Task & Executive Chairs
Seat and back reupholstery, foam replacement, new arm pads. Steelcase Leap, Herman Miller Aeron covers, Humanscale, and all major brands.
$150–$400/chair
Reupholstery Services
New fabric. Same furniture. Fraction of the cost.
Professional reupholstery restores worn commercial furniture to like-new condition — new fabric, fresh foam, and a look that matches your space. At 40–60% the cost of buying new.
Explore the material options
40–60%
Of new furniture cost
2–4 wk
Typical turnaround
10yr+
Extended furniture life
National
Coverage
What's Involved
Product types & pricing benchmarks
These are typical ranges for labor + standard commercial fabric. COM and specialty fabrics may vary.
Panel System Fabrics
Strip and re-wrap cubicle panels with fresh commercial-grade fabric. Match new hire areas to existing panels or refresh an entire floor.
$30–$80/panel
Lounge & Soft Seating
Full reupholstery for lobby sofas, lounge chairs, and collaborative seating. New foam, new fabric, restored to client-facing standards.
$400–$1,200/piece
Conference & Side Chairs
Seat and back re-cover for conference room seating. Coordinate across 8–20+ matching chairs for a uniform look.
$100–$250/chair
Booth & Banquette Seating
Break room, café, and common area booth reupholstery. Commercial vinyl and fabric options rated for high-use environments.
$200–$600/section
Healthcare & Cleanable Seating
Reupholstery with bleach-cleanable, antimicrobial fabrics for healthcare, senior living, and behavioral health environments.
$200–$500/piece
The texture you feel.Illustrative material study. Confirm specifications with your fabric supplier.
Fabric Selection
Commercial fabric options
All fabrics are selected for commercial durability — minimum 100,000 double rubs (Wyzenbeek) for standard applications, higher for healthcare and hospitality.
Commercial-Grade Woven
Clean Code: WStandard office environments. 100K+ double rubs. Wide color range.
Vinyl / Faux Leather
Clean Code: W/SHealthcare, hospitality, food service. Bleach-cleanable. Moisture resistant.
Crypton / Stain-Resistant
Clean Code: WHigh-traffic collaborative spaces. Built-in stain, moisture, and odor resistance.
COM (Customer's Own Material)
Clean Code: VariesSpecify any fabric you want. Reupholstery shops work with your designer or procurement team.
Antimicrobial / Silicone
Clean Code: WHealthcare and behavioral health. Fluid barrier, easy clean, no seams for bacteria.
Why Reupholster
The math makes sense.
Cost Savings
A Steelcase Leap costs ~$1,200 new. Reupholstering one costs $200–$350. Multiply by 100 chairs and you've saved $85,000+.
Sustainability
Reupholstery uses 80% less material than manufacturing new. Keep quality frames out of landfills and reduce your environmental footprint.
Design Refresh
Update your color palette without replacing furniture. Match new hires' stations to your current aesthetic, or rebrand an entire floor.
The Process
Step-by-step reupholstery process and timeline
Commercial reupholstery is a multi-step process that goes well beyond simply wrapping new fabric around old foam. Understanding each step helps set realistic expectations for timeline and cost.
Step 1: Pickup and Intake (Day 1)
The reupholstery shop arranges pickup from the client's location. For large orders (50+ chairs), the shop typically sends a box truck with blankets and a crew of 2-3 to protect and load the furniture. Each piece is tagged with a unique work order number at intake. The shop photographs each item's current condition to document pre-existing damage and create a baseline for quality comparison when the work is complete.
Step 2: Disassembly and Mechanism Inspection (Day 2-3)
The old fabric is removed and the underlying structure is inspected. For task chairs, this means checking the tilt mechanism (synchro-tilt, knee-tilt, or multifunction), gas cylinder (checking for drift — the cylinder should hold the chair at any height without sinking), lumbar support adjustment, arm height and pivot mechanisms, and the base and casters. Any failed components are noted for replacement. A thorough shop tests every mechanism, not just the ones the client reported as problems. Replacing a gas cylinder during reupholstery adds $25-50 in parts and negligible labor — far cheaper than a separate service call later.
Step 3: Foam Evaluation and Replacement (Day 3-4)
Seat foam degrades with use — it compresses, loses resilience, and develops permanent indentations. Quality reupholstery shops replace foam as a default, not as an upgrade. Commercial-grade seat foam is typically 2.5-4.0 lb density polyurethane (residential furniture uses 1.5-2.0 lb, which is insufficient for daily office use). High-resilience (HR) foam is the industry standard for task seating because it rebounds to its original shape after compression. Some shops offer memory foam or gel-infused foam as upgrades. For lounge seating, foam replacement may include multiple layers — a high-density base with a softer comfort layer on top, often with Dacron wrap for a smooth surface under the fabric.
