Buying bar stools goes wrong for one reason more than any other: height. Measure the underside of your bench first, then allow about 25 to 30cm of clearance between the seat and that underside so knees actually fit. A standard kitchen island around 90cm suits a counter-height stool near 65cm, while a raised bar around 110cm needs a bar-height stool near 75cm.
From there the choice is mostly about the seat. Backless stools tuck fully under the bench and disappear when not in use. Backrest stools are the ones people actually linger on for a meal. Padded PU leather is the most comfortable for long sitting and the easiest to wipe clean. Solid timber and metal frames last longer than chipboard seats under daily use. Swivel and gas-lift stools adjust to mixed bench heights and to people of different sizes.
Count the stools by bench length, not by how many people live in the house: allow roughly 60 to 70cm of bench per stool so elbows are not competing. If the stools are going on a deck or patio, buy a set specifically rated for outdoor use, because indoor chipboard and untreated steel swell and rust through a New Zealand winter.
This guide compares eight bar stools available in New Zealand, spanning budget sets of two and four, solid pinewood, padded PU leather, a height-adjustable swivel option and one built for outdoor use, with seat height, frame material and backrest style for each.
| Bar Stool | Best For |
|---|---|
| 1. Bar Stools Set of 2 Counter Height | Best Value / Best Budget Set of 2 |
| 2. Bar Stools Set of 4 Counter Height | Best for Larger Kitchens (Set of 4) |
| 3. Artiss Alex Bar Stool, Pinewood & Metal (Set of 2) | Best Wood-Look / Removable Backrest |
| 4. Artiss Alex Bar Stool, Vintage Metal (Set of 4) | Best Set of 4 with Backrest |
| 5. Artiss PU Leather Backless Bar Stools, White & Chrome (Set of 2) | Best Leather/PU Padded |
| 6. Artiss Leather Padded Bar Stools, Metal (Set of 4) | Best Set of 4 Leather |
| 7. Levede Industrial Bar Stool, Wooden Swivel | Best Swivel / Height-Adjustable |
| 8. Gardeon Outdoor Bar Stools, Aluminium (Set of 2) | Best for Outdoor / Patio |
1. Bar Stools Set of 2 Counter Height – Best Value / Best Budget Set of 2
The most affordable genuine set of bar stools in this guide, and a solid starting point if you just need a couple of stools at the kitchen island without spending big.
The seat is chipboard topped with a black metal frame, giving it a simple industrial look that tucks neatly under most standard-height counters and bar tables when not in use.
Four adjustable leg levellers on each stool keep it stable even on an uneven floor, and the anti-slip, scratch-proof feet protect timber and tile alike.
Key Specs
- Material: Chipboard seat, powder-coated metal frame
- Set size: 2 stools
- 4 adjustable leg levellers per stool
Pros
- Cheapest set in this guide at $79.95 for the pair
- Anti-slip, scratch-proof feet protect floors
- Fits under standard bar tables and counters when not in use
Cons
- Basic chipboard construction rather than solid wood
- No swivel or height adjustment
2. Bar Stools Set of 4 Counter Height – Best for Larger Kitchens (Set of 4)
The same chipboard-and-metal design as our Best Value pick above, just sold as a set of 4 instead of 2, working out to under $30 per stool.
That makes it the pick for a kitchen island or breakfast bar with more than two seats, without paying a premium for the extra stools.
Same stability features as the 2-pack: adjustable leg levellers, anti-slip feet, and easy labelled-parts assembly.
Key Specs
- Material: Chipboard seat, powder-coated metal frame
- Set size: 4 stools
- Works out to under $30 per stool
Pros
- Under $30 per stool, the cheapest per-unit price in this guide
- Consistent design across all 4 stools for a matching set
- Same stability features as the 2-pack version
Cons
- Basic chipboard construction rather than solid wood
- No swivel or height adjustment
3. Artiss Alex Bar Stool (Set of 2) – Best Wood-Look / Removable Backrest
Artiss is one of the more established names in NZ-available flat-pack furniture, and the Alex Bar Stool pairs a solid pinewood seat with a reinforced steel frame for a warmer, more upscale look than a plain chipboard stool.
