TL;DR — Upholstery Cleaning Cost At A Glance
- Most items cost £15–£90 each — a dining chair £15–£35, an armchair £30–£45, a sofa £40–£90.
- Cleaners apply a minimum charge of around £50–£70 (£60–£100 in London) to cover travel and set-up.
- In London, add roughly 20–30% to the prices below.
- Prices depend on the item and its size, the fabric, its condition and the cleaning method.
- Hot water extraction (steam cleaning) suits most fabrics; dry cleaning is used for delicate materials.
- Booking several items in one visit clears the minimum charge and lowers the per-item price.
- Get a fixed price for upholstery cleaning — check prices and book online for sofas, chairs, mattresses, curtains and more.
How Much Does Upholstery Cleaning Cost In 2026?
Professional upholstery cleaning in the UK is priced per item, typically from £15 for a dining chair to £90 or more for a large sofa. Because travel and set-up cost the same whatever the job size, cleaners apply a minimum charge of around £50–£70 (£60–£100 in London) — so a single chair usually costs the minimum, while a full living room's worth of furniture works out far cheaper per item. In London, expect prices roughly 20–30% higher than the rest of the UK.
The two main methods are hot water extraction (steam cleaning), which deep-cleans most fabrics, and dry cleaning, used for delicate materials like suede, velvet and silk that can't take moisture. A good cleaner checks the care label and tests colour-fastness before choosing a method, protecting your furniture from water marks or shrinkage.
Upholstery cleaning is often overlooked next to carpets, but the same logic applies: fabric furniture absorbs body oils, spills, dust, pet dander and dead skin that vacuuming alone won't shift. Mattresses in particular gather sweat, moisture and dust mites over years of nightly use. A professional clean lifts this hidden soiling, neutralises odours and removes allergens — which matters for anyone in the home with asthma, eczema or hay fever. Refreshing furniture this way once or twice a year keeps it in good condition and delays the cost of replacement, and it's a common step before selling a home or at the end of a tenancy, when furnishings need to look their best.
Here's what you can expect to pay:
| How you book | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum charge | £50 – £70 | £60 – £100 |
| Per small item (dining chair) | £15 – £35 | £20 – £40 |
| Per large item (sofa) | £40 – £90 | £50 – £110 |
Figures include VAT where applicable and reflect 2026 market rates. Your exact price depends on the items, fabric and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
Upholstery Cleaning Cost By Item
Upholstery cleaning covers far more than sofas. Here are typical per-item prices across common household furnishings:
| Item | Rest of UK | London |
|---|---|---|
| Dining chair (seat only) | £15 – £25 | £20 – £30 |
| Dining chair (seat & back) | £20 – £30 | £25 – £35 |
| Armchair | £30 – £45 | £35 – £50 |
| 2-seater sofa | £40 – £60 | £50 – £75 |
| 3-seater sofa | £50 – £90 | £60 – £110 |
| Corner sofa | £60 – £100+ | £75 – £120+ |
| Single mattress | £25 – £40 | £30 – £50 |
| Double mattress | £30 – £50 | £40 – £60 |
| King / super king mattress | £40 – £60 | £50 – £70 |
| Curtains (per pair) | £30 – £60 | £40 – £80 |
| Roller / Roman blinds (each) | £15 – £30 | £20 – £40 |
For sofas specifically, the sofa cleaning guide has a fuller breakdown. Cleaning several items in one visit is always better value, as it spreads the minimum charge across the job.
What Affects The Cost Of Upholstery Cleaning?
Several factors decide where you land in the ranges above.
1. The Item And Its Size
The main driver. A dining chair is quick and cheap; a corner sofa, king mattress or full-length curtains have far more fabric to clean, so they cost more. Booking several items lowers the per-item price.
2. Fabric Type
Standard fabrics take hot water extraction and clean cost-effectively. Delicate fabrics — suede, velvet, silk — need dry cleaning to avoid damage, which can cost more.
3. Condition And Staining
Lightly soiled items clean quickly. Heavy staining, pet odours, sweat or years of use need pre-treatment and extra passes, adding to the cost.
4. The Minimum Charge
Every job carries a minimum of around £50–£70 (£60–£100 in London). A single small item hits the minimum, so it pays to combine several pieces in one visit.
5. Your Location
London and the South East run roughly 20–30% higher than the rest of the UK, reflecting higher labour and travel costs.
6. Extras
Stain protection (fabric guard), deodorising and anti-allergen treatments, and heavy stain removal are usually charged on top of the base clean.
What's Included — And What's Not
Typically included in an upholstery clean:
- Inspection of the fabric and a colour-fastness test
- Vacuuming and pre-treatment of soiling
- Hot water extraction or dry cleaning of the agreed items
- Basic spot treatment of common marks
- Grooming and drying guidance
Usually charged separately:
- Heavy stain removal (wine, ink, pet accidents)
- Deodorising and anti-allergen treatments
- Stain-protection (fabric guard) application
- Leather feed and conditioning
- Re-hanging curtains or dismantling fixed items
Confirm which items are covered and whether stain treatment is included, as these are the most common questions.
