The Upholstery Forum

Trying to figure out how much to charge for a full interior uplostry job on an bmw E28? Seats , headliner, carpet ect. I’m a beginner, I know it will take me longer then most.

I can’t help much, it would take me a long long time! When I quote things that are large I try to guess how long each individual piece is going to take to get my total hours ( usually I’m way to optimistic so I end up working for less but gain the experience which makes you faster in the end) luckily I’m in a good position to not have to make $X per hr. If I shoot to high and don’t get the job my world doesn’t colapse around me.

Are you quoting for leather or vinyl? What product for the headliner?

Revv Up wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 4:35 pm I can’t help much, it would take me a long long time! When I quote things that are large I try to guess how long each individual piece is going to take to get my total hours ( usually I’m way to optimistic so I end up working for less but gain the experience which makes you faster in the end) luckily I’m in a good position to not have to make $X per hr. If I shoot to high and don’t get the job my world doesn’t colapse around me.

Are you quoting for leather or vinyl? What product for the headliner?

Yeah I guess I was looking more of how long a job like this would take a experienced installer. As this would be my first big job. My bread and butter is car audio work. Which my labor rate is $100/ hr. I would be doing this as mostly side work starting off as I’m not as experienced as an veteran upholster. But I don’t want to do it for free also.

I’m looking to give him a quote for leather or vinyl. I’m not sure if the original seats are leather or not. Headliner material would be up to them what they would want to use.

Probably would take me 2 weeks. But its hard to say. So many details can change things. Can you buy a new dash and for that car? You will have a week just fixing that dash.

John wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 3:51 am Probably would take me 2 weeks. But its hard to say. So many details can change things. Can you buy a new dash and for that car? You will have a week just fixing that dash.

Oh okay, then it would take me much longer lol. I haven’t looked into getting a new dash yet. I not sure if I’m going to rip it all out make make things from scratch yet. I just have to find out his budget and what he’s willing to spend. Would you do this in vinyl or leather?

Its whatever the customer wants. Must stock interiors like that have leather on all the seating surfaces and the sides of the seats and door panels are color matched vinyl. You can save money that way if you can find a leather / vinyl pair. I useally tell customers That full leather adds about $1500-$2000 to the cost of the job. Depending on the leather you choose. Most end up going with vinyl after that

John wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:24 pm Its whatever the customer wants. Must stock interiors like that have leather on all the seating surfaces and the sides of the seats and door panels are color matched vinyl. You can save money that way if you can find a leather / vinyl pair. I useally tell customers That full leather adds about $1500-$2000 to the cost of the job. Depending on the leather you choose. Most end up going with vinyl after that

Okay thanks, yeah he decided he would just all vinyl with the added cost.

@Trimmerman79 , @John,

Talk about interiors in cars like these is really motivating guys. I sold a seat I recovered and got to see my work in action as it went into a service truck and is now filthy . I really loved that seat for how clean and tight it looked.

@BigRig Yeah some times that's how it is. Not all the jobs can be for clean cars..

Yeah this job will be challenging since I have very little experience sewing. I’ve been so busy with audio builds. But want to take the job on for more practice in my spare time. So this wouldn’t be a big money job since this would be a first big job. Also since I only have a sewing machine, what other tools would I need? These are the tool I have on hand since I do other custom work.
Tools I have
- Air staple gun ( shoots 1/4 and 3/8 stainless stapes)
- glue gun (air)
- Caftsman professional 27 gal Oil-Lubricated Vertical Air Compressor
- glue adhesive - Landau Top and Trim HHR Solvent 5 gallon
- trim removal tools (plastic and metal)
- 12v and 18v battery drills and impact drill

What hand tools would I need still? I know I need a hog ring pliers, which brand? What size and ring size? And a steamer what brand and size?

I seen this video that shows some stuff, what else is missing I need?

Thank you very much for the video, which is very interesting to learn more about upholstery tools and their name in English (for a non English native speaker like me )

In my opinion, you have most of what you need. About steamers, I have read very good reviews of the Jiffy J-4000, and I have purchased a no-name hog ring plier in Aliexpress which comes with two different size hog rings, which is the typical that include in the order companies that sell leather covers, as LeatherSeats.com, so that customers can install them theirselves

You already have most of what you need. What you don't have listed that you will defiantly need.
shears - Wiss W20 Shears: https://amzn.to/2JEVKCd
A steamer is a must - Jiffy J-4000 Steamer https://amzn.to/2GKa8X0
Hog ring pliers and hog rings. I like CS Osborne tools http://amzn.to/2znMUTG

I also have this page here with a lot of the tools I use here that might help as well
https://www.theluckyneedle.com/tools-of-the-trade/

Surprisingly you dont need a lot of tools get started in upholstery work. You and also buy what you need as you go also

John wrote: ↑Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:02 am Surprisingly you dont need a lot of tools get started in upholstery work. You and also buy what you need as you go also

Yes, I was very surprised that a good upholsterer does not need a lot of tools... this is a very good example of how a pair of skilled hands is more important than using very expensive machinery!

Very true @LeatherJohnny

I use 10” heavy duty scissors for cutting material and smaller scissors to cut thread on the machine.