The 10 Best Furniture Upholsterers Near Me (with Free Quotes) (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to reupholster a chair? ›

The breakdown of the cost might look something like this: Fabric: $500 to $700 depending on the quality and price per yard. New padding and supplies: $100 to $200. Labor: $700 to $800 in labor includes tear down, minor frame repair, adding new support systems and retying springs and finally adding padding and fabric.

And even if the piece seems as if it will last, you may not save much money. Reupholstering does save the frame, springs and probably some padding and stuffing. But a comparable new piece might not be much more — and could possibly be less — than what an upholsterer would charge you to recover what you have.

Reupholstery is a significant furniture project. It involves stripping the piece down to its frame—and sometimes disassembling it—before re-stuffing and recovering it with new fabric. Hiring a professional to reupholster furniture is pricey, and it's a lot of work to do on your own, but the results are stunning.

Upholstery, like any new endeavor can be hard, but your personal learning style might be beneficial and help you catch on quicker. The way you learn skills and techniques will also contribute to how well and quickly you learn upholstery.

Though reupholstering can be a cost-effective alternative to buying new furniture—especially if you do it yourself—it's not always the less expensive option. More extensive repairs can cost as much as buying an entirely new piece, whereas minor repairs are usually more affordable and almost always worthwhile.

A heavy-duty synthetic microfiber will be the most stain-resistant and easiest to care for, so it's an excellent choice for often-used sofas or chairs. Still, high-thread-count cotton will have enough durability for less-frequently used seating in a formal dining space.

To give a broad estimate, reupholstering a couch (fabric only) will take 15–24 hours of work. Repairing the frame and springs and replacing the stuffing will take extra time. If you employ a furniture repair specialist to do the job, expect your sofa to be with them for around two weeks.

The best and most durable fabrics for upholstered furniture is going to be a combination of cotton and polyester, usually with some rayon thrown in as well. This is the ideal fabric for a family couch and everyday wear. You'll get about 15,000 rubs, meaning it will stand up for over a decade.

Why is reupholstering so expensive? ›

The largest indicator of price will likely be labor, explains Faris. “Upholstery is a very labor-driven business, so generally speaking, the more pieces of upholstery, the more details, the bigger the size—all of these will drive the price upward,” he says.

The average chair can easily take eight (8) to fourteen (14) hours labor to upholster. Average labor time on the average sofa to remove and replace the fabric is appoximately sixteen (16) to twenty two (22) hours. To remove and replace a coil spring seat will take approximately for(4) to eight (8) hours.

Can I reupholster a chair myself? Assuming you're comfortable using tools like a staple gun, screwdriver, and sewing machine, you're probably a good candidate for a DIY reupholstery project.

Reupholstering over old fabric makes the process much easier. If your new material fits snugly over the furniture's original upholstery and is a darker color (or thick enough to prevent the pattern from showing through), you can upholster directly over existing fabric.