How Much to Reupholster a Sofa
27 August 2026
Quick answer: In the UK in 2026, reupholstering a two to three-seater sofa typically costs between £900 and £1,800 in total, covering labour and fabric. Labour alone from a reputable workshop usually starts at £650 to £900 for a standard two to three-seater. Fabric is on top and can add anywhere from £200 to several thousand pounds depending on what you choose. Whether reupholstery makes financial sense depends almost entirely on one thing: the quality of the sofa's frame. A structurally sound hardwood frame is worth recovering. A budget softwood or particleboard frame almost certainly isn't.
Reupholstery is one of those home improvement decisions that sounds straightforward until you start getting quotes. The headline labour figures are only part of the cost, the fabric you choose can swing the total more than any other factor, and whether the whole thing makes financial sense depends on the condition of a piece of furniture that's hidden under the fabric you're about to replace. Instant Dry Carpet Cleaning isn't an upholsterer, but we work with upholstered furniture every day and the first question worth asking is whether your sofa needs reupholstering at all.
Is your sofa actually worth reupholstering?
This is the question that should come before any cost comparison, and most cost guides skip it because they're written by upholsterers who want the work.
Press down firmly on each seat cushion and release it. If the foam rises back promptly, the structural support is still working. If it stays down, the foam has failed — cushion refill is a separate, cheaper intervention that may be the actual issue.
Sit in each seat and listen for any creaking or movement in the frame beneath you. A sound frame is completely silent. Creaking indicates joint failure.
Look at the sofa from the side and foot. It should sit level and square. Any visible lean or sag in the frame structure without a load is a sign of structural failure.
A sofa with a hardwood-framed structure that passes these checks is a genuine reupholstery candidate. Reupholstery on a quality frame typically costs 40 to 60 percent of an equivalent-quality new piece, and the same frame can be recovered again in another fifteen to twenty years. It represents real value.
A budget sofa with a softwood or particleboard frame that fails these checks is not worth reupholstering. The labour and fabric cost will exceed the structural value of what's underneath, and the frame may fail within a few years regardless.
A sofa that looks tired but passes the structural test may simply need professional cleaning rather than reupholstering. The how to clean a fabric sofa guide covers what's achievable at home and what professionals can add. Staining, odour and general dullness are often cleaning problems, not structural ones.
What reupholstery costs in 2026
The figures below come from published pricing by UK upholstery workshops, including Guild of Master Craftsmen and AMUSF-accredited workshops, as of mid-2026. These are labour-only figures. Fabric is additional.
Sofa type | Labour range |
|---|---|
Two-seater sofa | £650 to £900 |
Two to three-seater sofa | £700 to £1,000 |
Three-seater sofa | £900 to £1,100 |
Armchair | £450 to £650 |
Chesterfield (two-seater) | £900 to £1,500+ |
Large corner sofa | £1,500 to £2,500+ |
These are starting points for straightforward work. Complexity, detail work (deep buttoning, piping, contrast panels), frame repairs and spring replacement all add to the labour element.
Total cost for a standard two to three-seater sofa, fabric included: most UK upholsterers quote a combined total of £900 to £1,800 for a standard job with mid-range fabric. Budget fabric brings the total toward the lower end; premium or designer fabric can push a standard sofa well past £2,500.
The fabric is where most of the money goes
A standard two to three-seater sofa needs roughly 12 to 16 metres of upholstery fabric. Patterned fabrics need additional metres for pattern-matching, which a good upholsterer will account for in their quote.
Fabric type | Approximate cost per metre | Total fabric for 3-seater |
|---|---|---|
Budget upholstery weave | £15 to £30 | £180 to £540 |
Mid-range weave, chenille, plain velvet | £30 to £60 | £360 to £1,080 |
Premium velvet, tweed, heavy linen | £60 to £150 | £720 to £2,700 |
Designer ranges (Linwood, Romo, Designers Guild) | £150 to £300+ | £1,800 upward |
Upholstery leather | £50 to £120+ | £600 to £1,920+ |
The same sofa with budget fabric versus premium fabric can differ by over £2,000 in total cost. This is why headline reupholstery quotes that don't specify fabric type are almost meaningless as a comparison tool.
The fabric must also comply with the UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, covered in the section below. Fabric from an interior design shop or a haberdashery that isn't upholstery-grade may not meet these requirements.
What else affects the final price
Foam and filling. If seat cushions need new foam, this is usually priced separately. High-density foam lasts considerably longer than budget foam and is worth the additional cost on a quality piece. Some upholsterers include standard foam in their labour quote and specify this; others charge separately.
Spring and webbing repair. If the base support has partially failed — loose springs, broken webbing — repair is priced in addition to the reupholstery labour. A good upholsterer will identify this before starting and quote accordingly.
Detail work. Deep buttoning, visible piping, fluting, contrast panels and similar decorative elements each add labour hours. A Chesterfield with full deep buttoning takes considerably longer than a plain modern sofa of the same size, which is why Chesterfield reupholstery quotes are at the higher end of the range.
Transportation. Most workshops charge for collection and delivery, or expect you to arrange it. For a large three-seater this often requires a van. Factor it in when comparing quotes.
The frame's condition. If the frame needs joint repair, gluing or additional structural work, this is extra. A reputable upholsterer will inspect and quote for this before committing.
Fire safety and why it matters
UK law requires that upholstery fabric used in domestic furniture meets specific flammability standards under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. This applies to all new upholstery applied to furniture in a domestic setting, including reupholstery work.
A reputable upholsterer will only use compliant fabric and should be able to confirm this on request. It's worth asking specifically if you're sourcing your own fabric — not all fabric sold as "upholstery fabric" in the UK is actually compliant with the domestic furniture regulations, particularly fabric imported from outside the EU.
For commercial premises — pubs, hotels, care homes and similar — the standard is significantly higher (BS 5852 Crib 5) and the fabric costs reflect this. If the sofa is being reupholstered for a commercial setting, confirm the correct specification with both the upholsterer and your premises insurer.
How to find and vet an upholsterer
Look for AMUSF membership (Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers) or Guild of Master Craftsmen accreditation. Both require members to demonstrate craft standards and carry professional insurance.
Get at least two quotes and ask each upholsterer to break down labour, fabric and any repair work separately. A quote that combines everything into one figure is harder to compare and easier to be surprised by.
Ask what they found on inspection. A good upholsterer will tell you about frame condition, spring condition and what the foam is like before committing to a price. One who quotes from photographs without inspecting is taking on risk, and you're taking on risk with them.
Ask about fabric compliance. If you're supplying your own fabric, confirm it meets the UK fire safety regulations for domestic upholstery before the work starts.
Look at examples of their previous work. Piping, corners and deep buttoning in particular show the level of finish. These are the details that distinguish a quality job from a competent one.
Reupholster, clean or replace?
Reupholster when the frame is structurally sound hardwood or quality construction, the sofa has sentimental or aesthetic value that replacement can't replicate, or equivalent-quality new furniture costs significantly more than the reupholstery quote.
Clean when the sofa is structurally fine but looks or smells tired. Staining, odour, dull or flattened fabric, and general soiling are typically cleaning problems rather than structural ones. Professional upholstery cleaning at a fraction of reupholstery cost is the sensible first step before committing to more. Instant Dry Carpet Cleaning provides professional upholstery cleaning across England and Wales, and the leather sofa guide and fabric sofa guides on this site cover what professional cleaning achieves versus what it can't.
Replace when the frame has failed, the sofa is budget construction not worth the reupholstery investment, or equivalent replacement costs less than the total reupholstery quote including fabric.
FAQ Section
How much does it cost to reupholster a sofa in the UK? In 2026, the total cost including labour and fabric for a standard two to three-seater sofa typically falls between £900 and £1,800 with mid-range fabric. Labour from a reputable workshop starts at £650 to £900 for a two to three-seater. Fabric is additional and can range from £200 to several thousand pounds depending on your choice.
Is it worth reupholstering a sofa? It depends on the frame. A structurally sound hardwood frame with proper joinery is worth reupholstering — the combined cost typically comes in at 40 to 60 percent of an equivalent-quality new piece, and a quality frame can be recovered again. A budget softwood or particleboard frame is rarely worth the investment.
How many metres of fabric do I need to reupholster a sofa? A standard two to three-seater sofa typically needs 12 to 16 metres of upholstery fabric. Patterned fabrics require additional metres for matching. Your upholsterer should specify the exact metreage when they quote.
What is the difference in cost between fabric and leather reupholstery? Leather upholstery fabric typically runs from £50 to £120 or more per metre, compared to £15 to £150 for fabric depending on quality. The total fabric cost for leather on a three-seater can be £600 to well over £1,500 for the material alone.
How do I know if my sofa is worth reupholstering? Press firmly on each seat cushion — if it rises back, the foam is sound. Check for creaking in the frame under load. Look at whether the sofa sits level and square. A frame that passes these checks is worth a reupholstery quote. One that creaks, sags or moves is likely not.
Do I need fire-safety-compliant fabric for reupholstery? Yes. The UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 require that fabric used in domestic upholstery meets specific flammability standards. A reputable upholsterer will use compliant fabric and confirm this. If you're sourcing your own fabric, check compliance before the work starts.
How long does reupholstery take? A standard two to three-seater sofa typically takes one to two weeks once at the workshop, depending on workload and complexity. Collection, lead time and return delivery should be factored into overall timing.
Can I reupholster a sofa myself? In principle, yes. In practice, producing a finish comparable to a professional — particularly on piping, corners and buttoning — requires both skill and tools that take time to develop. A DIY reupholstery is a reasonable option if the sofa has low monetary value and you're treating it as a learning project. For a quality piece worth keeping, professional work is likely to be better value than the time and potential mistakes of a first DIY attempt.
Service Section
Before you commit to a reupholstery quote, try cleaning first
Many sofas that look like they need reupholstering look significantly better after professional cleaning. Embedded soil, staining, odour and dull or flattened fabric are often cleaning problems rather than structural ones, and a professional clean costs a fraction of reupholstery. If the sofa's frame is sound and the main issue is appearance or hygiene, cleaning is the sensible first step. Instant Dry Carpet Cleaning provides professional upholstery cleaning across England and Wales with a free survey and fixed price before any work begins.
Get your fixed quote in 60 seconds
Or call 07555 856988.