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Last Updated on Feb-12-2024. – This article is a 2024 update of our previous ‘most durable sofa fabrics’ piece, to reflect the newest and best entrants into the space.
At a glance…
For outdoor and indoor applications, the fabrics by Ambesonne are a great option. The 100% polyester fabric has a tight weave and is waterproof with gorgeous fade-resistant digital prints on the surface.
For outdoor use, we recommend the Ottertex Waterproof Canvas fabric. The fabric is made from 100% polyester (one of the most durable materials) that is lined with a PVC backing and sealed with a waterproof coating. The fabric is ideal for outdoor sofas on a patio but can also be used indoors. This fabric is also very flexible since it is practical for making outdoor equipment like tents, covers, and travel bags.
For indoor use, we recommend the eLuxurySupply Fabrics. These fabrics offer a softer feel that is more practical for a comfortable indoor sofa or cushions. The fabric is made from 100% polyester and both sides of the fabric surface are treated with a moisture repellent finish that prevents staining.
- Perfect for: Indoor and outdoor use for sofas, scatter cushions and other sturdy furniture items.
- Perfect for: Outdoor sofa use and for making camping gear like tents and carry bags.
- Perfect for: Indoor use for sofas, scatter cushions, curtaining and other soft furniture items.
Is it time to give an old sofa a fresh, new look? The most durable sofa fabric can make your old sofa look brand new. Moreso, it’s perfect for converting an ill-matched furniture piece into something that matches your decor perfectly.
Bulky furniture pieces aren’t very easy to clean and exposing a sofa to too much moisture can result in mold and mildew growth inside the sofa.
When you’re selecting upholstery fabric for a sofa, you should focus on materials that are highly durable and stain-resistant, and perhaps even waterproof.
In this guide, we are going to look at some of the best and most durable upholstery fabrics to consider if you want something durable yet functional!
Product Guide on the Most Durable Fabrics for a Sofa
There are many things to consider when buying upholstery fabrics. Since these fabrics usually don’t come cheap, you should make a calculated decision by considering the following aspects.
Fabric Key Considerations
- Material type – Upholstery fabrics are made from all sorts of fabrics. Synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon are much more durable than natural fabrics such as cotton.
- Water- and stain proofing – Some upholstery fabrics are treated with a waterproof or stain proof coating. When liquids are poured onto the fabric, the liquids will roll off instead of being absorbed by the fabric which eliminates the chances of stains forming on the fabric. The IPR rating of fabrics can vary a lot and fabrics with a higher IPR rating tend to be harder or colder to the touch while those with a lower waterproof rating usually offer a softer and warmer feel.
- Print and color quality – Some fabrics are much more likely to fade or discolor when exposed to direct sunlight or when cleaned. A fade-resistant fabric will look good for much longer.
- Cleaning – Some fabric types can be machine washed while a washing machine can completely ruin others. Some fabric types can also easily be cleaned by simply wiping down the surface while others need to be cleaned using upholstery cleaning equipment or machine washing. The ability to easily clean fabric is important for sofas since these surfaces endure a lot of wear and tear.
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What to Look For in Sofa Fabrics
The way you use your sofa or the location your sofa is positioned can make a huge difference in the type of fabric you need.
First, decide where you are most likely to use your sofa.
For indoor use, you want a durable yet soft and cozy fabric that is perfect for snuggling.
For patios or outdoor living rooms, a sturdier fabric with a higher waterproof rating might be best. And for outdoor use, you want a fabric that is completely waterproof and UV resistant.
You should also consider cleaning when choosing your sofa fabrics. Families with pets and young children will need to do a lot more cleaning and require a fabric that has a wipe-clean surface or that can hold up well in a washing machine without fading.
Lastly, the print is important since you still want your sofa to look visually appealing. A quality print or UV-resistant color will hold up well over many years.
#BIFL
The BIFL (Buy-it-for-life) philosophy and scoring system is our favorite aspect when we are considering the design and construction of fabrics.
