When shopping for leather products, it can be hard to determine the differences between real leather and artificial leather. Some people may be looking for genuine leather, while others may want to take the cheaper route and choose an artificial leather. PU leather is a common option for artificial leather. But what exactly is PU Leather?
Need help? Get our Free Office Chair Buying Guide!
Full Disclaimer: We are an office furniture dealer and sell some of the products we review. To learn more about the products we sell, our review process and why you can trust us, please visit: Why we’re different. Who is BTOD.com and The Breakroom Blog?
What is PU Leather Video
What is PU Leather?
PU leather, or polyurethane leather, is an artificial leather made of thermoplastic polymer used for making furniture or shoes. 100% PU leather is completely artificial and is considered vegan. There are some types of PU leather called bicast leather that have actual leather but has a polyurethane coating on top. This type of PU leather takes the fibrous part of cowhide that are leftover from making genuine leather and put a layer of polyurethane on top of it.
PU leather also goes by a few names. Whether you are looking for artificial leather or looking to avoid it, it is best to know the many names that make up artificial leather. When looking at tags, artificial leather can be called:
- PU Leather
- Bicast Leather
- Split Leather
- Bonded Leather
- Reconstituted Leather
- Corrected Grain Leather
Pros & Cons of PU Leather
If you are on the fence when it comes to deciding if you want artificial over genuine leather, it is best to look at the pros and cons of PU leather.
PU Leather Pros:
- PU Leather costs less than genuine leather because it is easier to manufacture.
- PU doesn’t absorb water which makes it easy to clean.
- 100% PU leather is vegan.
- PU leather can be made into a variety of colors and styles.
- Unlike leather, PU leather doesn’t dry out over time.
- Better for sustainability because it uses fewer resources to make.
PU Leather Cons:
- Can look fake and synthetic.
- Isn’t breathable like genuine leather.
- Can smell of chemicals or plastic.
- Easily wears over time and can crack, which means it doesn’t last as long as real leather.
- Can puncture or tear easily unlike genuine leather.
- PU leather doesn’t develop the same luster or patina as real leather over time.
- Not all PU leathers are vegan because some contain leftover genuine leather.
- Even though it uses fewer resources to make, plastics don’t decompose and aren’t the most eco-friendly.
How to tell if it is PU Leather
Depending on whether you are looking for PU leather or genuine leather, it is best to know how to tell the difference between them. Say you are buying leather furniture, the easiest way to tell the difference is by looking at the tag. Sometimes products may not have a tag, so being able to know the differences will be useful.
The main difference you will find is the cost. PU leather will generally be cheaper than genuine leather because it is easier to produce.
PU leather will have a distinct smell to it. PU will have a plastic or chemical smell to it that genuine leather will not have.
Doing a water test is also an easy way to determine if it is real or fake leather. Although it wouldn’t be advised to do a water test to a product you don’t own, genuine leather will absorb the water. PU leather will not absorb the water.
If you have a keen eye, you may be able to tell the difference just by looking at the material. Real leather will have some imperfections and have a genuine grain. PU leather will actually look fake, and will almost have a perfect, patterned texture look.
Bottom Line
PU leather is also known as polyurethane leather that is artificial. If you are someone looking for a cheaper option, something vegan, or comes in a variety of colors, PU leather will be a great option for you. But if you are looking for genuine leather, PU leather will be something you will want to avoid. There are numerous ways to tell the difference between PU leather and genuine leather to help you in your furniture buying process.
Herb Crouch
Any time you purchase a product that turns out to not be what it was represented to be, simply file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Here are some links to use depending on what you are actually attempting to do.
How To File a Complaint.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/media/video-0054-how-file-complaint
Report fraud, scams, and bad business practices.
https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
You can also report identity theft and get a guide to follow to help mitigate the fallout from identity theft.
Report Identity Theft.
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/report-identity-theft
List a Number on the National Do Not Call Registry
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/list-number-national-do-not-call-registry
How can I get a free copy of my credit report?
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/get-my-free-credit-report
The Federal Trade Commission can be a resource for help in all kinds of business dealings, far more than I’ve listed here.
Hope this is helpful.
DWJames
I purchased two good looking leather swivel chairs from Pottery Barn a couple years ago. My living room started to smell so awful within a day or so. I cleaned the chairs from top to bottom with leather cleaner, to no avail. I also started to get vicious headaches. I asked that the chairs be replaced. The replacement chairs did not emit this odor. I thought I was buying real leather chairs but these are PU leather. They look good and serve their purpose but I’d prefer top grain. Additionally, this year, I decided to purchase one
ottoman to match the chairs. It took from July to the middle of December to receive one ottoman. After one use of relaxing and putting my slippered feet on the ottoman, it became puckered in one spot. It other words, the PU leather doesn’t spring back. I have requested a replacement.
Summary: PU furniture looks good and is affordable, but at times it’s a risky purchase.
John Cookson
It would be nice to know the difference between Bonded Leather and PU Leather.
I have purchased Executive chairs which have all been made using bonded leather. My perception is that bonded leather can be likened to “Rice paper” and has almost zero durability.
The author has made it clear that Real Leather delivers much greater durability than PU Leather however, I would be interested to know if PU Leather has more durability than bonded leather.
I am sick of living with Bonded Leather products which shed their covering in flakes after a mere 2 years of use. A good fabric would offer far superior durability, assuming the industry hasn’t found a way to use specially designed disintegration prone fabrics that mimic the worthless characteristics of bonded leather.
James A. Ritchie
I don’t think the makers of this video know what “genuine leather” actually is, either. A hide has several layers. The top layer is best, simply because it’s tougher., and far more beautiful. The correct name for this layer is “Top Grain”. It shows everything the animal went through in its life, including scars from cuts, etc.
The very bottom layer is the worst layer, but some marketer had a genius idea, and named this layer “Genuine Leather”. When you see a product such as a belt, or boots, etc., that has “Genuine Leather” stamped on it, this actually means it’s made from the bottom layer of the hide. There’s even a layer that seude is made from.
Instead of saying “Genuine Leather”, you should be saying something is made from “real leather”.
Re ally, it’s amazing how many furniture manufacturers, luggage manufacturers, etc., fall for the words “Genuine Leather”. Well, it is genuine leather, meaning it’s real, but it is not what people think it is. You need to know which layer your product is going to use, and you’ll pay accordingly, but the quality you get will be much better. Unless, of course, you decide to make your product from “Genuine Leather”.
To be fair, if “Genuine Leather is carefully selected, and if it is given the correct tanning, it can be useful and fairly durable, but it isn’t remotely as beautiful or as durable as top grain or full grain leather.
Jim Hisson
Very informative and helpful, Mr. Ritchie. Thanks for sharing.
Carole Cowles
does the smell go away on pu leather
Virginia
Thanks for the great presentation. Bought a jacket from Vintage Stylists and they said Genuine Leather 3 times but once they added (PU) after it. When I received the jacket the fabric content and care tags were clearly cut out. Won’t be tricked again thanks to you.
ELLEN LAGRASSA
Great presentation. Answered all my questions.