Published by Upholstery World Auckland · Reading time: 5 minutes
A set of dining chairs is one of those things you use every single day without really noticing — until the fabric starts peeling, the foam goes flat, or a guest runs their hand across the seat and you catch yourself hoping they don’t notice. If your dining chairs have a solid timber or metal frame but tired upholstery, reupholstering them is almost always a better investment than replacing them.
So what does it actually cost to reupholster six dining chairs in New Zealand? Here’s a realistic guide.
Average Cost to Reupholster 6 Dining Chairs in NZ
For a set of six standard dining chairs with padded seats (the most common type), you can expect to pay:
- Budget fabric option: $480 – $720 total ($80–$120 per chair)
- Mid-range performance fabric: $720 – $1,200 total ($120–$200 per chair)
- Premium fabric or leather: $1,200 – $2,400 total ($200–$400 per chair)
These prices assume seat-only reupholstery, which is the most common request for dining chairs. If the chair back is also upholstered, add 30–60% to each chair’s price.
Seat-Only vs Full Chair Reupholstery — What’s the Difference?
Seat-Only Reupholstery
Most dining chairs have a separate padded seat pad that drops into or screws onto the frame. Reupholstering just the seat is a quicker job, uses less fabric, and costs significantly less. It’s the right choice when the chair back is unupholstered timber, metal, or plastic.
Full Chair Reupholstery
If your chairs have padded backs as well as seats — common on higher-end dining furniture — full reupholstery involves both surfaces. It takes more material and labour but the result is a completely refreshed chair that looks brand new.
What Affects the Per-Chair Price?
- Fabric choice — this is the single biggest variable. See fabric pricing below.
- Whether foam replacement is needed — flat, compressed foam should always be replaced at the same time for the best result.
- The complexity of the seat shape — contoured or buttoned seats take more skill and time.
- Whether any structural repairs are needed on the frames.
- The quantity — six chairs at once is more efficient than one at a time.
Fabric Options and What They Cost
For six dining chairs, you’ll typically need 3–5 metres of fabric in total for seat-only reupholstery (about 0.5–0.8 metres per chair). Here’s what different fabric tiers cost:
- Budget fabrics ($20–$40/m): Polyester blends, basic weaves. Functional and affordable.
- Mid-range performance fabrics ($45–$80/m): Stain-resistant, higher rub count, better longevity. Good for families.
- Designer/premium fabrics ($85–$150+/m): Velvet, bouclé, linen, wool blends. Elevated look and feel.
- Leather ($100–$200+/m): Durable, easy-clean, timeless. Higher upfront cost but exceptional lifespan.
At Upholstery World, we bring fabric samples to your home so you can see and feel the options in the actual light of the room they’ll be used in. We always recommend choosing fabric with a rub count of at least 25,000 for dining chairs — they get more daily use than almost any other furniture.
Should You Reupholster or Buy New?
New dining chairs of reasonable quality in New Zealand typically start from $150–$300 per chair, meaning a set of six runs $900–$1,800 minimum. For that money you’ll often get chairs with thinner frames, cheaper foam, and fabric that won’t outlast a few years of daily use.
Reupholstering your existing chairs — especially if they have solid timber frames — gives you:
- Better quality construction underneath than equivalent-priced new chairs
- Complete control over fabric choice, colour and finish
- A more sustainable outcome — good furniture shouldn’t end up in landfill
- Chairs that match the rest of your dining furniture perfectly
How Long Does the Process Take?
A set of six dining chair seats typically takes 3–5 business days from the time we collect the chairs. Full chair reupholstery (seat and back) may take 5–8 days. We’ll give you a precise timeline when you get your quote.
Ready to bring your furniture back to life? Get a free quote from Upholstery World — Auckland’s trusted upholstery specialists.
