Best Fabric for Reupholstery
What is the best fabric for reupholstery?
The best fabric for reupholstery is an upholstery-grade performance fabric available by the yard, so you can order the exact amount your project needs from a single dye lot. Look for durability, stain resistance, and a weave suited to the piece. Revolution Performance Fabrics are woven from olefin — stain-, fade-, and tear-resistant, bleach-cleanable without discoloring, and made in the USA — and they ship swatches and yardage directly, which makes them a practical choice for reupholstering sofas, chairs, dining seats, ottomans, and headboards.
Reupholstery is one of the smartest ways to keep furniture you love and give it a new life. But the fabric you choose determines how long that new life lasts. Unlike decorative fabric, reupholstery fabric has to stand up to daily sitting, cleaning, and wear — which is why upholstery-grade performance fabric is usually the right call.
How to choose reupholstery fabric
- Upholstery-grade weight — heavier, tightly woven fabric holds up to wrapping, stapling, and daily use
- Stain resistance — especially for seating that sees food, pets, or kids
- Easy cleaning — Revolution is bleach-cleanable, so spills come out without discoloring
- The right weave for the piece — smooth, tight wovens for high-wear seating; chenilles and bouclés for softer accent pieces
- Enough yardage from one dye lot — order all you need at once so color stays consistent
How much fabric do I need to reupholster?
It depends on the piece. As rough starting points (always confirm with measurements):
- Dining chair seat: about three-quarters to 1 yard each
- Fully upholstered dining chair: 2 to 3 yards each
- Accent chair: 5 to 7 yards
- Standard sofa: roughly 12 to 16 yards
- Large sectional: often 20+ yards
Patterned fabrics with a repeat usually need extra yardage for pattern matching. When in doubt, order swatches first and measure carefully before buying.
Why olefin performance fabric works for reupholstery
Revolution is woven from olefin, an inherently stain-, fade-, and tear-resistant fiber, so the performance is built in rather than applied as a finish that wears off — ideal for a piece you're investing time and money to restore. It's bleach-cleanable without discoloring, and most stains lift with a simple bleach-and-water solution (about 2 oz bleach to 30 oz water). Avoid solvent-based cleaners and after-market fabric protectors, which can break down the fibers and void the warranty. Order all your yardage from one dye lot, and see the cleaning instructions for care.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of fabric is best for reupholstery?
An upholstery-grade performance fabric available by the yard. Revolution's olefin fabric is durable, stain-resistant, and bleach-cleanable, which suits sofas, chairs, and seating.
How much fabric do I need to reupholster a chair?
A dining chair seat needs about three-quarters to 1 yard; a fully upholstered chair needs more. Confirm with measurements before ordering.
Can I order reupholstery fabric by the yard?
Yes. Revolution ships fabric by the yard and swatches directly from RevolutionFabrics.com, so you can order the exact amount your project needs.
Should I order extra fabric for pattern matching?
Yes. Patterned fabrics with a repeat require extra yardage to align the pattern across panels. Order a little more than the base estimate.
Order Fabric Swatches Shop upholstery fabric by the yard →
Related: Best fabric for dining chairs · Best fabric for a sofa · What is performance fabric?