How Much Does Furniture Refinishing Cost in 2024?

Wood Furniture Refinishing Cost Factors

Labor makes up the bulk of furniture refinishing costs, but other factors like furniture material also impact the tools, expertise, and time required for refinishing.

Damage

The type and extent of damage are key factors in furniture refinishing costs. Surficial scratches and stains on one small area are less costly, whereas major damage that extends across the full item may require completely stripping the furniture of all the old paint, varnish, or lacquer. This process typically costs between $100 to $400.

If your furniture has significant damage like broken legs or doors, you may need to repair it before refinishing. Furniture repair costs an average of $200, with prices typically ranging from $100 to $300.

Size

Larger furniture items like beds and wardrobes require more time, labor, and materials to refinish. Refinishing a bed frame can range from $300 to $2,100, while a large dining table can cost as much as $500 to $2,400.

In contrast, smaller items like an end table average $200 to $700, while most chairs cost between $100 to $400 to refinish.

Finish Type

Whether you choose to stain, paint, or varnish will affect your total materials costs for refinishing. Stains are typically the most affordable option and are quicker to apply than paint. You may also choose to apply a varnish alone or on top of your stain or paint. Varnish is a clear layer that sits on top of stain or paint and adds a hard sheen. It’s slightly more costly than stain, but usually less expensive than most paints.

Labor

Labor costs typically make up about 85% of the cost of refinishing furniture. Most furniture repair pros charge a flat rate based on their assessment of the item, but some may charge by the hour. Standard furniture repair hourly rates range from $40 to $100 per hour depending upon the contractor’s experience, the extent of repairs, and labor costs in your area.

If you live in a rural area and the contractor has to come to your house, you may have to pay an additional fee for mileage. However, many furniture repair pros work from their shop and give you the option to drop off the furniture item to save on transportation costs.

Materials

Refinishing costs vary depending on the material used to make your furniture item.

The cost of refinishing wood furniture also depends on the type of wood. For example, spruce and pine are more affordable, while specialty woods like teak, walnut, and cherry require extra care and are typically more costly to refinish.

Furniture Refinishing Cost per Item

The size of a furniture item significantly impacts its refinishing costs, as larger and more detailed pieces require more time and materials to refinish. 

Common Furniture Items

The following table outlines the average cost of refinishing common items, including labor and material costs:

Some furniture repairers offer a flat rate based on furniture items, while others charge by the hour. If you have a detailed piece or an antique item, your contractor may provide a custom quote based on the specialized equipment and materials required for refinishing.

Cost to Refinish Other Furniture Pieces

Some furniture pieces, like kitchen cabinets, require a different refinishing process than dining or bedroom sets. Although steps like stripping, sanding, and staining are the same, your contractor will also have to perform some construction tasks like removing and replacing cabinet doors.

Refinishing fixed pieces like kitchen cabinets also means that your contractor may have to work in your home, rather than taking the furniture items to their workplace. This additional level of expertise and labor means that costs for refinishing kitchen cabinets can often range from $2,000 to $4,500.

Furniture Refinishing Cost by Method

Furniture refinishing costs vary depending on the method your contractor uses. In some cases, your furniture item may require several methods to create the finished product.

Stripping

If there is extensive damage to the furniture, stripping is often required to remove the old paint, rust, lacquer, or varnish. This prepares the furniture for the refinishing process.

Stripping ranges from $100 to $400 on average, but may be more for large furniture pieces. If your furniture is more than 40 years old, there’s a chance that it may contain lead paint. In this case, your contractor will have to take additional health and safety precautions when stripping the paint. The extra time and risks required to remove lead paint may increase furniture stripping costs.

Sanding

Before applying any paint or stain, your contractor will usually sand the furniture to ensure an even surface. This also helps to create a strong bond between the material and the stain. Depending on the size and detail of the item, sanding typically costs between $300 to $800.

Sealing

Once the furniture has been stripped, sanded, and prepared, it may need to be sealed before the final paint or varnish can be applied. Sealing helps evenly disperse the stain or varnish for a smooth finished surface. Sealing furniture typically costs between $80 to $300.

Staining

Staining furniture requires your contractor to brush a stain onto the wood, and then allow it to dry. This process may require multiple coats, depending on the furniture material and stain color. In most cases, they will also apply a protective coat to finish the item. Average furniture staining costs range from $100 to $500.

Powder Coating

Powder coating is typically used on metal furniture to create a strong, durable finish. It’s a popular technique for wrought iron and aluminum furniture but can also be used on other materials like plastic. Powder coating requires a longer curing time than standard finishing, leading to average costs between $100 to $350.

Reupholstering

Upholstered furniture like couches, armchairs, and footstools can be reupholstered to refresh their look, add modern fabric, or repair torn or fading material. On average, it costs between $750 to $3,500 to completely reupholster a couch.

The type of upholstery material will impact furniture upholstery costs. Premium materials like leather or vintage fabrics are more costly, while cotton and acrylic are more budget-friendly. You may also want to consider furniture upholstery cleaning costs, as regular cleaning and maintenance can preserve your upholstery for longer.

Furniture Painting Costs

Refinishing and painting often go hand in hand, but you may find that your furniture only requires a new coat of paint rather than a refinish. Furniture painting typically costs significantly less than refinishing as your contractor doesn’t need to remove old stain or damage before painting.

Most homeowners spend between $80 to $800 on furniture painting, with contractors charging an average of $40 to $60 per hour. As labor makes up the bulk of furniture painting costs, prices usually depend on the size of the piece. If your contractor has to remove old paint or apply a sealing coat before painting, these costs will increase.

Antique Furniture Refinishing Costs

Refinishing antique furniture may require more precision and expertise to preserve its unique quality. Particularly if the piece was built with materials that are difficult to find now, your furniture repairer will have to take extra care to maintain as much of the original work as possible. 

Antique furniture refinishing costs are typically 20% to 50% higher than similar pieces of regular furniture. For example, refinishing a standard table might cost $600, but an antique table of similar size might cost anywhere from $720 to $900.

Budgeting for Furniture Refinishing

While professional expertise is required for many furniture refinishing projects, there are plenty of steps you can take to keep the process budget-friendly:

• Remove hardware like knobs, handles, and other details before you send the piece for refinishing. This reduces work time and can save you money on labor.

• Consider shopping for paint or stain yourself. While some pros have products they prefer to use, you can talk to your contractor about purchasing your own products so you can take advantage of sales.

• Contact several furniture refinishers in your area to obtain quotes.

• If you have multiple pieces that need refinishing, ask your contractor whether they offer bulk rates and get all the pieces done at once.

You may also consider painting the furniture piece yourself if you’re looking for a cost-friendly solution. While stripping, sanding, and other steps in the refinishing process often require expert tools and knowledge to preserve furniture quality, furniture painting may be considered a separate step. If your contractor has already completed the refinishing process and prepared the piece for painting, tackling painting as a DIY can keep your project on budget.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.