Products with a good BIFL score are most likely to offer good value for money since these items are likely to stay in great shape for much longer.
In the section on fabrics, the following qualities are important for the key dimensions of BIFL-ability.
Ruggedness: 50% weight of the total score – Fabrics that are made from durable fibers and treated with rugged coatings like waterproofing layers, PVC backing, or moisture repellent finishes.
Repairability: 20% weight of the total score – The ability to easily clean fabric without causing fading or discoloration is very important when restoring fabrics after lots of use.
Upgradability: 15% weight of the total score -Discounted rates for bulk buys so you can invest in surplus fabrics for future use or the ability to purchase the same fabric print in the future.
Multipurpose: 15% weight of the total score -The ability to use the same fabric for different applications such as indoor and outdoor or for other types of products other than just sofas.
The Top 5 Sofa Fabrics to Choose From
Upholstery fabrics can vary quite a lot. You can get all sorts of upholstery fabrics. The main types of fabrics are:
- microfiber [1]
- canvas
- cotton
- wool
That’s why we took the time to find quality fabrics that are tough enough to handle a lot of wear and tear, yet offer good stain and moisture resistance.
Here’s a quick look at the top 5 fabric types or brands to get so you can freshen up an old sofa!
Ambesonne Antique Fabric – The Best Indoor or Outdoor Upholstery Fabric
Ambesonne has a wide range of upholstery fabrics that are perfect for both indoor and outdoor applications. One of the most outstanding features of these fabrics is their beautiful designs.
Features
These upholstery fabrics are made from genuine Turkish doc fabrics that are printed in a variety of beautiful designs. The polyester fabric has a waterproof coating in order to keep it from absorbing spills, that way your sofa will stay clean for longer.
The wide fabric is practical for both indoor and outdoor use and offers a soft, comfortable, and non-plastic feel when you sit down on it.
It might not be as soft and cushioning as cotton-blend upholstery fabrics, but it’s a good option if you need something durable and beautiful.
You can use these performance fabrics in a variety of sewing or craft projects. The family-friendly fabric is functional to use for cushion covers, ottomans, stools, outdoor chairs, indoor chairs, sofas, and can even be used to refresh an old gaming chair.
The fabric has a width of 58 inches which is ideal for covering large sofas and is sold by the yard.
Durability
If and when your sofa does get dirty, you can deep clean the fabric using upholstery cleaning machines or remove the cushion covers and pop them into the washing machine on a gentle cycle.
The quality digital print of the fabric is fade resistant so you can wash these products multiple times without making these items look dull and faded.
The polyester fibers used in this fabric are highly durable and are sure to last many years despite constant exposure to wear and tear.
Specifications
- Material: Turkish doc fabric
- Color: 36 Colors
- Print: Various
- Fabric Type: Polyester
- Waterproof Level: Water-resistant
- Width: 58 Inches
- Cleaning: Machine washable and dryer safe
- Application: Indoor or patio use
- Can be machine washed and dried
- Ideal fabric for all sorts of furniture items (ex. sofas or hammocks)
- Not prone to fading even when washed
- Water-resistant surface keeps fabric stain-free
- Lots of beautiful colors and prints available
- Durable enough for chairs and sofas
- Ideal for a variety of sewing projects
- Fabric patterns might not be as vivid as their online images
- Material can be a bit thin
- Not very soft to the touch
Price – Around $25 per yard.
Perfect for – Indoor and outdoor use for sofas, scatter cushions and other sturdy furniture items.
- LENGTH: 36" (1 yard) & WIDTH: 58". 100% Polyester medium weight, tight woven Turkish dock fabric.
- EVERY (1 qty) = 1 YARD. Each qty is cut in separate pieces as a continuous 1 yard of fabric each.
- WATERPROOF FABRIC - for indoor & outdoor use. Very durable. Machine washable, dryer safe. NO FADING.
