Suppliers · Where to buy
Upholstery suppliers: where to buy what
In short: buy almost everything from an upholstery supplier: webbing, springs, twine, hessian, natural fibres, tacks, staples, decorative nails, trims, curtain lining and your tools. Foam comes from a foam specialist, or an upholstery supplier that stocks it, and fabric from a furnishing fabric shop or a brand showroom. Sewing machines and compressors come from their own dealers. A hardware store is fine for glue, sandpaper and basic fixings, but not for what holds or shapes the seat.
This page tells you what to buy where, and what to check before you order. The names of the suppliers I use in my own workshop are in the membership.
Find your answer
What are you looking for?
The quality range in upholstery supplies is enormous, and product pages hide it.
At a glance
Which supplier for which material
The whole list in one table.
Before ordering
What to check
Specifications, samples, small first orders.
Foam
Where to buy foam
Why DIY-store foam does not last.
Fabric
Where to buy fabric
Shops, showrooms and Martindale.
Machines
Sewing machine and compressor
Their own dealers, new or second-hand.
Online
Buying online, and at the hardware store
How to judge quality without touching.
At a glance
Which supplier for which upholstery material?
| Material | Where to buy | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Webbing | Upholstery supplier | Real jute or real elastic webbing, not a look-alike |
| Springs | Upholstery supplier | The right size and gauge for your frame |
| Twine and thread | Upholstery supplier | A twine that doesn’t stretch or slip |
| Hessian (burlap) | Upholstery supplier | A weight that holds stitching without tearing |
| Natural fibres | Upholstery supplier | Properly processed horsehair and fibres |
| Tacks and staples | Upholstery supplier | Staple sizes that fit your staple gun |
| Decorative nails | Upholstery supplier | Finish and head size, with a sample against your fabric |
| Piping cord, braid, gimp | Upholstery supplier | A sample against your fabric |
| Curtain lining | Upholstery supplier | Width and weight for your curtains |
| Tools | Upholstery supplier | Tools made for upholstery, not general DIY versions |
| Foam | Foam specialist, or an upholstery supplier that stocks it | The exact density and type, cut to size |
| Fabric | Furnishing fabric shop, or a brand showroom in big cities | The rub count (Martindale) and a physical sample |
| Sewing machine | Sewing machine dealer, new or second-hand | A machine that sews thick upholstery fabrics |
| Compressor | Compressor dealer, new or second-hand | Matched to your pneumatic staple gun |
| Chair frames | Frame maker | Solid wood and sound joints |
| Glue, sandpaper, fixings | Hardware store | General supplies |
Not sure what you need yet? Start with the upholstery tools guide and the upholstery materials guide.
Before ordering
What should you check before you order?
Two rolls of jute webbing can look identical online and behave completely differently on a frame. “High density” foam does not mean the same thing from one supplier to the next.
Ask for exact specifications
The density and type of a foam, the weight of a hessian, the gauge of a spring. A vague description is a warning sign.
Ask for samples
Colour, texture, weight and drape can’t be judged on a screen.
Start small with a new supplier
One roll, one sheet, then compare with what you know.
Don’t save on what holds the seat
On what holds or shapes the seat, the price difference is usually small; the difference in the finished seat is not.
The most important address
What does an upholstery supplier sell?
Almost everything an upholsterer needs: the structural and comfort materials (webbing, springs, twine, hessian, natural fibres, edge roll, calico, wadding), the fixings (tacks, staples), the finishing (decorative nails, piping cord, braid, gimp), curtain lining, and the tools of the trade. Some also sell foam, others don’t. Its staff know what an upholsterer needs, which spring for a frame, which nails for a fabric, how much twine a spring deck takes, and it sells in quantities that make sense for one project: by the metre, the roll or the piece.
Decorative nails and trims
Decorative nails always come from your upholstery supplier, and most trims too. Choosing a finish is a design decision as much as a technical one: get samples to hold against your fabric. See the piping guide and how to apply decorative nails.
Tools
From your upholstery supplier too. A tack hammer, a webbing stretcher, a regulator or a ripping chisel made for upholstery does the job far better than a DIY version. See the basic manual tools.
Foam
Where should you buy upholstery foam?
From a foam specialist, or from your upholstery supplier if it stocks foam. You want several densities and firmnesses, cutting to size, and someone who can tell you which foam suits a seat, a back or an arm. DIY-store foam is often softer and lighter than it looks, and breaks down sooner. On a project where the foam makes the comfort, a seat cushion, a deep armchair, a bench, this is not the place to save. Before ordering, read which foam for upholstery.
Fabric
Where should you buy upholstery fabric?
From a shop that specialises in furnishing fabrics. In a big city, you can also go straight to the brands’ showrooms. In both, you can handle the fabrics and take samples home. Check the abrasion resistance: at least 30,000 Martindale cycles for a seat used every day, less is fine for a decorative cushion, and trust a serious fabric house as much as the number. Work out your quantities before you go with the fabric calculator and the upholstery fabric guide.
Machines
Where should you buy a sewing machine or a compressor?
From their own dealers: a sewing machine dealer for the machine, a compressor dealer for the compressor. They are usually two different suppliers, and both often sell new and second-hand equipment, worth considering for a first workshop. See the sewing machine for upholstery, which air compressor and the staple guns.
Online
Can you buy upholstery supplies online?
Yes, and outside a few big cities it is often the only way. The difficulty is judging quality without handling the product, and some online shops sell consumer-grade products under professional-sounding names. Follow the checks above and be patient: it takes time to find the shops that deliver professional quality every time.
At the hardware store
Sandpaper, wood glue, basic fixings, paint for frames and everyday consumables.
Not at the hardware store
Webbing, springs, foam, twine and hessian: for what holds or shapes the seat, the general version will not do.
My address book
Which suppliers do I use in my workshop?
After years of ordering for my own workshop, I know which suppliers deliver what they promise, and which ones don’t. I share their names, their contacts and what I buy from each of them with the members of The Hammer Club, alongside all my step-by-step tutorials.
My upholstery suppliers list
Upholstery suppliers: your questions
Can I use foam from a DIY store?
For a footstool you rarely sit on, maybe. For a seat used every day, no: it is usually softer than it looks and breaks down sooner. Buy from a foam specialist or an upholstery supplier, and ask for the exact density.
How many Martindale cycles do I need for a chair?
At least 30,000 for a seat used every day; a decorative cushion can go lower. Figures are not measured the same way everywhere: see the fabric guide.
Do upholstery suppliers sell to beginners?
Most upholstery suppliers, foam specialists and furnishing fabric shops sell to anyone, in small quantities. Some brand showrooms only sell to professionals.
Should I buy a new or a second-hand sewing machine?
Both can work. Dealers often sell second-hand machines as well as new ones: a good way to start with a stronger machine for the same budget.
Is a craft shop cheaper?
Rarely. The price difference with an upholstery supplier is small, and materials that stretch, slip or sag mean redoing the seat sooner.
Where do I find your suppliers?
Their names and contacts are shared with members of The Hammer Club.
Where to go next
Ready to order, ready to start
The Hammer Club
My suppliers, and every tutorial
The names and contacts of the suppliers I use, what I buy from each, and step-by-step photo tutorials, many with video.
Written by Céline Vanier, professional upholsterer established since 2012 on the shores of Lake Annecy, in the French Alps.
