How to Reupholster a Dining Chair Drop-In Seat, Step by Step
Here is how to reupholster a dining chair with a drop-in seat: lift the seat out of the frame, strip the old fabric and foam, fit new foam to the base, cover it with wadding and fabric, staple the fabric underneath and drop the seat back in. Most drop-in seats can be done in an afternoon with a staple gun, a staple remover and spray adhesive. The part that decides how the chair feels for years is the foam, and dining chairs need a firm, high density grade. GB Foam Direct cuts dining chair seat foam to the exact size of your seat base, with next working day delivery available.
Key takeaways
- A drop-in seat is a separate padded board or frame that sits in a rebate inside the chair frame and lifts out from underneath.
- Dining chairs used every day need firm or extra firm foam, and we recommend our Luxury grades such as GB 39H (37 to 41 kg/m3, 180 to 220 N).
- Standard dining chair seat pads are around 2 inches (5cm) thick, and loose kitchen chair pads work best at about 1.75 inches (4.5cm) in extra firm foam.
- Allow for the thickness of the new fabric: a seat that fits snugly bare may not drop back into the frame once covered.
- We have cut foam in High Wycombe since 1976, work to ISO 9001 and give a 5 year guarantee against faults in manufacture.
What Is a Drop-In Seat?
A drop-in seat is a padded seat on its own board or wooden frame that sits inside a recess in the chair and can be lifted out. It is the most common seat on dining chairs and the easiest to reupholster, because you work on the seat away from the chair.
Some drop-in seats have a solid plywood or MDF base, and others have an open wooden frame with webbing stretched across it. Older or better made chairs often have webbing, and you should check its condition while the seat is stripped.
If the seat is fixed with screws from underneath, it is a screw-on seat pad rather than a drop-in seat. The steps below still apply once the screws are out.
What Do You Need to Reupholster a Dining Chair?
You need a small set of upholstery tools, new foam cut to your seat, a layer of wadding and your top fabric.
| Item | What It Is For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Staple remover or tack lifter | Removing old staples and tacks | Lifts fixings without splitting the seat frame |
| Staple gun | Fixing calico, fabric and bottoming cloth | A hand staple gun is enough for a set of chairs |
| Upholstery scissors | Cutting fabric and wadding cleanly | Sharp shears stop the fabric snagging |
| Spray adhesive | Holding foam to the seat board | Use one made for foam, such as our Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive |
| Webbing stretcher | Tensioning new webbing on open frames | Only needed if the seat has webbing |
| Foam, wadding, fabric | The new seat | Polyester wadding or Dacron softens the edges |
Which Foam Is Best for a Dining Chair Seat?
The best foam for a dining chair seat is a firm or extra firm high density foam, because dining chairs are sat on every day and thin pads bottom out quickly in soft foam. For dining chair seating we steer customers towards our Luxury grades.
| Seat Type | Recommended Foam | Thickness | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard drop-in seat on a solid board | GB 39H Luxury Hard | Around 2 inches (5cm) | Firm support that holds its shape on a thin seat |
| Thin seat pad, about 1 inch (2.5cm) | GB 42H Superior Hard or GB 39H | 1 inch (2.5cm) | Thin pads need a firm foam so you do not feel the board |
| Loose kitchen chair seat pad | GB 42H Superior Hard | About 1.75 inches (4.5cm) | Extra firm foam suits loose pads that see daily use |
| Drop-in seat on webbing | GB 39H Luxury Hard | Match the original depth | The webbing adds some give, so a hard grade keeps the seat supportive |
GB 39H and GB 42H are both rated V (very severe) for fatigue under BS 3379. See our dining chair foam page to order, or our guide to the best seating foam for how grades compare across other seats.
How to Reupholster a Dining Chair Drop-In Seat
Remove the seat. Turn the chair over and push the seat up and out of the frame, or undo the screws if it is fixed from underneath.
Strip the old covering. Lift the old staples or tacks with a staple remover or tack lifter, and photograph how the corners were folded before you take the fabric off.
Check the base. Make sure a solid board is not cracked, or replace slack webbing on an open frame using a webbing stretcher.
Order or cut the new foam. Measure the seat base using our guide to measuring foam and order foam cut to that shape, or use the old foam as a pattern if it has kept its outline.
Glue the foam to the base. Spray the board and the underside of the foam with a foam adhesive such as our Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive, line up the edges and press the foam down evenly.
Add a layer of wadding. Lay polyester wadding over the foam and trim it to the edge of the board to soften the edges and stop the fabric rubbing on the foam.
Staple the top fabric. Place one staple in the centre of each side, working on opposite sides, then work out towards the corners and fold the corners neatly.
Test the fit and finish underneath. Drop the seat into the chair to check it fits, then staple a bottoming cloth over the underside to hide the raw edges.
If you are cutting foam yourself, our guide on how to cut foam explains why an electric carving knife works well and why you should never use a hot wire cutter on polyurethane foam.
Mistakes to Avoid When Reupholstering a Dining Chair
- Choosing soft foam. Soft grades such as GB 33S are meant for back cushions and will flatten quickly on a dining seat.
- Ignoring the fabric thickness. Thick fabrics add bulk at the edges, so a seat that fitted bare may no longer drop into the frame.
- Stapling one side all the way first. Working from the centre of opposite sides keeps the pattern straight and the tension even.
- Reusing crumbling foam as a pattern. Old foam shrinks and loses its edges, so measure the seat base instead.
- Skipping the wadding. Without a wadding layer the fabric wears against the foam edge and the corners look hard.
Why Choose GB Foam Direct?
GB Foam started in High Wycombe in 1976 cutting foam for the town’s furniture industry, so dining chairs are part of our history. We cut every seat to the measurements or template you send, using CNC machines and experienced freehand cutters. All our upholstery grades comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, and we give a 5 year guarantee against faults in manufacture. You can also add Dacron to your foam for a charge, as explained in our Dacron and stockinette guide.
Speak to Our Team
If you need help choosing foam for your dining chairs, call us on 01494 441177, email sales@gbfoam.com or fill out our contact form. We are in the office from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 3pm on Friday.
Reupholstering Dining Chair FAQs
How do you reupholster a dining chair seat?
To reupholster a dining chair seat, remove the seat, strip the old fabric and foam, glue new foam to the base, cover it with wadding and fabric, and staple the fabric underneath. Finish with a bottoming cloth and refit the seat. A drop-in seat usually takes an afternoon.
What foam is best for dining chair seats?
The best foam for dining chair seats is a firm or extra firm high density foam. GB Foam Direct recommends its Luxury grades, such as GB 39H at 37 to 41 kg/m3 and 180 to 220 N, with GB 42H for thin or loose pads that need extra firmness.
How thick should foam be for a dining chair?
Dining chair seat foam is usually around 2 inches (5cm) thick, though it varies by chair. Loose kitchen chair pads work well at about 1.75 inches (4.5cm) in extra firm foam. If the seat has to drop into a frame, match the thickness of the original foam.
Do I need a staple gun to reupholster a chair?
A staple gun is the easiest way to fix fabric to a dining chair seat, and a hand staple gun is enough for a set of chairs. Traditional upholsterers use tacks and a magnetic hammer instead. You will also need a staple remover or tack lifter to take the old covering off.
Should I glue foam to a chair seat?
Yes, gluing foam to the seat board with a spray adhesive made for foam stops it shifting while you fit the fabric. Spray both the board and the underside of the foam, line up the edges and press down evenly. GB Foam Direct sells a Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive in 500ml cans that bonds foam, fabrics and other materials.
Why will my reupholstered seat not fit back in the chair?
A reupholstered drop-in seat usually fails to fit because the new fabric or foam is thicker at the edges than the original. Try trimming excess fabric at the corners and folding it flatter. Thinner fabric or slightly smaller foam may be needed if it still sits proud.
Can I order dining chair foam cut to my seat shape?
Yes. GB Foam Direct cuts dining chair foam to your measurements in shapes such as rectangles and rounded chair cushions, or to a physical or digital template for unusual seats. Orders placed before 11am Monday to Thursday are eligible for next working day delivery.
Cameron has emerged as a key marketing expert since joining GB Foam Ltd in 2017. A graduate of the University of Winchester, with a professional background in Public Relations; he has combined his content writing and brand awareness expertise with an in-depth knowledge of foam products and foam conversion technology to enhance the company’s marketing strategies and industry presence. Cameron has led numerous marketing campaigns, in both B2B and B2C segments, to further brand recognition and open up new business avenues worldwide.