The curved backrest is genuinely removable if you want to switch between a backed stool and a sleeker backless look, and the whole thing sits on heavy-duty anti-slip feet.
At 45cm x 45cm x 100cm overall with a 74cm seat height, it is designed to match Artiss’s own Alex bar table, though it works with any standard-height counter.
Key Specs
- Table top material: Pinewood, dark brown
- Base: Black powder-coated steel
- Overall dimensions: 45cm x 45cm x 100cm
- Seat height: 74cm
Pros
- Solid pinewood seat looks noticeably more upscale than chipboard
- Backrest is genuinely removable, not fixed
- From an established brand (Artiss)
Cons
- No swivel function
- Higher seat height may not suit shorter counters
4. Artiss Alex Bar Stool, Vintage Metal (Set of 4) – Best Set of 4 with Backrest
The same Artiss Alex design as our wood-look pick above, sold as a set of 4 for anyone furnishing a larger kitchen island or a proper home bar.
You get the same solid pinewood seat, removable backrest, and heavy-duty anti-slip fixings across all 4 stools, working out to a lower per-stool price than buying two 2-packs.
This is the pick if you want a stool with genuine back support in a matching set of 4, rather than the backless designs elsewhere in this guide.
Key Specs
- Table top material: Pinewood
- Base: Powder-coated steel
- Set size: 4 stools
- Removable curved backrest
Pros
- Genuine backrest for real back support, removable if not wanted
- Cheaper per-stool than buying two 2-packs of the same design
- From an established brand (Artiss)
Cons
- No swivel function
- Priciest pick in this guide
5. Artiss PU Leather Bar Stools (Set of 2) – Best Leather/PU Padded
If comfort matters more than industrial styling, this is the pick: a thick, padded PU leather seat on sturdy chrome legs, aimed squarely at modern kitchens and dining spaces.
The white-and-chrome finish is a genuine step up in polish from the plain metal/chipboard stools earlier in this guide, and the padded seat is noticeably more comfortable for longer sitting.
A heavy-duty footrest and corrosion-resistant chrome legs round out a stool built to actually be sat on daily, not just tucked away for occasional use.
Key Specs
- Seat material: PU leather, padded
- Legs: Chrome-finished steel
- Set size: 2 stools
Pros
- Padded PU leather seat, more comfortable than a hard chipboard or metal seat
- Chrome finish is corrosion-resistant and easy to wipe clean
- Heavy-duty footrest included
Cons
- No swivel function
- White upholstery will show marks more than a darker colour
6. Artiss Leather Padded Bar Stools, Metal (Set of 4) – Best Set of 4 Leather
The same padded PU leather and chrome-leg design as our leather pick above, in a set of 4 for a kitchen island or home bar that seats more people.
Every stool gets the same corrosion-resistant chrome finish, heavy-duty footrest, and rubber floor-protecting feet as the 2-pack version.
It is the most expensive set in this guide, but per stool it works out cheaper than buying two of the 2-packs separately.
Key Specs
- Seat material: PU leather, padded
- Legs: Chrome-finished steel
- Set size: 4 stools
Pros
- Matching padded set of 4, ideal for a full kitchen island
- Cheaper per-stool than buying two 2-packs
- Corrosion-resistant chrome, easy to wipe clean
Cons
- Highest total price in this guide
- No swivel function
7. Levede Industrial Bar Stool – Best Swivel / Height-Adjustable
The only genuinely height-adjustable, swivelling stool in this guide, from Levede, another established name in this category.
A solid wooden seat sits on a heavy-duty steel base with a gas-lift swivel mechanism, letting you wind the seat up or down to match different counter heights or simply to suit however you’re sitting.
The vintage industrial finish pairs naturally with the metal-and-wood stools elsewhere in this guide if you want a mixed but coordinated look.
