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Do you want to give your furniture a new life? Well, reupholstery will cost you less than buying a new chair and works well for pieces that hold sentimental value in your home. If you have a modern coach with a single cushion or an antique chair with a sturdy frame, reupholstery can be a wise investment decision. This brings us to the question, how much does it cost to reupholster a chair?
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The Average Cost to Reupholster a Chair
While the average cost of chair upholstery will depend on the fabric and size of the chair, you should expect to pay $50-70 per yard and $50 for labor per hour. This means that it can cost you less than $100 to upholster your small dining room chair. For a complex job of upholstering a recliner, the cost can go as high as $600.
Another factor that will determine the final cost is whether the furniture requires any repairs. If the chair has bad springs or sags, you should pay special attention to it. Likewise, you should work on the foundation before it’s upholstered. The tufting process will also require sewing – this increases the overall labor costs.
Will the chair be delivered for upholstery services? Simple transportation can add an average of $50 to the overall price. You should also factor in the cost of labor to load and unload the chair.
Do you get the picture?
Enhancement and improvement costs of chair
Does the chair require a decorative trim? Things like fridges and braiding can contribute to the overall cost of reupholstering a chair. On average, it can cost about $10 per yard, but the actual price depends on the type of chair. For instance, a wingback chair may need up to 8 yards for upholstering.
You can also embellish your chair by adding a few nail heads. Still, you can match the pillows to match the design of the new chair. It can take up to one hour to upholster a pillow, so you should consider the cost of the material plus labor costs.
What does an upholstery quote include?
If an upholsterer gives you a quote of $1000, the cost can be broken down into the cost of the fabric, new padding, and labor costs. Generally speaking, the labor costs will include minor frame repair, retying springs, and any teardown.
Is it worth reupholstering a chair?
It makes sense to reupholster a chair if it has sentimental value. You should also consider the quality you get from it. For example, recliners are priced over $1000, so it makes sense to reupholster than buying a new piece of furniture. The upholsterer will replace the broken spring, frame, sat cover, and more.
Another typical example is upholstering a cushion will cost you about $150 – you’ll spend more than that to replace the chair.
Let’s look at things you should keep in mind before you think of reupholstering your chair.
Does the chair have a solid steel frame? When a manufacturer is building high-quality furniture, he attaches the best joints and uses a study frame. But inexpensive furniture comes with low-quality wood and staples. So, if your furniture is of high-quality, it makes sense to reupholster.
How old is the chair?
If your chair has stood the test of time, then it was constructed well and is worth reupholstering.
Is the furniture a sentimental piece or family heirloom?
If you cannot afford the piece, you should consider reupholstering.
Difference between reupholstering and recovering furniture
Reupholstering is about padding, removing the fabric, and any other support system. The end goal is to make the piece look better. Once the chair is complete, you’ll have new furniture that is ready to clean inside out.
On other hand, recovering furniture refers to removing the old fabric and installing a new one – you leave the padding intact.
The cost of reupholstering the chair by type
How much does an upholstery fabric cost?
The basic upholstery fabric costs about $10-15 per yard, but this will depend on the type of fabric. For vinyl upholstery, the cost averages $10-25 per yard while velvet upholstery costs $15 per yard. Some luxury fabrics will cost as high as $600 per yard.
What is the cost of reupholstering a leather chair?
The average cost is $350 to $400 for 10 leather dining chairs. If you want to keep the costs to a minimum, you should buy an entire hide.
Dining chair seat pads
Since most repairs require a seat pad, so you should expect to pay $40-90 each. You’ll spend more if you’re upholstering a big seat.
How much does the cost to reupholster a recliner?
You should expect to pay up to $600 for the entire project. Here is a table that shows the average costs for upholstery.
- Dining chair $50 to $250
- Office chair $100 to $700
- Wingback $800 to $2000
- La-Z-Boy $500 to $1500
- Bar Stool $50 to $400
- Tub/barrel $400 to $800
Some chairs require styling, while others may need intricate details that can increase the overall price you pay an upholsterer.
Reupholstery price guide
The upholstery labor price will range from $40-$100 per hour – without the fabric. For your average coach, you should expect to pay $500 per piece in labor.
Reupholstering ottoman chair
The price of upholstering your ottoman chair is about $300 to $700. For premium fabrics like diamond tufting, it can cost more.
