Essential Upholstery Tools & Supplies You Need (With My Amazon Recommendations)
Oct 14, 2025If you're getting into upholstery having the right tools and supplies makes all the difference. In this post, I’ll walk you through the upholstery tools and supplies our workshop participants use regularly in our upholstery workshops and retreats, and link out to those products (via Amazon).
Many of these are lower-cost, entry-level tools to get you started in upholstery. More professional grade tools can be found at most upholstery supply stores.
You'll also find a full list of tools (and a list of upholstery suppliers) inside the "Getting Started in Western Upholstery" workbook and inside the Online Western Upholstery Membership Group.
⭐ Note: The links in this post are for convenience and are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Basic Tools You Should Own
Staple Gun & Staples
A good pneumatic upholstery staple gun is essential. You’ll also want a variety of staple lengths (e.g. 1/4", 3/8", 9/16") suited for webbing, fabric, etc.
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Here's the Short Nose staple gun we use in our upholstery workshops and
LONG NOSE Staple Guns are Preferred for Antiques -
3/8" Upholstery Staples (the most common size used)
- Air Compressor
- Air Hose
Upholstery Hammer / Mallet
These are useful when adding tacks to tie springs, hammer in decorative nails, or helping with finishing details and also tear down.
Pliers & Side Cutters
These help you pull out staples, remove tacks, and grip fabric during tear down.
More Upholstery Tools
From staple pullers to scissors, here are a few more must-haves:
- Combination tool
- Regulator (helps tuck fabric folds and more)
- Inexpensive "Foam Cutter"
- Roll-Up Tool Organizer (this is the tool organizer we use for workshops)
2. Material Supplies
Foam, Dacron, Burlap, Cambric (dust cover)
Choose high density foam for seat cushions and arms; softer foam is recommended for back cushions. Dacron helps smooth edges and soften the feel. Higher quality foam can be purchased from various foam and upholstery suppliers. Burlap used for upholstery should be heavy/upholstery-grade burlap.
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Foam (2" firm/high density)
- Upholstery Cotton
- Burlap
- Dust Cover
Webbing & Spring Twine
Many chairs and sofas use webbing or springs as support under cushions. Having replacement webbing and spring twine is crucial to rebuild those pieces.
3. Specialty Tools
Decorative Nailer
A pneumatic decorative nailer saves time and reduces hand fatigue.
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Pneumatic Decorative Nailer (one that we use for workshops)
Webbing Stretcher
These help you tension webbing properly during installation.
Upholstery Adhesive
For gluing foam, etc.
4. What to Buy First
If you're starting out, I recommend prioritizing:
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Pneumatic staple gun, compressor, + assorted staples
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Good scissors / shears
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Webbing
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Spring twine (if your piece has springs to tie)
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Foam and dacron
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Pliers / staple removers/ hammer
Once you have those, move on to more specialized tools.
Final Thoughts
Getting started in upholstery doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and the right tools make all the difference between frustration and satisfaction. Start simple, invest in quality where it counts, and build your toolkit as your skills grow. Every project teaches you something new, and having dependable tools helps you focus on the craft, not the struggle.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into Western-style upholstery, explore the “Getting Started in Western Upholstery” Workbook or join us inside the Online Western Upholstery Membership Group, where you’ll find step-by-step video tutorials, live trainings, and an incredible community of makers who are learning right alongside you.
🤎 Whether you’re tackling your first project or your fiftieth, remember — every maker starts somewhere. The key is to start.
