How Much Fabric Do I Need to Reupholster a Chair or a Sofa?

For a plain fabric about 140 cm (54 in) wide, plan around 0.7 m (0.8 yd) for one or two dining chair seats, 1 m (1.1 yd) for a dining chair with an upholstered back, 1.5 to 1.8 m (about 2 yd) for a French armchair such as a cabriolet or a Voltaire, 3 m (3.3 yd) for a bergère, 4 to 4.5 m (4.4 to 4.9 yd) for a wingback chair and 5.5 m (6 yd) for a club chair. A sofa or couch needs from 3.3 m for a period model to 18 m for a large modern one.

These are the quantities I use in my upholstery workshop on the shores of Lake Annecy, where I have been reupholstering chairs since 2012. On this page: the calculator, the complete yardage chart, why these figures differ from most American charts, a worked example for a set of dining chairs, how to measure and cut, and everything to check before you order.

Last updated: October 2026.

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The Quick Answer by Seat

• Dining chair, seat only: 0.7 m (0.8 yd) for one or two chairs
• Dining chair, seat and back: 1 m (1.1 yd)
• French armchair (cabriolet, Voltaire): 1.5 to 1.8 m (1.6 to 2 yd)
• Bergère: 3 m (3.3 yd)
• Wingback chair: 4 to 4.5 m (4.4 to 4.9 yd)
• Club chair: 5.5 m (6 yd)
• Modern 3-seat sofa: 18 m (19.7 yd)

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What Changes the Amount of Fabric You Need?

Two chairs of the same style can need different quantities. Before you order, check these five points:

• The type of seat. A chair with exposed wood only needs fabric on the seat and back; a fully upholstered armchair like a club chair needs it everywhere, including the outside back and the front panels. Not sure what you have? See Which chair do I have?.
• The size of the seat. The quantities below are for standard sizes. A generous bergère or an oversized modern armchair will need more.
• The width of the fabric. Most upholstery fabrics are about 140 cm (54 in) wide. A narrower fabric fits fewer panels side by side, so you need more length.
• The pattern. A patterned fabric needs extra repeats to centre the motif and match it from one panel to the next.
• Skirts, loose cushions and piping. A skirt, a loose seat cushion or piping cut from the same fabric all add to the quantity.

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Upholstery Fabric Calculator

Choose your seat and the number of seats, and tell me if your fabric has a pattern. Results are given in metres and yards.

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Upholstery Yardage Chart: Every Type of Seat

The same figures in one chart, in metres and yards, to compare or to keep with you when you go shopping.

Seat	Fabric (m)	Fabric (yd)	Braid or welting	Nails
Dining chair, upholstered seat only	0.7 m	0.8 yd	2 m	190
Dining chair, upholstered seat and back (Louis XV, Louis XIII)	1 m	1.1 yd	4.5 m	450
Bridge chair	1 m	1.1 yd	2 m	150
Cabriolet chair (Louis-Philippe, Louis XV, Louis XVI)	1.5 m	1.6 yd	6.5 m	650
Voltaire armchair	1.8 m	2 yd	8 m	800
Chauffeuse (low fireside chair)	2.6 m	2.8 yd	–	–
Bergère (Empire, retro, Louis XV)	3 m	3.3 yd	up to 10 m	up to 1,000
Crapaud armchair	3 m (no skirt)	3.3 yd	–	–
English armchair	3 m	3.3 yd	6 m	–
Wingback chair	4 to 4.5 m	4.4 to 4.9 yd	–	–
Club chair	5.5 m	6 yd	–	500
Louis XIII or Louis XIV sofa (3 seats)	3.3 m	3.6 yd	6 m	550
Louis-Philippe or crapaud sofa (3 seats)	5 m	5.5 yd	13 m	1,300
Modern sofa or loveseat (2 seats)	13 m	14.2 yd	–	–
Modern sofa or couch (3 seats)	18 m	19.7 yd	–	–

Find each seat’s history, materials and step-by-step tutorials on its own page: stools, simple chairs, bridge chairs, cabriolet chairs, modern chairs, Voltaire armchairs, club chairs and bergères.

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Why Are My Quantities Lower Than Most American Yardage Charts?

If you have searched online, you may have seen 8 to 14 yards for a wingback chair, or 6 to 10 yards for a club chair. My figures are lower, and here is why:

• No skirt and no loose cushion. Most American charts include a skirt around the base and loose seat or back cushions, which each need a lot of fabric. My figures are for the seat itself.
• Many French chairs show their wood. On a cabriolet or a Voltaire, the frame is visible: there is less surface to cover than on a fully upholstered American armchair.
• A plain fabric, cut by a professional. A well-planned cutting layout wastes very little. Charts made for beginners add a generous safety margin.
• Metres, not yards. A yard is about 91 cm: always check the unit before comparing.

So if your chair has a skirt, loose cushions, deep buttoning or a large pattern, add fabric for each of them, or measure every panel as explained below. [À COMPLÉTER : tes ajouts indicatifs pour un volant et un coussin libre.]

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How Much Fabric for 6 Dining Chairs?

For dining chairs with an upholstered seat only, two seats fit side by side across a 140 cm (54 in) fabric: 0.7 m covers two chairs. For 6 chairs, you need 2.1 m (about 2.3 yd). For dining chairs with an upholstered seat and back, count 1 m per chair: 6 m (about 6.6 yd) for six. The calculator does it for you.

Always check with a cutting plan if your seats are larger than standard, and order the whole set at once, from the same dye lot.