Last update on 2024-05-04 at 00:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ottertex Waterproof Canvas Fabric – The Best Outdoor Upholstery Fabric
Ottertex Waterproof Canvas Fabric is ideal for outdoors sofa on your patio or in the garden.
However, lots of people also use this fabric for indoor sofas because the synthetic fibers are waterproof. This means that the fabric is essentially stain-resistant, so it’s perfect for those who have indoor pets that can be messy or tend to shed.
Features
This 600 x 600 denier fabric is available in many different solid colors and Ottertex also produces some canvas fabrics in beautiful prints that’s sure to draw quite a bit of attention.
While your furniture won’t feel warm or soft with this type of cover, your sofa is bound to stay clean for longer since it can easily be wiped down. Not to mention, it’s a preferable indoor fabric to faux leather [2] since the materials won’t crack or peel over time.
This 100% polyester fabric is highly durable and offers a firm and stiff feel, but it’s still very easy to stitch or sew if you have a standard sewing machine. This 11oz fabric is 62 inches wide and is sold by the yard.
This type of fabric can be used for a variety of furniture items, such as chair cushions, scatter cushions, and stools. The tough fabric is also practical for making all sorts of other items, like backpacks, travel bags, military-grade tents, and boat covers.
Durability
The canvas fabric is made from one of the most durable materials in existence. The 100% polyester fibers are bound to last a long time and can handle a lot of wear and tear. This fabric is also treated with a waterproof coating that protects your sofa interior and a PVC lining enhances the strength of the fabric even more.
Stains and messes that form on the sofa are not likely to be absorbed by the fabric and any messes are pretty easy to clean off by using a damp cloth so you can keep your sofa in great looking condition over many years.
Specifications
- Material: Canvas
- Color: Teal
- Print: Solid only
- Fabric Type: 100% Polyester
- Waterproof Level: 600 x 600 Denier with plastic coating
- Width: 60 Inches
- Cleaning: Wipe with a damp cloth
- Application: Outdoor furniture, indoor furniture, travel bags
- Quality fabric is highly durable
- Easy to work with or sew
- Waterproofing makes it ideal for outdoor furniture
- Heavy-duty fabric is good for travel bags
- Fabric is ideal for tent sewing
- Not sold in continuous yards
- Color might fade if placed in direct sunlight
- Fabric might feel a bit like plastic or rubber on your skin
Price – Around $8 per yard.
Perfect for – Outdoor sofa use and for making camping gear like tents and carry bags.
- The 11 oz. canvas waterproof fabric is perfect for all types of indoor and outdoor use. This fabric...
- Wipe With Damp Cloth
- 60'' Wide. Fabric is sold by the yard and cut to order. For example, order of 1 yard (Qty=1) is 60"...
Last update on 2024-05-04 at 00:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
eLuxurySupply Fabric Polyester Upholstery – The Best Indoor Upholstery Fabric
eLuxurySupply has a couple of excellent upholstery fabrics that are perfect for indoor use because these fabrics are water and stain-resistant, but they’re still very soft and warm to the touch.
This hemp [3] polyester fabric is available in a wide variety of solid colors and quite a few prints, so you can easily match it with your other furniture pieces.
Features
The 100% polyester fabric is not too thick, but it’s lined with filling material to enhance its strength. The fabric exterior feels a lot like cotton blend fabrics and offers a good level of comfort when you’re relaxing on your sofa.
Despite its softer feel, the fabric is still able to repel water because it is constructed with a low-denier performance yarn and is treated with a moisture-repellent finish. The tight weave of the fabric also repels dust and pet hair.
This fabric is 54 inches wide and is sold in continuous yards. The company also offers discounted rates for bulk buys so you can save money when you order lots of fabric.
Durability
This performance fabric might not be the best for outdoor use since dust can settle in the fibers. However, it is a practical fabric for all sorts of indoor furniture pieces, such as chairs, scatter cushions, sofas, ottomans, and even furniture items that are frequently used by pets.
