Make your car's interior look fresh and new with some seat covers
Time A full day
ComplexityBeginner
CostVaries
Introduction
Are your car seats hopelessly stained or torn—or just plain ugly? Learn how to order and install replacement seat covers for both back and front seats.
Whether you fill your vehicle with construction materials, haul kids and grandkids around or just spill lots of coffee, you know how easy it is for factory seat covers to get grungy. If they’re beyond rescuing with an upholstery cleaner and you want to spruce up your vehicle’s interior, you have only three options: Pay a professional automotive upholsterer to reupholster your seats, buy used seats from a junkyard, or buy covers and handle the seat cover installation yourself.
The installation is similar across makes and models. The job takes about two hours for front and rear car seats. The only tools you’ll need are a wire coat hanger and some tape to fish the straps under plastic trim pieces (if equipped). Everything else is included with the seat covers.
How to Buy Seat Covers
Seat covers come in two styles: universal and custom-fit. You can buy universal seat covers right off the shelf at an auto parts store or order them online. Custom-fit seat covers must be ordered to fit your exact year, make, model and style.
They’re far more expensive than universal-fit seat covers, but they fit like a glove, stay put when you slide in and out, and are more comfortable. Plus, custom-fit seat covers include breakaway stitching so the airbag can deploy properly if your vehicle has side bolster airbags.
To get around the air bag issue and keep costs down, universal seat covers simply eliminate the fabric normally covering the seat air bags. Then, to reduce slipping, the manufacturers coat the underside of the fabric with an anti-skid rubber. That makes them a bit more uncomfortable to sit on for long periods. And they will inevitably slip out of place and wrinkle because they’re not an exact fit for your seats.
The most popular seat cover fabrics are officially licensed designer camouflage and sports patterns. Since the fabric designers get a royalty on every sale, you’ll pay more for those patterns. If you want to keep the cost down, skip the trendy camo and sports fabrics and choose a solid color; perhaps one that matches your car’s interior for a sleek look.
Buy custom-fit and universal seat covers from retail and online auto parts stores or directly from the manufacturer. If you order custom-fit seat covers, you’ll have the option of also ordering matching armrest and headrest covers, console covers, seat back storage and map pockets.
NOTE: We couldn’t show you the trim disconnect and seat cover attachment points with the seat still in the vehicle, so we bought a junkyard Subaru seat to show how everything fits together. You don’t have to remove the seats from the vehicle to install new seat covers. Since most seats are made the same way, these instructions will work with the majority of makes and models. However, if the seat cover manufacturers’ instructions differ from ours, follow theirs instead.
Materials Required
- Seat cover kit
- Tape
- Wire coat hanger
Project step-by-step (7)
Step 1
Release the bib panel
The bottom seat cushion covers usually attach to the seat with straps, buckles and S-hooks. You’ll have to thread bottom cushion straps through the gap between the seat back and the bottom cushions (where the back reclines). That’s easy in older vehicles; in newer vehicles it’s usually covered with a “bib” panel.
Don’t worry, the bib is easy to disconnect, so seat cover installation won’t be too difficult. It’s connected to the seat springs with either clips or an elastic strap. Just reach under the seat and disconnect the straps. Then lift the bib to access the gap.
Step 2
Thread the straps through the gap
Next, fit the seat cover onto the bottom cushion and thread the rear straps through the gap. Push the bottom cushion straps through the gap between the seat back and the bottom cushion. Then pull the straps completely through until the seat cover is taut.
Step 3
Buckle the seat cushion straps
Route the bottom cushion straps toward the front of the seat, making sure the straps don’t interfere with the seat adjuster mechanism. Thread the strap into the buckle and cinch it tight to remove wrinkles in the seat cover.
Step 4
Tighten and connect the bungee cords
Pull the bungee cords to cinch the skirt on the bottom seat cover. Then connect the ends using the supplied S-hook. Tuck the puckered seat cover “skirt” behind the plastic trim panels (if equipped).
Step 5
Seatback cover installation
Pull the cover down until it reaches the side bolsters (cushions). Then compress the bolster while you pull the fabric down to the bottom.
Remove the headrests. Then slide the cover over the seat back cushion. Push the bottom straps through the gap and into the buckles just like you did on the bottom cushion.
Step 6
Install the headrest covers
Stretch the elastic edges around the headrest and pull it down. Tug at the cover fabric until it fits smoothly on the contour of the headrest.
Reconnect the bib panel and pull down on the rear portion of the seat back cover to remove wrinkles. Then stick the hook-loop edge to the bib to secure it. Stretch the headrest covers onto the headrest and reinstall them on the seats.
Step 7
Rear bench seat cover installation
Fit the cover onto the bench seat and thread the straps into the buckles. Tighten until snug. Check the fit and adjust. Then tighten the buckles, secure the bungee cords and connect the remaining straps to the springs with S-hooks.
If your vehicle has 60/40 rear bench seats, remove the bottom cushion first. If you have bucket seats in the rear, install them just like you did on the front seats. To remove a bench seat bottom cushion, run your hand along the front edge to locate the latch points. Try jerking straight up at the latch points.
If the cushion doesn’t release, push it straight back as you lift up to release it from the hook latches. Then remove the entire bottom cushion from the vehicle and set it on a bench. Install the bottom cushion seat cover with straps and S-hooks. Remove the rear headrests and slide the rear seat back covers onto the rear seats. Secure with the attached hook-and-loop fasteners. Add headrest covers and replace the headrests. You’re done with your seat cover installation!
