HOW TO HIRE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an upholsterer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An upholstery repair in Ireland costs €80–€450 per item, typically around €200. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
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THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an upholsterer in five steps
- Are you on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — spring Replacement — over time, the springs in upholstered furniture can lose their resilience, leading to discomfort.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — frame Repair — this aspect addresses structural issues within upholstered furniture, such as loose joints or broken frames.
- How does condition of the furniture change the price?Damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does materials chosen for the repair change the price?Something neglected for years takes longer than something kept up. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the work required change the price?A small difference here makes a large difference to the total. — ask before the quote rather than after.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI)
CIRI is a VOLUNTARY register today. The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed on 5 July 2022 and S.I. 429/2022 commenced parts of it on 29 August 2022; the Construction Industry Federation was appointed registration body on 16 January 2023. Registration is NOT yet mandatory: the divisions regulations had not been drafted as of a May 2025 Dáil answer, and CIRI itself projects mandatory registration from 2027. So being absent from CIRI breaks no law in 2026 — and being on it is still the only independent check of a builder that exists here.
Search the Construction Industry Register Ireland for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. ciri.ie →
a Certificate of Compliance on Completion
Issued by the assigned certifier and the builder, where the work needed a commencement notice on completion, before the building is occupied. It matters because it is lodged on the statutory register and is what a buyer's solicitor looks for; work done without one surfaces on sale.
Agree before the work starts that you will be handed a certificate of compliance on completion, and keep it with the house papers.
Insurance
Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — spring Replacement — over time, the springs in upholstered furniture can lose their resilience, leading to discomfort.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — frame Repair — this aspect addresses structural issues within upholstered furniture, such as loose joints or broken frames.
A good answer: Damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Something neglected for years takes longer than something kept up. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A small difference here makes a large difference to the total. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Reupholstering Furniture — reupholstering involves replacing the fabric and padding of furniture pieces to give them a fresh look — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a upholsterer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it — fabric Repair — this includes mending tears, burns, or frayed edges in various fabrics.
Getting the quote right
- Condition of the furniture — damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote.
- Materials chosen for the repair — something neglected for years takes longer than something kept up.
- Complexity of the work required — a small difference here makes a large difference to the total.
- Access to the item — a clear run to the work is the quickest job there is.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- No a Certificate of Compliance on Completion is offered, or you are told you do not need one for work of this kind
- They will not talk about it: condition of the furniture — damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote
- They will not talk about it: materials chosen for the repair — something neglected for years takes longer than something kept up
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the work required — a small difference here makes a large difference to the total
- A price for the upholsterer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What an upholsterer costs: €80–€450 per item
The figures are for the job, per item, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Tear repair and Cushion re-stuffing each carry their own band. Upholstery Repair price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Upholsterers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstCondition of the furniture — damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote — that is what the upholsterer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneMaterials chosen for the repair — something neglected for years takes longer than something kept up — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the work required — a small difference here makes a large difference to the total — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAccess to the item — a clear run to the work is the quickest job there is — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the upholsterer is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, any additional services — the answer to this shapes the rest of the quote.
- Fabric Repair
- This includes mending tears, burns, or frayed edges in various fabrics.
- Reupholstering Furniture
- Reupholstering involves replacing the fabric and padding of furniture pieces to give them a fresh look.
- Frame Repair
- This aspect addresses structural issues within upholstered furniture, such as loose joints or broken frames.
- Spring Replacement
- Over time, the springs in upholstered furniture can lose their resilience, leading to discomfort.
- Tear Repair
- Involves mending fabric tears using techniques like patching or stitching to restore the integrity of the upholstery.
- Cushion Re-stuffing
- Includes replacing or adding stuffing to cushions to improve comfort and restore their shape.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an upholsterer: questions people ask
The duration of upholstery repair depends on the job size and complexity, but most repairs can be completed within a few hours to a couple of days. Minor repairs might take less time, while extensive restorations can take longer.
While many general upholstery professionals can handle repairs, a qualified specialist may be necessary for intricate work or valuable items. It's essential to choose someone with the right experience for your specific needs.
Some upholstery repair services offer emergency or same-day repairs, but availability can vary by provider. It's best to inquire directly with the service to see if they can accommodate urgent requests.
Yes, many professionals offer discounts for booking multiple jobs together, such as repairing several pieces of furniture. It's advisable to discuss this option when scheduling your repairs.
If your upholstery has significant structural damage, requires custom work, or involves high-value items, a specialist may be necessary. General professionals may not have the expertise needed for complex restorations or repairs.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in home repairs & handyman
Upholsterers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022
- S.I. 429/2022 — Commencement Order
- Construction Industry Register Ireland
- Department of Housing — Building Control
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — UPHOLSTERY- USED FURNITURE (Certain repair and related services) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only