What is reupholstery?

Reupholstery is redoing the upholstery on furniture you already own: the worn cover is stripped off, the padding, webbing or springs underneath are repaired or replaced as needed, and new cover material is fitted onto the existing frame.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Updated 29 October 2026

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What does reupholstery mean?

Reupholstery means taking the old upholstery off a piece of furniture and making it new again, rather than building a new piece. The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET profile of upholsterers (occupation 51-6093.00) describes the work this way: “Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29.

Furniture reupholstery

Furniture reupholstery covers seating pieces such as chairs, couches and footstools, and the new outer layer can be fabric, leather or vinyl; car seats are a separate branch of the trade. The CPSC, O*NET and a 1946 Montana Extension Service bulletin say: “The TB 117-2013 Section 1 test applies to cover fabrics and cover materials, such as fabric, leather, vinyl, and other woven, knit and nonwoven materials used as the outermost layer in an in-scope upholstered furniture article.” Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read 2026-10-29. “Make, repair, or replace automobile upholstery and convertible and vinyl tops, using knowledge of fabric and upholstery methods.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Such a case may arise in the construction of a studio couch or in the transforming of an old-style chair to one of modern lines and greater comfort.” Source: Montana Extension Service, read 2026-10-29.

What does reupholstery entail?

A reupholstery job usually runs in four stages: inspect the frame, springs and webbing; fix or replace what is worn; cut the new cover to pattern; then fit and fasten it to the frame. O*NET lists these upholsterer tasks: “Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29.

Does reupholstering include new cushions?

It can: cushions may be rebuilt with new padding, re-sewn, or have their spring units repaired, but a job can also be limited to one layer, such as new webbing under a seat that is otherwise sound. A 1946 Montana Extension Service bulletin and O*NET describe both: “When springs in couch or chair cushions have "broken," it is possible to rip the cushion apart and make new sacks to hold the springs in place.” Source: Montana Extension Service, read 2026-10-29. “Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “If the webbing has sagged or loosened and the remainder of the upholstery is in good condition, either new webbing may be put on the bottom of the article or the old webbing restretched without disturbing the upper portion of the upholstery.” Source: Montana Extension Service, read 2026-10-29.

What is an upholsterer's job?

An upholsterer is the tradesperson who does reupholstery; O*NET files the job under occupation code 51-6093.00, and besides covering furniture the work can include frame repair, wood refinishing, tufting and pickup and delivery. O*NET's task list includes: “Repair furniture frames and refinish exposed wood.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Pick up and deliver furniture.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29. “Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics.” Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, read 2026-10-29.

Is reupholstered furniture subject to 16 C.F.R. part 1640?

Yes, in part: the federal upholstered furniture flammability rule, 16 CFR part 1640, names reupholstered furniture in its scope from June 25, 2021, and the CPSC explains that it reaches the materials added during reupholstery and furniture redone for sale. The regulation and the CPSC FAQ say: “All upholstered furniture as defined in § 1640.3 manufactured, imported, or reupholstered on or after the effective date of this standard is subject to the requirements of this part.” Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), read 2026-10-29. “Yes, re-upholsterers are responsible for ensuring that products they reupholster comply with 16 C.F.R. part 1640.” Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read 2026-10-29. “Cover fabrics and resilient filling materials which have been added to in-scope reupholstered furniture need to meet the requirements of TB 117-2013.” Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read 2026-10-29. “The re-upholsterer is not responsible for ensuring that originally used cover fabrics and resilient filling materials which have not been added in the re-upholstery process are compliant with the flammability requirements.” Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read 2026-10-29. “Reupholstered furniture, including antiques, must comply with 16 C.F.R. part 1640 if the furniture is reupholstered for sale.” Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read 2026-10-29. “If the furniture is reupholstered for personal use, it is not subject to the requirements.” Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read 2026-10-29.

What is the difference between upholstery and reupholstery?

Upholstery is the set of soft layers on a piece of furniture, from the filling and barrier materials to the outermost cover, while reupholstery is the job of redoing those layers on an existing, older frame. The CPSC and the 1946 Montana Extension Service bulletin put it this way: “This standard provides methods for smolder resistance of cover fabrics, barrier materials, resilient filling materials, and decking materials for use in upholstered furniture.” Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read 2026-10-29. “TB 117-2013 Section C.2 describes “upholstery cover material” as “the outermost layer of fabric or related material used to enclose the main support system or upholstery materials, or both, used in the furniture item.”” Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read 2026-10-29. “Ordinarily it is necessary to use smaller tacks and more of them in reupholstering a piece of furniture, as the old nail holes and the age of the wood have weakened the frame.” Source: Montana Extension Service, read 2026-10-29.

Sources

Upholstered Furniture (FAQ on 16 C.F.R. part 1640) — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; read 2026-10-29.
16 CFR Part 1640, Standard for the Flammability of Upholstered Furniture — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR); published 2021-04-09; read 2026-10-29.
Simple Upholstery Methods, Bulletin No. 198 Revised — Montana Extension Service; published October 1946; read 2026-10-29.
Summary Report for 51-6093.00 Upholsterers — O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor; published 2026; read 2026-10-29.