Armchair Reupholstery Cost in Montreal: What Really Sets the Price
Chair style, fabric, cushions, padding and frame repair - what moves the price of reupholstering an armchair, wingback or accent chair, from Atlas Upholstering on Cavendish since 1967.
An armchair is the easiest seat to love and the hardest to replace: the right size, the right arms, a back that actually supports you. So when the fabric wears through, the first question we hear is how much does it cost to reupholster an armchair? We do not publish a fixed price list, because a small slipper chair and a deep wingback with tufting are very different jobs. Here is what actually moves the number, so you can judge your own chair before you send a photo.
1. Style and size of the chair
Size drives both labour and fabric. A compact accent or slipper chair is the smallest job; club chairs, deep lounge chairs and oversized chairs need more fabric and more time to strip and re-cover. If you also have a matching sofa or loveseat, doing the set together keeps fabric and colour consistent, and our sofa reupholstery cost guide shows how those pieces are priced.
2. Construction details that add time
Two armchairs of similar size can take very different amounts of work. These are the details that matter most:
| Detail | Why it matters | Effect on price |
|---|---|---|
| Tight back and seat, simple arms | Fewer panels to cut and sew | Most economical |
| Loose seat or back cushion | Each cushion is a separate cover, often with a zipper and welting | Mid-range |
| Wingback, curved or rolled arms | More shaping and careful pattern fitting | Mid to high |
| Tufting, channels, piping or nailhead trim | Hand work, extra fabric and pattern matching | Higher |
| Skirt, pleats or exposed wood | More panels, or wood that may need touching up | Mid to high |
If you are not sure what you have, two photos, one from the front and one from the side, are enough for us to tell.
3. Fabric: how much and what kind
An armchair uses far less cloth than a sofa, which is why it is a good place to choose a fabric you love. Even so, fabric is the biggest lever you control: a hard-wearing performance fabric and a premium velvet can sit far apart on the quote even though the labour is the same, and patterned cloth that has to be matched across the back, seat and arms uses more. Our upholstery fabric guide explains durability ratings, pets and sunlight. You can bring your own fabric too; check the width and abrasion rating with us first.
4. What is under the fabric: padding, springs and frame
This is the part you cannot see in a photo and the most common reason a quote changes. If the seat foam has collapsed, the webbing has sagged or a spring has let go, new fabric on top will look good briefly and then go flat. We inspect everything when the chair is stripped and itemise padding, springs and labour separately. Loose or cracked joints are re-glued and reinforced while the chair is apart; our furniture repair service handles that, so you are not paying to recover a frame that will fail again.
5. Leather or fabric
Genuine leather generally costs more than most fabrics and takes more skill to cut and sew. Faux leather and performance fabrics sit in between and clean easily. If a leather chair is only scuffed, split or worn at one panel, a repair may be all you need; see our leather furniture repair service before you commit to a full recover.
6. Reupholster or buy a new chair?
Reupholstering makes the most sense when the frame is solid hardwood, the chair is comfortable, or it is sentimental, antique or custom-sized. It is usually not worth it for a lightweight frame that is already coming apart. Our is it worth reupholstering? guide walks through the decision, and the full reupholstery cost guide covers sofas, headboards and more. Doing a set of kitchen or dining chairs too? See the dining chair cost guide.
7. How the quote works
Send photos of the front, side and back of your armchair and a note about fabric through our quote form, or call (514) 481-2652. We confirm the construction, agree on fabric and send a free written estimate. The timeline depends on the workshop schedule and when your fabric is confirmed, and we offer pickup and delivery across Greater Montreal so you do not have to move the chair yourself.
Armchair reupholstery FAQ
How much does it cost to reupholster an armchair in Montreal?
It depends on the chair's style and size, how much fabric it needs, whether the cushion, foam, springs or webbing need work, and the fabric you choose. Atlas does not publish a fixed price list; we send a free written estimate with fabric, padding and labour itemised once we see photos of the chair.
Is an armchair cheaper to reupholster than a sofa?
Generally yes, because there is less to strip, pattern and sew and less fabric to buy. A simple tight-back armchair is among the most economical jobs, while a wingback with tufting, piping or a skirt takes more time and cloth.
Is it worth reupholstering an old armchair?
If the frame is solid, the chair is comfortable, or it is an inherited, antique or custom-sized piece that is hard to replace, reupholstering is usually worth it. A lightweight frame that is already coming apart is rarely worth recovering.
Does the price include new foam and springs?
Not automatically. We open the chair, check the foam, webbing and springs, and itemise any replacement separately in the written estimate. New fabric over a collapsed seat looks good for a few months and then sags.
Can I bring my own fabric for an armchair?
Yes. Customer-supplied fabric is welcome. Check the width, pattern repeat and abrasion rating with us first so there is enough cloth and it suits upholstery use.
Do you pick up and deliver armchairs in Montreal?
Yes. Atlas offers pickup and delivery across Greater Montreal, and you can also visit the studio at 2535 Boul. Cavendish in NDG to see fabric samples.
Get a free quote for your armchair
Send us a few photos of your armchair (front, side and back), tell us the style and whether you have a fabric in mind. We reply within 24 hours with a free, no-obligation written estimate, and we pick up and deliver across Greater Montreal. Family-run on Cavendish since 1967.