Leather upholstery cost
Reupholstering your chair will cost about $30-$60 per yard for average materials. But because lather is not woven, small pieces can be priced at $4-$5 square foot.
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Cost to reupholster Chaise chair
New upholstery on your chair can cost up to $1500. On the upside, these pieces don’t have loose cushions. A chaise lounge chair with antique style falls on the higher end.
Can I reupholster my chair?
Yes. But you must have the right tools.
If you want to go through the DIY route, you should invest in high-quality tools to ensure the best results. Another key thing to keep in mind is measuring the chair to decide the right kind of upholstery. Think about it – you’re upholstering your chair, but the fabric is not enough. This can be frustrating for many. To be on the safe side, you should ensure you buy 2-3 extra yards on top of what you need.
What if you had to recut a piece of fabric, but unfortunately it’s no longer available for sale?
You must be prepared for the task to avoid disappointment down the road.
The teardown
For many, the tearing down may sound like a dirty job, but it’s well worth it in the long-run. And who wants to put all the effort in a chair when all is left is old padding? Before you begin the process, you should take note of all the materials you need. The traditional methods involve the use of fibers for padding, while modern techniques involve the use of materials like Dacron or cotton.
DIY means that you are responsible for stuffing, disposing of the old fabric, etc. It also means you must have the right tools at your disposal. But hiring a professional will ensure you get a nice piece of furniture with the job done swiftly.
How to save money when reupholstering your chair?
Choose solids over patterns
When you reupholster the chair with a patterned fabric, more yards will go to waste. If you want to save money, you may want to go for a solid color instead of a pattern.
Supply your fabric
Many upholstery shops offer a wide selection of fabric that suits the needs of your chair. So, buying fabric online will save you money in the long-run. Other shops will allow you to use a coupon.
Substitute leather with faux
If you have a leather seat, it may not make sense to buy a hide for a single piece of furniture. You can save costs by buying vinyl.
Reupholster multiple chairs
Some reupholstery shops offer several pieces at a time so you can save money – like an entire dining set.
The cost of upholstery materials
- When choosing upholstery fabric for your chair, you should decide to either use synthetic or natural fabric.
- Natural fabrics are plant or animal-based. If you can, you can save a lot if you go for synthetic patterns.
- Cotton is a common material and an inexpensive choice for those looking for something easy to clean and care for. You should expect to pay up to $15 per yard.
- A piece of quality linen fabric can also be a good option. When you combine it with cotton, you’ll experience wrinkles less often. One yard can cost about $20.
- Wool is another highly coveted fabric. One yard can cost $100, but you need to take special care. It’s worth mentioning that silk falls in this category if you are looking for a luxurious fabric.
- Leather is also a go-to fabric for people looking for sophistication and elegance. You should budget to pay $40 to $50 per yard. If you’re on a tight budget, you can use suede.
- Synthetic options are man-made, so they are cheaper than natural options. If you want to reupholster your outdoor furniture, you can choose a material like Olefin. It’s resistant to water and stains. The cost per yard is around $20 to $25.
Another great fabric that guarantees durability is vinyl. It has great commercial potential, and it costs about $60 per yard.
Whether you go for natural or synthetic fabric, you should keep the ease of maintenance in mind. However, you can protect your fabric from tears and staining with a material like a scotch guard. You can also ask your local hardware retailer for the best products for stain removal. Stay away from those cleaners that tend to be too harsh to the fabric.
Wrapping it up
Reupholstering a surefire way of giving your furniture a new look. It can also bring your piece back to life, especially if it has seen better days. While this may look like a simple do-it-yourself project, the skill can only be mastered with practice. With this in mind, you should entrust your beloved chair to a professional. Depending on the type of chair, you should expect to pay an average of $300 to $550. Don’t forget to add fabric cost to the figure.
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I have a bent, now cracked, metal lifting mechanism. I need to remove the rivet like bolts to have it mended and replace. The problem is, there is no obvious ways to remove the two retaining bolts: no screw slots, no bolt head, no shaft threads. How are these metal retaining shafts the mechanism raise & lower around removed?
I think this mechanism was built with custom which has no bolt removal option. You can do it if you found machine cutter or repair centre near you, they will set bolts and create slot. Thanks