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How to Measure Your Chair for Fabric

If your seat is not in the chart, or is larger than standard, measure it yourself:

1. List every panel that will be covered: seat, inside back, outside back, arms, front panels, borders.
2. Measure each panel at its widest and longest point, following the curve of the padding with a flexible tape measure, and going round to the fixing point underneath.
3. Add a margin on every side, to hold the fabric while you pull and fix it.
4. Draw a cutting plan on paper at the width of your fabric, and place your panels in it.
5. Add the piping, borders, skirt or cushions if they are cut from the same fabric.

The best template is often the old cover itself: keep it intact when you strip the chair, and it gives you the exact size of every panel.

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How to Cut Upholstery Fabric for a Chair Seat

• Follow the straight grain. The grain runs from the back of the seat to the front, and from the bottom of the back to the top.
• Keep every piece in the same direction for velvet and for patterns, so the colour and the motif stay consistent.
• Centre the motif on the seat and the back before cutting anything else.
• Cut the largest pieces first, then fit the small ones around them.
• Keep the offcuts: they are perfect for covered buttons and small repairs.

Once cut, the fabric goes on in a precise order: see Covering, and temporary tacking for clean results.

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Braid, Double Welting or Decorative Nails?

The finish also has to be planned before you order. Braid is the classic finish for French period chairs with exposed wood. Double welting, made from the upholstery fabric, gives a more tailored look and needs a little extra fabric. Decorative nails add rhythm and structure: they are usually sold in boxes of 1,000. The calculator gives you the quantity for each; all the methods are in Finishing, and everything about fixings in the tacks guide.

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Before You Order Your Fabric

• Order a few extra repeats for a patterned fabric.
• Velvet: every panel must follow the same pile direction, which uses a little more fabric.
• Same dye lot: order the whole quantity at once, so every panel is exactly the same colour.
• Buy the trim at the same time: braid or nail heads should match the fabric exactly or contrast with it on purpose.
• Choose a fabric made for seating: a minimum of 25,000 rubs on the Martindale test is a good benchmark for a seat used every day.

Not sure which fabric to choose? Read the upholstery fabric guide, discover the fabric brands I work with and Pierre Frey, or browse the seating fabrics selected by Le Boudoir des Étoffes, my fabric showroom. For everything else, see my list of upholstery suppliers.

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Is It Worth Reupholstering a Chair, or Should I Buy a New One?

If the frame is solid, reupholstering is usually worth it: an old frame in beech or oak is often better made than most new chairs, and you choose exactly the fabric you want. Check the frame first: loose joints can be repaired, but a cracked or worm-eaten frame may not be worth the work. For a period chair, restoring it also keeps its value.

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How Much Does It Cost to Reupholster a Chair?

The cost depends on three things: the fabric (from a few metres for a chair to 18 m for a sofa, which is why this calculator matters), the materials (webbing, springs, stuffing, trim), and above all the time. A dining chair seat takes a few hours; a traditional armchair with springs takes days of work. Doing it yourself saves the labour, and learning with a professional saves you the mistakes: see my online upholstery course and my upholstery classes in France.

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Is It Difficult to Reupholster a Chair?

A dining chair seat is an excellent first project: a few hours, little fabric, and a very visible result. A fully upholstered armchair with springs is a much bigger job, which needs method and patience. Start small, with Guide 1: Upholstery for beginners, then move on to complete projects.

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The Other Materials to Plan

Fabric is only the visible part. Depending on your project, you may also need webbing, springs, stuffing, foam, calico and wadding. See the upholstery stuffing guide to choose your padding materials, Padding for the techniques, and the complete guide to upholstery tools and staple guns for your toolkit. An unfamiliar word? Look it up in the upholstery glossary.

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Fabric Calculator: Frequently Asked Questions

Are these quantities exact?

They are indicative, for standard-size seats, a plain or semi-plain fabric about 140 cm (54 in) wide, with no skirt and no loose cushion. A larger chair, a narrower fabric or a large pattern repeat will need more. When in doubt, measure every panel and add a margin.

How many yards of fabric do I need to reupholster a chair?

About 0.8 yd for a dining chair seat, 1.1 yd for a dining chair with a back, around 2 yd for a French armchair, 3.3 yd for a bergère, 4.4 to 4.9 yd for a wingback and 6 yd for a club chair, without skirt or loose cushions.

What if my fabric is narrower than 140 cm?

You will need more fabric, as fewer panels fit side by side across the width. Recalculate from the size of each panel with a cutting plan.

What is the best fabric for dining chairs?

A tightly woven fabric made for seating, with at least 25,000 rubs on the Martindale test, that can be spot-cleaned. Dining chairs are used every day, often with food around: avoid delicate silks and very loose weaves.

How much fabric do I need for a headboard or cushions?

It depends on their size. See upholstered headboards and cushions and sewing projects for the details of each project.

Can I use a fabric that is not made for upholstery?

For a chair used every day, choose a fabric made for seating: it resists friction far better. Lighter fabrics are fine for pieces that are not sat on, such as a headboard.

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About the Author

I’m Céline Vanier, a French upholsterer. I learned the craft through four years of apprenticeship with the Compagnons du Devoir, and since 2012 I have been running Le Boudoir des Étoffes, my upholstery workshop and fabric showroom on the shores of Lake Annecy. The quantities on this page are the ones I use every day. More about me.

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Ready to Start?

• Guide 1: Upholstery for beginners: your first project, step by step.
• Guide 2: Core techniques: webbing, springs, padding, covering, finishing and sewing.
• Guide 3: Full projects: every chair, from stools to armchairs.
• Upholstery classes in France: reupholster your chair with me, in my workshop.

All of these techniques, and many more, are available in full detail inside the Hammer Club. Every tutorial is filmed step by step in my workshop, on real pieces, so you can follow along at your own pace, pause, rewind, and come back whenever you need a refresher.