Types of upholstery fabric: easy guide

Reupholstery fabric comes in three big groups—natural, synthetic, and performance—and each has its own feel, strength, and care rules. Cotton and linen breathe but wrinkle; microfiber and polyester shrug off spills; brands like Sunbrella and Crypton fight stains and sun fade. Use the quick chart below to match fabric to kids, pets, or style, then dig into short notes on why each fabric shines or falls short.

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Quick chart: best fabric for your life

Fabric	Best for	Watch out
Cotton	Soft feel, low cost The Spruce	Fades in sun
Linen	Cool, strong natural fibers WORLD LINEN	Wrinkles, stains
Leather	Long life, easy wipe‑clean Logans Fashions	Higher price
Microfiber	Pet & kid spills The Spruce	Static, lint
Polyester blend	Budget sofas, bright colors The Spruce	Less breathable
Velvet (synthetic)	Luxe look in low‑use rooms Evolve Furniture	Traps dust
Sunbrella / Crypton	Indoor‑outdoor, heavy use Sunbrella Crypton	Higher yard cost

(Aim for 15 000+ “double rubs” on the fabric tag for busy rooms.) Revolution Fabrics

Natural fabrics

Cotton

Soft, airy, and resists wear in tightly woven ducks or twills The Spruce. Add a stain‑guard spray to slow fading.

Linen

Flax fiber is 30 % stronger than cotton and even gets softer after many washes The Fabric Outlet. It wrinkles fast and dislikes heavy spills Reddit.

Leather

Real leather can last 20 – 40 years with conditioner and shade from sun Logans Fashions Architectural Digest. Faux leather runs 10 – 20 years if cleaned gently Logans Fashions.

Wool & silk (quick note)

Wool blends resist stains but cost more; silk is for low‑traffic accent chairs Better Homes & Gardens.

Synthetic & blends

Microfiber (polyester)

Tight weave blocks liquid for easy blot‑up, making it top pick for pets and kids Better Homes & Gardens.

Polyester & nylon mixes

Hold bright prints, resist pilling, and come cheap The Spruce. They feel warmer than natural cloth.

Olefin / acrylic

Great for patio cushions because they shrug off sun and mildew Better Homes & Gardens.

Performance fabrics

Sunbrella

Solution‑dyed acrylic that resists UV fade, mold, and bleach cleaning—ideal for sunny windows Sunbrella.

Crypton

Stain‑proof and odor‑blocking coating baked into the fibers; popular for sofas in busy homes Crypton.

Both brands post 30 000+ double rub scores for heavy commercial use Revolution Fabrics.

How to choose in 3 steps

Check traffic. Pick 15 k+ double rubs for family rooms Revolution Fabrics.
Test a swatch. Sit, spill water, and see color in daylight.
Match care. If you hate ironing, skip linen; if you fear claws, avoid loose weaves.