The average cost to reupholster a couch and… do I need it?

Should you go down the route of reupholstering your couch? What is the average cost to reupholster a couch and what are the alternatives?

The sofa struggle is real, but we’re here to help. Read on for all the answers, approximate prices and insider tips you need to make the most informed decision about whether or not to reupholster your sofa.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. First up: how much does reupholstery cost?
2. How much is it to reupholster a couch on your own?
3. How much does a slipcover cost then?
4. When should I buy a new slipcover?
5. When do I need to reupholster?
6. Can I get a slipcover for my upholstered sofa?

First up: how much does reupholstery cost?

According to Angi, the national average cost to reupholster your couch in the USA starts from $600 and can go up to $4,000. 

Let’s see how much each type of sofa costs:

Type of sofa	Reupholstery cost
Loveseat	$600 – $2,000
Sectionals	$2,000 – $4,000
Ottoman	$300 – $700
Chaise lounge	$900 – $1,500

Transport

If it’s just the ottoman, you’re most likely able to transport it to the upholsterer using your car. However, if it’s your 3-seater or 5-seater that you’re going to want to reupholster, you’re going to need to pay $100-$300 per trip to get it transported. With the help of professional movers though, it’s safer and without any scratches during the move.

Fabric

Upholstery fabrics count for one of the most expensive parts of this process. They can range from as low as $10 to as high as $100 per yard.

Fabric type	Cost per yard
Polyester	$10
General fabrics (cotton, tweed, linen etc)	$50 – $70
Silk, velvet	$100
Leather	$30 – $70

To put that in perspective, it takes about 14-16 yards to reupholster a standard 2-seater sofa (about 72 inches), and about 7 yards of fabric to reupholster a standard armchair. That means the fabric alone for your 2-seater sofa could cost anywhere from $140 to $1,600. If you have a 5-seater IKEA Kivik sofa, it could cost around $3,000 just for the reupholstery itself.

Workmanship

Workmanship costs vary greatly depending on the experience of the upholsterer, but you can use our estimates as a basic guideline. An average chair or couch will cost between $500 and $1,000 and it can take up to 1 month for the reupholstery process for large items. That means you will not have a sofa at home for about a month until it’s ready.

Cleaning

If you’re thinking about the cost to hire professionals to clean your upholstery, you have to be prepared to pay $125-$225 per visit. But, you can rest assured that the professionals will do an excellent job when it comes to cleaning your upholstery (much better than us trying on our own).

How much is it to reupholster a couch on your own?

It’s definitely cheaper to reupholster the couch on your own. The tools for hammering, stapling and sewing will cost from $50-$200. Add that on to the cost of the fabric by the yard, and you’re good to go!

So, a standard 2-seater DIY reupholstery job using a medium-range fabric ($50) will cost around $800.

Fabric: 14 yards x $50 = $700
Tools: $100
Total: $700 + $100 = $800

You may not be paying for the labour cost, but you’ll be working really hard to get this done and I’ll tell you, it isn’t easy! Check out this post of our own DIY reupholstery.

After considering the cost and the need to reupholster (or not), if your answer is no, we’ve got an option for you: slipcovers!

How much does a slipcover cost then?

Spoiler alert: A lot less. The costs involved in producing sofa slipcovers are much cheaper than those of a new sofa or reupholstering an old sofa.

For a standard 2-seater sofa slipcover, it will cost about $239 in Comfort Works’ most affordable fabric option – the Everyday Weave. As for a sectional like the Kivik 5-seater, that will cost around $799 in our soft, comfortable Brushed Cotton fabric. 

How do sofa slipcovers compare to upholstery:

Slipcover	Upholstery
Lower cost	Higher cost
Machine-washable/Spot-clean	Requires professional cleaning for best results
Use the same sofa while waiting for slipcover delivery in 2-3 weeks	No sofa for 1 month during the reupholstering process
Free worldwide delivery (USD150 & above)	Furniture transportation fee
Easy to slip on and remove	Hard to put on and remove (probably requires professionals)

Other cool benefits of using our slipcovers: 

• 60-day guarantee 
• Fabrics come with either a 1-year or 3-year warranty
• Certain fabrics are skin-friendly with OEKO-TEX certification (great for kids!)

When should I buy a new slipcover?

You’ll probably need a new slipcover when:

• Your sofa fabrics are old, outdated or frayed – but the sofa itself is still comfy.
• You’ve just bought a new sofa and want it to last many years.
• You have kids or pets and need to wash your slipcovers frequently.
• You love your sofa and it has a lot of sentimental value for you. (Who can blame you?)

When do I need to reupholster?

You should go down the upholstery route if:

• Your sofa isn’t comfy and its cushions are very difficult to change.
• The couch cushions have little holes or perforations.
• Your sofa has a design which doesn’t allow you to create a slipcover.

If the batting or foam of your cushions is completely worn out and flat, you’ll most likely have to change it completely, and an upholsterer can help with that. You’ll be looking at about $40 for a seat cushion (made of foam and dacron batting) and $70 for a back cushion (made of polyfill usually).

Can I get a slipcover for my upholstered sofa?

Signs point to… yes!

At Comfort Works we can create customised slipcovers for your upholstered sofa. Of course, there are a few limitations and we can’t manufacture covers for all the sofas in the world (yet). Check out the infographic below to see if your sofa is one we can cover, or send us an email and we’ll tell you if your sofa is slipcoverable.

Can you slipcover my sofa?