Quick Summary: We have picked the Winsome 20089 Satori Stools as the best bar stool as it is beautifully designed with two choices of finish on the solid beechwood frame. It is a saddle-style seat with a contoured top that is surprisingly comfortable for a hard stool. It is also one of the cheaper options that both look great and feel good.
Bar stools have started becoming a more common piece of furniture in a household as people gravitate towards a more minimalistic aesthetic. On certain occasions, when you end up having a little more company than you expect, the furniture and seating aren’t enough, which brings bar stools into the equation.
Aside from being a cool piece of furniture in your living room, bar stools can also be easily moved to different rooms when not needed.
These stools add an extra bit of flair to your room and come in different designs and materials, including ones made of wood, metal, steel, and chrome. Some bar stools are light, designed with no back and medium back, and many more. So many designs are available that purchasing one makes it hard.
We’ve picked out the best of the best in this article and make the bar stool selection process much easier for you. After having gone through dozens of reviews and lists, we’ve come up with the 10 best bar stools, and your search need not extend farther from this article.
We’ve also provided factors to look out for in your purchase, such as the material of the stool, the height, padding, swivel function, and of course, the cost.
Quick Navigation:
- Comparison of 10 Best Bar Stools
- Reviews of 10 Top Bar Stools
- How to Choose the Right Bar Stools
- Final Verdict
Comparison of 10 Best Bar Stools
Reviews of 10 Top Bar Stools
To find the best bar stool, we looked closely at the ratings and reviews from both buyers and experts. From all of the models of bar stools we have looked at, we decided on the following 10 bar stools based on their comfort, style, design, and costs.
Best Overall
1. Winsome 20089 Black & 29 Inch Satori Stool
What You Will Love: This bar stool is very beautiful and affordable.
The Winsome Satori Stool is a 29″ bar stool that is a beauty in a kitchen. The solid beechwood seat comes in a matte black or walnut finish.
The saddle style seat has a wide contoured top that has a weight capacity of 220 lbs. This stool costs anywhere from $30 to $40 regularly.
Though it is beautiful, there is a bit of a problem. The screws do not go in well, even with the tools that are sent for assembly. In fact, they may strip while you are tightening them, and you will find yourself needing to retighten them often.
Pros:
- 29″ stool for up to 220 lbs
- Saddle style contoured seat
- Solid beechwood, black or walnut finish
Cons:
- Screws strip easily
- Have to be retightened often
Best Budget
2. Trademark Home Folding Backless Bar Stool with 300 Pound Capacity
What You Will Love: These stools are very convenient and portable.
The Trademark Home Folding Stool is great as a bar stool or for any other room. It is a 24″ high and 13″ wide stool that collapses when you do not need it.
It is lightweight, cushioned, and portable, and it can hold up to 300 lbs. These stools are very convenient.
I bought one for my vanity, but it is so handy that it’s moved all over my home for all kinds of projects. At times, it is even used as a TV tray when someone wants to eat in the living room.
The only downside is that the cushioned seat is not very cushioned, so after a long period of time, it gets uncomfortable. For around $30, you do expect a little more cushion.
Pros:
- 300 lb capacity
- Collapsible
- Portable
- Useful
- Lightweight
- Cushioned seat
- Convenient
Cons:
- Not very cushioned so it gets uncomfortable
Best Simple Design Bar Stool
3. Winsome 94260 29 inch & Walnut Pacey Stool
What You Will Love: It has a solid wood construction and an antique walnut finish.
The Winsome 94260 Pacey Stool’s simple design is what makes it so attractive. It is 29″ and has a round beveled seat with four square legs.
It is solid wood and you can choose between antique walnut finish or black finish. They are very sturdy backless bar stools. For less than $60, you get a set of two of these stools.
The seating is hard so you will likely be uncomfortable sitting on it for long periods of time. Assembly is required. However, you do have the option of paying for expert assembly.
Pros:
- Solid wood construction
- Antique walnut or black finish
- Simple and attractive design,
- Sturdy
- $60 for 2 pack
- Round beveled seating
Cons:
- Hard seating gets uncomfortable after long periods of time
- Assembly is required
Best Bar Stool for Design
4. Leopard Shell Back Adjustable Swivel Bar Stools
What You Will Love: It has a modern, ergonomic design, and comes in multiple colors.
The Leopard Outdoor Products Modern Square Adjustable Bar Counter Stools are a great look for kitchens and dining rooms.