Key Specs
- Seat material: Solid wood
- Base: Heavy-duty steel, vintage metallic finish
- Adjustment: Swivel with gas-lift height adjustment
Pros
- Genuine swivel and height adjustment, the only one in this guide
- Solid wood seat, not chipboard
- From an established brand (Levede)
Cons
- Sold as a single stool rather than a set
- Gas-lift mechanisms need occasional maintenance over years of daily use
8. Gardeon Outdoor Bar Stools, Aluminium (Set of 2) – Best for Outdoor / Patio
Every other stool in this guide is designed for indoor use; this Gardeon set is built specifically to handle the outdoors as well, with a rust-resistant and UV-resistant aluminium frame.
It is rated to hold up to 150kg, and the reinforced circular footrest and anti-slip floor protectors are the same attention to stability seen on the indoor picks above.
Being aluminium, it is also noticeably lighter to move around than the steel-framed stools in this guide, useful if you are shifting stools between a patio bar and an indoor kitchen island.
Key Specs
- Material: Aluminium
- Brand: Gardeon
- Diameter: 36cm
- Height: 82cm
- Weight capacity: 150kg
- Use: Indoor and outdoor
Pros
- Rust and UV-resistant, the only stool in this guide rated for outdoor use
- 150kg weight capacity
- Lighter to move than the steel-framed stools here
Cons
- Aluminium seat has less cushioning than the PU leather picks
- No swivel function
How to Choose a Bar Stool in NZ
Measure your counter height before buying. A standard kitchen counter is around 90-95cm, needing a stool with roughly 65-75cm seat height. A bar-height counter (110cm+) needs a taller stool, so check the seat height listed for each product rather than assuming all “bar stools” are the same height.
Decide if you need a backrest. Backless stools tuck away more neatly and suit a casual breakfast bar, while a stool with a backrest is more comfortable for longer sitting, such as at a home bar or dining island used for meals.
Swivel and height adjustment add flexibility but cost more. A fixed-height stool is simpler and generally cheaper, while a gas-lift swivel stool lets you fine-tune the height and turn easily, useful if multiple counter heights in your home need to be matched by the same stools.
Match the material to where it will live. Chipboard and PU leather are fine indoors but will not hold up outdoors. If you want a stool for a patio bar or to move between indoor and outdoor settings, look for a rust and UV-resistant material like aluminium.
Verdict
For most kitchens, the Bar Stools Set of 2/4 Counter Height picks are the easiest starting point, genuinely the cheapest per-stool price in this guide. If you want a warmer, more upscale look, the Artiss Alex Bar Stool in pinewood is worth the step up, and if comfort matters most, the Artiss PU Leather stools are the most padded option here. For flexibility, the Levede swivel stool is the only genuinely height-adjustable pick, and for a patio or mixed indoor/outdoor setup, the Gardeon aluminium stools are purpose-built for the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What height bar stool do I need for my kitchen counter?
For a standard 90-95cm kitchen counter, look for a stool with a 65-75cm seat height. For a bar-height counter of 110cm or more, you will need a taller stool or an adjustable swivel stool.
Are backless bar stools comfortable for everyday use?
Backless stools work well for casual, shorter sitting like breakfast at a kitchen island. For longer sitting, such as entertaining at a home bar, a stool with a backrest is generally more comfortable.
Can I use indoor bar stools outside?
Most indoor bar stools use chipboard, PU leather, or untreated metal, none of which hold up well outdoors. Look for a stool specifically rated for outdoor use, such as an aluminium frame with rust and UV resistance.
Is a swivel bar stool worth paying more for?
A swivel, height-adjustable stool adds genuine flexibility, useful if you need to match different counter heights or simply prefer being able to turn easily. A fixed-height stool is simpler and usually cheaper if that flexibility does not matter to you.
How many bar stools do I need for my kitchen island?
As a general rule, allow around 60-70cm of counter width per stool. Measure your counter length and divide by this figure to estimate how many stools will comfortably fit without crowding.
What is the difference between a chipboard and solid wood bar stool seat?
Chipboard is more affordable and lighter, but less durable over time than solid wood. A solid pinewood or timber seat generally looks more upscale and holds up better to years of daily use.
