Upholstery supplies are the parts nobody sees once the cover is on, and they decide whether a seat holds its shape for years or sags in months. Webbing, springs, hessian, wadding, piping cord, zips, buttons, glue and the black dust cloth underneath are all sold by upholstery supply shops, usually by the metre, by the box or by the piece. Whether you are a DIYer with one chair or an upholsterer restocking, send us your list and we pass it to supply shops near you, who quote you directly. The request is free, with no obligation.
What upholstery supplies cover
- Webbing: rubber webbing for modern seats and backs, jute webbing for traditional work.
- Springs: zig-zag (sinuous) springs with clips, coil springs with spring twine.
- Hessian and calico: over springs and as a base layer under the cover.
- Wadding and polyester fibre wrap: to soften edges and fill out the cover.
- Piping cord, zips by the metre and sliders, buttons and button kits.
- Stud nails and nail strip, contact adhesive and spray glue, staples and thread.
- Legs, castors, dust cover (black bottoming cloth) and hook and loop tape.
Choosing the right supplies for the job
Match the materials to the piece. A modern couch with rubber webbing should get rubber webbing again, at the same tension; an older armchair with coil springs needs springs retied, not swapped for foam on boards. Zig-zag springs come in different gauges and lengths, so take a broken one in. Use thread rated for upholstery, and polyester or UV-resistant thread outdoors. For antiques, ask about traditional materials, and see furniture restoration. Foam and fabric are covered under upholstery foam and upholstery fabric.
Common DIY mistakes and climate cautions
The usual problems come from shortcuts:
- Webbing fitted slack, so the seat sags the first week.
- Staples too short for the frame, or too long and splitting thin rails.
- Skipping the hessian layer, so springs wear through the foam.
- Ordinary steel staples and springs near the sea, which rust and stain the cover.
On the coast, ask for galvanised or stainless fittings where you can. Dining chair seat pads are the easiest place to start; see dining chair reupholstery.
What affects the price and what to ask a supply shop
Prices depend on the material, the quantity and whether you buy by the metre, by the roll or by the box. Trade customers often get a better rate on full rolls. Ask:
- Do you sell to DIYers, or only the trade?
- Which webbing and springs suit this frame?
- Do you stock staples to fit my gun?
- Can you courier to a smaller town?
Tools are listed under upholstery tools.
What to include in your request
- A list of items with quantities
- Webbing type and metres needed
- Spring type and size, or a sample
- DIY or trade buyer
- Collection, delivery or courier
Upholstery Supplies for homes, cars and businesses
- Homeowners and tenants: webbing, wadding and staples for a DIY dining chair or footstool project at home
- Restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and lodges: springs, webbing and stud nails for maintaining restaurant chairs and bar stools in house
- Offices and businesses: castors, glides and fixings for keeping reception and boardroom seating in order
- Car, bakkie and taxi owners: foam, glue, staples and thread for motor trimmers rebuilding seats and door cards
- Boats, caravans and 4x4s: stainless staples, UV thread and zips for boat, caravan and camper cushions
- Clinics, salons, spas and gyms: hard-wearing fixings and dust cover for clinic, salon and gym furniture repairs
- Churches, schools and halls: webbing and springs in bulk for church pews, hall chairs and theatre seat repairs
- Upholsterers, makers, designers and DIYers: upholsterers and furniture makers restocking webbing, springs, hessian and staples
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find upholstery supplies near me?
Do upholstery supply shops sell to the public?
Should I use rubber or jute webbing?
What supplies do I need to recover dining chair seats?
Upholstery Supplies by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg