How much does it cost to reupholster a chair in Virginia?

Why no single price

Reupholstering a chair costs different amounts from one Virginia shop to the next, and no dated, primary price source covers it, so the honest answer is the list of what sets the price. Get two or three itemized quotes and compare them line by line.

Alabama Cooperative Extension makes the wider point: replacing padding and upholstery "is expensive, so it might be wiser to apply the money toward new furniture" when damage is extensive.^[1] A quote tells you whether the chair is on the right side of that line.

What drives the price of a chair

Labour is the largest part. A dining chair with a drop-in seat is a short job. A wingback or club chair with a sewn-in back, arms, welting and a loose cushion takes many times longer, and the price follows the hours.

Fabric comes second. Shops either supply fabric or let you bring your own, and the amount a chair takes depends on its size and on any pattern that has to be matched. Ask for the yardage the shop expects to use. Large patterns and stripes use more.

Padding and structure. Old foam crumbles and cotton stuffing flattens. If the shop replaces them, the quote should say so. A loose joint or cracked frame piece needs repair before covering, which is either a line on the quote or a separate furniture-repair job, and it is the usual reason a final bill goes above an estimate.

Details. Skirts, tufting, nailhead trim, piping and double welting each add time. So does removing a lot of old trim and tacks before the new work can start.

Pickup and delivery. Many shops charge to collect and return furniture, and a rush job costs extra.

What a good written quote includes

A useful quote names the piece, what will be replaced (fabric, foam, batting, webbing, springs), whether labour includes the fabric or not, the yardage assumed, trim and details, what happens if the frame needs repair, pickup and delivery, a deposit and a completion date. Ask whether the price changes if the fabric you choose turns out to need more yardage. A quote that says only "reupholster chair" cannot be compared with another.

Hiring someone in Virginia

Virginia licenses the business, not just the trade. The Code of Virginia says every person "renovating or reupholstering any bedding or upholstered furniture" must first obtain a license from the Commissioner, and the license is numbered, expires one year from the date of issue, and is not transferable.^[2] The Virginia Department of Health says all reupholsterers and renovators "must be licensed to offer bedding and upholstered furniture for sale in Virginia."^[3]

That is a license worth asking about before a deposit changes hands. The Department of Health also says upholstered furniture must carry a law label giving the company's name, the contents of all concealed stuffing, and the Uniform Registry Number that identifies the place of manufacture.^[3] Ask your upholsterer whether the label on a reupholstered piece will be updated.

A fast way to compare quotes

Line the quotes up on the same page: labour, fabric, padding, extras, delivery. If one is much lower, it often leaves out foam or leaves frame work to be priced later. If one is much higher, ask which line explains the difference. Then set the total against the price of a comparable new chair. The factors that decide whether a piece is worth recovering are the extent of damage, the cost of the article, its sentimental value and the cost of restoration.^[1] Is it worth reupholstering a couch walks through the same decision for a bigger piece.

Stop and call a pro if

• The frame moves, cracks or wobbles. Repair of loose joints and broken frame parts is a furniture-repair job, and a new cover will not hold on a bad frame. See what table repair costs for how furniture repair is priced.
• The chair is an antique or heirloom. Replacing the original covering can change its value, so talk to a conservator or specialist first.
• A shop has no license number to give you. Do not leave furniture and a deposit with a business that cannot show one.
• You plan to tackle a sewn-in back and arms yourself. These need tools and skill, and a mistake is expensive.

Getting help in Virginia

Browse small repair and handyman services on Loclis or the other furniture repair answers. To fix a small tear yourself instead of recovering the whole chair, read how to fix a small tear in upholstery.

When you are ready, describe the chair on Loclis with photos and measurements and local upholsterers will quote it.