When shopping for a leather chair, sofa, or even a leather jacket, it can be hard to tell the difference between the different types of leather options out there. Is it real? Is it fake? Is it somewhere in between?
We've previously written about the differences between real, bonded, and faux leather, but in today's blog post, we took it a step further and broke down more of the feature and pricing differences. Check out our leather comparison charts below to see whether what you're looking for or what you have already is real, bonded, or faux leather.
What are the Feature Differences Between Real, Bonded and Faux Leather?
| Feature | Real Leather | Bonded Leather | Faux Leather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Referred to as top grain leather, split leather, or full grain leather | x | ||
| The back of the leather is suede | x | ||
| Typically made with buffalo or cow top leather | x | ||
| Water resistant | x | ||
| Has a woven fabric backing | x | ||
| Made with polyurethane (PU or PVC) | x | x | |
| Made from leftover leather scraps | x |
What is the Cost Difference Between Real, Bonded and Faux Leather?
Due to the composition of each leather type, each is set at different price levels. If you opt for genuine full grain, top grain, or split leather, you're going to pay the highest prices for obvious reasons. Bonded leather falls in the mid-tier in terms of pricing since it contains a mixture of real leather and polyurethane. And finally, faux leather, often referred to as "fake leather", is the least expensive since it is made up of 100% man-made materials.
| Price | Real Leather | Bonded Leather | Faux Leather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most expensive | x | ||
| Moderately expensive | x | ||
| Least expensive | x |
What other questions do you have about the differences between real, bonded and faux leather that we didn't answer? Have anything else to add? Leave a comment or request a sample below.
