Leather fabric for upholstery covers two quite different things: genuine leather hides, cut from the animal and sold per hide or by area, and artificial leather fabric such as PU and PVC vinyl, sold off the roll by the metre. Each has its place, from a Chesterfield in the study to a taxi bench or a dental chair. Tell us what you are covering, the colour and how hard it will be used, and we pass your request to leather merchants and supply shops near you, who quote you directly. The request is free, with no obligation.
Genuine leather, synthetic leather fabric and vinyl
- Full grain leather: the top of the hide with its natural marks, ages well, costs the most.
- Corrected or top grain: lightly sanded and embossed for an even look, a common furniture and car choice.
- Split leather: the lower layer, often used on sides and backs.
- Bonded leather: leather fibres on a backing; it peels with age and can't really be repaired.
- PU and PVC vinyl: synthetic leather fabric by the metre, easy to clean.
- Marine vinyl: UV and mould resistant, for boats and outdoor seating.
Choosing upholstery leather fabric for your piece
Hides vary in size and have natural marks, belly areas and holes, so the merchant or upholsterer works out how many hides a piece needs, not how many metres. A leather couch or a classic car interior usually suits real hide. PU is softer and breathes a little better than PVC; PVC is tougher and cheaper and suits workhorse seating such as taxis, salons, clinics and restaurant booths. For dental beds and gym benches, ask for a cleanable vinyl. Always match colour from a physical swatch in daylight, not a photo.
Care, climate and common mistakes
South African sun is hard on leather. On the Highveld dry air cracks hides that are never conditioned, while on the coast humidity brings mould to leather and vinyl kept in a closed room. Keep pieces out of direct sun, clean with a mild leather cleaner and condition a few times a year. Common mistakes:
- Buying bonded leather for a family couch, then watching it flake.
- Using household cleaners or solvents on vinyl, which dry it out.
- Ordering too few hides, then finding the next batch is a shade off.
For car seats, see leather car seat repair.
What affects the price and what to ask a leather merchant
Hide price depends on the grade, the finish, the size of the hide and the colour; vinyl depends on the backing, the thickness and treatments such as UV or fire resistance. Ask:
- Is it sold per hide, per square foot, per square metre or per metre?
- How many hides will this piece take, with waste?
- Can all hides come from one dye batch?
- Is the vinyl rated for outdoor or marine use?
What to include in your request
- Genuine hide or PU or PVC vinyl
- What you are covering and how many
- Colour and finish, with a swatch if you can
- Indoor, car, boat or medical use
- Collection, delivery or courier
Upholstery Leather and Vinyl for homes, cars and businesses
- Homeowners and tenants: leather hides for a Chesterfield or recliner, or faux leather for dining chair seats
- Restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and lodges: wipe-clean vinyl for restaurant booths and bar stools, hide for a lodge lounge
- Offices and businesses: faux leather for boardroom and executive chairs and reception couches
- Car, bakkie and taxi owners: automotive leather and vinyl for car, bakkie and taxi seats and door cards
- Boats, caravans and 4x4s: UV and mould resistant marine vinyl for ski boats, yachts and caravan seating
- Clinics, salons, spas and gyms: cleanable vinyl for dental chairs, treatment beds, salon chairs and gym benches
- Churches, schools and halls: hard-wearing vinyl for church pews, auditorium seats and school hall chairs
- Upholsterers, makers, designers and DIYers: upholsterers and motor trimmers buying hides, vinyl rolls and matched batches
Frequently asked questions
Is leather fabric for upholstery the same as faux leather?
How many hides do I need to recover a couch?
Which is better for outdoor or boat seats: PU or PVC vinyl?
Do you sell leather and vinyl yourselves?
Upholstery Leather and Vinyl by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg