Pricing Upholstery Job$
Opinions from professional upholsterers, excerpted from our Discussion Board


Many new upholsterers and pros too have asked for guidance in figuring out what they should charge their customers. People also ask if they should charge by the hour or by the job and how they can speed up their work. Prices vary all over the country and depend on many factors including employee wages, property values (rents etc.), cost of living and the annual incomes of potential clientele. It's a good idea to a have a friend call local upholsterers and find out what they are charging in your town. Describe a chair and sofa and ask for costs with both the shop's fabric and with customers fabric.


Posted by Ann M on May 17, 01
How much should I expect to pay to have a medium size wing chair with a seperate cushion upholstered? I live in Baltimore.
Hi Ann,
Plan on $500+ for a good upholstery job. Not all good upholsterers have shops or storefronts. Some work from their home.  Kandy
Hi, more info needed. If its a disposable chair, cheap frame, springs, foam padded, about 9,10, hours labor,and prob not worth it. If its a good frame, coil springs at least in the seat, hair and cotton fill, up to 20,22 hours labor. Cushioning and fabric not incl. Wide range of  both. Hourly labor charges will vary, depending on skill level, location,and whether its a home or typical uphol shop. I charge $48 hr. Hope this helps good luck, get referals. James
I am in western MA and I get $275.00 plus fabric, 7 yards if there is no matching to be done. It would be more if there is any spring tieing, frame repair or matching. Kim
I guess I need to give myself a raise. I've been wondering if my prices were to low. I seem to get 80% of the jobs I quote on. My home is full of my work for clients to see.Thanks Kim
I am in Maine... Here... frame needs glue springs tye / retye touch up woodwork and 50 50 down cushion in plaid will cost you $575 - 750

Posted by Linda B on August 03, 01
Would like to know how much to charge for reupholstering dining room chair seats approx 17x17x3. Any ideas? Would like some feedback.
Need more information, are seats welted and does this include new foam or wood? With more detail it will be easier to help.
:Thanks for the reply. The seats have no welts but need the foam replaced. The customer already has the fabric. The pricing should include the removal of the old stuff and installing the new foam and new seat covers. The wood is still perfect but has white paper stapled to bottom. Should I be using fabric like a muslin or just use similar paper to cover the bottom of the seat? love to hear more feedback.
Linda...I just set up a prototype for a manufacturer, My cost was around 13 dollars for materials, that included 1/2 in spruce plywood base, 2in. HD foam pad, and material to cover.
On top of that you need to add any fixed costs you may have (rent, insurance, employee costs, etc) and what YOU want to make. This is Canadian bucks, by the way. The seat is 18 by 18.
Good luck...Roger
:Thanks for the info Roger. As a one man show with a great talent to sew but no head for business my endeavors end up as labors of love rather than profitable undertakings of which I would like to change because I know I could make a good living with simple upholstery jobs.So with cost of materials,labor,and overhead what would a seat cushion finally retail for? How long should it take for making the seat cushion?Finally, what's a good hourly rate?
Thanks again Linda
Sorry for the delay , Linda What's a good hourly rate? A combination between whatever you can get, and what you're comfortable charging, with a liitle bit of how much you need in there. There's a marine shop in my area charging $62/hr. I charge $30/hr, plus materials, but I'm not sure that's enough. I am trying to get a final price where the materials is about 1/3 the total, based on a good size job.( you can't do this on a repair or a little job that is labour intensive, with not much materials!!) I'll have a better idea in a month or two, by how busy I am...lol
As to the final price on the seats, the chair maker and I agreed on $25 per seat. It may drop down to 23 if he orders over 96 seats, because that's the break point on fabric quantity. That price gets me the components ready cut, all I have to do is assemble the bits, cut my fabric, and staple like mad :)
I hope this gives you a guideline on your prices. One of those " natural laws" in business is that you should be getting 60% of the jobs you quote, if you are priced right. Another is that 80% of your income comes from 20% of your customers. No-one knows why these work, but they do. And remember, different regions will support different price levels. I may only get 25 for that seat, where someone else will tell you that they get 30 or 40. That's the variable that you have to figure out..
Hope this helps...Roger


I'm new to this whole thing. I'm having an antique 1890's Morris Chair -- rocking chair -- reupholstered, and I'm not sure as to how pricing goes. I do not want to get taken, which is why I'm here to ask all you knowledgeable people.
On the chair everything is missing fabric wise on the seat part, but the back of the chair still has the fabric and filled with horse hair (horrid smelly stuff!) There is no need of repair from my stand point, just putting it back together, the back of the chair is off, it's an adjustable one that simply needs to be screwed back in. So as far as pricing goes, I've heard an accessment of $500, is that reasonable? I have no idea when it comes to this, therefore, any information would be appreciated greatly! I have pictures of the frame of the chair if needed. Jennifer
Have you done a comparison with other upholsterers in your area? I base my prices on time spent on the piece. I charge $40/hr in the New England area. Do you trust the upholsterer? It's very important to feel confident about the person - also ask to see a completed piece to get an idea of the quality of work. If you like the quality of the work and the upholsterer - then it's worth it.-Jeanne
Have you done a comparison with other upholsterers in your area? I base my prices on time spent on the piece. I charge $40/hr in the New England area. Do you trust the upholsterer? It's very important to feel confident about the person - also ask to see a completed piece to get an idea of the quality of work. If you like the quality of the work and the upholsterer - then it's worth it.- Ed
I would recommend that you talk with the best upholsterer in your area. This kind of chair deserves quality. BTW, the best may not be the most expensive one! Agnes
Nice things cost money. It depends on how nice you want. Prices are pretty much close from shop to shop but quality can very greatly.


Does anyone charge for estimates? I am thinking of doing this but want an idea of what to expect. The price will be used as payment on the job so the estmate will be free if I do the work.
I'm thinking free in home estmate if I do the work $25 is I don't. Bill E.
  • charge for estimates? - Bill E 21:53:45 7/16/101 (14)