Bar stools turn a standing area into somewhere guests can settle: at a bar counter, around cocktail tables or along a window ledge. Hire firms stock black, white, clear and timber stools, with backs or backless, and the poseur tables to go with them. The most important detail is height, so the stool matches the table. Tell us how many, the style and the venue once, and we pass it to independent hire firms near you, who quote you directly. It is free, with no obligation to accept.
Bar stool styles for hire
- Backless stools, which tuck under a table and suit short stays
- Bar stools with backs, more comfortable for a long evening
- Black and white stools in steel or resin, the usual hire stock
- Clear stools to match ghost chairs, and timber stools for rustic venues
Some stools have a padded seat; outdoor bar stools in steel or resin cope better with sun and spills.
Getting the height right
A bar height stool is about 75 cm to the seat and goes with a table or counter of about 105 to 110 cm. A counter height stool is about 65 cm and suits a kitchen counter or a lower bar. Measure the bar first. A cocktail table of about 110 cm takes three or four stools. You don't need a seat for everyone at a cocktail party: stools for about a quarter to a third of guests is a common approach, with the rest standing or in a lounge area.
Delivery, floors and safety
Stools are tall and top-heavy, so check every one stands level and doesn't wobble. On grass or gravel they sink and tip, so keep them on a deck, paving or tent flooring. Steel stools can mark wooden floors; ask about rubber feet. Count the stools with the driver and check seats for tears and stains. Spilt drinks are normal at a bar, but cigarette burns and broken footrests may be charged. Space stools about 60 cm apart along a counter so guests can get on and off without bumping each other.
What affects the price
Bar stools are priced per stool per booking. Stools with backs, padded or clear stools usually cost more than plain backless ones. Adding cocktail tables and stretch covers in the same booking keeps transport to one trip. Ask the seat height, for a photo of the stool, and whether stools and tables can be dropped off with the rest of your event furniture.
What to include in your request
- Number of stools and the colour
- With backs or backless
- Bar or table height in centimetres
- Indoors, on a deck or on grass
- Cocktail tables and covers if needed
Bar Stool Hire for different events
- Families and home celebrations: seats at a home bar or kitchen counter for a 21st, a braai or a party
- Weddings and engagements: stools at cocktail tables for pre-drinks and a bar area at the reception
- Funerals, memorials and unveilings: a few high seats for elders at a standing after-tears gathering at a hall
- Companies, conferences and functions: stools at cocktail tables for a launch, networking evening or year-end function
- Churches and faith gatherings: high seats at a church fundraiser coffee bar or a youth evening
- Schools, colleges and universities: a cocktail corner at a matric farewell or an old pupils' reunion
- Municipalities, clubs and communities: seating at a festival bar, a club function or a market food court
- Venues, caterers, decorators and planners: extra stools for caterers, mobile bars and venues on a busy weekend
Frequently asked questions
How much does bar stool hire cost?
What height bar stools do I need?
How many bar stools should I hire for a cocktail party?
Can bar stools be used outside?
Bar Stool Hire by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg