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Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by John Norton
Learning how to reupholster a recliner is worth it when the frame and the mechanism are still solid and only the fabric has given out. In the years I spent selling, assembling, and repairing recliners, the chairs customers wanted to throw away were almost always sound underneath — worn covers hiding good springs, a working motor, and a hardwood frame that would outlast two cheap replacements.
Reupholstering is not the same thing as stretching a slipcover over the chair. You strip the recliner down to its frame, use the old panels as your pattern, cut and fit new fabric, and staple it back on so the mechanism still moves through its full travel. It is a weekend project for a careful first-timer, and the material bill is a fraction of a new chair.
This guide walks the whole job in the order I still do it, from the decision to the reassembly.
Table of Contents
Is reupholstering a recliner worth it?
Usually, yes — as long as the frame is not cracked and the mechanism still works. Do the math before you buy fabric. A do-it-yourself job usually runs $100 to $300 in fabric, foam, and supplies, while a professional upholsterer typically charges $400 to $900 for a single recliner, depending on the fabric and the labour rates where you live. Against a new power recliner at $400 to $900, that math only makes sense one way: reupholster a chair that is built well, replace a chair that is not.
Walk away from the project if the frame is cracked, if the mechanism is bent or grinding, or if the foam has collapsed across the whole seat. You would be rebuilding the chair rather than recovering it, and your money is better spent on a replacement.
What tools and materials do you need?
Gather everything before you pull the first staple, because stopping mid-job to hunt for a tool is how fabric gets torn.
For tools you want an upholstery staple gun, a tack and staple puller set, needle-nose pliers, a hammer, a sewing machine, and a jigsaw or electric knife for cutting foam. Buy or borrow a pneumatic stapler if you can, because it drives staples cleanly and saves your hand over a whole chair. A phone camera is a tool too: photograph every panel before you remove it.
For materials, choose a heavyweight upholstery fabric rated for furniture rather than a light drapery cloth, plus new foam or batting for the seat and back, piping cord, and hook-and-loop tape if you want washable cushion covers.
How do you take a recliner apart and remove the old upholstery?
Unplug a power recliner first, then work in the order the chair was built. Take the back off the seat, remove the footrest and the arms, and turn the frame upside down. My guide to disassembling a recliner covers the piece order and the hidden fasteners, and it is the safest way to get the frame bare without forcing anything.
With the pieces apart, pull the staples with the tack claw and pliers, working from the underside of each panel. Keep every piece of old fabric, because it is your pattern and it already has the curves and seam placement the chair needs. Photograph each panel as it comes off and write “back,” “left arm,” and “footrest” on the hidden side in marker — a recliner has more panels than a plain armchair and they are easy to mix up once they are on the floor.
How do you cut and fit the new fabric?
Lay each old panel flat on the new fabric and trace around it, adding about a one-inch seam allowance on every side. Cut generously the first time; you can always trim, and you cannot add fabric back. A recliner usually takes five to seven yards of 54-inch upholstery fabric, so buy a little extra for pattern matching and for the high-wear seat and footrest.
Fit every piece dry before you staple anything. Fabric pulled too tight will not let the footrest travel, and fabric that is too loose will wrinkle when the chair reclines.
How do you reassemble the recliner?
Work in the reverse order you took the chair apart, stapling from the centre of each panel outward so the pattern stays straight. Rebuild the pleats, piping, and tufting as you go, since a recliner’s folds are what let it fold. Before you close the last panel, test the mechanism by hand through its full range; if anything binds, the fabric is over-stretched or a linkage is caught, and it is far easier to fix now than after the chair is finished. Reconnect the cables, bolt the back and footrest on, and check that the chair reclines and closes the way it did before. If the footrest misbehaves once it is covered, my guide to a recliner footrest fix covers the usual culprits.
What mistakes do people make when reupholstering a recliner?
The most expensive mistake is skipping the photographs. A recliner has a back, a seat, two arms, a footrest, and a flap or two, and once they are off the floor, memory fails.
The second is choosing the wrong fabric. The seat and the footrest take the most wear, so a thin weave that looks good on the bolt will pill and tear within a year. The third is cutting the old fabric before you have used it as a pattern — never cut it up first. The fourth is ignoring the foam: worn, flattened foam is the real reason most chairs feel old, and new fabric stretched over dead foam still feels dead. Replace it while the frame is bare.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to reupholster a recliner?
It is a patient intermediate project rather than a beginner one. The fabric work is manageable, but a recliner has more panels and more moving parts than a standard armchair, so budget a full weekend or two and take it slowly.
How much fabric do I need to reupholster a recliner?
Most recliners need five to seven yards of 54-inch upholstery fabric. Buy a little more than you measure, and add extra if the fabric has a large pattern that has to line up across the seams.
Can you reupholster a recliner without sewing?
Partly. You still need a sewing machine for the seams and any piping, so a no-sew job only works for a simple slipcover-style cover, not a proper reupholster. The seat and back seams have to be stitched to hold.
How much does it cost to have a recliner reupholstered?
A professional upholsterer usually charges $400 to $900 for a recliner, with fabric and labour as the two big variables. Doing it yourself with $100 to $300 in materials is the cheaper route if you are willing to put in the hours.
Is it worth reupholstering a La-Z-Boy?
Often yes. A La-Z-Boy frame and mechanism are built to last well past the fabric, so recovering a sound one can add years of life for a fraction of a new chair. If the mechanism is worn out as well, price the repair against a replacement first.
