Key Takeaways
Here's the short version before the full walkthrough.
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Most dining room chairs share a simple build, which makes them a good first project with no sewing.
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The old cover is your best pattern, so remove it carefully and label every piece.
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Cut new material 3 to 4 inches larger than the seat on every side.
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High-density foam 2 to 3 inches thick, wrapped in Dacron batting, brings flat cushions back.
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Staple the center of each side first and leave the corners for last.
What It Takes to Reupholster Chairs
Learning how to reupholster a chair comes down to a short sequence: remove the seat, strip the old cover, check the frame, replace the foam, then stretch and staple new material over it. A drop-in dining seat usually takes an afternoon the first time. Chairs with upholstered backs and piping take longer, often a full weekend for a set.
Midwest Fabrics has supplied upholsterers and DIY customers since 1983, and our furniture upholstery fabric collection is a good place to compare colors and patterns once you know how much is needed.
Supplies to Gather First
Gather everything before the chair comes apart, since stopping halfway is how screws get lost.
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Upholstery fabric, plus high-density foam and Dacron batting if the old cushions are flat.
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An upholstery staple gun and staples. The Merit Pro regular nose model takes 71-series staples from 1/4 to 5/8 inch.
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A flat head screwdriver, pliers, spray adhesive, scissors, pins, a marker, and a tape measure.
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Black cambric for the underside, plus sandpaper, a damp towel, and stain if you'll refinish the wood.
How Much Fabric to Reupholster a Chair
Measure the seat front to back and side to side, running the tape over the top of the cushion and down to the bottom edge of the seat board. Add 6 to 8 inches to each number (3 to 4 inches per side) so you have something to grab and pull.
A seat measuring 19 inches each way needs a piece about 26 inches square, so three-quarters of a yard of 54-inch-wide material covers two seats. Chairs in a set rarely share the exact same size, so measure each one. For upholstered backs, measure the front and back panels and add them to the total. Buy extra when a large print has to line up across several chairs.
How to Reupholster a Chair Step by Step
These steps follow a standard dining chair, which is also the easiest way to learn how to reupholster a chair seat. Upholstered backs share the same process, plus the extra work covered in the next section.
1. Photograph the Chair and Remove the Seat
Photograph every angle before anything comes off, including the corners and underside. Stand the chair upside down on a towel and remove the screws found underneath. Drop them into baggies and label each bag by chair and location. On a full set of chairs, you'll finish reassembly faster thanks to those labels.
2. Strip the Old Cover and Keep It
Lift each staple with a flat head screwdriver, then pull it out with pliers. Work slowly around the edge so the old fabric comes off in one piece, then mark its front and sides with a marker.
3. Check the Frame and Refinish the Wood
With the seat off, test the wooden frame for stability. Tighten loose screws and reglue wobbly joints before anything new goes on. If you've found webbing instead of a wood base, replace any that sags.
To refinish exposed wood, sand off the old finish with 100 grit sandpaper. An electric sander makes quick work of a set of chairs. Wipe the dust away with a damp towel, let it dry, and apply a coat of stain.
4. Replace the Foam and Rebuild the Seat Cushion
For most seat cushions, high-density foam 2 to 3 inches thick restores comfort. Our medium firm upholstery foam is HR30, a high-resilience foam sold in sheets from 1/2 inch to 6 inches thick.
Trace the base onto the foam and cut it to size. Spray adhesive will hold the foam to the wood while you work. Wrap Dacron batting over the top and down the sides, and the seat cushion gets a smooth, rounded look thanks to that layer. If you're keeping existing cushions, clean them first. The foam density chart explains how firmness and density compare.
5. Cut and Staple the New Fabric
Lay the old pieces face down on your new upholstery fabric, pin them in place, and cut around each with 3 to 4 inches extra. If several chairs share one print, confirm it runs front to back before cutting.
Place the seat upside down on the material. Put one staple in the middle of the front edge, pull the fabric tight to the back, and staple there. Repeat on the two sides, then work from the center of each side toward the corners so no wrinkles form on top.
6. Finish the Corners
Corners are where first attempts start to look homemade. Pull each corner straight down toward the center and staple it. Fold the excess on each side into a neat pleat, keep the top smooth, and staple again. If a corner bunches, pull the staples and redo it. Once the seat is covered and every edge is secure, trim the extra underneath.
7. Add the Dust Cover and Reattach the Seat
Cut black cambric slightly smaller than the underside and staple it over the raw edges. Poke through the cambric at the screw holes, set the seat back on the frame, and drive the labeled screws into place.
Reupholstering Chair Backs with Piping
Chairs with padded backs take more time, but they're manageable thanks to the old cover, which does most of the thinking. Use the original back panels as templates, cut around them with 3 to 4 inches extra, and label each new piece for the front and back sides.
For piping, cut strips 2 inches wide, fold them around the cord, and do your sewing with a zipper foot so the needle runs close to the cord. Piping should sit tight along the seams for the best appearance. If the original cord is in good shape, reusing it saves material. After sewing, staple the piping to the frame, then fit the back cover over it.
Choosing Upholstery Fabric for Dining Room Chairs
Chairs at the table deal with daily sitting, sliding, and spills. Choose material rated for heavy use with a high double-rub count on the spec sheet, which measures abrasion resistance. Tightly woven synthetics tend to outlast loose natural weaves, and a darker color hides crumbs better than a light solid. Vinyl is another choice for kitchen chairs in homes with kids since it wipes clean.
Our guide to the most durable upholstery fabric compares the common options.
Common Reupholstering Mistakes
Most problems on reupholstered chairs trace back to rushing a step. These come up most often:
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Skipping photos and labels, then guessing how everything goes back together.
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Cutting too small and leaving nothing to grab.
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Stapling corners first, which locks in creases.
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Leaving flat, crumbling cushions covered with a fresh layer on top.
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Ignoring print direction, so stripes run crooked across a set.
Expect some trial and error on the first seat. Start with the chair at the end of the table, where there's more room for error.