Lambskin vs Leather: How Lambskin Compares With Everyday Cowhide

Lambskin is real leather, made from the skin of a young sheep. When people say "regular leather," they usually mean cowhide, since cattle supply about 65% of the world's leather.

Compared with cowhide, lambskin is softer, lighter and drapes more, while cowhide is firmer, tougher and better for hard wear. Choose lambskin for comfort and a dressy look. Choose cowhide for a biker jacket, work gloves or anything that gets scraped.

Part of our leather comparison chart.

Lambskin vs cowhide at a glance

Is lambskin real leather?

Yes. Lambskin is tanned skin from a young sheep, and sheepskin is the same animal at an older age. Lamb and deer are the classic leathers for soft, expensive clothing.

Do not confuse lambskin leather with sheepskin shearling, which is tanned with the wool left on. If a label just says "leather," ask which animal it comes from. hitkb explains whether lambskin is real leather in more detail.

Softness and feel

Lambskin has a very fine, soft, silky grain.

Cowhide is firmer. Glove maker Black Stallion calls it somewhat stiff at first but says it breaks in easily. On jackets, Leather Collection describes cowhide as firmer and lambskin or sheepskin as softer with more drape.

Durability: which lasts longer?

Cowhide is the tougher of the two. It is described as one of the heaviest leathers, very tough and durable, and resistant to dirt and water.

Lambskin has good elasticity and breaking resistance for its thinness. Its weak point is the surface: a luxury reseller describes lamb as more delicate and more likely to scratch. We found no neutral test that rates the two on scuff resistance.

For how long each one lasts in years, see mumiay's guide to leather durability.

Thickness and weight

Lambskin can be worked very thin, under 0.6 mm (0.02 in). Cowhide is thick enough to give several split layers.

At Leather Collection, most women's jackets are 0.8-0.9 mm (about 0.03 in) sheepskin, while cowhide riding pants are 1.1-1.4 mm (0.04-0.06 in).

Jackets: lambskin or cowhide?

Gloves: lambskin or cowhide?

Lambskin is widely used for fashion gloves, and fine sheep leathers suit dress gloves. Cowhide is often too thick and bulky for fine dress gloves but is used for casual and work styles.

Leather Collection's men's gloves come in both: lambskin for dress and driving gloves, and slightly firmer cowhide. For glove leathers beyond these two, see deerskin vs sheepskin gloves.

Care differences

Both are smooth leathers. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth and condition every few months. If either gets wet, dry it at room temperature away from heaters. Lambskin's surface scratches more easily, so handle it gently; hosob has a step-by-step guide to caring for lambskin leather.

Which should you choose?

• Choose lambskin for a soft bomber or shirt jacket, dress gloves, or anything worn close to the body where comfort matters most.
• Choose cowhide for a biker jacket, riding gear, work gloves or a piece that will be dragged and scraped.
• Comparing young hides? See lambskin vs calfskin and goatskin vs lambskin.

Compare lambskin and cowhide jackets

The Leather Collection men's leather jackets range is made in cowhide, sheepskin, lambskin or goatskin, and every product page names its leather. That makes it easy to compare a lamb bomber with a cowhide biker.

FAQ

Is lambskin leather real or fake?

Real. It is tanned skin from a young sheep.

Is lambskin the cheapest leather?

We found no neutral price data. Lamb and deer are described as leathers for more expensive apparel. leatherguru covers whether lamb leather is expensive.

What is the lowest quality leather?

Bonded leather, made from shredded scraps with 10-90% leather fiber. See split leather vs genuine leather.

Is lambskin leather worth it?

Yes, if you value softness and drape and will treat it gently. If the piece will take hard knocks, cowhide is the safer buy.