How to Reupholster a Rocking Chair Cushion

A worn or faded cushion can make an otherwise lovely rocking chair look tired, but you do not have to throw it out. Reupholstering, or recovering, a rocking chair cushion is a satisfying project that breathes new life into the chair for a fraction of the cost of buying new. With a little patience and basic sewing, you can do it yourself. Here is how.

Quick answer: To reupholster a rocking chair cushion, remove the old cover and use it as your pattern, cut new fabric to match with a seam allowance, sew the pieces together with a zipper for easy removal, then slip it over the existing foam. If the foam is also flat or crumbling, replace it at the same time. Choose a durable fabric suited to where the chair lives, indoor or outdoor.

What You Will Need

Gather your fabric, a seam ripper, scissors or a rotary cutter, pins, a tape measure, a sewing machine, matching thread, and a zipper sized to the cushion. If the foam needs replacing, have a new foam insert and an electric knife or sharp blade to trim it. Choosing fabric is the most important decision, so pick something that matches the chair’s use. For an outdoor rocker, a performance fabric like solution dyed acrylic resists fading and moisture, and you can see the options on the Sunbrella site. For an indoor chair, a sturdy upholstery weight cotton, linen, or microfiber works well.

Step by Step

1. Remove and study the old cover

Use a seam ripper to carefully open the old cover at the seams rather than cutting it apart. Keep each piece intact, because the old cover is the best pattern you will ever have. Lay the pieces flat and note how they fit together, including any piping or boxing strips around the sides.

2. Cut the new fabric

Lay the old pieces on your new fabric and trace around them, adding a seam allowance of about half an inch on each edge. Cut out each piece. If your cushion has a boxed edge, do not forget the side strips. Before you cut, double check your numbers against the chair, and our guide on how to measure a rocking chair for a cushion is a handy reference.

3. Sew it together

Pin the top and bottom panels right sides together, add the boxing strips if your cushion has them, and sew along your seam line. Install a zipper along the back edge so you can remove the cover for washing later, which is well worth the small extra effort. Add piping at this stage if you want a tailored look. Leave the zipper side open, then turn the cover right side out.

4. Insert the foam and finish

Slide the cover over the existing foam, working the corners into place so they sit square. If the foam is flattened, lumpy, or crumbling, replace it now by tracing the old foam onto a new piece and trimming to size. Zip it up, and your cushion looks new again.

Recover or Replace?

Recovering makes sense when the foam still has life but the fabric is faded, stained, or dated. If the foam has lost its support and the fabric is worn, replacing both at once gives the best result and is still cheaper than a brand new custom cushion. If your chair is a bare wooden rocker and you are adding comfort for the first time, our comparison of wooden vs upholstered rocking chairs explains how much difference a good cushion makes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need sewing experience to reupholster a cushion?
Basic machine sewing is enough for a simple cushion. Straight seams and a zipper are well within reach for a beginner, especially using the old cover as a pattern.

How much fabric do I need?
It depends on the cushion size, but measuring your old cover pieces and adding seam allowance gives you an accurate figure. Buy a little extra to allow for pattern matching and mistakes.

Can I reupholster an outdoor cushion?
Yes. Use an outdoor performance fabric and a quick drying outdoor foam so the new cushion stands up to the weather.

You can find upholstery fabric, foam, and zippers on Amazon to get started.