I am contemplating having an upholstery shop recover my two buckets and rear bench seat (67). Every shop I have talked to wants to see the seats before giving an estimate, I just don't have a pickup truck and the time to drive them all over for quotes.

What is an expected price range for this service?
-If I supply the covers and they supply the foam, burlap, and install
-If I supply no materials, they supply it all

I haven't decided if I want to use factory re-pop covers, or just have some made. The seat covers I used for the last 18yrs were non factory type, but tastefully done with cloth inserts on the seating surfaces which is very nice on the hot summer days. But the repops are more original and I could put them on myself and they might even look ok. :confused:

I'm currently considering custom seat covers with suede inserts to match the original seat pattern in my 65. Right now I have a rough quote between 1000.00-1200.00 for the front & rear covers. My only problem now is the color for the suede inserts. The original seat covers are white buckets & I'm considering green suede inserts in the center section of the white seats to match the carpet as I think white or off-white inserts will be hard to keep clean. It would be nice to see photos of custom seat covers & pricing to get an idea if this is a reasonable price.

I'm currently considering custom seat covers with suede inserts to match the original seat pattern in my 65. Right now I have a rough quote between 1000.00-1200.00 for the front & rear covers. My only problem now is the color for the suede inserts. The original seat covers are white buckets & I'm considering green suede inserts in the center section of the white seats to match the carpet as I think white or off-white inserts will be hard to keep clean. It would be nice to see photos of custom seat covers & pricing to get an idea if this is a reasonable price.

Looks good in my mental picture of it. :thumbsup:

I am contemplating having an upholstery shop recover my two buckets and rear bench seat (67). Every shop I have talked to wants to see the seats before giving an estimate, I just don't have a pickup truck and the time to drive them all over for quotes.

What is an expected price range for this service?
-If I supply the covers and they supply the foam, burlap, and install
-If I supply no materials, they supply it all

I haven't decided if I want to use factory re-pop covers, or just have some made. The seat covers I used for the last 18yrs were non factory type, but tastefully done with cloth inserts on the seating surfaces which is very nice on the hot summer days. But the repops are more original and I could put them on myself and they might even look ok. :confused:

With all due respect, how do you expect anyone to be able to give you a quote on any work without them being able to look at the cores and know exactly what you want to do? Lets be realistic here, why do you think every shop wants to see the seats? The estimate will be based on an hourly labor rate, are they expected to guess at it? They need to see what needs to be done. You're obviously undecided on what you may want done or not and you expect them to guess on a number?? Think about what your asking about. These estimates can be all over the place depending on what you want done. Good luck with your project!!:thumbsup:

With all due respect, how do you expect anyone to be able to give you a quote on any work without them being able to look at the cores and know exactly what you want to do? Lets be realistic here, why do you think every shop wants to see the seats? The estimate will be based on an hourly labor rate, are they expected to guess at it? They need to see what needs to be done. You're obviously undecided on what you may want done or not and you expect them to guess on a number?? Think about what your asking about. These estimates can be all over the place depending on what you want done. Good luck with your project!!:thumbsup:

I agree with you 100%, Mike.:cool:

I paid $55.00 for a local company Dygerts's in Elkhart just to install the rear seat covers worth every penny

Are you in Socal? If you know where to go in the neighborhood, you can get some really good prices, but they still need to see the seats. :cool: Good luck with your project!

With all due respect, how do you expect anyone to be able to give you a quote on any work without them being able to look at the cores and know exactly what you want to do? Lets be realistic here, why do you think every shop wants to see the seats? The estimate will be based on an hourly labor rate, are they expected to guess at it? They need to see what needs to be done. You're obviously undecided on what you may want done or not and you expect them to guess on a number?? Think about what your asking about. These estimates can be all over the place depending on what you want done. Good luck with your project!!:thumbsup:

I am not asking for a quote, not from a shop or members here.
I am asking what comparable work has cost fellow Chevelle enthusiasts in their previous experiences.

I know the shops will need to see the seats to quote, but I don't currently have the resources to take the seats around to several shops to get QUOTES from specific shops to have the seats recovered.

This is exactly why I asked members HERE what they have paid to have upholstery done.

