NAICS 811420 Quarterly Industry Report
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 811420Sector: Other Services (except Public Administration) (81)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Reupholstery and Furniture Repair (NAICS 811420) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[8], Bureau of Labor Statistics[9], and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, home furnishing analysts, and furniture service investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the reupholstery and furniture repair industry.
NAICS Sector
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Industry Definition & Overview
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair (NAICS 811420) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in reupholstering and repairing furniture without retailing new furniture per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include furniture reupholstering and fabric re-covering, wood frame structural repair, cushion and padding replacement, spring and suspension system rebuilding, antique furniture restoration, and furniture refinishing services.
The industry serves residential customers preserving heirloom or high-quality furniture, interior designers sourcing custom reupholstery for client projects, commercial clients maintaining hotel and restaurant seating, and antique dealers restoring inventory for resale. Operations range from sole-proprietor workshops to multi-employee shops with dedicated cutting rooms, sewing stations, and finishing areas. Skilled upholsterers with 5-10 years of training command the craft, with labor representing the largest cost component at 40-60% of project pricing. Fabric selection drives material costs, with customers choosing from thousands of textile options ranging from basic polyester blends under $20 per yard to designer fabrics exceeding $100 per yard. Growing consumer interest in sustainability and reducing furniture waste has supported demand for reupholstery as an alternative to purchasing new furniture, particularly for solid-wood frame pieces that outlast their original fabric coverings by decades.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is $9 million in average annual receipts. OSHA[7] general industry standards govern workplace safety for fabric cutting, adhesive use, and pneumatic stapling equipment in upholstery workshops.
What's Included in This Industry
- Furniture reupholstering and fabric re-covering
- Wood frame structural repair and reinforcement
- Cushion and foam padding replacement
- Spring and suspension system rebuilding
- Antique furniture restoration
- Furniture refinishing and wood touch-up
- Leather furniture repair and reconditioning
- Commercial seating reupholstery for hotels and restaurants
- Custom slipcover fabrication
- Marine and boat upholstery services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 81 |
| Subsector | Repair and Maintenance | 811 |
| Industry Group | Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | 8114 |
| NAICS Industry | Reupholstery and Furniture Repair | 81142 |
| National Industry | Reupholstery and Furniture Repair | 811420 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 337121 | Upholstered Household Furniture Manufacturing | Upholstered Household Furniture Manufacturing produces the sofas, chairs, and sectionals that reupholstery shops eventually re-cover, with furniture manufacturers using construction methods and frame materials that affect the feasibility and cost of future reupholstery work on their products |
| 337110 | Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing | Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing shares woodworking skills and finishing techniques with furniture repair shops that restore wood furniture, with both industries requiring expertise in wood joinery, staining, lacquering, and veneer repair |
| 423210 | Furniture Merchant Wholesalers | Furniture Merchant Wholesalers distributes furniture that interior designers and commercial buyers sometimes send to reupholstery shops for customization, with wholesale furniture channels occasionally referring customers to upholstery services for fabric modifications on standard product lines |
| 314910 | Textile Bag and Canvas Mills | Textile Bag and Canvas Mills produces heavy-duty textiles and canvas materials used in marine upholstery and outdoor furniture re-covering, with industrial textile suppliers providing weather-resistant fabrics for boat cushions and patio furniture restoration projects |
| 561740 | Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services | Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services provides fabric maintenance that extends the life of upholstered furniture between reupholstery cycles, with cleaning services and reupholstery shops serving complementary roles in furniture care for residential and commercial customers |
| 811490 | Other Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | Other Personal and Household Goods Repair covers miscellaneous repair services that overlap with furniture repair when shops handle items such as luggage, automotive interiors, and other upholstered goods beyond standard residential and commercial furniture categories |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 12.1% | 393 |
| 2 | Florida | 12.0% | 392 |
| 3 | New York | 8.1% | 265 |
| 4 | Texas | 6.2% | 203 |
| 5 | Illinois | 4.7% | 153 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 3.8% | 124 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 3.2% | 103 |
| 8 | Georgia | 3.0% | 98 |
| 9 | Virginia | 2.8% | 92 |
| 10 | Ohio | 2.7% | 87 |
% Of Establishments
0%
12%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
264
Total SBA Loans
$46.2M
Total Loan Volume
$175K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.01%
Average Interest Rate
1,040
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], Reupholstery and Furniture Repair (NAICS 811420) has a size standard of $9 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] support sewing equipment, fabric inventory, and workshop facilities for qualifying reupholstery and furniture repair businesses. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 16 | $9.4M | $590K |
| 2 | Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB | 8 | $9.1M | $1.1M |
| 3 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 24 | $5.5M | $227K |
| 4 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 32 | $5.2M | $163K |
| 5 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 24 | $3.1M | $129K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for furniture reupholstery?
NAICS 811420 covers reupholstery and furniture repair services, including fabric re-covering, frame repair, cushion replacement, and furniture refinishing per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[6], the threshold is $9 million in average annual receipts for federal small business contracting eligibility and SBA lending products for reupholstery and furniture repair firms.
How much does reupholstery cost compared to new furniture?
Reupholstery of a standard sofa typically costs $1,500-$4,000 depending on fabric choice and frame condition, which can be comparable to or less than purchasing a similar-quality new piece with a solid hardwood frame and premium upholstery fabric.
When is reupholstery worth the investment?
Solid hardwood-frame furniture with quality construction is the best candidate for reupholstery, as well-built frames last 20-30 years through multiple re-covering cycles. Pieces with particleboard frames, broken structural joints, or severely deteriorated padding are typically better replaced than reupholstered.
What skills do upholsterers need?
Per Bureau of Labor Statistics[9] occupational data, upholsterers need training in fabric cutting and layout, sewing, spring tying, foam cutting, wood frame assessment, and finishing techniques typically developed through 5-10 years of apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Do reupholstery shops serve commercial customers?
Many shops service commercial accounts including hotels, restaurants, medical offices, and churches that need seating maintained or updated on recurring schedules, with commercial reupholstery projects providing higher-volume work compared to individual residential pieces.
How long does a reupholstery project take?
Standard residential sofa reupholstery takes 2-4 weeks from fabric selection to completion per Census Bureau[8] industry survey data, with timelines varying based on fabric availability, project complexity, and shop workload during peak seasons.
What safety regulations apply to upholstery shops?
OSHA[7] general industry standards apply to pneumatic staple gun operation, fabric cutting equipment, adhesive and solvent exposure, and ergonomic hazards from repetitive lifting and positioning of heavy furniture pieces during the reupholstery process.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]OSHA osha.gov
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
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