Furniture repair & reupholstery

Furniture repair & reupholstery in South Africa

Updated 4 November 2026

Reupholstering a sofa in Johannesburg or Pretoria usually costs between R 5,000 and R 15,000, and a two-seater averages about R 7,290. Armchairs in Gauteng are often between R 2,000 and R 8,000. The quickest way to current prices is a request on BlaBlaPrice, where the AI looks through local upholsterers' websites and price lists and shows what it finds.

Licences and training

The snippets name no licence needed to reupholster furniture. They do name a registered qualification: Furniture Upholsterer is listed with SAQA, the South African Qualifications Authority. Ask whether the person doing the work is trained, and ask who stands behind the stitching and the frame if something fails.

Season and the holidays

Summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August. Many households refresh lounges before the December holidays, so workshops fill up in the late spring. Book in November if you want the piece back before the festive season, and ask for a turnaround date in writing.

How upholstery is bought here

Quotes are per piece: a sofa, a chair or a dining suite. The sofa prices above include both fabric and labour. Measure the seat and the frame in centimetres, and state the metres of fabric you have in mind if you already chose it. Ask whether the upholsterer collects and delivers, or whether you bring the piece to the workshop. The price figures found are from Gauteng, so ask upholsterers in Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha for their own rates.

What to write in your request

Name the furniture item and the work needed, such as re-covering, re-foaming or frame repair. Give the quantity and dimensions, the fabric you want or the budget for it, and whether the work is at home or in a workshop. Add your city, the deadline and your budget. A clear photo of the piece helps sellers quote without guessing.

Describe the piece in the chat on BlaBlaPrice and add a photo of the fabric and the damage if you can. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice receive the request and reply in the chat with their own offer, price and terms. Your contacts stay hidden until you decide with whom to exchange them. For related jobs, see Household services.