Yardage to Reupholster Chairs

Drop-In Seat

• Reupholstering a drop-in seat chair, such as for a dining room, is the easiest of all reupholstering jobs since only the cushion you sit on gets covered. It's just a matter of removing the upholstered portion of the chair, taking off the old fabric and then replacing it with new fabric. The amount of fabric necessary to reupholster a drop-in seat chair can range from 1/2 to 1 yard per chair. Measure the length of the seat from the back of the chair to the front. If it is more than 18 inches, purchase 1 yard per chair. If it is less, purchase 1/2 yard per chair. Remember that you also need to allow a little extra fabric to attach to the underside of the seat.

Club Chair

• A club chair is essentially an overstuffed armchair. Reupholstering one means recovering the front and bottom cushions, sides, and back. An average armchair takes about 6 yards of fabric. Add one more yard of fabric if you want to add piping around the cushion seams. Add two more yards if you want to pipe around all the seams on the chair. Some armchairs have skirting around the bottom of the chair. While it is not necessary to add skirting, purchase an additional 4 yards of fabric if you want it. This brings the total amount of fabric for reupholstering a club chair to about 10 yards.

Wingback Chair

• Most wing chairs have high backs and deep sides, making it necessary for you to purchase more fabric than for a regular armchair. The same basics apply to the wing chair as to the armchair for the front, back, and the cushion, which take about 4 yards. Add at least 1 additional yard for each side. One way to measure for the sides is to pretend the wing is a rectangle. Measure from the top to the bottom and then out as far as the wing extends. Add another 4 yards for skirting and 2 yards for piping, if desired. Make sure to allow extra fabric if you choose to use a plaid or a stripe that needs matching up on the different parts of the chair.

Recliners

• A recliner requires more fabric than other types of chairs, because the fabric must be a little looser on a recliner to allow for movement, whereas it's pulled taut over a plain armchair. You also need to take into consideration fabric for the foot rest and the puffy, overstuffed cushions. On average, it takes 9 yards of fabric to reupholster a recliner. Recliners do not usually have skirting, since it can get caught up in the foot rest and they also do not usually have piping, which is associated with more formal styles of furniture. Choose a heavyweight upholstery fabric for a recliner. Because of the tugging and pulling of the footrest and the fact that some people put their shoes on it, a heavier fabric stands up much better over time than lighter weight upholstery fabrics.