Seat Upholstery; What Did It Cost You?

ridesolo

ridesolo

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I've got my upholstery pan done and I'm going to be seeing a local guy who does that kind of stuff. He did a new convertible top rear window for my old Tracker a few years ago and did a great job with it and I know he does lots of golf cart and boat seats and has a good reputation. Anyway, I realize that these kinds of things can be fairly regional, but does anybody have an idea what I could expect to pay for the job?

This is what I'm going to be giving him to upholster:



This is generally (very general; not this color and a slightly different shape) what I want it to look like.

 
I took my home made aluminium seat base, to which I had glued the shaped and formed Honda seat foam and yoga mat wrap, to a local (Oxford UK) pro upholsterer guy who charged me £150 to stitch and fit the leather cover (I provided the leather at £50 cost to me), this is the most excellent result.







I had him add the flap on the front edge to cover the gap and make the seat look more fitted than just plonked on. The quality of the seams and diamond stitching is superb, I found a real craftsman.
I provided a drawing of the side and plan view as well as an image of a similar seat which he said was very useful to follow.

All in, £225 (approx $300) which is on the high side but well worth it IMO.
 
So I got an estimate of $100 to $150. Padding around 2" thick on the bottom, 1" thick on the back. Tuck n roll style on the top, flat sides, color matching piping. Decent quality upholstery vinyl.
 
I dropped 250 for the pad and cover on mine.
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Sent from my iPhone using DO THE TON
 
Great stuff!! This is most helpful!! :D
 
$220 for mine. I provided the seat pan all drilled for rivets around the perimeter, and a couple of boxes of rivets. We chatted about foam/padding choices, he gave me three stitching options. He built up and shaped the foam, and I knew I wanted the diamond stitching.

He does a lot of home furniture, but also dabbles in boat and snowmobile stuff, so doing a motorbike seat didn't fizz him a bit. He runs a shop out of his home, just outside Ottawa.

ry%3D400
 
Shit, so many cheap options out there. I'm being quoted $650 to foam and upholster my custom made fiberglass seat pan. She does amazing work from what I've seen, but it almost seems like a rip off. Are most of these quotes for a prefab seat cover?
 
Good lord. I don't quite remember what the BMW cost, but I just paid $275 shipped for this including the very nicely fitted seat pan.

9afc5fd208305cafddfc635227ad26d0.jpg


Granted, it was shipped on the slow boat from Vietnam, but the stitching and fitment are excellent and so far I am quite happy.
 
Right! That's insanely overpriced compared to what you guys are quoting. I've made the entire seat pan myself so I literally just need foam and a cover. I don't think what I'm asking is terribly special and I'm not asking for genuine leather. Why would someone charge so much? Look at the break down:

"- material cost (foam, leather, and construction materials) $200
- prep seat (rivet holes drilled for installation) $75
- custom foam $125
- pattern $125
- raised ribs $75
- sew and install cover $125
total $725

if you do the foam yourself, you will save $150 for material and labor. if you do not do raised ribs, you save $75. this would bring your price to $500. If you go with hi quality marine grade vinyl instead of leather (an expensive material) your finished price should be around $440. which is closer to your budget."
 
thwrightstuff said:
Right! That's insanely overpriced compared to what you guys are quoting. I've made the entire seat pan myself so I literally just need foam and a cover. I don't think what I'm asking is terribly special and I'm not asking for genuine leather. Why would someone charge so much? Look at the break down:

"- material cost (foam, leather, and construction materials) $200
- prep seat (rivet holes drilled for installation) $75
- custom foam $125
- pattern $125
- raised ribs $75
- sew and install cover $125
total $725

if you do the foam yourself, you will save $150 for material and labor. if you do not do raised ribs, you save $75. this would bring your price to $500. If you go with hi quality marine grade vinyl instead of leather (an expensive material) your finished price should be around $440. which is closer to your budget."
Click to expand...


Seems like yours is on the 'high side' but if she's successful and people are willing to pay... ::)



I'm about to receive a quote for foam, cover and installation on a custom seat pan for my solo seat. I'll let you know how it turns out. :)

I'm in the Toronto area. 8)
 
Wow, I almost feel bad. I was quoted $100 to $150 to do mine. The pan is up there with him now and I'm just waiting for a call.
 
God damn, that's what I was expecting when I went to her. I'm willing to pay up to $300 for this job, but even that still feels pretty steep.

Drewski, quality or not, that still seems outrageously high, to be honest. I'm tempted to send it to one of the guys up in Toronto that you've already dealt with and just pay for the shipping. I just have a hard time finding good people in the US.
 
thwrightstuff said:
God damn, that's what I was expecting when I went to her. I'm willing to pay up to $300 for this job, but even that still feels pretty steep.

Drewski, quality or not, that still seems outrageously high, to be honest. I'm tempted to send it to one of the guys up in Toronto that you've already dealt with and just pay for the shipping. I just have a hard time finding good people in the US.
Click to expand...

If you do send it out I'd make sure you do a drawing of the side and plan view with notes on stitching, pleats, piping and anything else relevant to help them produce the seat you want. Shaping foam is a cynch, use an electric carving knife and 60-80-grit to smooth it down to shape, yoga mat is el cheapo to. Supply the final foam shape and base to keep costs down and ensure you get the shape you want. If using vinyl you won't need yoga mat.
 
thwrightstuff said:
Drewski, quality or not, that still seems outrageously high, to be honest.
Click to expand...

The prices seem to be all over the map, but your quote seems high alright. :p My previous comment was only mean't to say that if a vendor regularly asks for and receives a higher price for their work, their customer base must be willing to pay it for some reason. :eek:


I'll be posting my results when I have something. :D
 
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