Upholstery for Cars Cost

Typical costs:

• Custom seat covers (either from the original vehicle manufacturer or, more typically, from a company specializing in seat voers) are made-to-order to fit a specific seat style in a specific year, make and model of vehicle, and can cost $200-$1,000 or more per row, depending on size, style and material. Installation by an auto upholstery shop (which can include adding batting or foam, or repairing springs if needed) can cost an additional $100-$800 or more, bringing total costs to $200-$1,800 or more per row for professional installation of custom slip covers.
• Having the car seats professionally reupholstered (not just adding slip covers, but completely replacing the old material with a chosen fabric, adding foam or batting where needed, and repairing springs if needed) typically costs $200-$750 per seat, or about $500-$2,000 for two bucket seats and a back bench seat, depending on local rates; the size and style of the seat; the amount of repairs needed to the springs and padding; and whether the seats are reupholstered in standard cloth or vinyl, or with more expensive materials like leather or high-end synthetics.
• For example, Jim's Auto Upholstery^[1] in Nampa, ID has a minimum price of $400 for a truck bench seat, $500 for a pair of bucket seats, $85 for a single motorcycle seat and $250 for a double motorcycle seat; Kathy's Upholstery^[2] in Conway, AR primarily recovers furniture, but advertises a starting price of $300 for reupholstering a truck bench and back (or $150 for only the bench).
• A complete professional reupholstering of a vehicle -- seats, side panels, sail panels (triangular), headliner, carpets and more -- to create a "showroom" interior starts at about $1,000-$4,000 for basic materials but with leather or high-end cloth it can cost $5,000-$10,000 or more, depending on the year, make and model of vehicle, and what is included.

• Reupholstering car seats typically requires removing them from the vehicle; removing the fabric; using it to create a pattern for the new material; checking and repairing the springs and padding as needed; installing the new material; and replacing the reupholstered seat in the vehicle. DetailXperts.net provides an overview of the process.
• Reupholstering the complete interior requires removing the seats and the other items that are being redone. O'Neal & Sons Upholstery in Florida provides a video demonstration of reupholstering a headliner^[3] .

• An auto upholsterer might charge $150-$300 or more for a simple repair, depending on location and the extent of the damage.

• As an alternative, universal seat covers that fit a general size and style of seat typically cost $10-$70 each; they don't look as good as custom covers or reupholstered seats, but they generally covers stains or rips and prevent further damage.
• A do-it-yourself project is also a possibility. DoItYourself.com explains how to reupholster a car seat^[4] for just the cost of the material (and spray paint if parts of the seat frame are corroded). Sunbrite Auto Works in Tampa, FL provides a how-to video^[5] for recovering a vehicle's headliner (60"-wide foam-backed headliner material typically costs $10-$20 a yard).
• If the damage is slight or in a limited area, another way to save money is by repairing the upholstery instead of repairing it. Mobil Oil estimates that do-it-yourself auto upholstery repair^[6] takes about three hours for a typical project and costs $150-$200.

• Car upholstery work is typically done by automotive upholstery, boat repair, sail or furniture upholstery shops; some car audio specialty stores also reupholster car seats.
• Request references from previous customers, and ask to see photos of previous jobs. For example, Wright's Auto Upholstery in North Frankfurt, IN has an online portfolio^[7] . Check for any complaints with the Better Business Bureau^[8] .

1.  www.jimsupholstery.com/?page=services
2.  kathysupholstery.com/upholstery-services
3.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxC83SHwCoI
4.  www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-reupholster-car-seats#b
5.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MmT72NDtTs
6.  www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/DIY/Fixing_Leather_or_Vinyl_Car_Seats.aspx
7.  www.wrightsautoupholstery.com/portfolio/
8.  www.bbb.org/en/us/search

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