Leather Properties and Care
Can Leather Shrink?
Yes. Damp leather shrinks past its shrinkage temperature: about 158-185 °F for vegetable-tanned, over 212 °F for chrome-tanned. Causes and what to avoid.
Yes. Leather shrinks when its collagen fibers are heated while damp, past a point called the shrinkage temperature. For new vegetable-tanned leather that point is about 158 to 185 °F (70 to 85 °C). Chrome-tanned leather holds out past 212 °F (100 °C).
Heat is not the only cause: ordinary dry cleaning can also make leather shrink. This answer is part of our guide to leather properties and care.
Shrinkage temperature by leather type
Tanning is what raises the number: the more tanning agent fixed in the leather, the higher its shrinkage temperature. Age pulls it back down, so old leather shrinks more easily than new. These figures come from a 2019 study in npj Heritage Science.
| Leather | Shrinks at about | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Raw, untanned hide | Below 149 °F (65 °C) | – |
| New vegetable-tanned leather | 158 to 185 °F (70 to 85 °C), depending on the tannins | – |
| New chrome-tanned leather | Over 212 °F (100 °C) | – |
| Aged or damaged leather | Below 140 °F (60 °C) | – |
What makes leather shrink
- Hot water. Vegetable-tanned leather shrinks a lot, partly congeals and turns rigid, then brittle.
- Plain water. Chrome-tanned leather keeps its shape in water better than vegetable-tanned leather. The wet case has its own page: does leather shrink when it gets wet?
- A tumble dryer. Leather Collection's care advice is to let wet leather dry at room temperature and never put it in the dryer.
- Dry cleaning. Ordinary dry cleaning strips leather's oils, which can make it crack, fade and shrink.
For what flame does, rather than wet heat, see what happens when leather burns. Water resistance is covered in is nubuck leather waterproof?
Does leather get looser over time?
It can stretch instead. Heavy objects such as key chains kept in pockets will stretch a leather jacket. For how much leather stretches, see leatherguide.org on leather stretch.
Shrinking leather on purpose
Wet heat is also the principle behind shrinking a loose item on purpose. The same heat can leave vegetable-tanned leather rigid and brittle, so the margin is small. Follow tested steps such as hosob.com's guide to shrinking leather safely rather than guessing.
Day-to-day care rules, including drying and storage, are in Leather Collection's care instructions.
FAQ
Will water make leather shrink?
Hot water will shrink vegetable-tanned leather a lot. Chrome-tanned leather copes with water better.
Is it okay to put leather in the dryer?
No. Let wet leather dry at room temperature.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.