A Comprehensive Guide to Upholstery Leather

Just like interior designers have areas of specialization—residential, hospitality, restaurants, retail, workplace, etc.— so do leather tanneries. 

Upholstery leather is made inside of specific leather tanneries where the chemists, head tanners, and leather designers (yes, there are people who “design” leather) create recipes that achieve a specific look and specific performance. While there is a vast range of features found in upholstery leather, they often have at least these three things in common:

• Upholstery hides are typically whole hides.

  • Often non-upholstery leather is created on different cuts of the animal which would make the piece too small for many pieces of furniture. Tannery Row hides average around 50 square feet. Learn more about the different cuts of a hide here.
    
    

• Upholstery leather is typically lighter weight.

  • In the U.S., we talk about the thickness of leather as “weight”. Upholstery leather is typically between 2.5-3.5 oz. Learn more about leather weight here.

• Upholstery leather typically has tops added to the surface prevent color transfer to clothing.

  • The term for color transfer from leather is called “crocking”. Learn more about leather terminology here. 

Many clients wonder if leather is really worth it compared to vinyl or faux alternatives. Here are six key reasons why leather is the better choice for durability, comfort, and long-term value.

1. Durability and Longevity

• Leather is naturally strong and becomes more supple over time. High-quality leather can last decades with proper care.

• Vinyl/faux leather tends to crack, peel, or fade after a few years, especially in high-use areas.

2. Aging Gracefully

• Some leather develops a patina, gaining character and richness as it ages.

• Vinyl/faux leather often deteriorates rather than improves with time.

3. Comfort and Breathability

• Leather is breathable, adapting to body temperature and becoming more comfortable over time.

• Vinyl tends to trap heat and moisture, making it sticky or uncomfortable, especially in warm conditions.

4. Aesthetic Value

• Real leather offers natural grain, depth, and variation that faux materials can’t authentically replicate.

• It adds a luxurious, timeless look that enhances the value and feel of a space.

5. Repairability

• Scuffs and scratches in real leather can often be conditioned or buffed out.

• Vinyl damage is usually irreversible, often requiring full replacement.

6. Prestige and Resale Value

• Leather furniture holds its resale value better and is often seen as a mark of quality craftsmanship.

• Faux leather tends to be seen as lower-end, especially in luxury or design-conscious markets.

Top Grain, Full Grain, and Corrected Grain are terms used to describe the top surface (grain) of the piece of leather.

To fully understand these terms, we need to look at the initial production stages of a leather hide. The topic of leather grains starts with the splitting of leather (the thinning of leather).

• After its initial tanning, the piece of leather (called “wet blue”) is split into an upper layer and a lower layer.

• Leather from the upper layer is considered Top Grain.

• Top Grain leather can be Full Grain or Corrected Grain.

• The leather from the lower layer is called a split.

This initial split does not happen at the same please across every tannery. Rather the location of the initial split is different for different tanneries. Because upholstery leather is lighter weight (thinner), upholstery tanneries utilize a thinner split (right).

Full Grain is leather from the upper part of the hide, and the outer surface has NOT been polished or corrected. If you look very closely at the leather, you can see the hair follicles. Full Grain leather is a type of Top Grain leather.

Corrected Grain is leather from the upper part of the hide where there the surface HAS been polished or buffed. Corrected Grain leather is a type of Top Grain leather

Benefits of Top Grain leather include:

• Stronger

• Will age better and last longer

• More options for finishes, colors, and feels 

Tannery Row carries Top Grain upholstery leather. Some articles are Full Grain while others have been corrected to achieve a specific look. These labels do not mean one is better than the other, but rather it is question about which aesthetic you prefer. When a leather is designed, the grain is one of the tools used to achieve a final look.

Learn more about understanding leather grains here.

Italian upholstery leather simply refers to leather for upholstery that is made in Italy. Leather out of Italy tends to have prestige that’s rooted in a celebrated heritage and centuries-long traditions.

The Tannery Row carries multiple upholstery leathers that come from Italy including:

• Arazzo Alaska

• Arazzo Barbary

• Arazzo Lupara

• Arazzo Portsmouth

• Arazzo Spectrum Suede

• Arazzo Vector

• Arazzo Verona

The Tannery Row exists to give artisans and businesses access to leather typically reserved for big companies. We achieve this by working directly with the best tanneries to provide a diverse selection of premium hides for a variety of end uses, particularly upholstery leathers.

The Tannery Row is home to a curated collection of upholstery leather imported from Europe called Arazzo. Each Arazzo article is meticulously selected by our team, ensuring the highest quality, responsible sourcing practices, and simply gorgeous leather.

Our team of leather consultants is available to answer any questions you might have about selecting the perfect leather for your project. While you are welcome to purchase a single hide, The Tannery Row offers price discounts for volume purchases.

• View all upholstery leather options from The Tannery Row here.
  

  • Buying upholstery leather online can be simple and easy if you know exactly what you need, both in terms of leather type and amount. If you’re uncertain about either of those details, contacting a leather consultant via email or phone is your best move.
    
