Last Updated on October 15, 2022 by Wahid
If you’re going to reupholster your furniture, calculating how much upholstery fabric you’ll need can be tricky. Don’t worry; experts are here to give you the best solution.
In this case, the question of “how much fabric to reupholster chair?” is crucial. For reupholstering a chair, you’ll need approximately 3 to 7 fabric yards. Depending on the chair type, this will differ. Basically, dining room chairs without arms, backs, and base cushions will require 3 yards of material.
For high wingback, formal chairs, you will need around 7 yards. In the case of patterned fabrics, it may be necessary to accommodate pattern matching.
If you would like to work yourself, here is an approximate guide for estimating upholstery fabric requirements. Because each piece of furniture and fabric is different, the amounts below are only a rough guide.
Estimated Yardage For Reupholstering A Chair: Briefly Table
Rather than proceeding with a detailed discussion, it would be better to take a quick look at the table below.
| Loveseats: 11 – 15 yards | 6′ Sofas: 12 – 13 yards | 7′ Sofas: 14 – 15 yards | 9′ Sofas: 18 – 20 yards |
| Sectionals: 24 – 34 yards | Round Ottoman: 3 yards | Square Ottoman: 2.5 yards | Skirted Ottoman: 5.5 yards |
| Club Chairs: 6 – 8 yards | Club Chairs (with Ottomans): 8 – 9 yards | Chesterfield: 6 – 7 yards | Wing Chairs: 5- 7 yards |
| Benches ( featuring backs): 6 yards | Benches (without backs): 3 yards | Desk Chairs: 2 – 4.5 yards | Dining Chairs:. 75 – 2 yards |
| Recliners: 7 – 8 yards | Skirted Parsons Chair: 3.5 yards | Parsons Chair (padded legs): 3 yards | Settings: 6 – 8 yards |
| Basket Chairs: 5 yards | Corner Chair: 6 yards | Swivel/Rockers: 8 yards | Barcelona Chair: 3 yards |
Reupholstering Any Chair: How Much Fabric Do You Need?
- According to expert experience, it cannot be determined by one amount.
- You have to take into consideration the chair’s size, the fabric’s dimensions, and the amount of fabric you wish to use.
- To give you an idea, you’ll need approximately 3 to 7 meters of fabric.
- After that, divide it equally between all chairs if there are several.
- Luckily, you’ll have some fabric left over.
- Nonetheless, if you plan on doing things yourself as well, that won’t be much help to you.
- When it comes to what you need, you should be as precise and accurate as possible.
- Your project can be influenced by the previous upholstery.
Amount Of Upholstery Fabric: How Do You Determine It?
Reupholstering a chair is more complicated than you would expect. If you are able to consult with an expert, it could be very helpful.
Prior to measuring, you should consider a few factors.
Fabric Thickness
If you initially searched online for this question, you may not find much information. There might not be much thought given to it by most people.
- It really wasn’t appreciated by some people how my chairs & sofa were completely covered with fabric.
- In contrast, some fabrics may be too lightweight for you to choose from.
- Due to this, fabric thickness needs to be taken into consideration.
- A fabric may have a pattern that you like, however it may be thinner compared to what you prefer.
- Buy plain material in the same color instead.
Fabric Dimensions
In this section, you can find out about the different widths of fabrics. Taking something from A to Z on your own teaches a great deal.
- Your fabric requirements will be influenced by this factor.
- Your fabric will need to be stitched if its width is less than your sofa or chair. So there will be an extra cost.
- In most cases, you won’t run into this issue because most sofa and chair fabrics come in the appropriate sizes.
- Taking those factors into account, it would be helpful if you followed a chart explaining how much fabric to purchase for each chair.
- To make things a bit easier, knowing what types of seating you can buy can be helpful.
Measuring
A dining room chair can be measured easily. For the most accurate measurements, take the seat off the chair.
- From one edge of the seat base, measure the height from the top to the bottom with a tape measure.
- For a foldover finish & stapling underneath, extend both sides by 3-4 inches.
- For seats that are not standard sizes and your fabric is wider than 54′′, please refer to our article on Calculating Fabric Yardage.
- It is not necessary to measure the width of an average couch (16″ x 18″) since 54″ wide upholstery fabrics will be sufficient.
- The width of a larger chair should be measured in a similar manner that the length should be measured in the widest part.
What Kind of Chair Are You Using? Let’s See
It is best to decide what type of chair you are remodeling before choosing fabric. To estimate the amount of fabric you will need, here is an example of a chair you can use. The following are some popular types of seating. These chairs should sit between your chairs & sofas if they aren’t extraordinary.
Dining Room Seating
- Chairs of this type are the most commonly reupholstered.
- Due to its proximity to water and food, its beauty has diminished and it requires a makeover & restoration.
- A chair’s structure is generally the same, but the seat and back measurements can differ.