Can You Do It Yourself?
For light maintenance, DIY works. An upholstery-safe spray, a soft brush and a vacuum lift surface dirt, and you can hire an upholstery cleaning machine for around £15–£20 per day plus product. Regular vacuuming and prompt spot-cleaning keep furniture fresh between deep cleans.
The risks are the same as with any soft furnishing: over-wetting can cause water marks, shrinkage or musty smells, and the wrong product can strip colour or damage delicate fabrics. Mattresses in particular are hard to dry properly at home. Professionals check the care label, match the method to the fabric, and have the extraction power to clean deeply and dry quickly. For delicate fabrics, mattresses, curtains, deep-set stains or allergen removal, a professional is the safer choice.
How To Save Money On Upholstery Cleaning
- Book several items at once to clear the minimum charge and lower the per-item price.
- Add small items like dining chairs or cushions to make the most of the call-out.
- Vacuum beforehand so the cleaner focuses on deep cleaning.
- Treat spills quickly so they don't set into stains needing specialist removal.
- Combine with a sofa, mattress or curtains rather than booking separate visits.
- Get a couple of quotes and check what's included, not just the headline price.
How To Hire A Good Upholstery Cleaner
Choose a cleaner who checks the care label and fabric type and tests colour-fastness before starting. Confirm they're insured, ask which method they'll use for each item, and check whether stain treatment is included. Read recent reviews and get a fixed price in writing, including the minimum charge and any extras.
With Fantastic Services, you get vetted, insured upholstery cleaners who match the method to your fabric, transparent per-item pricing and online booking for sofas, chairs, mattresses and curtains.
Book your upholstery cleaning service today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Upholstery Cleaning Cost?
It's priced per item: a dining chair costs £15–£35, an armchair £30–£45, and a sofa £40–£90, with London around 20–30% higher. A minimum charge of £50–£70 applies to small jobs.
How Does The Minimum Charge Work?
Cleaners set a minimum of around £50–£70 (£60–£100 in London) to cover travel and set-up. If your items total less than the minimum, you pay the minimum — so combining several pieces gives better value.
Which Methods Are Used For Upholstery Cleaning?
The two main methods are hot water extraction (steam cleaning) for most fabrics and dry cleaning for delicate materials such as suede, velvet and silk. The cleaner chooses based on the care label and fabric.
Can You Clean Mattresses And Curtains Too?
Yes. Mattresses cost £25–£60 depending on size, curtains £30–£60 per pair, and blinds £15–£30 each. Booking them with other items clears the minimum charge efficiently.
How Often Should You Get Upholstery Cleaned?
Every 12 months for most homes, or every 6 months for busy households, homes with pets or allergy sufferers. Mattresses benefit from cleaning once or twice a year to manage dust mites.
Is It Better Value To Hire A Machine Than Book A Service?
Hiring a machine is cheaper upfront (about £15–£20 per day) but risks over-wetting and fabric damage, and dries slowly. For delicate fabrics, mattresses or deep stains, a professional gives a safer, better result.
Will Professional Cleaning Remove Stains And Smells?
Often, yes. Pre-treatment and extraction lift most stains and odours, though very old or set-in marks may not fully clear. A cleaner will assess each item and tell you what's realistic first.
Fantastic Services Upholstery Cleaning Prices 2026
| Standard | + Prime care* Deep Upholstery Cleaning* | Dry Cleaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Club | £30 OFF the service + £270 in credits | ||
| Armchair | £32 | +£9 | £36 |
| Sofa by seat | £33 | +£9 | £36 |
| Two-seated sofa | £66 | +£18 | £72 |
| L-shaped three-seated sofa | £132 | +£36 | +£144 |
| Dining / Office chair | £10 | +£3 | £16 |
| Mattress | £35 | +£10 | £45 |
| Bedframe | £35 | +£10 | £42 |
| Footstool | £32 | +£9 | £36 |
*Our premium all-inclusive Hot Water Extraction package. You receive the complete deep clean from our Standard Hot Water Extraction tier, plus targeted professional stain treatment and advanced stain protection that helps shield your upholstery from new stains for up to 6 months.
Price for members of the Fantastic Club. The Fantastic Club is a yearly subscription of £89.
The minimum charge for the service is £68 for non-members and £38 for Fantastic Club members.
T&C and Minimum Charges apply. When we calculate the price, we also take into consideration the area's dimensions and the time of the appointment. All prices and deals are valid for areas within M25. Deals cannot be combined with any other deals and promotions. Prices are subject to availability. Congestion charges are excluded when applicable.
