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Some people and things are heads and shoulders above the competition.

Robert "The Alton Giant" Wadlow would tower above any of today's pro wrestlers or basketball players. At almost nine feet tall, Wadlow is the tallest person in modern history. Then, there's Mount Everest. When measured from sea level, Mount Everest is easily the world's tallest mountain, nearing 9,000 meters in height. How about the world's tallest building? Over 500 meters and 1,600 feet tall, Taiwan's Taipei 101 holds that title. Last but not least, the corny story of Washington State's Don Radda is no tall tale. In 1946, he grew the world's tallest cornstalk at over 31 feet! Though we would probably never need a bar stool as tall as Radda's cornstalk, height matters when shopping for bar stools. In our day-to-day lives, high bar stools help us reach new heights.

Choosing a Bar Stool: A Tall Order
When shopping for high bar stools or any other type of stool for that matter, there are several things to consider. These include the material used for the stools' seat and legs; headrests, armrests, and footrests; and features, such as the ability to swivel or move upward. Furthermore, selecting a bar stool with the right height is of the utmost importance. After all, what's the point in straddling a high bar stool when your legs cannot fit under a table or your head is below a counter?

The Right Height
Finding a bar stool with the ideal height for your home or office needs is not rocket science. Neither is it child's play, however. To determine if you need a high bar stool, follow these simple steps.

1. Measure your table or counter by finding the length from the floor to the table's top. An ideal bar stool will provide between 10 to 12 inches difference between the stool's seat and the tabletop. For instance, a 36" high barstool would be perfect for a 46-48" tabletop.

2. Measure the table's overhang. The overhang includes the distance from the tabletop to the lowest part along the sides of the table, excluding the legs. Tables with wide overhangs may require a particular stool height. At first, a 32" stool may seem ideal for a 42" table. However, if the overhang measures 6", a 30" bar stool may be more comfortable.

So, now you know how to do the math where stools are concerned. You are now ready to choose a bar stool with the height that is ideal for you. Will you need high bar stools? It depends.

A Bar Stool By Any Other Name
One way to classify bar stools is by height. Dining height bar stools are ideal for dining tables, which are about 28"-30" in height. Ideally, you should use a backless bar stool that measures 18". On the other hand, counter height tables have a height of roughly 35"-38". These heights are common in pubs, casual dining environments, and home kitchen islands. Bar stools in the 24"-26" height range would be practical in these situations.

Bar height tables, on the other hand, are generally around 40" to 42" in height. In this case, the high bar stools to pick should be 28" to 30". These are generally used in home bars and setups for counters and pubs. Last but greatest in height are the extra-tall or "spectator" height bar stools. High bar stools for this setup range from about 32" to 34" in height. They are used to complement bars and extra-tall tables that are 45" to 48" tall. These bar stools are a wonderful addition to joints such as home bars, pool halls, bowling alleys, and restaurants.

While you will probably never spot high bar stools in the Guinness Book of World Records, their height will be just right for your bar stool needs.