    

• Email or call to get connected with a Leather Consultant:

  • At The Tannery Row, we take pride in educating our customers, providing quality upholstery leather, and developing enduring relationships
    
    

• Visit The Tannery Row’s Chicago Showroom
  

  • We are open for walk-in’s Monday-Friday from 10 AM - 6 PM, but if you’d like to collaborate with a specific leather consultant, let us know you’re stopping by!
    

Bringing highly specialized knowledge to every project, the leather consultants at The Tannery Row can share insights that fit your specific needs and circumstances, maximizing the chances of getting the ideal upholstery leather for any application or need.

You may know what you’re looking for and simply need a color match. However in many cases, it requires a dialogue between the designer and leather consultant to narrow down the options.

Your leather consultant will likely ask the following questions:

• What type of project will you be using this leather for?

• Are there any specific features of the leather you're looking for?

• Do you prefer smooth or pebbled leather?

• Do you prefer shiny or matte leather?

• Are there specific colors you're looking for?
  Please note there are lots of shades of each color, so the more specific you're able to be, the better. Sending images with color references is a huge help! 
  

Once the articles are narrowed down, your leather consultant will send you samples that you can review in person. Leather is a tactile experience so getting a piece of leather in your hands will be the best way to decide if it’s right for your project.

During the sampling process, please be aware that leather is a natural material so there can be variance from the shade of leather you see in the sample to the actual hide. It’s normal to see some variation among dye lots of leather. You can ask your leather consultant for a cutting from the actual hide (CFA or cutting for approval) before finalizing the selection.

To start collaborating with one of our leather consultants, simply email or call.

There are four key things to know about upholstery leather pricing:

1. Leather is priced by the square foot.

2. The price per square foot will depend on the specific article.
   Article refers to the type of leather (Arazzo Capri, Arazzo Majestic, Arazzo Alaska are examples of articles).

3. Each piece of leather will vary in size.
   This means the total price of a hide cannot be calculated until we know exactly what piece of leather you’re getting. Tannery Row upholstery hides range in size from 40-60 square feet.

4. The quantity of hides affects the price per square foot.
   The Tannery Row offers discounts based on volume. There is a price break at 100 sf (roughly 2 hides), 500 sf (roughly 10 hides), and 1000 sf (roughly 20 hides).

For specific pricing, please inquire by email or call.

When determining the amount of upholstery leather you need, it’s important to get an informed quote from an upholsterer that has experience working with leather.

While fabric is sold in yards, leather is square feet. As a general rule of thumb you can take the number of yards and multiply by 18 to get the appropriate amount of leather. This equation takes into account the necessary overage you need with leather.

 Please keep in mind, you may want to increase the square footage for aniline leathers. Aniline leathers will show more natural characteristics of a leather hide including bites, scratches, scars and wrinkles. For this reason, ordering more will give your upholsterer plenty of clearance to cut around those markings (or embrace and incorporate them into your design).

In the United States, the thickness of leather is referred to in ounces. In other parts of the world, it’s done in millimeters. The chart below shows the conversion between ounces and millimeters.

Upholstery leather is commonly 2.5-3.5 oz (1.0-1.4 mm)

 Leather is often sold within a weight range because hides aren’t always the exact same thickness from one end to the other.

You can reference the unit conversions below:

1 oz = 0.4 mm = 1/64 in

2 oz = 0.8 mm = 1/32 in

3 oz = 1.2 mm = 3/64 in

4 oz = 1.6 mm = 1/16 in

5 oz = 2.0 mm = 5/64 in

6 oz = 2.4 mm = 3/32 in

7 oz = 2.8 mm = 7/64 in

8 oz = 3.2 mm = 1/8 in

9 oz = 3.6 mm = 9/64 in

10 oz = 4.0 mm = 5/32 in

The best options for upholstery leather depend on: 

• The specific application: Will the furniture be used day in and day out? Or is it more for looks, with limited use? Is the item going to be traversed, sat on, or used in some other manner? Will it be exposed to the sun routinely? All of this can impact more appropriate options, especially when projects have a broader scope with multiple furniture types and end uses.
  

• How often the item will be in use: Higher-use, heavier-trafficked items can be better suited for a full finish and embossed upholstery leather.
  
  

• Aesthetic preferences: Whether natural-looking leather or a specific color is preferred, dialing into the look can start to filter the better options that may be available.
  
  

• Other features: Stain resistance, embossing, and other features can provide their own touch and distinctive benefits to any project.
  
  

The Tannery Row’s upholstery leather has 5 key differences that make it special:

1. Quality Hides from the Start

2. Environmentally Friendly Practices

3. Made to Highest Technical Specifications

4. Finished for a Luxury Appearance

5. Variety of Options  

Read more details about these differences here.

While we love all of our upholstery leathers, below are some of our “bests”:

• The best upholstery leather for those looking for a buttery soft, aniline leather: Arazzo Capri
  

• The best upholstery leather for those looking for a Semi-Aniline leather with a variety of color options: Arazzo Lucca

• The best upholstery leather for those looking a suede: Arazzo Spectrum
  

• The best upholstery leather for those looking for a pull-up leather: Arazzo Portsmouth
  

• The best upholstery leather for those looking for extra durability, resistance to scratching: Arazzo Sierra