The moisture-repelling finish keeps stains from forming on the sofa so it will stay cleaner for longer. The fabric also has a tight weave that prevents pet hair from clinging to the surface.
This type of fabric can be thoroughly cleaned with upholstery cleaning tools and carpet shampoo whenever they become dirty.
Specifications
- Material: Polyester
- Color: 29 Colors
- Print: Solid and pattern options
- Fabric Type: Hemp polyester
- Waterproof Level: Stain and moisture-repellent finish
- Width: 54 Inches
- Cleaning: Upholstery cleaning tools or machine wash on a gentle cycle
- Application: Indoor or patio use
- Available in a variety of beautiful solid and print colors
- Stain and moisture resistant
- Fabric has a soft and warm feel
- Print patterns are very beautiful
- Quality fabric is easy to work with and to sew
- Ideal for a sofa or other furniture pieces
- Ideal upholstery fabric for pet owners
- Fabric has an additional filling material layer to strengthen it
- Colors might look different in the photos than in person
Price – Around $25 per yard.
Perfect for – Indoor use for sofas, scatter cushions, curtaining and other soft furniture items.
- {ABOUT US} eLuxury is a United States Veteran owned and operated company out of Evansville, Indiana....
- {LIVESMART TECHNOLOGY} Produced exclusively with low-denier performance yarns that are encapsulated...
- {APPLICATIONS} Perfect for general residential applications such as reupholstering well-loved sofas,...
Last update on 2024-05-04 at 00:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ambesonne Dragonfly Fabric Pattern – A Good Alternative Indoor or Outdoor Upholstery Fabric
Ambesonne has quite a few fabric ranges, which is why we couldn’t limit our list to just one! There are many print designs to choose from, including a very decorative dragonfly and green olive print, and mandala prints.
Features
This polyester fabric is practical for both indoor or outdoor sofas because the fabric offers a soft canvas-like feel, yet it doesn’t feel too harsh or plastic-like to the touch. The surface is also water-resistant, so liquid spills and food spills will slide right off the synthetic material without causing permanent stains.
The heavy-use fabric is ideal for all sorts of furniture pieces, including chairs, sofas, ottomans, tablecloths, and more since it can withstand everyday wear. The firm fabric is also easy to cut to size and sew since it isn’t too thick.
This waterproof fabric has a width of 58 inches and is sold in different yard lengths of 1 to 10 yards which is ideal for large upholstery projects.
Durability
If your sofa does get dirty, you can simply pop the covers into a washing machine or dryer for a quick clean or use an upholstery cleaning machine to refresh the sofa.
The advanced digital printing technology used to create this fabric is fade resistant so your products will stay beautiful despite lots of washing.
Since these fabrics are made from polyester fibers, your materials are bound to hold up well for many years.
Specifications
- Material: Fabric
- Color: 36 Colors
- Print: Various
- Fabric Type: Polyester
- Waterproof Level: Water-resistant
- Width: 58 Inches
- Cleaning: Machine washable and dryer safe
- Application: Indoor or outdoor patio use
- Beautiful print options are available
- Water-resistance will keep your sofa stain-free for longer
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Fabric is easy to work with
- Functional product for all sorts of upholstery projects
- You can order in continuous yards for larger sofas
- The heavy fabric resembles canvas or denim
- Machine washable and dryable
- Color won't fade fast
- Not as soft as cotton or other tapestry fabrics
- Colors might vary a bit from online photographs
- Fabric can be a bit firm for sewing projects
Price – Around $25 per yard.
Perfect for – Indoor and outdoor or patio use for sofas, scatter cushions and other sturdy furniture items.
- LENGTH: 180" (5 yards) & WIDTH: 58". 100% Polyester medium weight, tight woven Turkish dock fabric.
