The short answer: PU leather is artificial leather made by coating a fabric backing, usually polyester or cotton, with polyurethane, a flexible plastic, and embossing it with a leather grain. It contains no animal hide, so it is a type of vegan leather and a type of faux leather. It costs much less than real leather and wipes clean, but it doesn’t last as long.
PU leather vs other leathers at a glance
| Material | What it is | Animal hide? | Typical life on a sofa |
|---|---|---|---|
| PU leather | Polyurethane coating on a fabric backing | No | Several years; can crack or peel with age |
| PVC leather (vinyl) | Polyvinyl chloride coating on a fabric backing | No | Several years; tougher but less breathable |
| Vegan leather | Any leather alternative with no animal content: PU, PVC or plant-based | No | Depends on the material |
| Bonded leather | Shredded leather scraps mixed with polyurethane on a backing | Partly | A few years; prone to peeling |
| Bicast leather | A thin layer of split leather with a polyurethane coating | Yes | Several years; the coating can crack |
| Top-grain and full-grain leather | The outer layer of a real hide | Yes | Decades with care |
Is PU leather real leather?
No. PU leather is entirely synthetic. The confusion comes from bonded and bicast leather, which do contain some leather under or within a polyurethane layer. If a label says “100% PU” or “polyurethane”, there is no hide in it.
What is vegan leather?
Vegan leather is a general name for any material that looks like leather but uses no animal products. In furniture, it nearly always means PU leather, and sometimes PVC. Newer plant-based versions use fibers from sources such as pineapple leaves, cactus, apple waste or mushrooms, usually combined with a polyurethane coating.
Is PU leather the same as faux leather?
PU leather is one kind of faux leather. “Faux leather”, “synthetic leather”, “leatherette” and “pleather” are all names for artificial leather, which is made with either PU or PVC. PU is softer and more breathable than PVC, so it is the more common choice for sofas.
What is bonded leather?
Bonded leather is made from leftover leather fibers ground up, mixed with polyurethane and pressed onto a fabric or paper backing. It is sold as leather, but the leather content is small and the surface behaves like a coating: it commonly peels or flakes after a few years.
How long does PU leather last?
With regular use, a PU leather sofa usually looks good for several years before the surface begins to crack or peel, and longer in a room that is used lightly. Heat, direct sun, body oils and harsh cleaners shorten its life. Real leather, by comparison, can last for decades.
Does PU leather peel?
It can. As the polyurethane coating ages and dries out, it loses flexibility, cracks and separates from the backing. To slow this down, keep the sofa away from heaters and sunny windows, wipe it with a soft damp cloth, and avoid alcohol, bleach and abrasive cleaners. Once peeling starts, it can be patched but not reversed: see how to repair a leather couch.
What are the pros and cons of PU leather?
- Pros: costs far less than leather; even color with no natural marks; wipes clean; no animal products; resists stains.
- Cons: shorter life; can crack and peel; less breathable, so it can feel warm or sticky; punctures don’t heal; doesn’t develop a patina.
How do you tell PU leather from real leather?
- Label: look for polyurethane, PU, faux or vegan, against full-grain, top-grain or genuine leather.
- Grain: PU has a perfectly repeating pattern; real leather is irregular.
- Edges and back: PU shows a fabric backing; leather has a fibrous, suede-like underside.
- Smell and feel: leather has a distinct smell and warms to the touch; PU feels smoother and cooler.
- Price: real leather sofas cost considerably more.
How do you clean PU leather?
Wipe it with a soft cloth dampened with water and a drop of mild soap, then dry it. Full steps are in how to clean a faux leather couch.
Browse faux leather couches and leather sofas; each listing states which it is. For every grade of real leather, see types of leather, and for the bigger choice, fabric vs leather.