Buying guide

How to Choose Upholstery Fabric

Updated October 25, 2026 · 3 min read

The right upholstery fabric makes a sofa last for years; the wrong one can look tired in months. This guide walks through what matters, in the order to think about it: how the piece will be used, then durability, fibre, weave, cleaning, and finally colour and pattern.

1. Start with how the piece will be used

Before falling for a colour, be honest about the job:

• Who uses it? Adults only, children, pets, guests?
• How often? The family sofa used every evening, or a bedroom chair that's mostly decorative?
• Where is it? Near a sunny window, in a kitchen, at the cottage, in a business?
• What's likely to happen to it? Spills, muddy paws, sun, jeans rubbing on it?

A formal chair can wear almost anything. A family sofa needs durability, easy cleaning and a forgiving colour.

2. Check the durability

Durability is shown as double rubs on the spec sheet. As a quick guide, 15,000 suits light home use, 30,000 or more suits everyday family furniture, and commercial seating needs more. See double rubs explained.

3. Understand the fibre

Every fabric page in our shop lists the fibre content under Content.

4. Look at the weave and texture

• Tight, flat weaves wear best and are easiest to clean.
• Textures and small patterns hide wear and dirt between cleanings. Shop tweed and textured fabric.
• Pile fabrics like velvet and chenille are soft and rich but show pressure marks. See velvet vs. chenille vs. bouclé.
• Loops and loose weaves like bouclé can snag on claws and jewellery.

5. Check the cleaning code

The cleaning code tells you what you can clean the fabric with. For anything that will see spills, choose W, W/S or bleach cleanable. See upholstery cleaning codes.

6. Consider performance fabric

If you have children, pets or light-coloured furniture, a performance fabric that resists stains, fading or moisture is worth considering. See Crypton vs. performance fabric and the best pet-friendly sofa fabric. Shop performance fabric.

7. Choose colour and pattern last

• Mid-tones and heathered colours are the most forgiving.
• Light colours look fresh but need a cleanable or performance fabric.
• Dark solids show lint, fur and dust.
• Pattern scale should suit the piece: bold patterns on large pieces or a single statement chair, smaller patterns on dining chairs and cushions.
• Large pattern repeats need more fabric to match across cushions. See how much fabric do I need?

8. Read the rest of the spec sheet

• Width: almost always 54 inches for upholstery.
• Repeat: the size of the pattern, which affects yardage.
• Pattern direction: whether the fabric is railroaded. See railroaded vs. up the roll.
• Flammability: important for commercial projects. See commercial upholstery fabric.

9. Always order a sample

Colour and texture look different on every screen. A free sample shows you the true colour in your own light, how the fabric feels, and how it looks next to your floors and walls. Check it in daylight and lamplight before you order.

Common questions

What is the most durable upholstery fabric?

Tightly woven synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and olefin performance fabrics and microfibre, with high double-rub ratings are the most durable for everyday furniture.

What upholstery fabric is easiest to clean?

Fabrics with cleaning code W or W/S, bleach-cleanable fabrics and performance fabrics such as Crypton are the easiest to keep clean.

Is natural or synthetic fabric better for a sofa?

For a sofa that gets heavy use, synthetics and blends usually wear and clean better. Natural fibres like linen and cotton look and feel lovely but suit lighter use unless they're blended or treated.

More buying guides