What Goes Into the Cost of Couch Reupholstery?

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What Goes Into the Cost of Couch Reupholstery?

If you’ve ever asked, “How much does it cost to reupholster a sofa?” you may have noticed there’s no simple answer. That’s because reupholstery isn’t a fixed-price service — it’s a personalized process that depends on the details of your furniture, the materials you choose, and the repairs needed.

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Why Reupholstery Isn’t One-Price-Fits-All

Unlike buying new furniture from a store, reupholstery is not a standard transaction. It’s more like commissioning a custom project. Each sofa, sectional, or chair has its own size, construction, wear-and-tear, and material history — and all of that affects the time and cost involved in restoring it.

Think of it this way: Reupholstering a compact accent chair with no damage is a very different job than restoring a large leather sectional with crushed foam, broken springs, and peeling vinyl panels. The goal is always to bring your piece back to life — but the route we take to get there varies.

7 Key Factors That Affect the Cost

1. Size and Shape

A small ottoman may take a few hours. A five-seat sectional can take a full week. Curves, corners, armrests, recliners, and modular designs add time and complexity.

2. Material Type

Leather, vinyl, and fabric all have different prices — and different labor needs. Leather takes more time to prepare, match, and seal. Vinyl is faster, but often less forgiving.

3. Internal Damage

If your furniture has sagging cushions, cracked foam, or a loose frame, these structural issues must be fixed first. Foam replacement, tightening joints, or replacing webbing adds labor and materials.

4. Access to the Damage

Sometimes damage is in an easy-to-reach area. Other times, we need to disassemble half the piece to access a seam, spring, or cushion core. That adds time — and cost.

5. Stitching & Details

Tufting, piping, contrast stitching, zippers, or custom panels all add steps. The more refined the look, the more time the rebuild will require.

6. On-Site vs. In-Shop Work

We can often remove panels, cushions, or covers to repair in our workshop — which is faster and less invasive. For full pieces that can’t be moved, we schedule on-site service.

7. Scheduling & Rush Requests

If you need your furniture done fast — say, before guests arrive — we do our best to prioritize, but that may come with a rush fee depending on current workload.

Material Matters: Leather vs. Vinyl vs. Fabric

The material you choose affects not just the price of the upholstery fabric itself, but also the labor involved.

  • Leather: Long-lasting, high-end look, more expensive and time-intensive to install
  • Vinyl: Cost-effective, fast to work with, great for RV and commercial furniture
  • Fabric: Widest variety, mid-range cost, requires different adhesives and tools

We’re happy to guide you through material selection — including options that balance budget, durability, and aesthetics.

Hidden or Overlooked Costs to Watch For

In some cases, additional work may be required beyond the visible damage. These “surprise” costs aren’t tricks — they’re just things you can’t always see until we open the piece up:

  • Collapsed foam: Adds cost for new material and cutting
  • Broken recliner hardware: If a mechanism is bent or worn
  • Insect or pet damage: Deep cleaning or deodorizing
  • Replacement of missing parts: Zippers, legs, brackets, etc.

How to Get an Accurate Estimate

Instead of guessing, we recommend sending us a few clear photos of your furniture. Include wide shots and close-ups of the damage. From there, we’ll provide a personalized quote based on the condition, materials, and work needed — no guessing, no templates.

Want a detailed quote? We’re ready when you are — just send us pictures, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Furniture Doctor Austin — Transparent Reupholstery Pricing, Real Results

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