They have a modern look and ergonomic design. It has black faux leather full of high density foam, and it swivels 360 degrees.
The high duty chrome bottom has a non-slip grip, and it has a foot rest. It is adjustable from counter height to bar height with the simple lever, and you can choose from multiple color options.
Though most users claim that these are the best stools ever, the price is still kind of high. You get two for around $90. This price ranges in the middle of other stools. They hold at least 250 lbs.
Pros:
- Multiple color options
- 360 degree swivel
- High density foam seating
- Black faux leather
- Adjusts from counter to bar height
- Modern look, ergonomic design, 360 degree rotation
- Non-slip bottom, high duty chrome bottom
- Foot rest, holds 250 lbs
Cons:
- More expensive than some options
Best Comfortable Bar Stool
5. Roundhill Furniture Swivel Adjustable Hydraulic Leather Bar Stool
What You Will Love: This bar stool beautifully designed with a modern look and an adjustable air lift.
The Roundhill Leather Bar Stool is a great addition to those who have a modern design in their minibar or dining area.
It is faux leather stuffed with foam, and has a high, tufted back.
The seat is wide and soft, and the stool has a sturdy, chrome base. It swivels 360 degrees in any direction, and has an air lift adjustable handle.
This handle lets you rise up to counter height and down to table height. In addition to all of those great features, there are multiple color options to choose from.
Unfortunately, they are quite expensive. A pack of two costs over $100, so they are an expensive initial investment. However, as they are so comfortable and sturdy, you probably will not need to replace them.
Pros:
- Multiple color options
- Luxurious modern style
- Sturdy chrome base
- Air lift adjustable bar stool
- 360 degree swivel
- Faux leather
- Foam seating, high back, tufted, wide and soft
- Versatile height
Cons:
- Expensive
Best Ergonomic Bar Stool
6. Leopard Outdoor Products Modern Square PU Leather Adjustable Bar Stools
What You Will Love: It has a modern, ergonomic design, and comes in multiple colors.
The Leopard Outdoor Products Modern Square Adjustable Bar Counter Stools are a great look for kitchens and dining rooms.
They have a modern look and ergonomic design. It has black faux leather full of high density foam, and it swivels 360 degrees.
The high duty chrome bottom has a non-slip grip, and it has a footrest. The seat height is adjustable from counter height to bar height with the simple lever, and you can choose from multiple color options.
Though most users claim that these are the best stools ever, the price is still kind of high. You get two for around $90. These stools range in the middle of the price ranges. These stools hold at least 250 lbs.
Pros:
- Multiple color options
- 360 degree swivel
- High density foam seating
- Black faux leather
- Adjusts seat height from counter to bar height, modern look, ergonomic design
- 360 degree rotation
- Non-slip bottom, high duty chrome bottom
- Foot rest, holds 250 lbs
Cons:
- More expensive than some options
Best Swivel Bar Stool
7. Counter Height Bar Stool Swivel with Back PU Leather
What You Will Love: These beautifully designed stools cost much lower than many others.
The BestMassage Bar Stool Swivel Set is a 2 pack of modern looking swivel chairs. They have a circular chrome steel base.
They are also both covered with faux leather and stuffed with foam. The rubber base has a non-slip grip for some extra safety. Also, they have a footrest attached to the chrome base.
These ergonomically designed chairs rotate 360 degrees. They can adjust in seat height up to 8 inches. It only takes about 5 minutes to assemble, and there are different color options to choose from.
Sadly, it seems to sit low to the ground and has a flat and short back. Unfortunately, it may not be very sturdy. You can purchase this two pack for around $70.
Pros:
- High duty chrome
- Padded foam and pu leather seat, ergonomically designed
- 360 degree rotation
- Circular chrome steel base
- Rubber non-slip grip, 5 minute assembly
- Good price
- Adjusts up to 8 inches
- Different color options
Cons:
- Sits low
- May not be very sturdy
- Flat and short back
Best Counter Height Metal Bar Stool
8. Buschman Counter Height Metal Bar Stool with Medium Back
What You Will Love: These metal chairs are extremely sturdy and come in multiple finishes.
The Buschman Counter Height Metal Bar Stool with Medium Backs are 24″ tall and holds up to 330 lbs.
These are stackable chairs and they come with hand holds on each side for easy transport.
There are floor protectors on the bottom of the legs to protect your floor. You can use them inside or outside, and you do not need any tools for assembly.