- When the chair comes with its own fabric, this can be used as a pattern for cutting your own fabrics.
- Edges & corners need to be covered as well, regardless of the type of chair.
- The general rule is, 3/4th of a yard (54 inches thick) of fabric can be used to reupholster 2 seats of dining chairs.
Parson’s Chair
- As early as the 1930s, the “Parsons Design School” in Paris designed Parsons chairs, a typical modern dining chair.
- Originally intended as an unarmed dining chair, the Parsons Chair was fashioned with squared legs and a linear appearance.
- With its square-shaped legs and linear design, this is different from the previous one.
- Furthermore, if you decide to reupholster this chair, you’ll need a minimum of 3 meters of textile, plus 3.5 meters for a skirt.
- Obviously, depending on your preferences, the fabric can be expanded.
Wing Chair
- “Wing chair,” or “Grandpa chair,” has a long back and is much more laid back.
- In order to reupholster it, you’ll need plenty of fabric.
- Depending on the size, a standard-width fabric will require approximately 7 yards.
- Adding new fabric to a wing chair can give it a fresh appearance.
- Measure the amount of fabric needed to reupholster the whole chair while preparing your materials and instruments.
- It will save you from wasting money by getting too much fabric or returning to the fabric store for a second trip to get more.
- You can accomplish this by assessing the chair’s width and the fabric’s width.
- The fabric required for a wing chair typically ranges from 5 to 7 meters.
Chesterfield Chair
- A “Chesterfield chair’s” upholstery traditionally consisted of leather.
- In order to cut down on costs, this chair adopted fabric later in life.
- However, the fabric has been selected to resemble the appearance of leather.
- A 7-yard piece of fabric is also required to make this chair.
Sofa & Couch Set
- For “sofas and couches,” fabric will be needed in excess of 15 yards.
- By dividing a unit’s measurements by the number of seats on a sofa, you can’t calculate the exact amount.
- Having all of the sides isn’t necessary since they’re attached together.
Club Chair
- “Club chairs” are typically leather-covered armchairs. The product was made in France.
- Before being known as a comfortable armchair, it was first known for its comfortable chair.
- It is important to measure the chair’s size before reupholstering it.
- For many years, people have also used a chart to calculate how much fabric you need depending on the type of chair.
- However, you should take measurements to make sure you buy enough fabric.
Some Expert’s Advice On “DIY”
In general, 45 inches wide pieces requires more yards of fabric compared to 54 inches wide pieces. In the case of printed fabrics, you will need more to make sure that all sides of the prints line up.
Buy Extra
- Getting started on your project is an important step that you shouldn’t regret later.
- Buying extra fabric is therefore always a good idea.
- When it comes to reupholstering, buying extra fabric is like purchasing insurance.
- You may make a mistake dividing your fabric, or another factor may cause your material to spoil.
- Make sure you buy 2 or 3 extra meters of fabric.
- Regardless of whether, ultimately, it isn’t used, it can be used elsewhere.
Take Pictures
- Make sure you take pictures when you remove the damaged upholstery.
- By doing this, you will be able to figure out what piece goes where.
- In addition, it will make it easier for you to finish the chair’s corners.
FAQs
01. How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need For A Wingback Chair?
In general, approximately 6-7 meters is recommended according to the size of the chair. It may be necessary to buy more fabric if you have a skirt on your “wingback chair.”
02. How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need to Cover A Footstool?
“Footstools” can come in a variety of sizes. However, 2-3 meters of upholstery cloth should be enough to revive an old footstool.
03. How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need For A Club Chair?
Typically, fabric for a small club chair takes between 5.5 to 6 meters. Depending on the size of your chair, there may be more than you need.
04. How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need For A Chaise Longue?
Depending on the size of the “chaise longue,” you will require about 7.5m of upholstery fabric.
05. How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need For An Office Chair?
The sizes of these vary enormously, and some need arms & extra sections to be recovered. Approximately 2-4 meters of fabric would be needed.
06. How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need For A Sofa?
Upholstery fabric is required in different amounts for varying styles of sofa. Typically, 10-15 meters are needed for a 2-seater piece. Based on the arms, back height, and other details, most standard 3-seater sofas will require between 11m to 18.5m. For large corner sofas, approximately 30m may be necessary for the whole sofa.
07. How Do You Calculate Fabric For An Ottoman?
Decide how many yards you need by multiplying the amount by 36. As an example, when the patterns cover 72 inches of the floor, multiply “72 by 36” for 2. So, you need 54 inches wide fabric to cover the “ottoman.”
In Conclusion
It is possible to give new life to old, worn pieces of furniture by reupholstering them. Wondering about how much fabric to reupholster a chair you need? Now you should be able to answer this question fairly easily. Natural fabrics are your best choice if you are looking for comfort. Once again, make sure to buy enough fabric to cover the extra amount.
Finally, the choice is now yours, depending on furniture type, fabric type, and personal preferences as well.
