You might want to first choose your bar stools then calculate how much space you want between the height of the seat to the counter for ease in sliding on and off the seat, to cross your legs at the knee, etc. The seat height of our bar stools is 28 1/2" from the floor and the top of our counter is 42 1/2" from the floor, so we have 14" of space between the two. Hope this helps.

Bar stools come in two different heights....Someone could tell you which height you need for the height of bar you want. I think 12 to 14 inches is about the right space and somewhere around 10 -12 inches out from the bar for knee space.