"How much does a custom sofa cost?" is the question we get most, and also the hardest to answer without seeing the space. It is not evasive: two sofas of the same length can cost very differently depending on fabric, frame, padding and lead time.
What we can do is walk you through the variables that move the price, one by one. Once you understand how the number is built, comparing quotes stops being an act of faith and becomes a technical decision.
Why there is no such thing as "a price" for a custom sofa
A custom sofa is a project: it is designed for a specific space, with real dimensions and a chosen fabric. Change any of those three and the whole price changes.
That is why the ranges that circulate — from an imported sofa to an artisan upholstery piece — are not comparable with each other. What you can do is compare two equivalent proposals, and that is what we look at below.
The five variables that move the price
1. Dimensions and volume. It is not the length: it is the volume of work. A three-seat sofa with a chaise needs more frame, more foam, more fabric and more cutting and sewing hours than a straight two-seater. Linear metres are the reference we use internally.
2. The fabric. It is the variable that moves the number most and the one most easily underestimated. A contract-grade technical weave and a heavy wide-weave linen do not behave the same in price per metre or in durability.
3. The frame. Kiln-dried and treated wood, reinforced joints and new webbing are the basis of a sofa that lasts. A light frame makes today cheaper and three years from now more expensive.
4. The padding. Medium-density foam, high-resilience foam or a combination with down change the feel and the price. Down is the most comfortable and the one that asks for the most maintenance.
5. Finishes and details. Solid wood legs, visible stitching, cushions with removable covers or hidden zips. Every detail is paid for in workshop hours, which is the most expensive resource in a made-to-measure project.
The fabric is half the budget
When a client is surprised by the difference between two proposals, it is almost always the fabric. That is normal: the price-per-metre range in upholstery weaves is wide, and a three-seat sofa can need between 8 and 14 metres.
Our advice is always to ask for physical samples and view them in the light of the actual space, not in a catalogue. The same fabric looks different in a room with an east-facing window and in one with warm interior light.
And an important detail: once you approve a fabric, we work with the exact code and, where possible, a single dye lot. That is how we guarantee that what arrives is exactly what you approved.
What a serious quote must state in writing
Exact dimensions of the piece, with a simple drawing if needed. Fabric code and metres estimated. Type of frame and foam. How the cushions are joined.
Production lead time with an estimated delivery date, staged payment terms, and who installs and transports.
An explicit warranty on frame and stitching, with what it covers and what it does not. And what happens if the sofa does not fit through a door or a lift: in an apartment this happens more often than people expect, and it is better solved beforehand than on delivery day.
Signs of a cheap quote
The fabric appears without a code, or described only as "quality fabric". Later there is no way to claim or to replace.
Dimensions are "approximate" or taken from a photo. A made-to-measure sofa that does not fit the space becomes nobody's problem until it arrives.
There is no written warranty, no care sheet and no lead time. Just an amount and a verbal promise.
And the most common one: subcontracting the piece without saying so. If the finishing is done by a third party, quality control stops existing and lead times become a lottery.
How to compare two quotes honestly
Ask both suppliers for the same sheet, with the same seven questions: dimensions, fabric and code, frame, foam, finishes, lead time and warranty. Compare answers, not totals.
When the gap between proposals is large, ask for the specific reason. A serious workshop explains it without trouble: it is the fabric, it is the foam, it is that delivery does not include installation. An evasive supplier is showing you the risk.
And before deciding, visit the workshop. Seeing how the work is done, which woods come in and how finished pieces leave is worth more than any catalogue.
Lead time is part of the price too
A custom sofa made locally is delivered in weeks and can be adjusted along the way; an imported piece is tied to a container and to a date you do not control.
When delivery is tight — a villa that is rented, a season that is starting, a move with a fixed date — lead time is a real value in the quote, not an administrative detail.
At Casa Velura we build in Bavaro and work with an agreed delivery date in writing. If you genuinely need the piece by a certain date, tell us which one and we will confirm whether we can make it before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the price range so wide?
Because a custom sofa is not a product, it is a project. Dimensions, fabric, frame, foam, finishes and lead time all change. When two equivalent proposals are compared on the same technical sheet, the difference comes down to specific, explainable details.
Can I supply my own fabric?
Yes. We work with client fabrics as long as they are suitable for upholstery and come with a data sheet. Before cutting we verify resistance and behaviour, so we do not risk the frame or the stitching warranty.
How long does a custom sofa take?
It depends on the model and the fabric, but with local manufacturing it is planned in weeks, not months. When there is a committed date, we agree it in writing before starting and confirm it through the process.
Do you give a written warranty?
Yes, with explicit coverage of frame and stitching, and with the fabric care sheet. We also state what uses fall outside coverage, so the warranty means something real rather than a generic promise.
Would you like a quote with a technical sheet, no surprises?