Outdoor Swivel Bar Stools
Buy the best outdoor swivel bar stools selected and recommended by interior designers. By Emily Hilton.
What most people don’t realize about outdoor furniture is that it can be just as functional, comfortable, and stylish as indoor ones. Outdoor swivel bar stools are one such example. They’re easy to get into, provide a fun seating experience, and basically make life a lot easier. Now, you can sit comfortably, chat with your loved ones, and enjoy your surroundings without having to break your neck! In this collection, we’ve gathered some of the best swivel bar stools for differently-styled exterior spaces, whether modern, traditional, or something in between.
Outdoor Swivel Bar Stools
Buying Guide
Emily Hilton
Interior Design Expert
Emily is a young, talented designer, whose professional interests gravitate towards kitchen and dining spaces. She prides herself on her attention to detail, obsession with functionality, and appreciation for craftsmanship.
As you check out your options for patio bar stools, you’ll often see bar stools and counter height stools used interchangeably. It's important that you remember that these two kinds of stools are quite different. A counter height stool is shorter compared to a bar stool. It's intended for use together with a counter height table or kitchen counter. A bar stool, on the other hand, is slightly taller and it’s meant to be used with a bar table or bar.
The correct height of a patio stool will depend on the height of the bar table or bar that it will be used with. You want to ensure that the user will be comfortable and able to rest his/her arms and elbows on the table’s surface.
Measure the space that is in between the bar or tabletop and the floor at least twice so you will get an accurate measurement prior to purchasing a set of patio bar stools. The distance between the set and floor, commonly referred to as the seat height, of a patio bar stool is 30-36". A bar stool with this seat height fits best with a bar table or standard bar that is 40-46” tall.
When it comes to finding out how many patio bar stools you’re going to need with your bar or table, make sure you leave at least 26” and a maximum of 30” in between the stools. This will provide guests with enough space to get in and out. They will also be able to sit comfortably.
If your bar is situated next to an outdoor wall, then make sure that you leave at least 14” between the center of the stool and the wall. Remember: a swivel patio bar stools will need extra room so a user won’t bump the knees of the other user when swiveling the seat in and out.
Bar stools of different styles come in various kinds of materials, which may vary by both seating and frame material. The material that is going to work perfectly for your patio will depend on your area’s climate as well as your desired look.
- There are certain materials that are going to hold up better with wet conditions such as recycled plastic, teak, resin, and aluminum.
- If you’ll have an offseason, you would want lightweight material that’s ideal for storage such as recycled plastic, wicker, and resin.
Seating materials of patio bar stools include strap, cushion, sling, wicker, metal, wood, teak, resin, and recycled plastic. The seating that is best will depend on your desired look and level of comfort.
- A cushioned and upholstered seating is the one that’s going to give optimum comfort while giving your patio a high-end look.
- If you’re on the lookout for one that’s more durable and capable of resisting elements, then you should opt for sling.