Simple Modern Bar Stools

Difficulty

Intermediate

A simple square style bar stool with a slight angled front leg. A tad edgy, a ton useful.

The thing about bar stools is you gotta have support at the bottoms. But how to build with simple tools and basic off the shelf lumber? Not always as easy as you would think.

But today, I'm so happy to give you the first indoor bar stool plans on our site. We do have outdoor bar stools already online that some of you have used for indoor stools.

Aren't they just beautiful! Actual reader photo from these plans.

But today, we are going to build with angles. Not much of one. But even a small angle helps keep the stool from wiggling apart over time. And the bracing on the bottom supports the ends of the legs.

This one is really simple. You totally got this one.

Dimensions

30" High x 13" deep x 16" wide

Preparation

Shopping List

12″ of 1×12 Board
4 1/2 feet of 1×4 Boards
2 – 2×2 Boards
2 1/2″ Screws

Common Materials

Elmer's Wood Glue

Elmer's Wood Filler

120 grit sandpaper

primer

wood conditioner

paint

paint brush

Cut List

1 – 1×12 @ 11 1/2″ (Seat)
2 – 1×4 @ 11 1/2″ (Short Aprons)
2 – 1×4 @ 13″ (Longer Aprons)
2 – 2×2 @ 30″ (Back Legs)
2 – 2×2 @ 30 1/8″ (Front Legs, both ends cut 5 degrees off square, parallel to each other)
1 – 2×2 @ 12 5/8″ (Longest Point, one end cut at 5 degrees off square)
1 – 2×2 @ 10 1/8″ (Longest Point, one end cut at 5 degrees off square)
2 – 2×2 @ 13″ (Leg Suppo

Cutting Instructions

Please be aware that 1x12 boards (for the seat) can vary in width and you should always check the acutal width of your 1x12s before making any cuts and adjust the plan as needed. We use 11 1/2" as the width for 1x12s because many of us make our 1x12s out of 3/4" plywood, and this width reduces plywood scraps.

Tools

Instructions

Step 1

Seat Aprons

Attach the seat aprons to the seat with 2 1/2″ screws and glu

Step 2

Longer Aprons

Attach the longer aprons to both the seat and the shorter aprons with 2″ screws and glue.

Step 3

Legs

Build two of the legs as shown above. Use 2 1/2″ screws and glue.

Step 4

Assembly

Assemble the seat and legs as shown above. Screw from under the seat to hide your screw holes.

Step 5

Room

kitchen

Style

Modern Style Furniture Plans

Comments

jcostigl (not verified)

Fri, 09/24/2010 - 04:50

Hi Ana - Those bar stools

Hi Ana - Those bar stools made counter height are actually mine! I was so surprised to see my photo up (today is my birthday so it was a great treat!) and I wanted to thank you for the acknowledgment of my work. Here's the link to my post about the actual process I went through to make the stools.

http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com/2010/09/s-is-for-stools.html

I absolutely cannot thank you enough for your plans, you really do a great job of making it easy for others to build. I wish you the best of luck at Blogilicous.

Mahin (not verified)

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 00:09

I have an extra-tall bar. Is

I have an extra-tall bar. Is there any issue with modifying these plans to make the stools 32 or 34 inches tall? It seems straight-forward, but don't want to overlook any stability issues. Thanks!

Christoph (not verified)

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 18:46

Extra tall bar

I have an extra tall bar as well. I am going to make the bar stools an extra 4" inches and see what happens. I can't imagine that would make a big difference in stability but we'll see.

Guest (not verified)

Thu, 10/20/2011 - 09:12

Tall Bar

My bar is going to be 45in. With your plans, can I make the bars tool 35in tall? Will that effect the stability?

Guest (not verified)

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 12:19

Hi, Can you tell me what the

Hi, Can you tell me what the approximate cost of building one of these stools is?

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 01/06/2012 - 05:41

Hello- Great stools, but I am

Hello-

Great stools, but I am looking for the blogger that does the stools in your picture of the white stools at the kitchen island. She does everything herself and I can't find her site. Could you give me a link to her site please? Thanks!
Emmy

mier

Sat, 01/28/2012 - 21:44

Nice Looking Stool

I like the modern look of the stool and it seems easy enough to build! I'm going to build a couple of these and I was wondering are the long and short aprons for the seat just 3 1/2" in width,the width of a 1"X4"? If it's a different width then a standard 1"X4", I didn't see it or may have over looked it.

Guest (not verified)

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 12:17

Does anyone know what the

Does anyone know what the approximate cost of building one of these stools is?

sgilly02 (not verified)

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 14:15

Cost

You can usually find an estimated cost at the end of the post. In this case, it states "under $20".

sgilly02 (not verified)

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 14:16

Cost

You can usually find an estimated cost at the end of the post. In this case, it states "under $20".

mier

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 14:07

Screw Length Question!!

I love this seat and I'm going to make some. I'm wondering about using such long screws? In steps 1 & 2 the seat and sides are made with 1X material and normally you use like 1 1/4" screws to attach the 1X material. So how and why did you put it together using 2" & 21/2" screws? You kreg jigged them right or did you screw the side pieces directly into the seat without kreg jigging them? If you kreg jigged them how far back did you clamp the jig, to drill the pocket holes? I'm sure I'll figure it out by trial and error but I thought maybe you could tell me? Do you think using 1 1/4" k.j. screws will work for attaching the sides to the seat?

Brandice (not verified)

Fri, 05/04/2012 - 20:46