How much to charge for auto upholstery
Rates reviewed June 2026
Auto upholstery is priced per job by scope and material, from a seat repair to a full custom interior. It is a skilled trade, so quote after seeing the wear, and price leather and custom work as the craft they are.
You should charge
$595
per job · typical $150–$3,000
Why this number. Quote after inspecting, and charge full custom interiors as the restoration work they are. A sun-baked, cracked interior hides hours of fitting and stitching that a sight-unseen phone quote will always underprice.
Typical auto upholstery prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Seat repair | $150 – $500 |
| Single seat reupholster | $300 – $800 |
| Full interior | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Headliner | $200 – $500 |
Free · The words, not just the number
Get the auto upholstery pricing script
A short, calm script for quoting auto upholstery in person. The goal is not to pitch. It is to ask a few good questions, say your number once without flinching, and let them talk themselves into yes.
- ✓The questions to ask before you ever name a price
- ✓How to say your number so it lands, then stay quiet
- ✓The line for when they say "that's too much" (no discounting)
- ✓A rate-increase template for clients you already have
- ✓Early access to the paid Pricing Toolkit
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What changes the price
- Scope (single seat vs. full interior)
- Material (cloth, leather, vinyl)
- Repair vs. full reupholster
- Custom or show work
The pricing move most people miss
Quote after inspecting, and charge full custom interiors as the restoration work they are. A sun-baked, cracked interior hides hours of fitting and stitching that a sight-unseen phone quote will always underprice.
What to SayAI
They pushed back on your price? Get the exact reply.
Paste what a auto upholstery client says. A sales-psychology-trained AI writes the words that hold your price, in seconds. Free.
Get the reply →Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for auto upholstery?+
Most auto upholstery is priced $150–$3,000 per job, with a typical rate around $600 per job. Where you land inside that range comes down mainly to scope (single seat vs. full interior) and material (cloth, leather, vinyl). Use the range as your anchor, then adjust up for experience, strong demand, and a higher cost-of-living area.
Should I charge per job or by the hour for auto upholstery?+
Most auto upholstery is priced per job, and that is the stronger model. It pays you for the result rather than the clock, and clients far prefer one fixed number they can plan around. Estimate the hours a job takes, multiply by the hourly rate you want, then add a 15-25% buffer for the jobs that run long.
How much should I charge for auto upholstery as a beginner?+
Starting out, price near the lower end of the range, roughly $150 to $600 per job. Resist going below that to win work: a price that is too low attracts price-shoppers, signals low quality, and is hard to raise later. Once you have a few happy clients and reviews, move toward $3,000.
What affects how much auto upholstery costs?+
The biggest factors are scope (single seat vs. full interior); material (cloth, leather, vinyl); repair vs. full reupholster; custom or show work. Two jobs that look alike can price very differently once these are accounted for, which is why a quick walkthrough or a few questions before quoting protects your rate.
How do I quote auto upholstery so the client says yes?+
Quote after inspecting, and charge full custom interiors as the restoration work they are. A sun-baked, cracked interior hides hours of fitting and stitching that a sight-unseen phone quote will always underprice. Put the quote in writing with exactly what is included, state the price once without apologizing for it, and give one clear next step. A confident, well-structured quote wins jobs at a higher price than a vague one at a lower price.