These sturdy metal chairs have a powder coating scuffed finish that comes in bronze and other color choices. The most negative issue is the price. For over $200, you get a set of four.
That makes them cheaper than some but more expensive than other ones. Considering how sturdy they are and how long they seem to last, the high investment may be well worth it.
Pros:
- Multiple finishes to choose from
- 24″ metal chairs
- Indoor and outdoor, set of four
- Powder coating scuffed finish
- Stackable, hand holds
- Floor protectors on legs
- No tools required
- Holds up to 330 lbs
- Very sturdy
Cons:
- Expensive
Best for Multi-Use
9. Roundhill Furniture Redico Adjustable Metal Bar Stool
What You Will Love: It has a bold and beautiful contemporary design.
The Roundhill Furniture Redico Adjustable Metal Bar Stool has 4 leg extensions that can take your bar stool from 24″ to 29″ easily. The powder coated black finish is attractive, and the microfiber foam seat is very comfortable.
There is a bar for resting your feet. It has a 360 degree swivel function, and you will have to assemble it. That process might be frustrating to some. With no clear words or instructions, the assembly may take a bit longer than you would like.
The seats are not very large, so many users feel that they will not be able to sit in them comfortably. At around $40 per bar stool, this one is cheaper than most.
Pros:
- Very beautiful design
- Powder coated black finish
- Comfortable microfiber foam seat
- Foot rest
- 360 degree swivel
- Lower price than many other options, sturdy
Cons:
- No clear words or instructions
- Assembly is frustrating and takes a long time
- Seat is small so not everyone will feel comfortable in it
Runner-Up (Best for Multi-Use)
10. Torin Big Red Swivel Bar Stool/ Shop Seat
What You Will Love: This bar stool is a commercial grade restaurant chair.
The Torin Big Red Swivel Bar Stool/ Shop Seat has a chrome plated, heavy duty steel frame. The four legs of the bar stool come with non-slip protective grips.
The seat is full of high density foam padding covered with vinyl. Its diameter is 14.5″. There is a foot rest, and a one year limited manufacturer warranty. It can hold up to 300 lbs.
Many buyers feel that the instructions are not clear enough, though others find it simple to assemble even without instructions. Many users have pointed out that the foam is not very comfortable in this bar stool. For almost $50, it should be designed better than it is.
Pros:
- Durable steel frame
- Chrome plated
- Padded seating covered with vinyl
- Foot rest
- One year limited manufacturer warranty
- Holds up to 300 lbs
- Legs come with non-slip protective grips
- Commercial grade chair
- Great for use in numerous places
Cons:
- Claims to be genuine leather but is vinyl
- Instructions not clear enough
- Foam is not very comfortable
- A bit expensive for the design
How to Choose the Right Bar Stool?
When you are shopping for something new, you need an idea of what you are looking for. There may be additional factors that you find important to you, but the following are some good guidelines to get you started.
Usage
One of the biggest factors is considering where you will be using it and what you will be using it for.
If you plan to sit in them at the breakfast bar, you will want something different than if you were going to use them for a tall desk or in your garage. Know what all you will use them for before shopping so that you can pick some with the right materials.
Material
Bar stools are made from a variety of materials. Some of these materials include wood, metal, steel, and chrome for the frames. You might find them covered with vinyl, powder coating, chrome finishing, microfiber, and more.
Swivel Function
Some counter stools are stationary while others swivel. Those that swivel may swivel slightly, 180 degrees in both directions, or a full 360 degrees. Is this a feature you want?
If you have small children, you may find the swivel function to be dangerous. If you are constantly turning from one side to the other, the swivel function is probably helpful.
Height Adjustable
Just as some counter stools swivel, some are also adjustable by height. You can adjust the seat height between bar seat height and counter height.
This may or may not be necessary for you, but if you plan on using it in more than one area, adjustment capabilities would be a good idea.
Padding
Some seats are padded while some are hard. The padded ones may be padded very well, or they may have hardly any padding. How much padding do you need, if any?
Cost
The price is also a factor, of course. Bar stools can range in price from very low to very expensive. Determine your budget before shopping.
Final Verdict: Best Bar Stools
Whether you are remodeling your home or you have just decided to add some flair to the bar in your kitchen, bar stools can make a huge difference.
Before you head out to shop, have a plan about what you want to get and what you plan to spend. Always research ahead to make sure you choose the best bar stool for you.
