A bar set turns a bit of patio into a spot where you want to linger. A high table with bar stools feels like a holiday terrace: you sit a little higher, look over the fence or the border, and can pop up to turn the barbecue. But a high set is chosen differently from an ordinary garden set. The relationship between table and stool, a place for your feet, and enough room to climb onto a stool determine whether you'll be comfortable for a whole evening. In this guide you'll read what to look for, with an example from our range, a short test and a checklist.
In short: don't just look at the table height, but at the difference between seat and tabletop: as a guideline, 25 to 30 cm. At bar height your feet won't reach the ground, so look for a footrest and armrests. Measure your space, including room to climb onto the stool, and place the set on a level surface. Powder-coated aluminium needs the least maintenance.
Bar set, bistro set or dining set?
A bar set consists of a high table, also known as a bar table or stand-up table, with bar stools or bar chairs. The main difference from a bistro set lies in the height. A bistro set sits at normal dining height and is usually for two people; you can read everything about these compact sets in buying a bistro set: what to look for. If you're looking for something for a balcony, you'll find the points about wind, weight and the balcony door in buying a balcony set: what to look for.
| Type | How you sit | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Bar set | High, feet on a footrest | Drinks, at the barbecue |
| Bistro set | Dining height, small table | Coffee for two |
| Dining garden set | Dining height, large table | Long meals |
A bar set is therefore mainly a choice for atmosphere and use: you switch more easily between sitting and standing, and guests who stand around chatting are at the same height as those sitting. If you want to eat long and leisurely, you'll often sit more comfortably at a regular dining garden set. Still unsure which type of set you need? Try the selection guide.
The right height for table and stool
The most important measurement for a bar set is not the height of the table, but the difference between the seat and the tabletop. If that's too small, your knees get trapped under the top. If it's too large, you'll sit like a child at the table with your chin above your plate.
| Measurement | Monti bar set | General guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Table height | 100 cm | Roughly 90 to 110 cm |
| Stool seat height | 72 cm | Table height minus 25 to 30 cm |
| Difference | 28 cm | 25 to 30 cm |
The same rule of thumb applies to an ordinary dining table; it's just that with a bar set everything sits one level higher. If you buy the table and stools separately, always do the sums. A stool meant for a kitchen island won't automatically suit a high outdoor table. You can read more about seat height in general in how high should a garden bench be.
Footrest, backrest and cushions
Sitting on a bar stool is different from sitting on a garden chair. Your feet come off the ground, and you'll notice that after half an hour. So look for these points:
- Footrest: a crossbar or footring between the legs gives your feet something to rest on. Check the product photo to see whether it sits at a handy height. If it's not in the description, the photo is your best source.
- Back and armrests: a stool without a back is fine for a drink, but for a whole evening a bar chair with a back and armrests is much more comfortable. Armrests also help when getting up and sitting back down.
- Seat cushion: on a high chair the seat carries a larger share of your weight, because your legs have less support. A cushion makes a big difference. The Monti bar set comes with cushions.
- Stability: the higher the furniture, the more important a sturdy base and four legs that stand firmly on the ground.
Not sure about the height? Try sitting on a high stool at your kitchen counter with a glass and a plate in front of you. Are your legs dangling, or are your knees trapped? In two minutes you'll feel what a few centimetres make.
Measuring your space in 3 steps
A bar set may look slim in the photo, but you need more space than just the table. You climb onto a bar stool from the side or from behind, and there needs to be room for that.
Take the length and width of the tabletop. The table of the Monti bar set, for example, measures 154.5 x 90 cm. Mark out that size on the spot where the set is to go.
On every side where a stool stands, you need room to pull the stool back and climb onto it. Also check there's enough table edge for everyone, so elbows don't bump into each other.
Tape the outer dimensions onto the ground with masking tape. Walk around it a few times, also while carrying a tray. Is there still a walking route left to the patio door or the barbecue?
You can read more about the space needed around a table in how much space do you need for a garden table.
Where do you place a bar set?
A bar set can stand in very different places. The best spot depends on what you'll use it for:
- By the barbecue or outdoor kitchen: whoever's cooking can stand and chat with those seated. Do keep enough distance from the heat. Ideas for such a cooking spot can be found in making an outdoor kitchen.
- On a higher spot with a view: from a high stool you can look over the border or the water. That's exactly where a bar set comes into its own.
- Against a wall or fence: with one long side against the wall you keep more floor space free, although fewer people can sit at the table.
- On a balcony or roof terrace: a high set catches more wind than a low one. Keep it out of the wind's path and read the tips in buying a balcony set first.
Choose a level surface
A high stool wobbles more easily than a low chair. Place the set on flat paving or a decking, not on gravel or grass. An outdoor rug under the set makes the spot cosier and instantly marks out your bar.
Think about shade
A high table needs a parasol that hangs high enough. A cantilever parasol has no pole in the middle of the table and is therefore easy to position above a bar set. Read cantilever or centre pole parasol.
Which material should you choose?
A bar set often stands in the same spot all season, so choose a material that can cope with the weather.
| Component | Strong point | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium frame | Light, doesn't rust | A high set is light in the wind |
| Rope armrests | Soft, dries quickly | Soft brush, lukewarm water |
| Polyester cushions | Comfortable | Water-repellent is not waterproof |
A powder coating protects the frame and gives it its colour. Keep that layer intact and the set will look good for a long time. You can find more background in what is aluminium?, what is rope? and can an aluminium garden set rust?
