Updated at: 29-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

You’ve already started your project, but you discover that you don’t have enough cloth. Because all the cloth has been sold out. You’re left with a puzzled look on your face.

To answer the question, “How much fabric do I need to reupholster a chair?” greater than you could believe

I’ve been there and done that. We had a couch and chairs that were considered family heirlooms. It’s understandable that it’s lost some of its luster over time.

Everyone else wanted to get rid of it, but I wanted to hold on to it. It’s a difficult decision. Despite its age and sentimental value, is the sofa worth the money? Certainly for me.

Both hiring specialists and doing it myself were on the table. After weighing the pros and downsides of both alternatives, I decided to do it myself. A difficult DIY project is one requiring a certain set of skills. In spite of that, it is more rewarding.

How Much Fabric to Reupholster a Chair?

There appears to be no one-size-fits-all answer to the question. It all depends on the measurements of the fabric, the size of the chair, and how much of the chair you want to cover.

How Much Fabric to Reupholster a Recliner? Informative Tips - Krostrade

If you’re searching for a ballpark figure, 3 to 7 yards of fabric should suffice. If there are more than one chairs, then double the sum by the number of chairs. There will be some fabric left over, which is a good thing.

It won’t help, however, if you’re also considering doing it yourself. You want to be exact and accurate in your requests. Your project should be based on the previous upholstery.

How to Determine the Amount of Fabric?

Reupholstering a chair with new fabric is more complicated than you would have originally believed. It would be really beneficial for you, as it was for me, if you could speak with an expert. Before you start measuring, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Fabric Thickness

When I originally looked for an answer to this topic on the internet, I found very little. After becoming bogged down, I was forced to acquire new skills. Most individuals probably don’t give it much thought.

However, I was not pleased with how the fabric entirely obscured the color of my furniture. An additional fabric layer that showcased the garment’s true hue was something I hoped to achieve. Some of the fabric, on the other hand, was too thin for my tastes.

Because of this, the thickness of the cloth is something to keep in mind. Even if you love the pattern on the fabric, but find that it’s too thin for your tastes, you may always buy a plain piece in the same color.

Fabric Dimensions

Making things from start to finish on your own teaches you a lot. I learned about the various widths of fabrics. Because of this, you’ll need more fabric. The cloth will need to be stitched if the width is less than the width of your chair or sofa. Because of this, there will be a price.

Most of the time, you won’t have to worry about this because most upholstery fabrics sold for restoring sofas and chairs already have the correct measurements.

In light of the above, I recommend that you use a chart to determine how much fabric you’ll need for each type of chair.

The varieties of chairs might make things a little easier if you’re in a pinch.

How to determine the amount of fabric for reupholstering a recliner

The amount of fabric needed to reupholster a recliner depends on how many people will be using it.

Considering that the average chair’s dimensions are 22″ x 26″, it’s easy to see how six yards of cloth would be needed to cover three chairs.

Adding an inch to both the length and width of the backrest is also recommended, to ensure that no one is restricted from reaching the other side due to a lack of space. This increases your overall yardage by four and a half inches or five additional feet!

Benefits of reupholstering your furniture

  • Instead of tossing or selling your old, worn-out furniture, consider repurposing it.
  • Maintain a fashionable look in your home by purchasing new materials in trendy designs.
  • Because your furniture has been renovated, you’ll have more time for other activities.
  • Aside from how much fabric is required based on chair size, let’s also take into account the sort of cloth..
  • Four factors should be taken into account while choosing your materials: color, comfort/durability, cost per yard, and whether or not it is washable.

Is It Worth The Cost To Reupholster A Chair? - Kim's Upholstery

Tips on Choosing Fabric for Reupholstering a Recliner

Tip 1. Color: how do you want the fabric to look?

Reupholstering your furniture can be done in a variety of colors.

Brown is the color of the year (neutral). The color red (bold and classic)

Navy blue or black are the two most popular choices (classic navy can almost always go with any decor style, while black looks great in a contemporary space).

To add a bit of edge, you might also opt for a black outfit. One thing to bear in mind when choosing this color is that it will be difficult to find additional piping/trim alternatives because so few retailers carry them!

If you need to update these items in other rooms as well, we suggest brown rather than black.

The color of gold (classic and elegant)

The color of the skin is white (clean bright, or calming pale colors like peach or gray). If you want to keep the look neutral while yet adding some coziness, a white cloth is a good choice.

