Reupholstery and Furniture Repair

The 3,300 firms in the US primarily repair, refinish and restore wooden and upholstered household and commercial furniture. Firms may also repair and refurbish aircraft interiors and seats, as well as cabinetry. Firms often supplement their service income with merchandise sales including refurbished furniture and décor, furniture care products, and complementary products like throw pillows.

Unintended Damage

Disassembling and stripping old furniture carries the risk of unintended damage.

Millennials Embrace Pre-owned Furniture

More and more young people are choosing to buy pre-owned furniture for their homes, according to PYMNTS Intelligence.

Sep 28, 2026 - Home Reinvestment Bolsters Repair Demand

• Persistent home-improvement spending and homeowners’ focus on quality and durability are generally favorable for the US reupholstery and furniture repair industry, according to an analysis of Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) data in Kitchen and Bath Design News. HIRI found that consumers remain price-sensitive, but many are reinvesting in existing homes rather than moving, which can support demand for restoring, refinishing and reupholstering furniture already in place. Budget pressure is a constraint: lower-income households are more likely to delay or cancel projects, while middle-income households are doing more work themselves. However, upper-income homeowners continue to hire professionals, and quality remains the top purchase consideration, ahead of price. That favors skilled repair and upholstery providers that can emphasize craftsmanship, durability and extending furniture life. Longer remodeling timelines may also give shops more opportunity to market services early in the project-planning cycle.
• Weaker new-furniture sales in July 2026 could support reupholstery and furniture repair demand by encouraging budget-conscious consumers to extend the life of existing pieces rather than replace them, according to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor . Furniture and home furnishings store sales fell 0.04% month over month, even as total retail sales rose 0.32%, indicating softer near-term demand for new furniture. Furniture sales were still 2.71% higher year over year, but that lagged total retail growth of 5.15% and most other categories. This comparatively weak performance may favor reupholstery, refinishing and repair as lower-cost alternatives to replacement. However, continued annual growth in furniture sales means new products remain an important competitor, limiting the potential shift toward repair services.
• New US tariff actions announced in July could increase demand for reupholstery and furniture repair services by making imported furniture more expensive, according to Furniture Today reports. New 10% to 12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 economies, layered on top of existing Section 301 and antidumping duties, raise replacement costs for many imported furnishings, while a separate 50% tariff on Canadian furniture, scheduled to take effect August 19, would further increase prices for Canadian-made products. As new furniture becomes more expensive, households and businesses may choose to repair, restore, or reupholster existing pieces rather than replace them, creating additional opportunities for repair providers. However, shops that rely on imported upholstery fabrics, foam, hardware, or replacement parts could also face higher material costs and margin pressure as tariffs reshape furniture supply chains and sourcing strategies.
• US reupholstery and furniture repair professionals face rising material costs and potential supply disruptions as foam prices are expected to increase 15% to 20%, driven by higher petroleum-based input costs and a March fire at a major Texas chemical plant, according to a Home News Now report. The fire has limited supplies of key foam-production materials, causing some manufacturers to place customers on allocation and restricting availability. Foam is a major component in furniture cushions and seating repairs, while rising oil prices are also increasing costs for fabrics, yarns, dyes, adhesives, and transportation. Industry sources warn that additional foam price hikes of 30% to 40% are possible if fuel prices remain elevated. As a result, repair and reupholstery businesses may face higher operating costs, longer lead times, and challenges sourcing materials, potentially forcing them to raise prices or seek alternative suppliers.

Industry size & Structure

A typical reupholstery and furniture repair business operates out of a single location, employs 3 workers, and generates about $402,800 annually.

• The reupholstery and furniture repair industry consists of about 3,300 firms that employ about 11,200 workers generate about $1.3 billion annually.
• Another 18,500 businesses are owner-operated with no employees and generate $630 million annually.
• The industry is highly fragmented with the 50 largest firms representing approximately 20% of industry revenue.