Bar set from our range: Monti
Below you'll find a complete bar set from our range: the Monti by Garden Impressions in taupe, with the measurements from the product information. On the page bar sets for outdoors you can see the current range. The current price is shown on the card.
The Monti consists of four bar chairs and a high bar table. The frame is aluminium in taupe with a powder coating. The backs and armrests of the chairs are covered with hand-woven rope in grey sand, made from solution dyed polyester with a rubber core. The table measures 154.5 x 90 cm, is 100 cm high and is made entirely of aluminium, with a taupe tabletop. The seat height is 72 cm, so there's 28 cm between seat and tabletop. You get 8 sand-coloured cushions included, made of polyester with a water-repellent coating.
Monti bar set 5-piece taupe
Why: bar chairs with a back and armrests and cushions included, so made for staying seated longer. Please note: with a table of just over a metre and a half and four chairs around it, this isn't a set for a narrow balcony. So measure your space carefully. At bol.com the same set is sold under the name Tarera bar tuinset.
Also worth a look:
All outdoor bar sets
View range →
Prefer dining height for 4
View garden sets →
Bistro set for two
Read the guide →Or browse the bar tables for outdoors, rope garden sets and aluminium garden sets.
Quiz: is a bar set right for you?
Bar set, bistro set or dining set: what suits your drinks spot?
What does a successful Friday afternoon outside look like to you?
- A get-together where people alternate between sitting and standing
- Having a drink in the sunshine, just the two of us
- A long meal that lasts until after sunset
Where do you want to place the set?
- Next to the barbecue or with a view over the fence
- In a small corner or on the balcony
- In the middle of the patio, with space all around
Who usually joins you?
- Friends who pop in and out again
- Just you and your partner
- The whole family, including the youngest and the oldest
How do you feel about climbing onto a high stool?
- No problem, that's part of the fun
- I'd rather have an ordinary chair, the set should stay small
- I'd rather not, everyone should be able to sit down easily
A bar set suits you. You want a spot for drinks where sitting and standing mix. Look out for the height, a footrest and enough room for the stools.
A bistro set suits you. For two people in a small space, a compact set at dining height is more practical than a high table.
An ordinary dining set suits you. For long meals with young and old, everyone sits most comfortably at regular height.
Common mistakes
Buying the table and stools separately without doing the sums
A high table and a high stool don't automatically match. Work out the difference between seat and tabletop; as a guideline, 25 to 30 cm.
No room for your feet
At bar height your legs dangle without a footrest. For a quick drink that's no problem, but for a whole evening it is. Check the photo for a crossbar or footring.
Only measuring the table
You climb onto a bar stool from the side or from behind. Without room around the stools the set may fit, but you won't enjoy using it.
A high set on a sloping or loose surface
On gravel, grass or a sloping patio, a high stool will wobble more easily. Choose a level, sturdy spot.
Leaving cushions outside
Water-repellent is not waterproof. Let wet cushions dry thoroughly and store them somewhere dry. Read how to store garden cushions.
Checklist before you order
- The difference between seat height and table height is 25 to 30 cm
- The stools have a footrest at a handy height
- Back and armrests if you want to stay seated longer
- The space has been measured, including room to climb onto the stools
- The surface is level and sturdy
- The frame is aluminium with a powder coating or another weather-resistant material
- There's a dry place for the cushions
How to choose quickly
- First decide whether you mainly have drinks or long meals: that determines the choice between bar set and dining set
- Work out the height, especially if you're buying the table and stools separately
- Choose chairs with a back, armrests and cushions for long evenings
- Place the set on a level spot with shade and a walking route
Maintenance and winter
An aluminium bar set is easy to keep up. Wipe the frame down with a mild soapy solution and a soft cloth, rinse with clean water and let it dry. Brush the rope with a soft brush. If you're not using the set for a while, cover it with a breathable cover; you'll find tips for this in covering garden furniture. You can read more about rope in how to maintain rope garden furniture, and whether your set can stay outside through winter in which garden set can stay outside?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a bar set and a bistro set?
A bistro set sits at regular dining height: a small table with two chairs where you sit with your feet on the ground. A bar set has a high table with bar stools or bar chairs. You sit higher, see further across the terrace and can easily stand up to grab something. A bar set usually takes up more space, especially if it's for four people.
How high should an outdoor bar table be?
High outdoor tables typically range from about 90 to 110 cm. More important than the table height itself is the difference with the seat: as a guideline, there should be roughly 25 to 30 cm between the seat and the tabletop. The Monti bar set has a table height of 100 cm and a seat height of 72 cm, a difference of 28 cm.
Do I need a footrest on a bar stool?
At a seat height of around 70 cm, your feet usually no longer reach the ground. Without support your legs hang, which becomes uncomfortable after a while. So check the product photos to see whether there is a crossbar or footring at a convenient height, especially if you plan to stay longer than one drink.
How much space does a bar set need?
Take the dimensions of the table and allow generous room on each side where a stool stands, so you can pull the stool back and climb onto it. The Monti bar set's table measures 154.5 x 90 cm. Mark the outer dimensions on the ground with painter's tape before you order, so you can see straight away whether there is still room to walk around it.
Can a bar set stay outside?
A bar set with an aluminium frame and powder coating can stay outside, ideally under a protective cover when you're not using it for a long time. The cushions on the Monti are water-resistant, but that is not the same as waterproof. Let them dry thoroughly after a shower and store them dry if bad weather is coming.
