When building a DIY home bar, determining the right dimensions is an important first step. The size of your DIY bar will depend on factors like the amount of space you have available, how many people you want it to serve, and what features and amenities you hope to include. With some planning and forethought, you can design a bar that is perfectly tailored to your needs and space.
Page Contents
How Much Space Do You Have Available?
The first question to consider is how much physical space you have available for your DIY bar. This could be a full room, part of a room, a basement area, garage, outdoor patio, or any unused nook or cranny in your home. Measure the total square footage you have to work with. This will determine the maximum possible size of your bar.
Generally, a small DIY bar would be 25-50 square feet. A medium sized DIY bar would be 50-100 square feet. Large and extra large DIY bars could be 100-250+ square feet. Think about traffic flow and leaving enough room for people to congregate. Also consider any bartending equipment, sinks, refrigerators, cabinets, counters, and seating that you want to incorporate. All of these factors will impact the dimensions.
How Many People Do You Want It to Serve?
The second key consideration is how many people do you want your DIY bar to be able to serve at one time. A bar designed for 1-4 people hanging out will be much smaller than a bar built to entertain large groups of 10 or more. Make sure to account for the proper amount of seating, serving area at the bar, and standing room.
Here are some guidelines for DIY bar dimensions based on capacity:
– 1-2 people – Bar top 4-6 feet long
– 2-4 people – Bar top 6-10 feet long
– 4-6 people – Bar top 10-14 feet long
– 6-8 people – Bar top 14-18 feet long
– 8-10 people – Bar top 18-22 feet long
– 10+ people – Bar top 22+ feet long
The more people you plan to have at your DIY bar, the wider and deeper you will want the overall dimensions to accommodate traffic flow. A good rule of thumb is to allow for 2 feet of width per person seated at the bar.
What Features Do You Want to Include?
When deciding on the dimensions of your DIY bar, you also need to consider what features, fixtures, furniture, and equipment you want to incorporate into the design. This will influence the ideal measurements. Be sure to account for elements like:
– Bar top counter and overhang
– Back bar cabinetry, shelving, and storage
– Refrigerators, coolers, or drink stations
– Glassware and bottle displays
– Sinks, faucets, drains, and plumbing
– Electrical outlets and lighting
– Ventilation, exhaust fans, AC/heating
– Cash registers, POS systems, and technology
– Televisions, stereo systems, speakers
– Bar stools, chairs, and other seating
– Games, decorations, mirrors, and design elements
– Room for the bartender to work and move around
Depending on what specialty features you want to build into your DIY bar, make sure you allocate enough space in the floor plan dimensions. Don’t cramp the design and allow for better flow.
Standard Bar Dimensions
While every DIY bar will be slightly different based on your space and needs, there are some standard dimensions that serve as a good starting point or reference:
Bar Top Counter
– Depth – The standard bar top depth is 18-24 inches to allow enough room for drinks and elbow space.
– Height – The typical bar top height is 42 inches, which is a comfortable serving height.
– Overhang – An overhang of 6-12 inches gives patrons a place to rest their feet.
– Length – As mentioned earlier, the bar top length depends on desired capacity but is often 6 feet or longer.
Back Bar
– Depth – The back bar depth, measured from front to back, is commonly 18-30 inches.
– Height – Standard back bar height is around 72-96 inches for adequate liquor storage.
– Length – Match the length of the back bar to that of the bar top for symmetry.
Bar Stools and Seating
– Seat height – Typical bar stool height is 28-33 inches above the floor. There should be 10-12 inches of clearance between the stool seat and bar top.
– Seat width – Provide a seat width of 18 inches per stool for comfort.
– Knee space – Allow for at least 10-12 inches of knee/leg room between bar stools.
| Bar Feature | Standard Dimension |
| Bar top depth | 18-24 inches |
| Bar top height | 42 inches |
| Bar top overhang | 6-12 inches |
| Back bar depth | 18-30 inches |
| Back bar height | 72-96 inches |
| Bar stool height | 28-33 inches |
| Bar stool seat width | 18 inches |
| Knee space between stools | 10-12 inches |
Typical DIY Bar Dimensions
Based on the standard dimensions outlined above, here are some example layouts and sizes for common DIY bar designs:
Small DIY Bar
– Square feet: 25-50 sq ft
– Bar top: 6 feet long by 2 feet deep
– Back bar: 6 feet long by 1.5 feet deep
– Seating: 2 bar stools
– Features: Fridge, shelves, sink
This compact DIY bar has limited space but can accommodate 1-2 people for an intimate experience. The abbreviated 6 foot bar top and back bar make for an efficient small footprint.
Medium DIY Bar
– Square feet: 50-100 sq ft
– Bar top: 10 feet long by 2 feet deep
– Back bar: 10 feet long by 2 feet deep
– Seating: 4-6 bar stools
– Features: Glassware racks, bottle displays, draught system
A medium DIY bar provides more room to entertain 4-6 guests. The 10 foot length allows for more seating and the 2 foot deep back bar fits full-sized appliances.
Large DIY Bar
– Square feet: 100-250 sq ft
– Bar top: 14 feet long by 2 feet deep
– Back bar: 14 feet long by 2.5 feet deep
– Seating: 6-8 bar stools
– Features: Sink, underbar refrigeration, cabinets, shelving
This spacious DIY bar design has a lengthy 14 foot bar top and deep back bar for plenty of storage. There’s comfy seating for 6-8 people and room for extras to stand.
Extra Large DIY Bar
– Square feet: 250+ sq ft
– Bar top: 20+ feet long by 2 feet deep
– Back bar: 20+ feet long by 3 feet deep
– Seating: 10+ bar stools
– Features: Draft system, wine fridge, glasswasher, ice machine
An extra large DIY bar allows you to include any amenities you can dream up! With 20+ feet of bar space, you can entertain large groups effortlessly.
DIY Bar Dimension Considerations
When deciding on dimensions for your DIY bar project, keep these planning tips in mind:
– Consider traffic flow. Make sure there is enough room for people to comfortably move around. 36-42 inches of circulation space is ideal.
– Allow space to store and access bar tools and accessories like cocktail shakers, blenders, and glassware.
– Ensure there is room for multiple bartenders to work together during busy times.
– Account for plumbing and electrical needs early in the design process. This impacts layout.
– Make sure any appliances and fixtures properly fit the floorplan once dimensions are finalized.
– Design the bar height and seating to be ergonomic and comfortable for extended periods.
– Observe building codes and regulations, especially for bars with electrical, plumbing, ventilation, etc.
– Think about the overall style and aesthetics. The dimensions should fit your vision.
– Consider future needs like expanding capacity down the road. Building in flexibility is smart.
Planning Your DIY Bar Dimensions
The first step in any DIY bar project is determining the right dimensions and floorplan for your available space and needs. Take the time to decide all the features you want to include and how many people you want the bar to accommodate comfortably. Measure the room accurately and sketch out different layout options on grid paper. Play around with the dimensions while visualizing the flow. This exercise will give you your ideal bar size. When constructing your DIY bar, refer back to your plans and use the standard measurements provided in this article as a guide. With thoughtfully designed dimensions tailored to your home and lifestyle, you’ll create a bar space you’ll enjoy for years to come. Cheers!