How Much Does It Cost to Reupholster a Couch (Prices & Time)

You wish to give your living room a spark, but don’t have the time or budget to revamp the living room completely. What if you could transform your lived-in couch with a bit of effort and money? And would it be worth it? In other words — how much does it cost to reupholster a couch? 

The labor costs usually range from $500 to $900, while the fabric is between $5 and $40 per yard. Several factors affect the price of couch reupholstery, so that’s why it varies so much. They include labor costs, new fabric costs, the size of the furniture, and how timeworn it is.

Now, let’s see how that pricing scheme works with different types of sofas.

Reupholstering a Leather Couch

If you already own a leather sofa and it only has a few small tears that need fixing, it might be cheaper for you to just recolor it. But if you wish to give it a whole new look, you should know that furniture reupholstering costs can be anywhere between $600 and $4,500, depending on the model of your sofa and the type of cushions it has. 

Moreover, the price can vary considerably based on the type of leather. Whereas faux leather is cheaper, real leather lasts a lot longer and is truly timeless. So it’s up to you to decide what you appreciate more, the lower cost or the long-term solution. 

Reupholstering a Sectional Couch

Sectional sofas are typically much bigger than regular ones and include more cushions, which is why they cost more to reupholster. Still, according to some statistics, sectional sofas are the most popular piece of upholstered furniture in the US.

More seat cushions mean more fabric and more labor, so you’ll have to put aside anywhere between $1,800 and $4,500 to cover all the costs. 

If this seems like too much, you don’t have to redo the whole thing. You can reupholster just your couch cushions and that will drastically change the way your entire living room looks. If you decide to do that, each cushion will cost you between $150 and $800.

In line with this, upholstery costs will be based on the number of seat cushions you have and their dimensions, as that will determine how much fabric you need. Also, the type of upholstery fabric you choose can alter the price significantly. 

But if you don’t have the funds for the highest quality fabric, you can perhaps compensate in another area and  try adding an accent rug to bring some life to the room. 

Reupholstering a Chaise Couch

If you’re looking to do up your chaise couch, you will need a budget of $800 to $2,000 to cover the price of upholstery. As you can see, it can vary to a considerable extent. This is because high-back chaises with arms cost much more than low-back chaises with arms, or low-back chaises without arms. 

The larger the furniture pieces, the more material and supplies will be needed, which automatically increases the cost of reupholstering each one. And if you wish to include some tufting or go for high-quality materials, the price will likely be on the higher end.

Final Thoughts

The average cost to reupholster a couch isn’t so easy to determine as it depends on the size of your couch, the materials that are being used, and whether or not you wish to add some extra details to the design. On the whole, it’s an investment that always pays off in the long run.