I also left the options open for both types of job, but I am not asking for a quote on this specific job, I am asking what OTHERS have paid and what type of seat recovering job they had done:

-Install the repop seat covers you carried in
-Install custom covers and padding on your frames
+ any additional expenses like spring repairs or replacements

This is exactly the type of response I was hoping for, thank you oltmanjr:
I paid $55.00 for a local company Dygerts's in Elkhart just to install the rear seat covers worth every penny

I bought a pair of 66 chevelle buckets, talked to my friendly coworker who happens to own a upholstery shop. Told him basically im bringing you a pair of frames. you supply the rest. He charged me $255 to redo them in black cloth, simple pleats, tasteful and still comfortable in the summer. However instead of installing new seat foam, he laid some backing material, then foam, and the covers, basically sewed the backing, foam and covers. then installed it all on my frames. They looked good. maybe not quite as soft and plush as factory, but for a beater daily driver elcamino, I was happy.
I also brought in a bare bench seat frame and had the same work done, that one cost me $175 for the front seat with headrests.
When I did my chevelle, I did buy the buns for 200 bucks, the new covers were something like 200 bucks for the buckets. But I did the install myself on them. jim

I bought a pair of 66 chevelle buckets, talked to my friendly coworker who happens to own a upholstery shop. Told him basically im bringing you a pair of frames. you supply the rest. He charged me $255 to redo them in black cloth, simple pleats, tasteful and still comfortable in the summer. However instead of installing new seat foam, he laid some backing material, then foam, and the covers, basically sewed the backing, foam and covers. then installed it all on my frames. They looked good. maybe not quite as soft and plush as factory, but for a beater daily driver elcamino, I was happy.
I also brought in a bare bench seat frame and had the same work done, that one cost me $175 for the front seat with headrests.
When I did my chevelle, I did buy the buns for 200 bucks, the new covers were something like 200 bucks for the buckets. But I did the install myself on them. jim
Thanks for sharing your experience Jim.

Did the buckets that you recovered with repop buns and pre-made covers turn out as good as you expected?

How is the quality between the repop foam and vinyl compared to the custom covered seats?

I spent $400. to have the seat done in my 59
The frame needed some work and the seating is a pleated
gray/silver/black tweed type of stuff. The backs and borders are all
a black tweed with pockets sewn into the backs for books, license plates, misc stuff
that I use just to get junk off the floor.

on the 66, I ordered covers from OPG and was able to do the seats myself, but the backs I had to take to a local shop to get done-----$50 to install covers on new frames, with new foam.

I supplied all of the materials, 1 spring bottom, all new burlap, batting, seat foam, covers, bolster springs, etc. I paid 320 for two front buckets and the rear bench. I had another quote that was $500 for the same work.

I supplied all of the materials, 1 spring bottom, all new burlap, batting, seat foam, covers, bolster springs, etc. I paid 320 for two front buckets and the rear bench. I had another quote that was $500 for the same work. The seats came out great.

I am not asking for a quote, not from a shop or members here.
I am asking what comparable work has cost fellow Chevelle enthusiasts in their previous experiences.

I know the shops will need to see the seats to quote, but I don't currently have the resources to take the seats around to several shops to get QUOTES from specific shops to have the seats recovered.

This is exactly why I asked members HERE what they have paid to have upholstery done.

I also left the options open for both types of job, but I am not asking for a quote on this specific job, I am asking what OTHERS have paid and what type of seat recovering job they had done:

-Install the repop seat covers you carried in
-Install custom covers and padding on your frames
+ any additional expenses like spring repairs or replacements

This is exactly the type of response I was hoping for, thank you oltmanjr:

Sorry, maybe I misread your post. As we re-cover a lot of seats ourselves, they can range anywhere from 150.00 to 400.00 per seat depending on what the seat actually needs, sand blasting, spring repairs etc. This is a labor only number. With these seats being 40 years old, some cores are better preserved than others and require less work. What others here have paid previously can only be used as a benchmark, as prices can be all over the place. What John Smith paid his friend in Tenn. to re-cover good cores will not be a very good benchmark for you, trying to re-cover cores that need much more attention in S. California. The only way you'll get an idea of the true cost you are facing is to have several shops in your area look at the seats and provide a quote for the work required. Good luck!!!!:thumbsup:

67 buckets

I brought in new covers/foam and they redid them for 225 a pair included burlap labor, springs and some detial work. I understand I got a fair price, most shops wanted double that.

They came out absolutely perfect (and Im picky).

Most shops dont like the repop stuff, if the stitching/pattern isnt just right and theres a wrinkle it cant always be blamed on them. Got lucky I guess. Kit was from The Muscle Factory, had the work done at North Hollywood Auto Upholster in NH, Ca.

. What others here have paid previously can only be used as a benchmark, as prices can be all over the place.

Yep, that is all I am really looking for in this thread.

I agree with your other points as well (they are inarguable), but for this thread I just want some reference points on what others paid for recovering.