How Much Does Reupholstery Cost in 2025?
Price guide for reupholstery of standard furniture styles in 2025.
How much does reupholstery cost?
It’s difficult to give a helpful answer to this question given the variables involved. We supply over 5,000 different fabric designs of various price points, which adds a high degree of variability to the final price. It’s also the case that no two items of furniture are the same and, if they are, it’s a rarity that we see the exact same style of sofa or armchair from separate clients.
I’ve been doing this for a decade now and I think the only item of furniture of which we’ve repeatedly reupholstered the same style is a dining chair. Even amongst Parker Knoll armchairs, which are of a type, they all have subtle differences depending on the specific period they were made, the location in which they were made, and so on.
With that being said, it is possible to offer at least a guide price so that prospective clients are not in the dark when it comes to what to expect with reupholstery prices. In our business we always itemise costs, separating materials out from labour and then differentiating between the types of materials used. In essence, you have two primary costs; labour and top fabric. The other costs, such as replacement foam for a seat cushion or a bespoke trim like decorative nailing, are relatively minor and make little difference to the overall price.
Labour Prices for Reupholstery
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Sofa (Three Seater) £800 - £900
A standard three seater sofa with two or three seat and back cushions
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Armchair £500 - £600
A typical modern armchair style
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Dining Chairs £108 p/chair
Fully upholstered (seat and back) dining chair
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Footstool £120
Footstool up to 1.2 sq metres in top surface area
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Wing Backed Armchair £600
Traditional style armchair, iconic Parker Knolls
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Headboard £180
Standard double headboard with typical design features
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Ottoman £225
Average sized Ottoman storage box
Listed prices include VAT.
Fabric Prices
Fabric pricing is a real minefield given the huge range available and the various price brackets these materials come within. It’s important to note that quality (i.e. durability) is not always a good indicator of price. With some materials you’re paying for the name and, unfortunately, that doesn’t always come with the quality the price tag suggests.
Assuming a typical case in which a client has chosen a decent upholstery fabric from a middle-of-the-range price point, the budget for fabric in addition to labour charges for a three seater sofa would be something like £700.00, incl. VAT. For an armchair, this would be around £300.00 and for a double headboard, £150.00.
If you’re looking for a specific designer material, such as a Morris & Co. fabric or Colefax and Fowler, then you’re looking at much larger fabric budgets. To reupholster a settee in Acanthus, for instance, you can expect a fabric bill well into the thousands. Similarly, even a few dining chairs done in a Colefax design will cost a few hundred in fabric.
The Bottom Line
As with anything, reupholstery prices really do depend on the specifics. However, this price guide should serve to give you a rough idea of what to expect if and when you look into having a piece of furniture upholstered.