Microfiber vs Leather: How the Synthetic Compares With Real Hide

Microfiber is a synthetic fabric made from extremely fine polyester or nylon fibers. Leather is tanned animal hide. Microfiber is light, easy to wipe clean and hard to stain; leather is strong and durable, and full-grain leather develops a patina instead of wearing out.

Our verdict: microfiber suits a hard-working sofa, car seat or bag where easy cleaning and low cost matter most. Leather suits pieces you want to keep for years and that should age with use.

Part of our leather comparison chart.

Microfiber vs leather at a glance

What "microfiber" means here

Microfiber is any synthetic fiber finer than one denier, under 10 micrometers across. Most is polyester, nylon or a blend. The fine fibers came out of work in Japan in the 1960s, and Ultrasuede, one of the first successful synthetic microfibers, reached the market in the 1970s.

You will meet it in three forms:

• Microfiber upholstery fabric: a woven or knitted fabric, common on sofas.
• Microfiber suede: a needle-punched, buffed and impregnated sheet such as Alcantara, which is about 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane by the maker's figures. For that one against real suede, see Alcantara vs suede.
• "Microfiber leather": artificial leather built on a non-woven microfibre backing, often used for clothing.

"Microfiber leather" is not leather. It is an artificial leather. Our faux leather vs real leather guide covers how to read the label.

Durability: which lasts longer?

There is no single answer, because microfiber products vary so much. Sources describe microfiber as durable and lightweight enough to replace leather in wallets, handbags, backpacks and shoes.

Many microfiber leathers and suedes also contain polyurethane, and that can be a weak point. Polyurethanes can degrade by hydrolysis, reacting with moisture in the air, which is a common problem with stored shoes. We go into this in is faux leather durable?

Leather is strong, flexible and durable, and full-grain leather develops a patina rather than wearing out. Lower grades differ: "genuine leather" often means heavily processed split leather.

A real-world test shows how differently the two can behave. The NBA switched to a microfiber ball for the 2006-07 season. Players said it bounced differently and cut their hands, and the league went back to leather on January 1, 2007.

Stains, cleaning and pets

This is where microfiber wins most often. Microfibers for furniture and car interiors are designed to repel wetting, so spills bead and are hard to stain in. That easy upkeep is why it is sold as an alternative to leather for homes with pets (Wikipedia flags this point as needing a citation). Microfiber suedes such as Ultrasuede resist stains and can be machine washed.

Comfort and breathability

Leather is a natural material, and artificial leathers vary: depending on construction they can be porous and breathable, or impermeable and waterproof. Artificial leather with a non-woven microfibre backing is described as comfortable to wear in clothing.

If breathability matters, as with a jacket or a car seat in summer, check the product's construction rather than the word "microfiber".

Environmental trade-offs

Both have costs, so look at specific facts rather than labels:

• Polyester and nylon microfibers come from petrochemicals and are not biodegradable.
• Washing synthetic microfiber jackets released 1.7 g of microfibers per wash on average in one study by Patagonia and UC Santa Barbara.
• Polyester microfiber textiles tend to be flammable and give off toxic gases when burning.

Leather comes from tanned animal hide, mostly cattle. Our guide to alternatives to leather compares other materials.

Which should you choose?

Comparing other fabrics with leather? Our nylon vs leather page covers a close cousin.

Real leather from Leather Collection

Leather Collection works in real hide; its jackets, for example, are made to order in cowhide, sheepskin, lambskin or goatskin, with the leather named on each product page. Browse Leather Collection for leather jackets, gloves and bags.

FAQ

What is microfiber leather?

An artificial leather built on a backing of fine synthetic fibers, often bound or coated with polyurethane; Alcantara, for example, is about 32% polyurethane by its maker's figures. It is not real leather.

Is microfiber durable?

It can be: it is used to replace leather in wallets, bags and shoes. The polyurethane in many versions can break down by hydrolysis over time.

Is microfiber leather a plastic material?

Yes. The fibers are polyester or nylon made from petrochemicals, and branded versions such as Alcantara also contain polyurethane.

Is microfibre a microplastic?

It behaves like one. Microfibers shed in the wash reach wastewater plants, and up to 40% pass on into rivers, lakes and oceans.