Need a new office chair? Then be sure to think about the right seat cover too. It should be comfortable and easy to care for. So you can sit comfortably at your workstation while staying focused on your work. There are various materials and seat covers to choose from. And each material has its own unique advantages – from ultra low-maintenance to soft and breathable. With our tips, you’re guaranteed to find the right chair cover!
In this guide, we’ll help you find the right seat cover for your needs. We’ll introduce you to different types of seat covers , show you what to look out for when choosing and even how you can reupholster your chair yourself.
The different materials and fabrics used for seat covers
You can find chair covers in a wide range of materials. Mesh fabrics, microfibre fabric covers and polyester covers are especially popular. And for an extra touch of elegance, there are of course classic covers made from real or faux leather. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of the different materials? What are they made of and what’s the best way to clean them? We’d be happy to explain that in more detail.
Right on trend – mesh fabric or mesh cover
Mesh covers are absolutely on trend. So-called "mesh'' is an ultra-fine, soft fabric. It features countless tiny holes that create a unique look and distinctive texture. Seat covers made from mesh fabric are very air-permeable and therefore highly breathable. In summer, this is naturally an advantage, as perspiration hardly stands a chance. On colder days in the office, you can simply keep warm with a thick jumper. Or opt for a practical seat cushion that provides extra warmth. For anyone who likes an airy, lightweight feel and works in a well-tempered office, a mesh cover is a very good choice.
| Mesh fabric or mesh cover |
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+ Breathable: Perfect for hot environments + Easy to maintain: Hard-wearing and easy-to-wash material + Comfort: Office chairs with a mesh cover adapt comfortably to the user Aesthetics: Modern, cool design ~ Breathable: Pleasant in summer, a little cooler in winter ~ Elasticity: Mesh backrests are very elastic and adaptable. This can sometimes be a little uncomfortable if you prefer a stable sitting position. |
Strong and durable – polyester fabric covers
Polyester covers are also in demand. This material not only feels pleasant, but is also particularly resistant to abrasion and tearing. Polyester covers are well suited to everyday office use because they are very easy to clean. This works perfectly with a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth. If you are dealing with stubborn stains, we recommend using upholstery cleaners.
As polyester covers are very finely woven, the material absorbs relatively little moisture. Especially in warmer regions or in summer, breathable covers such as microfibre or mesh are likely to feel more comfortable on the skin, as you will not start sweating as quickly. On the other hand, polyester seat covers are generally available at a low price.
| Polyester seat cover |
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+ Abrasion-resistant, robust and hard-wearing + Comfortable: Soft material + Durable: Lasts around 8 years + Colours generally last a long time and do not fade x Low breathability: Air circulation is lower, polyester absorbs relatively little moisture |
Pleasantly soft – microfibre
If you choose chair covers made from microfibre, you can look forward to particularly soft and pleasant fabrics. This is because the individual fibres of this fabric are extremely thin. Much smaller even than the diameter of a human hair. Because the threads are so fine, they are woven very tightly together during production. The advantage? The surface is resistant to lint and hardly attracts any dust. This also makes the fabric a good choice if you are prone to allergies.
The fine fibres stand up to all kinds of wear and tear. Biscuit crumbs, playful children or liquids are no major problem for microfibre fabric. And if something does drip onto the seat cover, stains can usually be removed quite easily. Simply wipe the cover with a damp cloth. Acting quickly pays off. The fresher the stain, the better the cleaning result.
| Microfibre seat cover |
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+ Low purchase cost + Pleasantly soft material + Comfortable + Good heat exchange + Dries quickly + Durable ~ Removing dried-in stains is a little more time-consuming |
Not to be underestimated – faux leather
Faux leather seat covers are a popular choice in office spaces. They are more affordable than genuine leather while still giving the executive chair a stylish look. What's more, unlike real leather, they are vegan – a great plus point, not just for animal lovers. Imitation leather is generally less breathable than real leather, but if the quality is good, the difference is no longer all that great.