Step 4: Fabric Cutting and Sewing (Day 4-7)
Fabric is cut using patterns specific to each chair model. Experienced shops maintain pattern libraries for common commercial chairs — Steelcase Leap, Gesture, Think; Herman Miller Aeron, Sayl, Cosm; Haworth Zody, Fern; Humanscale Freedom, Liberty. Custom patterns are created for less common models. Fabric pieces are sewn together using commercial-grade thread (bonded nylon or polyester, not cotton) with lock-stitch seams. For chairs with contoured backs, the fabric must be stretched and shaped to match the chair's ergonomic profile without wrinkles or puckering.
Step 5: Upholstering and Reassembly (Day 7-10)
The new fabric is applied to the seat and back, stapled or clipped into place depending on the chair design. The piece is reassembled with any replaced components — new gas cylinder, new arm pads, new casters. The chair is adjusted to verify all mechanisms function correctly through their full range. For panel system fabrics, the new textile is stretched over the panel frame and secured with retaining clips. The finished product is photographed and compared against the intake photos.
Step 6: Quality Inspection and Delivery (Day 10-14)
A quality control inspector reviews each piece before release: fabric tension is even, seams are straight, staples are fully seated, mechanisms operate correctly, and no adhesive residue or stray threads are visible. The furniture is then wrapped for transport and delivered back to the client's location. Professional shops include a walkthrough at delivery where the client can inspect the work and flag any issues for immediate correction.
Fabric Performance
Fabric testing standards: what the numbers mean
Not all fabric is suitable for commercial use. The Association for Contract Textiles (ACT) publishes performance standards that define minimum durability for different applications. Understanding these standards prevents choosing a fabric that looks great on day one but fails within months.
Wyzenbeek Abrasion (Double Rubs)
The Wyzenbeek test measures fabric durability by rubbing a cotton duck or wire mesh back and forth across the fabric. Each back-and-forth cycle is one "double rub." ACT minimums: 15,000 double rubs for light-duty vertical surfaces, 30,000 for general contract upholstery. For task seating in daily use, specify 100,000+ double rubs. Premium commercial fabrics from Maharam, Kvadrat, Designtex, and Carnegie typically rate 100,000-500,000 double rubs. Fabrics under 30,000 double rubs should never be used on task chairs.
Martindale Abrasion (European Standard)
The Martindale method uses a circular rubbing motion and is the standard in European and international markets. It is not directly comparable to Wyzenbeek — a Martindale rating of 40,000 cycles does not equal 40,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs. As a rough guide, multiply Martindale cycles by 2-3 to approximate Wyzenbeek equivalence. For commercial seating, specify 40,000+ Martindale cycles. European fabric brands (Kvadrat, Camira, Gabriel) report Martindale ratings.
ACT Performance Guidelines
Beyond abrasion, ACT tests for: colorfastness to light (resistance to fading — Class 4 minimum for general upholstery, Class 5 for direct sunlight exposure), colorfastness to wet and dry crocking (color transfer to clothing — Class 3 minimum), physical properties (tensile strength, seam slippage, pilling resistance), and flammability (Cal TB 117-2013 or NFPA 260/261 compliance). All fabrics specified for commercial reupholstery should carry the ACT symbol for each relevant test.
COM (Customer's Own Material) Process
COM allows specifying any fabric, not just what the reupholstery shop stocks. The process: select a fabric from any commercial textile company (Maharam, Designtex, Knoll Textiles, Camira, Carnegie, ArcCom), request a cutting for approval (CFA — Cutting For Approval), then order the required yardage. Standard task chairs require 1.5-2.5 yards each. Lounge chairs require 6-10 yards. Sofas require 12-20 yards. Always order 10-15% overage to account for pattern matching and cutting waste. COM fabrics typically ship in 2-4 weeks from the textile company, so add this lead time to the reupholstery schedule.
Planning
Lead times and batch planning for large programs
Lead times vary significantly by product type, quantity, and fabric sourcing. Batch planning is essential for minimizing workplace disruption on large orders.
Lead Times by Product Type
Task chairs (stock fabric)2-3 weeks
Task chairs (COM fabric)4-6 weeks
Panel system fabrics3-5 weeks
Lounge seating4-6 weeks
Conference chairs (sets of 8-20)2-4 weeks
Booths and banquettes3-5 weeks
Batch Planning Strategy
For orders over 50 chairs, a phased batch approach is standard:
- → Batch size: 15-25 chairs per batch is typical. This leaves enough chairs in the office for staff while a batch is at the shop.
- → Cycle time: Each batch takes 2-3 weeks. The shop picks up the next batch when delivering the completed batch.
- → Loaner chairs: Some shops provide loaner task chairs for the duration. Ask about this — it eliminates the need for batch sizing entirely.
- → 200-chair program example: 8-10 batches, completed over 16-24 weeks with minimal daily disruption.
PLAN A PHASED RETURN
Keep the office working.
See how many batches your chair program needs. Replace the example quantities with your own.
5pickup batches
80 chairs stay in service during a full batch. Final batch: 20.
Assumes each batch returns before the next leaves. Quantities only; confirm turnaround, spare seating and transport with your shop.
When reupholstery isn't the right call
- → Mechanism failure: If the chair's tilt, gas cylinder, or lumbar mechanism is broken and the chair is 10+ years old, replacement parts may be unavailable or not cost-effective.
- → Frame damage: Cracked plastic shells, bent metal frames, or broken bases cannot be fixed with fabric. These chairs need replacement.
- → Cost threshold: If reupholstery exceeds 60% of the new purchase price, buying new usually makes more sense — updated ergonomics and a full warranty come with new product.
- → Obsolete models: Very old panel systems or chairs from discontinued brands may not be worth investing in if parts and replacement fabric are unavailable.
Not sure? A qualified reupholstery shop can provide an honest assessment of whether reupholstery makes sense for a given piece of furniture.
Avoid These
Common reupholstery mistakes
Choosing residential-grade fabric for commercial chairs
Choosing residential-grade fabric for commercial chairs
Residential fabrics (under 30,000 double rubs) may look beautiful in the showroom but will pill, wear through, and fade within 6-12 months on a daily-use task chair. Always specify commercial-grade fabric rated at 100,000+ double rubs for seating. This is the single most common mistake in commercial reupholstery.
Skipping foam replacement to save money
Skipping foam replacement to save money
Old compressed foam creates the same discomfort as old fabric. Reupholstering with new fabric over old foam is like putting new paint on a rusted car — it looks good temporarily but the underlying problem remains. The labor to replace foam during reupholstery is minimal since the chair is already disassembled. Foam adds $20-50 per chair in materials. Always replace it.
Not inspecting mechanisms before committing to reupholstery
Not inspecting mechanisms before committing to reupholstery
Discovering a dead gas cylinder or broken tilt mechanism after the fabric has been ordered and cut wastes time and money. The shop should inspect every mechanism before generating the final quote. If the mechanism repair cost pushes total reupholstery cost above 60% of a new chair, replacement is the better option.
Ordering insufficient COM yardage
Ordering insufficient COM yardage
Running short on customer-supplied fabric mid-project means waiting another 2-4 weeks for the textile company to ship more — if the dye lot even matches. Different dye lots of the same fabric can show visible color variation when placed side by side. Order 10-15% overage and insist that the entire order ships from a single dye lot.
Not requesting a pilot before a large order
Not requesting a pilot before a large order
For orders of 50+ chairs, have the shop complete 1-2 sample chairs first for approval before committing to the full run. This catches issues with fabric color (monitors display color differently than physical fabric), foam firmness, and workmanship quality. A pilot adds one week but can prevent an expensive mistake across hundreds of chairs.
Ignoring lead time for COM fabric orders
Ignoring lead time for COM fabric orders
COM fabric from major textile houses (Maharam, Designtex, Knoll Textiles) typically ships in 2-4 weeks. Some colors and patterns are made-to-order with 6-8 week lead times. Check stock availability and lead time before finalizing the fabric selection, or the reupholstery timeline will double.
Questions to ask reupholstery shops
- → Do you replace foam as standard, or is that an additional charge?
- → What density and type of foam do you use for task chair seats? (Look for 2.5+ lb density HR foam.)
- → Do you inspect and test all mechanisms (tilt, gas cylinder, lumbar) as part of the reupholstery process?
- → Can you source replacement parts (gas cylinders, arm pads, casters) for the specific chair models in the order?
- → What is the minimum abrasion rating for fabrics in your standard selection?
- → Do you accept COM fabric? What is the yardage requirement per chair for the specific model?
- → For large orders, do you offer batch scheduling? Do you provide loaner chairs during the process?
- → What is the warranty on the reupholstery work (fabric, foam, and labor)?
- → Can you complete a 1-2 chair pilot for approval before starting the full order?
- → Is pickup and delivery included in the quoted price, or is transportation a separate line item?
Get Started
Get connected with reupholstery experts.
Describe what you have and get connected with qualified reupholstery shops that specialize in commercial furniture.
What to include:
- → Product type (task chairs, panels, lounge, conference)
- → Brand and model (check labels under seats)
- → Quantity
- → Current condition and what needs attention
- → Location (city and state)
- → Photos (even phone photos help tremendously)
Pro TipFor large chair orders (50+), ask about phased reupholstery — the shop picks up a batch, returns them finished, and picks up the next batch. This minimizes disruption to the team.
Furniture and material images are illustrative AI-generated scenes.