It can be challenging to tell real from fake leather. Below, I’ll share five tips to help you learn to distinguish real leather. Keep reading so you can use these tips when shopping for leather products.

Different Types of Leather

Before we dive into how to tell the difference between real and fake leather, let’s take a few minutes to learn a little bit more about each of the different types of leather—real and fake—you’re likely to come across.

Real Leather

First up: real leather. Real leather is the good stuff and what you want when you’re looking for the real deal.

For those wondering what leather is made of, real leather is made from animal hides.

Cowhides are commonly used, but real leather can be made from any animal hide, including buffalo, deer, crocodile, and ostrich.

Real leather is valued for its durability, unique appearance, and quality.

Each piece of real leather is different, featuring natural markings and imperfections that give it character.

Over time, real leather develops a patina, a sheen that enhances its look and feel.

This aging process is a hallmark of genuine leather. It combines good looks with practicality, ensuring your leather product will stand the test of time.

Genuine Leather

The term genuine leather can be confusing. Genuine leather and natural leather are different.

When you see a product labeled as genuine leather, it’s typically the lowest grade.

It’s often made using leather scraps, like bonded leather, which may only contain a small percentage of real leather.

While not as high-quality as top-grain or full-grain leather, genuine leather is still a durable and long-lasting material.

This type of leather is often found in products where cost is a big factor, like budget-friendly furniture, belts, and shoes, providing a sense of security in your purchase.

Faux Leather

Faux leather is not real leather. It is made using artificial materials designed to look and feel like leather.

Some faux leather manufacturers use misleading terms to label their products.

You may see some of these other terms used instead of just saying that the item is fake or faux leather.

By being aware of these terms, you can confidently navigate the faux leather market:

• Vegan leather
• PU leather
• Pleather
• Leatherette
• Synthetic leather
• Piñatex leather
• Ocean leather

Faux leather is usually made from plastics like polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

These materials are made to look and feel like real leather but are often more challenging.

Faux leather is commonly used in fashion and upholstery because it costs less and doesn’t involve animals.

However, it doesn’t last as long and doesn’t have the same unique qualities as real leather.

How to Tell if Something is Real Leather

Here are the steps you can follow to help you determine if a product is made from real leather.

1. Check the Label

One of the fastest and easiest ways to tell if leather is real or fake is to look at the label.

Real leather should be labeled as such.

Fake leather products should also be labeled with the materials used.

It is not real if you see anything labeled as bonded leather, PU leather, vegan leather, synthetic leather, or any of the other terms I shared above.

Remember, genuine leather is often used to make something sound like real leather when the item contains a lower grade of leather along with other binders and materials.

Labels are a treasure trove of information about leather products.

Terms like “full grain leather” or “top grain leather” indicate high-quality leather.

In contrast, “PU leather,” “bonded leather,” or “synthetic leather” suggest the product is not genuine.

Always read the label carefully and be wary of marketing terms that could be misleading.

2. Look at the Appearance

Another effective method for distinguishing real from fake leather is to simply look at it.

A close examination of a leather pencil case, for instance, can often reveal whether it’s genuine or not.

Real-grain leather typically exhibits natural imperfections, rough edges, and a unique texture, while fake leather tends to have a more consistent pattern, perfect edges, and a uniform texture.

Real leather will have imperfections and a unique grain pattern, which are signs of natural animal hide.

Also, the edges of real leather items are usually rougher and less uniform than those of fake leather, which tend to have smooth, perfectly cut edges.

Due to its natural origins, the color of real leather might also vary slightly, showing a range of hues.

3. Feel It

Feeling the material can also indicate whether you’re looking at authentic leather or something made from synthetic materials.

Real leather will feel rough. When you press down on it with your hand, it should wrinkle and move, much like your skin would.

Fake leather will have a different texture and won’t stretch or wrinkle as you press on it.

Real leather has a unique texture that is both soft and strong.

It should feel soft to the touch but firm, indicating its strength and quality.

Pressing on real leather should form small wrinkles and bounce back, much like human skin.

In contrast, fake leather often feels colder and more plastic-like, lacking the natural give of real leather.

4. Smell It

Real leather has a distinct smell, making a smell test a reliable way to differentiate it from fake leather.

Pay attention to the smell.

Because real leather is made from animal hide, it should have a distinct, natural smell.

Fake leather, on the other hand, often smells like chemicals or plastic, or may have no smell at all.

When in doubt, trust your senses.

The smell of real leather is one of its most distinctive features.

Genuine leather has a rich, earthy smell because it comes from an organic source.

It’s hard to replicate this smell with synthetic materials.

Fake leather, on the other hand, often smells like chemicals or plastic.

That’s because it’s made from synthetic materials.

Real leather will have a warm, inviting smell, while fake leather will not.

5. Other Things to Check

Here are a few other things you can check to tell the difference between real and fake leather:

Price:

Price can also help determine if something’s made from real leather.

Real leather is more expensive because it’s a higher-quality material and requires more work to produce.

Real leather products are usually more expensive because the leather has to be sourced, tanned, and crafted.

If something is cheaper than similar items, it’s probably made from fake leather or lower-quality leather.

While price alone isn’t a definitive indicator, it’s a red flag when trying to tell if something’s made from leather.

This caution will help you avoid potential scams and make a wise purchase.

Water test:

The water test is reliable for differentiating between real and fake leather.

Real leather, unless it’s been waterproofed, will absorb a few drops of water, while fake leather will repel it.

This simple test can give you a clear answer about the material’s authenticity.

To do a water test, put a few drops of water on the surface of the leather.

Real leather will absorb the water, temporarily darkening the spot.

Real leather absorbs water because it’s porous.

Fake leather, made from synthetic materials, won’t absorb the water, and the drops will sit on the surface until you wipe them off.

Check the back of the leather:

If you can, look at the back of the leather.

The back may look like paper or fabric if it’s fake leather.

The back of real leather will usually be slightly different in color from the finished side.

It might be smooth or rough, but it won’t look like paper or a different material.

The back of real leather also called the flesh side, will have a suede-like texture and might vary in color and texture.

Fake leather, however, often has a fabric or paper backing that helps stabilize the synthetic surface.

If you can see the back side of the material, it can give you more clues about whether it’s real leather.

Wrap Up: Real Leather vs Fake Leather

After reading the steps I shared above, can you tell the difference between real and faux leather?

Identifying leather and figuring out whether it’s real or not is something you can do.

Give yourself time to practice and improve, and you’ll be a pro at telling the difference between real and fake leather in no time.

What sets real leather apart from genuine leather?

Like full and top grain, real leather is 100% animal hide.

Full-grain leather, the pinnacle of quality, covers the entire robust hide and develops a charming patina over time.

While not as durable, top-grain leather is smoother and more flexible, having been sanded and refinished to remove imperfections.

Conversely, genuine leather is a lower grade, often a small portion of real leather mixed with other materials.

It’s made from the remaining layers of the hide after the top has been split off and extensively processed to give it a uniform appearance.

While it’s cheaper and resembles leather, it lacks the durability and patina of higher-quality leather.

So, in summary, real leather (whole grain and top grain) is more durable, ages well, and is better quality than genuine leather, which is cheaper, not as durable, and doesn’t develop a patina.

How do you know if leather is good quality?

To determine if leather is good quality, you can look at a few things:

Grain:

Full-grain leather is the best.

It’s the whole thing. It has all the natural grain of the hide, including imperfections.

Top-grain leather is also perfect. It’s been sanded to remove imperfections.

Genuine leather and lower grades like split or bonded leather aren’t durable and look like full-grain leather.

Feel:

Good-quality leather should feel soft and supple but firm.

It should also be somewhat weighted, which shows that it’s dense and durable.

Low-quality leather often feels thin, overly smooth, or plasticky.

Smell:

Genuine leather has a rich, earthy smell because it’s organic.

Synthetic or lower-quality leathers might have a chemical or plastic smell.

Natural markings and color variations:

Good-quality leather will have inconsistencies that give it character.

Low-quality leather often needs to look more perfect and uniform.

Flexibility and Durability:

Good-quality leather returns to its original shape when bent.

It also holds up better over time than lower-grade leathers.

What counts as fake Leather?

Fake Leather, also known as faux, synthetic, or leatherette, is made from synthetic materials designed to look and feel like real Leather.

The most common types are:

PU Leather (Polyurethane Leather): This is a famous fake leather made by coating a fabric base with polyurethane.

It’s used in furniture, clothing, and accessories. PU leather is less durable than real Leather and can peel over time.

PVC Leather (Polyvinyl Chloride Leather): Another type of fake Leather, PVC leather, is made by applying a layer of PVC to a fabric base.

It’s used in upholstery and automotive interiors. PVC leather is less breathable and flexible than PU leather.

Vegan Leather: A term used to describe fake Leather made without animal products.

It can be made from various synthetic materials, including PU and PVC, and innovative materials like Piñatex (made from pineapple leaves), and apple leather.

Bonded Leather is made from shredded leather scraps bonded together with polyurethane or latex on a fiber mesh.

It contains some real leather but is considered low quality and lacks the durability and aesthetics of higher-grade Leather.

Fake Leather is typically cheaper and more animal-friendly. Still, it doesn’t have the same durability, breathability, or unique aging characteristics as real Leather.

Can you scratch real Leather?

Yes, you can scratch real Leather, but how well it holds up to scratches depends on the type and quality of the Leather. Here’s a closer look:

Full-grain Leather is highly durable and resistant to scratches.

While it can scratch, the scratches often blend into the natural grain over time, adding to the Leather’s character and patina.

Top Grain Leather: This Leather is also durable but slightly less so than full grain leather.

It can scratch, but like full-grain Leather, the scratches can enhance its character.

Genuine Leather: Because it’s processed, Genuine Leather is more prone to scratching than full-grain or top-grain Leather.

It might not develop a patina, and scratches can be more noticeable and harder to blend.

Split and Bonded Leather: These lower-grade leathers are the most susceptible to scratches and damage.

They don’t have the same resilience as higher-quality leathers and can show wear and tear more easily.

Real Leather generally holds up to scratches better than fake Leather.

In many cases, scratches on real Leather can be treated and minimized with leather conditioners and proper care.

On the other hand, scratches on fake Leather are often more difficult to fix and can lead to peeling or cracking.