We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Automotive

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Types of Car Upholstery Fabric?

By Tara Barnett
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 42,243
Share

There are many different types of car upholstery fabrics available, but there are two overwhelmingly popular types. The first is leather upholstery fabric as well as materials that are designed to look or function like leather. On the other hand, there is cloth fabric, which is usually made by tightly weaving fibers together. Some vintage and custom cars use upholstery that is much less durable than either of these types, such as suede or velvet. It is also important to consider the design of the fabric, as different patterns are often more expensive.

Car interiors, particularly the seats, must be relatively durable in order to sustain years of traffic in and out of the car. Very expensive cars often do not prioritize durability quite as highly, but it is still necessary to use car upholstery fabric that will not wear out just from being sat upon. This is the reason consumers very rarely find delicate fabrics or fabrics that are easily damaged on the interiors of cars.

Leather and leather replacements are commonly used for car upholstery because they are durable and pleasant to look at. They come in a wide variety of colors, and they are often treated so that they are waterproof, making this option both attractive and highly durable. Animal products such as fur are very rarely used as car seats, but this is possible as well.

Cloth interiors may be made from a wide variety of fibers, and both synthetic and natural options are popular. Nylon, for instance, is highly stain resistant and comes in many colors. The tight weaving common to upholstery fabrics in general is very important to car upholstery fabric because of the need for durability. This weaving style can also be helpful when spills occur because they are easier to clean up.

The actual design woven or printed onto the fabric often says something about the worth of the car. Designer fabric is popular in custom cars and may bear the logo of popular clothing designers or even the car owner's personal insignia. The primary consideration when choosing to reupholster a car is finding an upholstery shop with the talent and experience to make the fabric look good in the car. These shops can not only help investigate different types of car upholstery fabric, but they can make sure that the fabric looks professional when it is installed.

Share
WikiMotors is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By BAU79 — On Aug 01, 2012

Leather is where it is at. I will never buy a ride that does not have leather seats. They look good, they feel good and they are standard if you want to have a classy set of wheels.

Right now I am driving a 93 Cadillac with a beautiful black leather interior. Seriously, it is like a nice leather couch. Who wants to sit on some dusty, ratty looking old cotton when you could ride around in style?

Share
https://www.wikimotors.org/what-are-the-different-types-of-car-upholstery-fabric.htm
Copy this link
WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.