If you’ve been shopping around for reupholstery quotes and gotten wildly different numbers, or no numbers at all, you’re not alone.

Custom upholstery is one of the few services where it’s genuinely impossible to give you a price without seeing the piece first. Not because shops are being cagey, but because the variables are real and they matter.

Here’s exactly what goes into a reupholstery quote, so you can walk into any conversation, including ours, knowing what affects the number.

The Piece Itself

Size is the most immediate factor; a dining chair takes a fraction of the fabric and time that a three-cushion sofa does.

But size isn’t the only thing. The construction of a piece matters just as much.

Furniture built before mass production became the norm — pieces made with solid hardwood frames, hand-tied springs, and quality joinery take more care to work with but are absolutely worth the investment.

These pieces were built to be reupholstered. Many of the sofas and chairs people bring into our Herndon workroom are 20, 30, or even 40 years old and structurally in better shape than things sold in fast furniture stores today.

The complexity of the design also plays a role. A simple box cushion is straightforward.

A piece with tufting, curved arms, a skirt, or decorative nailhead trim requires more time and skill, and that shows up in the quote.

The Fabric

Fabric is the other major variable and also the one with the most range.

The type of fabric you choose, the quality of the weave, whether it has a pattern that needs to be matched across seams, and how many yards your piece requires all feed into the final cost.

A solid-color linen or a mid-weight cotton blend will sit at a very different price point than a high-pile velvet, a designer pattern, or a performance fabric engineered for durability with pets or children.

At D&I, we carry a wide selection of fabrics in our Herndon showroom; you’ll see and feel them in person, which is one reliable way to know what’s right for your space.

If your piece has a large pattern that needs to be carefully centered and matched across cushions and panels, that also requires additional yardage and skilled eyes to execute it well.

The Condition of the Frame

Before any fabric is touched, a good upholstery shop assesses the frame.

If the structure needs work—loose joints, compromised springs, worn webbing, or damaged padding—that work happens first.

It’s not optional if you want the finished piece to hold up the way it should.

This is one reason quotes always require seeing the piece. A chair that looks fine on the outside may need spring work underneath.

A sofa that looks structurally sound may have foam that’s well past its useful life. You won’t know until someone actually looks.

At D&I, if we spot something during assessment, we tell you before we start.

 

The Finishing Details

Reupholstery is a craft, and the details are where craftsmanship shows.

Piping along the seams, decorative tufting, custom embroidery, nailhead trim, and a tailored skirt—each of these adds time and skill to a project.

They’re not extras to be embarrassed about asking for. They’re what make the piece feel finished and intentional, not just recovered.

So How Do You Find Out What Your Project Will Cost?

You ask, and we look at it together.

We offer free estimates at our Herndon showroom. No obligation, no pressure.

We’ll assess the frame, talk through your fabric options, and give you a real number based on what your specific project actually involves.

D&I has been doing this in Northern Virginia since 1977—we’re not here to upsell you; we’re here to help you craft the best for your beautiful piece.

We also offer package deals for reupholstery — one set price that includes labor, in-stock fabric, and cushion enhancement. 

And if you’re not ready to commit to full reupholstery, we make custom slipcovers — our tailor comes to your home, measures and cuts on-site, and the piece is made in a matter of weeks. Your furniture never has to leave the house.

Ready to find out what your piece would cost? Contact us. That’s all it takes.