How to Reupholster Dining Chair Seats: A UK Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer: Most dining chairs have a drop-in seat: a wooden board padded with foam and covered in fabric, held on by a few screws. Unscrew it, strip the old cover, replace flat foam with 2.5 to 5 cm of firm foam, add a layer of wadding, then staple the new fabric from the centre of each side out towards the corners. If your chairs have solid wooden or rush seats, a made-to-measure tie-on seat pad is the simpler route.

Tired dining chairs are one of the easiest things in the house to refresh. You don't need upholstery training, just a free afternoon, a staple gun and a little patience at the corners. Once you've done the first seat, the rest go much faster. This guide walks through each step in metric, helps you pick a fabric that copes with family meals, and explains when it makes more sense to order seat pads instead.

What do you need to reupholster a dining chair seat?

• A screwdriver or drill
• A staple gun with 6 to 10 mm staples, plus a staple remover or flat-head screwdriver
• Upholstery fabric (see below for how much)
• Firm foam, 2.5 to 5 cm thick, cut to the seat board
• Polyester wadding (also called batting)
• Sharp scissors, a tape measure and tailor's chalk
• Spray adhesive and black lining fabric for the underside (both optional)

How much fabric will you need?

Measure the seat board and add 8 to 10 cm on every side for wrapping and stapling. A seat around 46 cm square needs a piece of fabric about 64 cm square. On a standard 137 cm wide upholstery fabric, you can fit two seats side by side, so 70 cm of fabric covers two chairs. Buy a full metre if the fabric has a pattern you need to line up.

How do you reupholster a drop-in dining chair seat?

Step 1: Take the seat out

Turn the chair upside down and undo the screws holding the seat. Put the screws in a jar, and write the chair's position on the underside of each seat in pencil. Old chairs settle into their seats, so each one fits its own frame best.

Step 2: Strip the old cover

Prise out the staples and lift off the old fabric. Keep one cover in one piece to use as a rough pattern. Check the board while it's bare. If it's split or soft, draw round it on 12 mm plywood and cut a new one.

Step 3: Replace the foam if it has gone flat

Press the old foam with your palm. If it stays dented, crumbles or has turned yellow, replace it. A dining seat works best with 2.5 to 5 cm of firm, high-density foam. Anything thicker or softer lifts you higher and lets you sink, which feels wrong at the table. Cut it flush with the board, or a few millimetres over for a softer edge, and fix it with spray adhesive. You can order foam cut to size if you'd rather not cut it yourself.

Step 4: Add a layer of wadding

Lay polyester wadding over the foam, pull it gently round the edges and staple it underneath. It softens the edges and stops the fabric slipping on the foam.

Step 5: Cut the fabric

Place the seat face down on the wrong side of the fabric and cut round it with your 8 to 10 cm allowance. If the fabric has stripes or a motif, centre it now, and check it will line up across every chair before you cut the rest.

Step 6: Staple from the centre outwards

1. Put one staple in the middle of the front edge.
2. Pull the fabric firm, but not drum-tight, and staple the middle of the back edge.
3. Repeat on the left and right sides.
4. Work out from each centre staple towards the corners, alternating sides, and stop about 5 cm from each corner.
5. Turn the seat over from time to time to check the pattern is straight and there are no ripples.

Step 7: Fold the corners

Pull the corner point straight up over the corner and staple it. Then fold each side in, like wrapping a present, so the folds sit on the sides rather than the top. Staple them down and trim off the bulk underneath, so the seat drops back into the frame without forcing.

Step 8: Finish and refit

Staple black lining over the underside for a tidy finish. Find the old screw holes with a bradawl, then screw the seat back onto its chair.

Which fabric is best for dining chair seats?

Dining chairs see spills, crumbs and daily wear, so pick a fabric you can clean easily.

Sunbrella fabric is solution-dyed acrylic, so the colour runs right through the fibre, and it comes with a 5-year fabric warranty. For a closer look at velvet, see our UK guide to velvet cushions.

When is a made-to-measure seat pad the better option?

Reupholstering only works on chairs with a removable padded seat. A tie-on seat pad is easier if:

• your chairs have solid wooden, rush or cane seats;
• the seat is fixed from above, or you'd rather not take the chairs apart;
• you want a softer seat without changing the chair; or
• you'd like to swap the look for the season and keep the original seats as they are.

We make dining chair cushions to your seat shape, including tapered seats that are wider at the front. Each has a zip, ties in matching fabric as standard and optional piping. Choose HD36-R foam for a medium feel or Lux-R for a firmer seat. Both carry a 7-year foam warranty.

We cut every pad within 6 mm (maximum ±2.5 cm) of your measurements and remake it free if we miss. Standard shapes take 2 to 3 weeks, and there's no minimum order. If you already have pads you like, you can order covers only. Our guide to ordering made-to-measure chair cushions explains how to measure the seat and where to put the ties.

Want to see colours first? Order fabric swatches for a small charge, credited back as a one-time code when you order. UK delivery is free, with import duty and VAT paid by us, so there is nothing to pay on arrival.

Frequently asked questions

How much fabric do I need to reupholster a dining chair seat?

Measure the seat and add 8 to 10 cm on every side. A seat about 46 cm square needs a 64 cm square of fabric, so 70 cm of 137 cm wide fabric covers two seats. Buy a metre for patterned fabric.

What thickness of foam is best for dining chair seats?

Firm, high-density foam 2.5 to 5 cm thick. Thicker or softer foam lifts you too high and sinks, which feels awkward at the table.

Can I reupholster over the old fabric?

Only if the old fabric is thin and clean and the foam is still good. It's usually better to strip it, as the extra bulk makes the new fabric pucker and the seat may no longer fit the frame.

What size staples should I use?

6 to 10 mm staples suit most seat boards. Use the shorter length on thin plywood so they don't come through the top.

Is it easier to buy seat pads than reupholster?

For solid wooden or rush seats, yes. A made-to-measure tie-on seat pad gives a similar look with no tools, and you can wash or replace the cover later.

Sources

• Sunbrella: How to clean Sunbrella upholstery
• PFA: IN•TOUCH on foam density, firmness and durability