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Real leather appeals to consumers because of its look, incredible durability, and overall comfort, but many don’t know that real leather itself has so many types. You could buy a leather product thinking it’s the highest-grade leather, but it might not be.
Full grain, top grain, and genuine leather are three different grades of real leather and have significant differences in durability, quality, and price. Reading this guide will give you the knowledge to learn about the three different grades of real leather, how to identify them, and which one is suitable for you.
What is Full-Grain Leather?
Full-grain leather is made using the entire animal’s hide without splitting it or sanding and without removing the skin’s imperfections and holes. It’s one of the thickest and strongest leather with exceptional strength and durability and it develops a patina over time that makes it look more appealing.
Related: What is full-grain leather?
What is Top-Grain Leather?
Top-grain leather is produced from the upper layer of the animal’s hide when it’s split into layers. It’s sanded, buffed, and goes through treatments to remove the animal hide’s imperfections and spots which gives it a more uniform and polished appearance.
The manufacturing process includes removing surface imperfections through sanding, followed by applying finishing coats to enhance appearance and add resistance to stains and water. While top-grain leather is durable, the sanding and finishing slightly reduce its strength compared to full-grain leather.
What is Genuine Leather?
There’s widespread confusion when it comes to the term “genuine leather”. Consumers frequently consider genuine leather as 100% real leather which is not true.
Leather products labeled as genuine leather are often the lowest grade of leather, typically made from split leather—the lower layer of the hide after the top layer is split.
It can also refer to processed leathers that include only a certain percentage of real leather, like bonded leather, which is made from leather scraps leftovers and goes through techniques like sanding or buffing and applying surface finishes or coated with plastic material like polyethylene to conceal imperfections and enhance their appearance.
Related: How To Tell The Difference Between Real & Bonded Leather
Differences Between Top Grain vs Full Grain vs Genuine Leather
Durability
Full grain: It’s the most durable leather in thickness and longevity. However, it stains more easily since it is usually not treated with any chemicals or coating for protection. That also makes it less water-resistant compared to other types of leather. Full-grain leather is less stretchable.
Top grain: It’s durable and has a uniform surface that isn’t rough like full-grain leather. Top-grain leather is stain-resistant and water-resistant because of its protective finish or oil or chemical treatments. It’s also more stretchable than full-grain leather.
Genuine Leather: It’s less durable and more prone to staining. It often lacks the protective finishes and is less water-resistant compared to full-grain and top-grain leather and is generally less stretchable.
Texture and appearance
Full grain: As full grain leather is not sanded, it has the hide’s imperfections of blemishes and even wrinkles with uneven surfaces. As it gets older, it develops a patina that’s famous for beautifying its appearance.
Top Grain: It’s sanded to remove those imperfections and has a smooth and uniform surface by look and touch. It does not develop a patina like full-grain leather.
Genuine Leather: It’s sanded, buffed, or coated with synthetic material and generally doesn’t have a natural grain texture like full grain or top grain leather and doesn’t develop a patina.
Price
Full grain: Full grain leather products are the most expensive in price.
Top Grain: It’s still costly but less expensive than full-grain leather.
Genuine Leather: It’s the lowest in price than full grain and top grain leather.
Smell
Full grain and Top Grain: Have an earthy and leathery smell.
Genuine Leather: Could smell earthy or may even smell like chemicals or fishy.
Maintenance
Whichever of these three types of leather you own, keep them away from heat, moisture, and getting wet, regularly clean, and condition them with the leather conditioner at least weekly. Use waterproof spray to protect them from damage from getting soaked.
Related: Can You Wear a Leather Jacket in the Rain
How to identify between full grain, Top Grain, and Genuine leather?
Full-grain real leather is thick and flexible with imperfections, holes, and spots like the animal’s skin with a rough surface when you touch it. On the other hand, when you touch top-grain leather, it’ll have a thin but uniform and smooth texture but will still have a natural leather look in it.
However, when touching genuine leather, it’ll be smooth and uniform but will be less supple and will not have the natural grain texture compared to full grain and top grain leather.
Full Grain, Top Grain, or Genuine Leather: Which One Should You Buy?
It depends on your personal preferences, budget, and needs. If you like the softness and tremendous durability of full-grain leather, you should consider it. However, it is expensive.
Top grain, on the other hand, is another outstanding and popular choice that is lower in price than full grain but is durable, more water and stain-resistant, and gives you the real leather experience. But if you’re on a budget, you can consider genuine leather. However, be sure to buy it from a reputable source. You can also explore other types of leather before making a purchase decision.
