How Much Does It Cost To Reupholster A Sofa?

So, you’re staring at your once-beloved sofa, which now looks like a bear hibernated on it for three seasons. The fabric is faded, the cushions have the structural integrity of a wet pancake, and you’ve found a suspicious collection of loose change and pet hair in the seams. You’re wondering: how much cold, hard cash does it cost to make this thing look less like a crime scene and more like a living room centerpiece?

Spoiler alert: it’s not cheap. But it’s also not “sell-a-kidney” territory—unless you picked a sofa made of solid gold and covered in unicorn leather. Generally, reupholstering a standard three-seater sofa will set you back somewhere between $1,200 and $4,000. Yes, that’s real money—enough to buy a used car (a very, very used one) or a small mountain of avocados.

Why is it so expensive? Did the fabric become a celebrity?

It’s not that the fabric is famous—it’s that the labor is doing all the heavy lifting. A professional upholsterer has to remove every single staple (and there are approximately 47,000 of them), fix your sofa’s saggy butt, and then re-cover it like a giant, grudging Christmas present. That takes hours—anywhere from 10 to 40, depending on the sofa’s complicated geometry and your choice of fabric that fights back.

Plus, there’s the “whoa, look at that spring” surcharge. Once they get inside your sofa, they might find that the springs are shot, the foam has turned to dust, or that a family of mice has built a tiny condominium. Each of those surprises adds $100 to $500 to your bill. Surprise! You now own a luxury problem.

Fabric: The Plot Thickens (Like a Very Cheap Velvet)

Fabric cost is the wild card. You could go with a basic cotton blend for about $30 to $60 per yard, which is like buying your sofa a sensible sweater. Or you could choose a high-end linen or performance velvet that costs $150 per yard, which is basically dressing your couch for its third wedding. A standard sofa needs about 12 to 18 yards. Do the math: that’s a lot of coffee table books you won’t be buying.

2026 Furniture Reupholstery Cost | Couch & Chair Recovering Prices

Here’s a surprising fact: some fabrics are literally more expensive per square inch than your own clothes. I’m not judging—you deserve a couch that’s better dressed than you are. Just know that if you pick a silk brocade, you’ll be paying more for your sofa’s wardrobe than for your own winter coat. Priorities, folks.

Is it cheaper to just buy a new sofa? (Spoiler: yes, sometimes)

Ah, the million-dollar question—or rather, the $1,500 question. If your sofa is a perfectly good, solid-wood, heirloom-quality piece, reupholstering can be cheaper and smarter than buying a new one. But if your sofa is basically a cardboard box with wheels, a new one from a big-box store might cost you $600 to $1,200. And it won’t come with a three-week wait and a lecture from the upholsterer about “making better life choices.”

How Much Does It Cost To Reupholster A Sectional Sofa - Home Alqu

But let’s be real: a new $800 sofa is often held together with hope and staples, while a reupholstered one is built like a tank. It’s the difference between a fast-fashion dress and a hand-stitched suit. One will disintegrate in two years; the other will outlive your grandchildren. Probably.

You’re probably sitting on an iceberg of costs

One more thing: you have to bring the sofa to the shop. Unless you want to pay $200 to $500 for pickup and delivery. That’s like paying someone to kidnap your couch, make it look pretty, and then return it like it never left. Also, many upholsterers are booked weeks or months out. You might have to live with your sad, glowing TV as a seat cushion for a while. Embrace the floor sitting. It builds character.

Ultimately, reupholstering a sofa is a commitment. It’s like adopting a very large, very expensive turtle that you have to feed fabric. But if you love your sofa—warts, ancient pet stains, and all—it’s worth every penny. Just be prepared to explain to your friends why your couch now has a higher net worth than your car.