How to price upholstery cleaning
Updated November 1, 2026 · QuoteCubby
How to check the fabric, turn your minutes per piece into prices, and decide when upholstery works as its own job or as an add-on to carpet cleaning.
Check the fabric first
Look for the cleaning code on the tag (often under a cushion): W for water-based cleaners, S for solvent only, W/S for either, and X for vacuum only. Natural fibers, delicate fabrics and pieces with no tag deserve a test spot and a careful note on the quote.
Price per piece from your time
Piece price = minutes ÷ 60 × your hourly target + product. Here’s what that looks like with example minutes:
| Piece | Example minutes | Labor + product at $60/hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sofa (3 seats) | 45 | $48 |
| Loveseat | 30 | $33 |
| Armchair | 20 | $23 |
| Dining chair seat | 5 | $8 |
Example only: the minutes, $60 per hour and $3 of product per piece are illustrations, not market rates. Time your own pieces.
As an add-on vs a separate job
Added to the calculator’s example job (3 rooms and a hallway), a sofa that takes 45 minutes raises the price from $145 to $190. On its own, with 30 setup minutes and the drive, the same sofa works out to $78 before the minimum, so the $125 minimum applies and the price is $125.
Example only, using the calculator’s starter numbers: $60 per hour target, 25 minutes per room and 10 per hallway, 30 setup minutes, $10 per cleaning hour for equipment, $3 of chemicals per area, 10 round-trip miles at $0.35 per mile, 20 minutes of driving, $125 minimum, rounded up to $5. These are not market rates. In the calculator, put upholstery minutes in Extra work (minutes); product for upholstery isn’t included automatically, so add it to your minutes or your price.
What to write on the quote
- Each piece and its price.
- The fabric code and any test-spot result.
- That some stains and wear may not come out, and how long to wait before using the piece.
Check your own numbers
The free QuoteCubby carpet cleaning calculator prices a job from rooms, hallways, stairs, soil level and add-ons, adds your equipment, chemicals and drive, and shows what you really earn per hour.
Open the free carpet cleaning calculatorFAQ
How do I price upholstery cleaning?
Time each kind of piece, price those minutes at your hourly target and add product. A per-piece or per-seat price is easy for clients; build it from your own time.
What do the cleaning codes on furniture tags mean?
Furniture tags often carry a cleaning code: W (water-based cleaners), S (solvent only), W/S (either) and X (vacuum only, no liquids). Check the tag before you quote, and don’t wet-clean a piece marked S or X.
Should I clean one sofa as its own job?
You can, but price it with your setup, drive and minimum. A single sofa often hits the minimum, which is why many cleaners offer upholstery as an add-on to a carpet job.
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