Do your car seats look worn out, and you’d like to give them a whole new look? If so, then you should consider reupholstering your car seats. Doing this will improve their appearance and increase the value of your car.
But what’s the average cost to reupholster car seats in 2022? Find out below.
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What’s the Average Cost to Reupholster Car Seats 2022?
The average cost to reupholster auto seats in 2022 is $2,500. The cost might be higher or lower depending on several factors, including material type, size of the car, and labor. Note that this average cost only applies to fabric car seats, not leather.
What Goes Into Reupholstering Car Seats?
There are several steps to reupholster car seats. First, choosing the fabric, detaching the car seats to remove the current upholstery, adding foam, batting, and doing necessary repairs. Later, the actual work begins to reupholster the car seats with tools and fabric.
Taking your car to a professional for the reupholstering project means that you’ll be paying for the materials used and the labor.
Here’s a guide detailing the car seat reupholstering process.
Step 1: Gather All the Upholstery Materials and Tools Needed to Reupholster Car Seats
What type of material do you need for your car seats? There are several options to consider, vinyl, polyester, or leather.
While at it, don’t forget to choose the colors and patterns that will blend well with the car’s interior and exterior. You may also be required to purchase a new foam and batting for the damaged areas.
The tools needed in reupholstering car seats include:
- A sewing machine
- Screwdriver
- Pry tool
- Marker
- Scissors
- Socket wrench set
- Staple hook
Step 2: Detaching Car Seats
The aim is to remove the car seats from the car’s flooring. You can refer to the car’s manual to understand how they attached the seats if you’re doing it yourself. Do the reverse to detach the seats without ruining them further. A car reupholstering professional usually has the necessary expertise to undertake such jobs.
Step 3: Removing Worn-Out Fabric
You will later require the worn-out fabric to create a pattern for the new material purchased. Be cautious enough when removing it to ensure the stapes don’t rip it off.
Step 4: Get a Pattern, Then Transfer It to the New Car Seat Covers
You can use a large table or paper to lay the worn-out fabric. Trace along its edges to develop the pattern needed to cut out the new material.
Once you have the pattern, use a marker to transfer it to the new material. Afterward, cut the new material per the markings using scissors or the right cutting tool.
Step 5: Stitching
Now that you have different pieces, the next step is to stitch them up together to create new car seat covers.
Use your sewing machine to stitch up these pieces, but ensure you have the correct thread and needle depending on the stitch material. Vinyl, for instance, is a thick fabric that requires a strong thread and needle.
Step 6: Refit the Car Seat Covers
Referring to the car’s manual on attaching seats, put the seats back to the frame and screw their rings as required. Ensure the seats don’t wobble once they’re back in their original position.
Finally, you can fit the new fabric covers, stretching the material to pass through the rings on the frontal part successfully. Also, wrap this material around the seat bun and then staple the ends.
The finishing touches will depend on your taste and preference. You can either repaint the car seat frame to blend well with the covers or leave it in its current form.
Are There Any Additional Costs or Discounts?
There are additional costs in reupholstering car seats. This process isn’t just about replacing the worn-out fabric but detaching and reattaching the seats as well. The professional shop may charge you extra if they add seat padding or repair or replace any broken spring. Any customization you request might also attract additional costs.
Revamping auto seats is quite intensive since it involves taking off the current upholstery and placing the new one in perfectly.
To save money, consider opting for DIY reupholstering. Such an option allows you to save on labor costs.
A repair instead of a complete reupholstery might be a viable alternative if the car seats aren’t completely damaged. Repair upholstery costs anywhere between $150 and $200.
You can also choose to install universal seat covers, which cost approximately $10-$70. Although these covers might hide rips/stains, they significantly interfere with the interior’s aesthetics.
How Much Does It Cost to Reupholster Auto Seats in Leather?
It costs between $5,000 to $10,000 to reupholster car seats in leather, depending on the cost of leather material per meter, car brand, and labor. Compared to all car seat materials, leather is the most expensive due to its benefits and quality. So, expect the price to reupholster your car seats in leather to be much higher.
How Much Does It Cost to Reupholster a Classic Car?
It costs between 200 to 750 dollars per seat on average to reupholster a classic car using fabric material. The actual price depends on the material used, who is doing the reupholstering project, and the amount of material required. For example, leather will be more expensive than fabric.
How Long Does It Take to Reupholster Vehicle Seats?
How long it takes to reupholster car seats depends on the availability of materials and who’s doing the job. It can take you a whole day to reupholster car seats if you’re quick, experienced, and highly skilled. The duration might be longer if you’re inexperienced or need to import materials.
Can You Reupholster Car Seats Yourself?
You can reupholster car seats yourself at home, but only if you have the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out this project perfectly. Otherwise, you risk damaging the car’s interior further, which will cost you more to buy or repair.
Reupholstering car seats yourself can help you save a few bucks. You’ll save on labor costs but must purchase several tools, like markers, fabric, sewing machines, and scissors. Consider setting aside several hours for car seat reupholstery projects.
If you’re not sure what reupholstering car seats entail, it’s better that you leave this project to professionals. It could be costly, but the result is worth every dollar spent.
Recommended Reupholster Car Seat Kits
You can get reupholster car seat kits from most online stores like Amazon. These kits come with essential tools needed to reupholster car seats.
Examples of such kits include:
OVLORT Upholstery Repair Kit
This kit comes with the following components.
- Leather stitching needles
- Measuring tape
- Thread unpicker
- Leather threads
- Sewing thimble
- Stitching awl
- Yarn scissors
AIEX 29Pcs Upholstery Repair Kit
This kit contains:
- Upholstery thread cord
- Hook awl
- Leather sewing needles
- Leather stitching needles
- Scissors
- Sewing thimble
- Measuring tape
Recommended Automotive Upholstery Shops
Automotive upholstery shops are dotted everywhere across the US. But you can’t just walk in any of them blindly expecting exemplary results. So before settling on an auto upholstery shop, consider its customer ratings, reviews, services on offer, and years of experience.
Here are our best picks.
ASM Auto Upholstery
Located in Dallas, TX, ASM Auto Upholstery has been operating for more than 30 years. Their expert artisans have the creativity and skills to give customers high-quality auto upholstery services.
Kirk’s Auto Upholstery
Kirk’s Auto Upholstery is another highly recommended automotive upholstery shop in the US. Their experienced professionals will transform your auto’s interior to your wish.
Lee’s Auto Upholstery
This shop has been in the auto upholstery business since 1962. Lee’s Auto Upholstery works with one goal, to create a lasting relationship with the customers.
Bell Auto Upholstery
Bell Auto Upholstery has run its business from Phoenix, Arizona, since 1959. They can work on any car that drives into their shop, giving it high-quality care.
ATS Upholstery
This shop, located in Los Angeles, has over 25 years of experience in reupholstering car seats. Contact them if you need to swap fabric for leather, high-density foam installation, custom color and material, and other car interior services.
