Are there Different Grades of Leather Furniture?

You may have noticed while shopping for leather furniture that the prices for different pieces fluctuate a great deal. This is mainly because of the different grades of leather. The grade generally identifies the price range or the authenticity of the piece of leather. Similar to diamonds, leather furniture consists of different grades and if you are willing to pay more, you will typically get a more sumptuous and unique piece of leather furniture. There are several different types of leather that would, in turn, demand different prices. Listed below are some of the more common grades of leather to look for when shopping. Being familiar with the different grades available will allow you to understand exactly what you are purchasing and why it is the price that it is.

This type of leather furniture is made primarily from bits of scraps of leather that are essentially “bonded” together to create a single piece. Manufacturers have found ways to make bonded leather look just like a single piece of leather but it does not contain the same strength or durability. This type of leather is less expensive and is a way for those with limited funds to also enjoy leather furniture. 

When the hide is removed from the animal it is generally split into the outer most and inner most layers. The outer most layers are considered the finest part of the hide to use in making leather and are called top grain. The inner most layers are called the split grain. Because split grain does consist of a single piece of fabric, it is typically stronger than bonded leather and would be considered a step up from bonded leather. Manufactures sometimes use split grain leather for the back and sides of furniture that might not be seen or might not get as much use. Split grain leather helps lower the price of some articles making it more affordable for the buyer and it does this without drastically modifying the quality of the product. Split grain leathers are not quite as strong or durable as a top grain leather and it is important to be familiar with this term when furniture shopping.  

As mentioned above the animal hide is separated into two parts, the outer most layer and the inner most layer. The outer most layers, which are the finest part of the hide to use in making leather furniture is called top grain. This is the most durable layer of the hide and therefore furniture upholstered in top grain leather is extremely strong. Often times, top grain leather has been sanded to conceal any imperfections that the hide might contain, ultimately creating a beautiful piece of furniture. Top grain leather furniture will typically be more expensive, but will have an incredibly soft feel and will be long lasting.