Besides breathability, the difference in quality is also noticeable in the feel. Cheaper faux leather often contains plasticisers that can make the material porous and brittle over time. Modern, high-quality faux leather, on the other hand, feels almost as refined and soft as the real thing, while being much easier to care for and more hard-wearing.
| Faux leather seat cover |
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+ More affordable than genuine leather + Highly resistant to wear + Elegant look + Easy to care for, can be wiped clean with a damp cloth + Free from animal hide (vegan) ~ Signs of wear appear a little more quickly ~ Less breathable than genuine leather ~ Cold: The surface cools down more quickly, though still an advantage in summer x Cheap material may contain plasticisers |
Elegant and classic – genuine leather
There is no doubt that genuine leather seat covers look elegant. However, they are made from animal hide (usually cowhide), and caring for them is a little more demanding than with other office furniture. Leather is popular in the office because it is especially durable and hard-wearing. Signs of wear are practically non-existent, and it can actually look even better after years of use. Thanks to its unique grain, every cover is one of a kind, which matters a great deal to leather lovers. Leather is very breathable, so it also creates a pleasantly cooling effect on the skin in summer.
Leather – care tips
To keep your leather upholstery looking good for a long time, you should care for it properly and regularly. Our leather experts recommend, for example, treating the chair with leather grease from time to time. This keeps the leather smooth and supple. Fresh stains can usually be wiped away and absorbed easily with a soft cloth. Depending on the quality of the leather, stains can be easier or harder to remove. If you do happen to spill coffee on the seat, the leather can become damp and develop unsightly stains.
Our tip: if you choose darker colours, minor marks will generally be less noticeable anyway.
| Genuine leather seat cover |
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+ Durable and hard-wearing + Unique grain (one of a kind) + Elegant look + Breathable ~ Care is a little more demanding; stubborn dirt is best left to a specialist ~ More expensive than faux leather x Not animal-friendly |
These are the seat cover features you should consider when buying
In addition to the different materials, there are a few other aspects you should look at before buying. We have summarised the most important features for choosing your office chair cover for you:
| Feature | Description | Examples/measurement |
| Breathability | How much air circulation does the cover allow? | Breathable materials: leather, microfibre, mesh fabric |
| Abrasion resistance/colour fastness to rubbing | How many rubbing cycles can a cover withstand before it transfers colour to other fabrics? | Rated from 1 (colour transfer) to 5 (very abrasion-resistant) |
| Abrasion cycles | Abrasion resistance indicates how hard-wearing a fabric is. It is specified in abrasion cycles or Martindale. | The upholstery fabric should have at least 15,000 cycles. At that level, it is considered lightly hard-wearing. A fabric is very robust from 25,000 cycles upwards. |
| Pilling | Pilling is the term used for the little bobbles that tend to form on brushed or fibrous textile surfaces. | The tendency to pill is rated from 1 (very severe) to 5 (no pilling) |
| Light fastness | Does the cover fade easily when exposed to sunlight? | Light fastness is rated from level 1 (very low) to level 8 (excellent). |
| Flammability | How quickly does the fabric catch fire? | Usually B1 (flame-retardant) or B2 (normally flammable). For office spaces, B2 is generally sufficient. |
Reupholstering an office chair – how to easily renew your seat cover
If your old chair cover is damaged or you simply fancy a new design, you can usually have it replaced without any problems by a specialist company.
But you can also reupholster your office chair yourself. You have two options for this:
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The cover is attached permanently. This is a little more involved and requires some DIY skill. In return, you can personalise your chair with the colours and patterns of your choice.
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You use a slipcover, also called a chair cover. Slipcovers are usually made of stretch material. You simply pull them over the chair and your office chair looks as good as new.
Classic chair cover
Which option is better for you also depends on the design of your office chair. Specifically, you need to look at the seat and backrest shells. If these can be removed easily, you can fit a new tightly stretched cover. Otherwise, slipcovers that you can pull over the whole chair are more suitable.
If you want to replace these, the old covers often have to be removed. Depending on the thickness of the fabric padding, however, it may also work to simply pull the new fabric over the old one and then staple it in place. If you are unsure, just ask at a specialist shop of your choice.
Office chair makeover – how to reupholster your chair:
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Expose the seat and backrest surfaces
First, detach the backrest from the chair. It is usually inserted into the plastic fitting and needs to be removed with a bit of force. The seat shells normally need to be unscrewed. The important thing is that the surfaces are accessible. But disassemble as little as possible.
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Remove the old cover
If your old cover is stapled, pull out the staples one by one. If it is glued, you will need to scrape off the bonded areas. It is best to use a scraper or stripping knife for this. In some cases, however, you may even be able to leave the old cover in place. If it is thin enough, it can be covered with new fabric.
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Cut the new cover to size
Measure the new upholstery fabric. It should extend at least five centimetres beyond the area that will later be glued or stapled.
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Re-cover the chair
Start attaching the cover along one straight edge of the seat. Then pull the opposite side tight and fasten it. Next, attach the other two sides. After that, you can work around the curves. Important: always keep the fabric nice and taut.
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Trim the excess
Once the new fabric is secure all the way round, you can trim off the excess material. Now repeat the whole process for the backrest and – your new swivel chair is ready!
Tip: reupholster the chair yourself
If you want to re-cover your chair, you can also improve the padding at the same time. This works well with foam and so-called upholstery wadding. To do this, the upholstery wadding is stapled onto the chair over the existing foam padding. If the foam is very worn or sagging, we also recommend replacing it. However, as there are many different types of foam, it is best to seek professional advice.
The right padding
Do you want to be able to sit comfortably on your office chair for a long time? Then you should definitely pay attention to good padding. That way, even longer sitting sessions can stay comfortable.
How important is a seat pad?
For longer working hours and a relaxed back, padded chairs are a good choice. The padding helps ensure that you sit properly and therefore helps prevent tension. Chairs that are only used briefly, such as in waiting rooms or visitor areas, do not necessarily need to be padded. In that case, the padding is comfortable, but not absolutely essential. As a general rule, however, you should not spend too much time on chairs without padding, e.g. made of wood or plastic.
The different seat pads are available in:
Mesh fabric
If you like sitting airy, light and springy, then you should take a look at an office chair with a mesh backrest. This breathable fabric is stretched across the backrest like the strings of a tennis racket. That allows the air to circulate wonderfully. A great advantage, especially in summer, for keeping your back pleasantly cool. And when it gets colder, you can add extra warmth to the back area with a practical cushion.
Foam
Foam padding is especially hard-wearing. This soft material is often used in mattresses. But sofas, armchairs and chairs are also upholstered with foam. The advantage of foam? It is highly flexible and therefore adapts comfortably to the body.
When it comes to foam quality, pay attention to what is known as compression hardness and density:
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Compression hardness: Compression hardness indicates the firmness of foams, in other words how soft or hard they are. It can also be described as indentation hardness. Compression hardness is given in kilopascals (kPa). The higher the compression hardness value, the firmer the foam.
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Density: Density (also known as RG) says something about the quality and durability of the foam. During the production of foam, small air pockets and pores form in the material. These provide positive properties such as breathability and durability of the upholstery or a mattress.
As a general rule:
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The lower the density, the more breathable the foam.
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With a low density, the padding is very yielding and only slowly returns to its original shape.
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Foams with a high density are very dimensionally stable and prevent the formation of hollows.
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The higher the density, the longer the service life of the upholstery.
Both values, compression hardness and density, indicate the level of firmness. For heavier people, the firmness of the office chair upholstery can be correspondingly higher. For lighter people, lower firmness is generally more comfortable.
Gel or gel pad
Desk chairs with gel padding, also known as memory foam, are pleasantly soft and comfortable. The inner material adapts perfectly to the body, which makes desk chairs with gel padding highly ergonomic and well suited to long periods of sitting at the workplace.
Seat covers for the car
Highly popular and extremely practical: seat covers for your car. They are pulled over the driver’s seat, passenger seat or rear bench to protect your car seats. At the same time, they let you personalise your seats or give old upholstery a visual refresh. And if the kids happen to drop food on the seats, your car seats stay well protected. Practical protective covers are perfect for this. They can also help conceal damage to old seat covers. If you want it warmer and cosier, there are even fur seat covers or – pleasantly soothing and relaxing for the back – car seat covers with a massage function.
How do I find the right car seat cover?
As a general rule, you should always choose the cover according to the vehicle type and the car’s year of manufacture. This ensures the cover fits properly. Of course, there are also universal car seat covers and seat pads that fit almost every type of seat.
Just like chairs, car seat covers are made from a range of different materials, including
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Fabric or textile: Fit the seat perfectly and are secured under the car seat with a tension strap.
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Faux fur: Provides warmth – ideal in winter
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Genuine and faux leather: Usually not available as universal covers, but tailored precisely to the vehicle type.
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Polyester: Rather inexpensive and often used simply for protection.
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Neoprene: Well suited for summer, as it helps reduce sweating and is comfortable.
Which covers are the right ones depends on your needs. Simple textile seat covers are ideal for protection against dirt. But if you want to enhance the interior of your car, you can opt for custom-fit seat covers made from genuine or faux leather. And of course, if you want a cosy, warm feel, fur covers are the best choice.
Want to know more?
In our guide, you’ll find more interesting content on the wide-ranging topic of sitting. Of course, we’re also happy to help with advice and support: by phone, by email or via online chat. We’re here for you and look forward to hearing from you!