If you’re thinking about buying a pub table (also called bar tables) for your home, then you’re not alone.
The extra height is a great addition to any dining space or home theatre and it makes the dining experience much more relaxed and convivial.
However, picking out pub tables that will fit in your space is difficult. You can find bar height tables in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, so deciding on the best fit for your space will rely heavily on understanding the dimensions of the table and how that will fit in your home.
But don’t worry, today we’ll cover everything you need to know about bar tables/pub tables and their dimensions!
Let’s talk about table height
Table heights are the most important thing to get right for your space when deciding on the best bar tables for your dining room or kitchen.
So, let’s talk about a standard pub table height and compare them to the table heights of other tables so you can understand the main difference.
Let’s start with a standard table height. Standard table height tables are usually 28 to 30 inches tall. These are your classic standard height tables and dining tables that have been around for years and you’ll find them in almost any dining room in almost any home across the country.
As for counter height tables, they’re slightly taller. Standard counter height tables are typically 34 to 36 inches tall (but may go up to 40 if the counter tops they are attached to are taller than the standard 34 to 36 inches – these are known as non-standard counter height tables).
Pub tables, though, are 40 to 42 inches tall. It’s the same for bar owners and homeowners alike. The right pub table should be 40 to 42 inches from the ground and are actually the tallest of all the dining tables to sit and enjoy food and drinks.
Unfortunately, a pub table being roughly the same height as other pub tables is where the similarities end. From there, you need to make decisions about the style, shape, and number of seats surrounding it you want.
Bar height tables and their different shapes
Giving you exact dimensions for every shape of a pub table is impossible because every pub table is different as is all of the bar furniture. You can find many different custom pub tables that are suitable for different types of customers, and that’s just within one shape.
Still, to help give you a rough idea about dimensions, we’ll talk about some standard pub table options below. For more info about specific bar tables you’ve found online or in a shop, though, it’s best to talk with experts about your available space and specific needs to make sure it’s a suitable table for you.
Square pub tables
Starting with the easiest of the pub table types, let’s talk about the square pub table.
Thanks to its shape, it’s got the same dimensions all the way around. The width and depth are exactly the same, and the height will be standing at 40 to 42 inches as standard.
However, the exact size of your bar table will differ, as you can find square bar height tables with a width of between 36 and 72 inches.
Pubs and bars tend to use a square bar table that’s on the smaller end of that scale, as 36-inch bar height tables are usually just perfect for two guests.
In your home, you might have the right space in your dining room or kitchen for a square table, but you may require more seats, stools, or chairs around it to accommodate all your usual guests and family members. This is where the larger square tables may help for large open spaces.
So these are not just a favourite in bars and pubs, but great in homes too.
Rectangular bar tables
A rectangular bar height table is a little trickier to find a standard measurement for because these are designed to offer flexibility and to create a space that can accommodate more guests.
For more info about the rectangular table you’re interested in, check the width to make sure it fits in your space.
Interestingly, rectangular bar tables are most similar to counter height tables in their design. They’ll still be taller by a few inches, as mentioned above, but rectangular tables are much easier to use as an almost counter table. It’s a much more casual dining option.
The depth of rectangular bar height tables is usually more standard at between 12 to 20 inches, but the width can be as long as is necessary to fill the space for customers.
A custom bar height table with benches for seating works great for this casual dining option.
Round pub tables
The last of the most common bar height table types are round. These are the more complex to place in your home compared to the bars, but also the most relaxed, friendly type too, so it’s well worth thinking about as an option.
As a rough guide, a round bar height table that is:
- 28 inches is perfect for 2 guests
- 36 inches is perfect for 4 guests
- 42 inches is perfect for 6 guests
- And 48 inches plus will accommodate 8 guests or more depending on the exact size
The table height for round bar height tables will be standard, standing at 40 to 42 inches.
What about bar height stools?
Bar stools are easier to find than the perfect table height and width for your home.
As a rule, bar height stools should be 12 inches smaller than the tabletop height. That means the best height for bar stools is around 28 to 30 inches (when you measure from the seat height to the ground).
The same basic 12-inch rule applies to the seat height of every standard counter height table counter stool, and all standard table height chairs.
So, your bar chair or stools should be easy to pick out as they’ll have a standard seat height. The difficult part is finding the right style…
Take-home message
Finding the perfect solution for your house can be tricky. Other than table height, pub tables have a vast difference in how they measure.
40 to 42 inches is the standard height, but beyond that, things get more complicated.
The best thing you can do is measure the space you have and then think reasonably about how many people you need to seat around your new table.
The room you have and the stools or chairs you need will determine the best pub table shape and dimensions for you.
