Leather Types
What Is Bonded Leather?
Bonded leather is shredded leather fiber mixed with a binder on a fabric or paper backing, 10% to 90% leather. What it is made of, labels and how long it lasts.
Bonded leather is a manufactured material made from leather scraps and fibers that are shredded, mixed with a polyurethane or rubber binder, spread onto a fiber or paper backing and embossed to look like grain. Its leather content ranges from about 10% to 90%. It contains leather, but it is not a piece of hide.
This definition is part of our guide to leather types, textures and finishes. For a side-by-side with hide leather, see bonded leather vs real leather.
Bonded leather meaning
The same material is also sold as reconstituted, composition or blended leather. Any color or pattern is a surface treatment that does not penetrate the way dye does in hide leather.
What bonded leather is made of
In this video, the leather-goods maker Rose Anvil scratches into a bonded leather journal and a small satchel to show how thin the leather-fiber layer is and the backing or foam underneath. He also says bonded strips are used inside some well-made belts for an even thickness; that is his own view, and how long bonded leather lasts still depends on its recipe, as the section on lifespan below explains.
| Layer | What it is | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Backing | Fiber mesh, cloth or paper | – |
| Fiber layer | Shredded leather scraps and fibers | – |
| Binder | Polyurethane, latex or natural rubber | – |
| Surface | Embossed leather-like grain, color applied on top | – |
Bonded vs bicast vs genuine leather
| Material | Starting point | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Bonded | Shredded leather fibers glued onto a backing | – |
| Bicast | A solid leather split with a polyurethane coat | – |
| Genuine leather | Real hide of no set grade, often processed split | – |
Can it be called leather?
Rules and opinions differ. In the US, bonded leather should not be sold simply as leather, and the share of leather fiber should be stated. In Europe, standard EN 15987:2011 allows the name "bonded leather" only with at least 50% dry leather by weight. A leather research laboratory goes further and calls the name deceptive. Under an Italian decree, an Italian tannery group says the correct term is "bonded regenerate of leather fibers".
How long does bonded leather last?
It depends on the recipe. Lower-quality bonded leather can flake within a few years, while better grades are considered very durable. Because the composition varies and is sometimes a trade secret, performance is hard to predict.
| Listed advantages | Listed drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Reuses leftover leather | Hard or impossible to repair or recondition |
| Even look with no natural defects | Polyurethane-coated layers can delaminate |
| High cutting yield | Typically not as durable as genuine leather |
Where bonded leather is used
Sofas and chairs, book covers, Bibles and diaries, electronics cases, portfolios, briefcases, handbags, belts, shoe components and linings. Paper-backed bonded leather for books may hold less leather than furniture grades.
Where to buy hide leather instead
Nothing made of bonded leather turns up in the Leather Collection catalog. Each of the Leather Collection men's leather bags is cut from cowhide or buffalo leather.
FAQ
Is bonded leather as good as real leather?
Usually not for wear: it is typically less durable and hard to repair. The full comparison is linked at the top of this page.
What is the lowest quality of leather called?
Of the materials sold with "leather" in the name, bonded leather holds the least hide.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.