Shopping for upholstery fabric online is convenient, but it also comes with questions about texture, durability, fire safety, and colour matching that are usually easier to answer in-store. To help you shop with confidence, this guide from Fabrics Galore covers the essential questions to ask before placing an order. From understanding fabric composition and Martindale ratings to ordering swatches and calculating how much fabric you need, we break down everything you should know to choose the right upholstery fabric for your project. Whether you're updating a favourite armchair or redecorating an entire room, these expert tips will ensure you make a stylish, suitable, and safe choice—delivered straight to your door.
1. Can I order fabric swatches or samples before buying?
When purchasing upholstery fabric online, buyers often want to see and feel the fabric in person, to ensure that colour and texture is right for their upholstery project. Swatches help confirm the fabric’s suitability, aesthetics and reassure online buyers. At Fabrics Galore, you can order a sample which will normally arrive within 3 days of order.
2. What is the fabric made of?
Understanding fibre content is crucial, as it determines durability, comfort, and care needs of the upholstery fabric. Buyers often ask about the material composition and how it affects performance. In the Fabrics Galore upholstery collection, we have a wide range of fabric types from synthetic fibres to 100% natural fibres like cotton, as well as synthetic/natural blends.
3. Is this fabric suitable for upholstery?
Customers want to know if the fabric is heavy and durable enough for furniture, as opposed to lighter weight fabrics intended for soft furnishings like curtains and cushions. Look out for higher fabric weights, particularly for upholstery in heavy domestic use. You can get away with a lighter weight fabric such as our cotton and polyester blend upholstery fabrics for an occasional use chair. So it is always a good idea to know what use the piece of furniture is intended for in the end.
4. Do I need a fire-retardant fabric?
If an upholstery fabric is fire-retardant, it is usually mentioned in the product descriptions where it is listed as a property of the fabric. You can also arrange for upholstery fabric to be treated for fire retardancy post purchase. Check with your upholsterer whether you need a fire-retardant fabric – most commonly required in commercial settings. Fabrics Galore’s fire-retardant upholstery fabrics are suitable for domestic use. These include our fire-retardant polypropylene and our furnishing chenille fabrics.
5. What is the difference between fire resistant and fire retardant?
When buying upholstery fabric, it’s important to understand the difference between fire or flame resistant and fire or flame retardant. Fire resistant means the fabric fibres are inherently resistant to ignition. A good example of this is wool which is naturally fire resistant and more resistant to ignition.
Fire retardant means that the fabric has been treated with special chemical finishes during the manufacturing process to slow down the spread of fire. It is important to know that fire retardant fabrics may require ongoing treatment after cleaning to preserve fire retardancy. Read our blog which explains the requirements for fire retardant fabrics.
6. Do I need a platform lining?
Platform lining, sometimes called platform cloth or bottoming cloth is a strong support material used in upholstery projects. It serves as a base layer underneath cushions, seat pads or upholstery foam and is often attached to the underside of chairs and sofas to provide strength and structure and protect the inner fabrics.
Platform lining helps to create a tidy, professional looking finish which will maintain the shape of the seat cushions over the years of use. While not always necessary for low use decorative furniture, it is advisable for most upholstery projects.
7. What is the Martindale number?
The Martindale rub test refers to the durability of an upholstery fabric over time. Quite literally, the test refers to the number of times you can “rub” the fabric before it starts to deteriorate. It uses a special machine with sandpaper or wool covered discs which move across the fabric at high speed designed to imitate people sitting down repeatedly on a fabric covered seat cushion. The higher the Martindale rating the harder wearing the fabric. The Martindale rating is a universal test in accordance with ISO international standards.
To find out more, read our blog on Understanding Martindale Ratings.
8. Which upholstery fabrics are the most hard-wearing?
Fabric durability depends on its fibre type, structure, and weave. Synthetic fabrics such as our polyester upholstery fabrics are extremely hard-wearing and suitable for heavy domestic use. Look for a high Martindale rating if you require a hard-wearing upholstery fabric.
9. Can I use bouclé fabric for upholstery?
In recent years, interior designers have often used bouclé fabric to cover chairs or stools, loving it’s cool Scandi aesthetic and tactile softness. It is important to distinguish between bouclé fabric suitable for furnishing use and bouclé fabric used in dressmaking.
Both are made from polyester although a furnishing weight bouclé will be much heavier and more durable, meeting the demands of an upholstery setting. At Fabrics Galore, our furnishing bouclé comes in a range of plain colours, including the ever popular cream fluffy bouclé, is 480 gsm and has a Martindale rating of 100,000 which makes it perfect as an upholstery fabric.
10. How do I care for and clean upholstery fabric?
Care instructions for upholstery fabrics are a top concern, especially for households with children and pets. Look for recommended cleaning methods, stain resistance, and any special handling required. Velvet upholstery can be quite tricky to clean due to its plush texture, although velvet made from polyester is much easier to clean.
11. What colours and prints are best for upholstery?
Customers can be overwhelmed by colour and print options when buying upholstery fabrics. Requesting fabric swatches can help to ensure a good match with your desired décor.
When shopping in-store for fabrics, it's best to bring samples or swatches of the items you want to match or coordinate with.
12. How much fabric do I need for my upholstery project?
Estimating meterage is a common question. Do seek guidance on how much fabric is required for different furniture types and ask your online fabric shop for help in calculating your needs.
Measure the length, width and depth of cushions, backs, fronts and arms of furniture and other decorative areas such as skirts and piping. Add a generous amount for seam allowances. You may need up to 30% more fabric for pattern matching and repeats, although this will depend on the size of the repeat/pattern.
13. What is the price per metre, and are there additional costs?
Do check whether prices are quoted per metre or per half metre as one unit may equal a half metre rather than a whole metre. At Fabrics Galore our fabric prices are quoted by the half metre for greater flexibility on fabric needs.
It is also a good idea to check delivery costs. Heavier fabrics are more expensive to ship although many online fabric suppliers including Fabrics Galore offer free domestic delivery for larger orders over a defined amount.
14. What is the lead time for delivery?
Delivery speed and stock availability are important, especially for time-sensitive, larger projects. At Fabrics Galore everything you see online is available in stock; low quantities are indicated, and you will be unable to place an order for more than we have available to send. Upholstery projects should never be rushed to avoid expensive mistakes, but if you are in a hurry to get started, our orders are usually shipped within 2 days.
15. Does the fabric meet industry standards or have certifications?
UK upholstery fabrics which claim fire retardancy and fire resistance must meet the requirements of BS5852 Part 1 cigarette and Match Test. At Fabrics Galore many of our upholstery fabrics also meet OEKO-TEX 100, the highest global standard for textile manufacturing which ensures that no harmful chemicals have been used in production.
16. Can I return or exchange upholstery fabric if it’s not suitable?
Order a fabric sample in advance of placing your final upholstery fabric order to avoid costly mistakes. Most online fabric suppliers will replace faulty or damaged fabric and refund incorrect orders. For Fabrics Galore’s returns policy please refer to our shipping page for more information.
Contact us with your upholstery fabric questions
We advise you to ask yourself the questions above to minimise risk and ensure satisfaction when purchasing upholstery fabric online. However, if you are still unsure and live in or close to London, do pop by the shop and view our upholstery fabrics in person. Our sample service, product information and friendly customer service are designed to reassure our online customers.