When it comes to remodeling your home, we recommend going brown instead than white because it’s tough to find additional piping/trim alternatives in these colors.

Tip 2. Fabric type: how do you want the sleeve content

Reupholstering furniture can be done using any of the following fabrics:

This is a velvety fabric (popular choice because it adds additional comfort without requiring any more upholstery than typical cotton drapery )

Polyurethane (best for formal furniture like sofas) It’s recommended to use polyester-based textiles for your couch’s upholstery because they’re stain and fade resistant, as well as long-lasting.

There is no need to use harsh chemicals to clean them because they can be washed with water, soap, and bleach.

However, these materials can look formal on larger pieces of furniture like sofas, but they are ideal for chairs because they have fewer design elements or embellishments.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PBT) is a polyester fabric that is available in a wide range of thicknesses and plushness levels, making it an excellent choice if you plan to use it in an area where it will be exposed to a lot of wear and tear such as a living room.

Cotton is a natural textile that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. The disadvantage of its long-lastingness is that it cannot be bleached as much as other fabrics and shows stains more readily.

This type of fabric requires at least 108′′ (27 yards) if you plan on performing the work yourself, but up to 150′′ (38 yards) if you want someone else to do it for you.

Vinyl is a synthetic cloth used in high-wear regions because of its durability. No bleaching is required, and it’s more durable than other fabrics. However, it can leave stains on furniture if not properly cleaned.

If you’re going to do it yourself, you’ll need around 150 inches of vinyl; if you’re hiring someone, you’ll need up to 200 inches.

If you’re short on cash or just need something cheap, duct tape is an excellent choice. Use roughly 12 feet of this as your fabric of choice and you’ll be OK.

What Type of Chair Do You Have?

Listed here are a few of the most prevalent chair types. Chairs and sofas that do not meet these standards will be placed in the same category as these ones.

Dining Room Chair

Chair reupholstery most frequently involves this style. It has lost its luster and requires a facelift and restoration as a result of being in close proximity to food and water.

Seating area and backrest measurements can vary somewhat amongst chairs, despite their similar form. It’s possible to use the chair’s original fabric as a template to cut new fabric.

Regardless of the type of chair you have, there are also edges and corners to cover.

With 3/4 of a yard of 54-inch thick fabric, you may cover two seats of a dining chair with new upholstery.

Parson’s Chair

The Parson’s chair was designed in the 1930s and is a common eating chair. It’s a chair without arms. This one features a more linear design and square-shaped legs compared to the previous one.

To reupholster a chair like this, you’ll need 3 yards of cloth. Adding a skirt will require an additional half-yard of fabric.

Wing Chair

One of the most reclined and long-backed chairs on the market is the Wing chair. Reupholstering it will require a lot of fabric. You’ll need about 7 yards of cloth with a regular width if it’s a convenient size.

Chesterfield Chair

Leather was traditionally used to cover the seats of Chesterfield chairs. To keep costs down, it eventually switched to cloth. In any case, the material is chosen to provide the appearance of genuine leather to the final product. For this chair, you’ll also need 7 yards of cloth.

Sets of Sofa/Couch

More than 15 yards of cloth is required for a sofa or a couch. But multiplying a unit’s measurement by the number of seats on the sofa doesn’t give you the exact amount. You don’t need all of the sides because they’re attached to each other.

Advice from Fellow DIY-er

Buy Extra

After starting your project, you don’t want to look back and be sorry. As a result, buying additional fabric is always a good idea. When it comes to reupholstering, having additional fabric on hand is like having an umbrella policy.

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I’m sure you’ll measure and remeasure your chairs a lot like I did. If nothing else, you never know what could happen. If you make a mistake while separating the fabric, or if something else damages your fabric to the point of no return, there is nothing you can do.

Invest on a few extra yards of fabric. Even if you don’t end up using it, you can still find a use for it somewhere else.

Take Pictures

When you remove the old upholstery, be sure to take a few photos to document the process. Knowing which piece belongs on either side can help you. It will also make it easier for you to finish the chair’s corners.

Replace or Reupholster?

It wasn’t a problem for me because it was a matter of personal sentiment. Who wants to let go of a family heirloom that has the touch of predecessors? It’s obvious what you need to do in the situation.