How to Fix a Broken Zipper on Your Sofa Seat Cushion

Sofas and couches are one of the more heavily used pieces of furniture in the house, which is why they tend to wear out faster than just about anything else. In our house, years of heavy use eventually leads to broken zippers on the back of the sofa cushion. And once that zipper breaks, the cushions can start to look derelict in a hurry.

For families who have the money, sofa seat cushion zippers can be replaced by most alteration shops. Replacing a zipper can run between $25 to $40 depending on the size of the zipper. However, for families on a budget like ours, you might prefer to try repairing the cushion yourself. Fixing a broken zipper on a sofa cushion is an easy DIY job and requires nothing more than a pair of needle nose pliers, a tapestry needle, and some strong thread that matches the color of the sofa. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Find the base of the zipper, removing the metal bracket, called a “stop,” that holds the two sides of the zipper together. Gently pry off with the pliers and remove.

Step 2: Pull the slider (or zipper pull) off the zipper and set aside for now.

Step 3: Examine the teeth of the zipper on both halves. Use the pliers to straighten any of the teeth that appear to be bent.

Step 4: Bring together the zipper halves and starting at the bottom, slide the slider over the zipper teeth and carefully zip together the two sides. If the zipper holds, the stop is ready to be secured.

Step 5: Thread the tapestry needle with the matching thread, and tie a series of stitches around the base of the closed zipper, where the metal stop was once located. This thread will replace the stop and prevent the zipper from separating. Be sure to go up and over around the zipper’s teeth at least 10 times for a strong hold, and secure the final stitch with a knot placed in the back.

Step 6: If the zipper continues to pull apart, you may have to do a little experimenting to determine where it first starts to derail. Once you’ve located the weak point, use the instructions in step 5 to secure the area with thread. Be sure to sew loops both in front of the damaged area and behind. After securing the weak part of the zipper, finish the repair by closing up the bottom of the zipper as detailed in step 5.