How Much Does it Cost to Reupholster an Armchair? (Image credit: Paul Prestcott/Shutterstock) We're asking readers to share how much they spent on a given item, project, or upgrade in the home. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much something costs, and how much you can expect to pay to hire someone. How much does it cost to reupholster an armchair? If you can, let us know the type of chair you have (is it oversized? is there tufting? upholstered arms), and specify upholstery fabric vs. labor. Since costs vary, your region of the country is always helpful too! Is it Worth the Cost to Reupholster Old Furniture?Where can I get wooden dining room chairs repaired?What can you do about flattened down Leather Sofa Cushions? Hello, this is Kiel with Angie's List. and searching for the category Furniture Repair to see our top rated providers in that area. for more information on the right provider for the job.
Mon-Fri: 8:30am – 8:15pm ET Sat: 8:30am – 3:00pm ET Thanks so much!What You Need to Know Before You Reupholster Thinking about reupholstering a worn-out piece of furniture? Take a look at these tips to make the process simple and easy. Share your take on this idea!Upload your photo here. Reupholstery is major surgery -- the furniture is stripped down to the frame, then rebuilt, which explains the project's cost. However, you get a "new" piece of furniture as a result. We checked in with the upholstering experts at Calico Corners for more information. What to Look For Look beyond ugly fabric to the furniture's bones. Look at the bottom frame and make sure it's hardwood and kiln-dried. Check for strong, intact corner braces and stable construction.Ask if the furniture was made with 8-way hand-tied springs. They are tailored to each piece for prime comfort and support.Test the furniture to make sure it doesn't rock during use.Look for a recognizable brand name.
Henredon, Vanguard, Michael Thomas, and others produce furniture worthy of reupholstering and using again. Know your upholstery fabric options and take these factors into consideration before buying costly fabric for reupholstering: The weight of the fabric depends on where and how the piece will be used. Furniture for the bedroom doesn't need to be heavy-duty, but living room furniture does. Non-upholstery-weight fabric works for a purely decorative piece.Take a look at the back of your fabric swatch for the Weisenbeck rating. The rating is determined by an abrasion resistance test; a machine rubs the fabric and keeps track of the number of rubs before the fabric is worn through. A heavy-duty rating translates to 30,000 double rubs. The Weisenbeck rating is most commonly used for commercial fabrics. Take home a fabric sample and tuck in existing furniture to see if you like it. Ask to borrow a bolt or a large hanging sample to cover as much of the piece as possible. Live with it for a few days before making your decision.
Choose a fabric that will truly update the piece, not just copy the look it had before. Choose a different color, go from a solid to a pattern, or change pattern scales. Here are some ways to really change the shape and contour of a piece: Add a contrast welt to define lines. This looks best on a sculptural piece.Try a mingled cord (three colors twisted together) or a cord with a lip instead of a contrast welt.Change the skirt (or add or remove one). This works great on older furniture that now look squat because of their short skirts. Have an upholsterer install a skirt higher up on the piece for a more graceful look. Add banding to the bottom of the skirt.Take the channeling or tufting out for a more modern look. How Much Will This Cost? Remember, costs will vary according to region, fabric choice, and project details. For example, Calico Corners gives these cost estimates for the most popular types of furniture to reupholster. These estimates are for custom labor only, not fabric.
Standard wing chair: $450-$700 (includes a bias self or contrast welt, decorative trim, and tailored single-pleat skirt)Sofa, three cushions over three cushions: $850 to $1,250 Club chair, one over one: $550 to $700 (one seat and one back cushion)Ottoman, attached cushion, no skirt: $225 to $300 Find out how much your project will cost Browse All Project Categories TransportTypically this kind of work is done in a shop and the furniture will need to be transported to and from your home. Usually this will be included in the cost to upholster furniture, but it's smart to check before you smart. You may avoid additional costs if the furniture is a small piece that you can moved on your own. Hire a Local Furniture Repairman Refer a Pro who does this service and receive an Amazon Gift Card! Help us improve this article Was this page helpful? 5 - Extremely Helpful 4 - Very Helpful 2 - Somewhat Helpful 1 - Not Helpful Share your cost experience
Help others plan and budget for their projects 2. New York, NY 4. Los Angeles, CA 5. Las Vegas, NV 8. Fort Lauderdale, FL 16. San Antonio, TX 21. West Palm Beach, FL 29. Colorado Springs, CO 31. Saint Paul, MN 32. Silver Spring, MD 33. Fort Worth, TX 34. San Jose, CA 40. Salt Lake City, UT Don't see your city?Turning flea-market finds and cast-offs into up-to-date furnishings typically requires an expensive and extended stay at an upholstery shop. So when I discovered that The Furniture Joint, in Manhattan's East Village, offers a 12-hour, experience-based upholstery course that teaches a thrifter to rehab a tired chair, I signed right up.After the class, I attempted my first project: a worn Louis XV-inspired chair with carved fleur-de-lis details and pretty cabriole legs that were overpowered by a dowdy fruit-patterned fabric. With help from the shop's owner and course instructor, Matthew Haly, and interior designer (and fellow student) Jennifer Eisenstadt, we made over the chair in a single day.
Price point: For the average DIYer, upholstery will prove itself a challenging but rewarding activity that can save on decorating costs. Look for classes at local trade schools, or consult a book that details the basic techniques, such as Upholstery: A Beginners' Guide (Guild of Master Craftsman). Projects that require tufting, pleats, or major restoration are best left to professionals. To strip and reupholster this chair, a pro would charge about $350, in addition to the cost of materials.Fabric facts: Selecting upholstery fabric involves several important steps. First, consider function: This side chair won't receive as much use as a sofa, so a more delicate material, such as this 100-percent silk "Poppea" fabric from The Silk Trading Co. (shown on the reupholstered chair, above, right), is appropriate here. Next, the amount of fabric comes into play. This type of chair requires a small amount of yardage, so we splurged on this more expensive fabric that makes a big statement. When estimating fabric yardage, remember to take the repeat into consideration.