to-leg joint — mortise-and-tenon or doweled with corner blocks. This is where residential stools fail.

Seat choices

Wood seats clean fastest and cost least. Upholstered seat pads add comfort for longer sits — specify 75,000–100,000 double rub fabric or commercial vinyl meeting CAL TB 117-2013. Woven cord and leather strapping seats give texture with little maintenance and read well in resort and coastal rooms. Barrel-style upholstered swivel stools are the choice for hotel lobby bars and casinos.

Matching chairs and tables

Most wood stools here have a matching dining chair — see wood chairs and coordinating chair and stool sets. Pair with butcher block or solid wood table tops and bar-height table bases. For counter-only runs see counter stools.

Lead times and ordering

Standard production runs 14–20 weeks with 8–10 week rush available on many frames. Quick ship in-stock items leave in 2–3 business days. Minimum order is 4 pieces. Ganging hardware is available as a custom option; we do not stock stacking carts, but they can be custom made on request.

How do I get pricing? Contact your local sales rep or a project manager or administrator in our office and we will quote your list, including freight.

Browse the range

See every wood stools we build in our wood stools category, or start from the full product line. For help narrowing a list for a specific project, contact your Designform rep.