- EVERY (1 qty) = 5 YARDS. Each qty is cut in separate pieces as continuous 5 yards of fabric each.
- WATERPROOF FABRIC - for indoor & outdoor use. Very durable. Machine washable, dryer safe. NO FADING.
Last update on 2024-05-04 at 00:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
ILME Kilim Pattern Upholstery Fabric – A Good Alternative Indoor Upholstery Fabric
If you are looking for an extremely durable fabric that offers a rich and soft feel, then the ILME Kilim Chenille Fabric is a great option.
Chenille fabrics are known for their ability to retain color and stay in good shape over many years. The cotton blend fabric has a textured feel with a tight weave that is ideal for interior decoration purposes and is sure to liven up any old couch.
Features
ILME offers a variety of colors of senile tapestry fabrics to choose from. Not to mention, all of these thick materials are highly textured with a soft, warm feel that is very comfortable to sit on.
These fabrics are ideal for indoor use and can be used on all different types of furniture, such as sofas, chairs, and much more. You can even use the fabric for making scatter cushion covers, but some do feel that these ILME fabrics might be a bit too stiff and thick for this use.
These fabrics are sold by the yard and have a width of 55 inches which is ideal for large sewing projects. The fabric is nice and thick with a weight of 12.6 ounces per square yard.
Durability
This couch fabric type isn’t practical for outdoor use because it doesn’t offer much water resistance and the soft fibers of the fabric are prone to collect dust.
But it will hold up well for many years as an indoor fabric because it is nice and thick and machine washable on a gentle cycle setting. The tight weave of the fabric also prevents pet hair from clinging to the surface and the tapestry design of this fabric retains color very well through many years of constant use.
Specifications
- Material: Cotton and acrylic
- Color: Red and navy
- Print: Tapestry tribal print
- Fabric Type: Chenille
- Waterproof Level: None
- Width: 55 Inches
- Cleaning: Machine washable on a gentle cycle
- Application: Indoor use
- Chenille fabric is thick and durable
- Ideal indoor upholstery fabric for sofas
- Red and navy tribal print is beautiful
- Fabric is soft and warm to the touch
- You can order continuous yards of fabric
- Tough material has a textured feel that is ideal for interior decorating
- Easy to work with and sew the thick fabric
- Ideal for a variety of upholstery projects
- Fabric can be heavy
- Fabric is not waterproof or functional for outdoor use
Price – Around $25 per yard.
Perfect for – Indoor use for furniture, mattresses, cushions, table runners and other items that endure a lot of wear and tear but are not exposed to water.
Last update on 2024-05-04 at 00:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Comparison Table
Take a look at the below table to compare all the specs for our picks.
| Product | Features | RUGGED RATINGS | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick |
| 8.4 | Check Latest Price |
 | Ambesonne Dragonfly Fabric Pattern
| 8.4 | Check Latest Price |
Best Outdoor Fabric | Ottertex Waterproof Canvas Fabric
| 8 | Check Latest Price |
 | ILME Kilim Pattern Upholstery Fabric
| 7.4 | Check Latest Price |
Best Indoor Fabric | eLuxurySupply Fabric Polyester Upholstery
| 6.5 | Check Latest Price |
Rugged Recommendation
All of these fabrics are very durable and ideal for reupholstering an old sofa so it will keep up for many years to come.
Our top recommendation is the fabrics by Ambesonne because these fabrics are practical for indoor and outdoor use, they can be machine washed and they offer a firm yet soft feel that will offer lots of comfort when you sit down on the sofa.
For outdoor use, we recommend a completely waterproof fabric by Ottertex since these fabrics will keep moisture out of your sofa which can prevent mold and mildew growth inside your furniture. The wipe-clean surface is easy to maintain but might feel a bit cold and plastic-like when you sit down.
For indoor use, the fabric by eLuxury is more practical since it is moisture repelling yet nice and soft to the touch.
Final Thoughts
We hope you found this buying guide on the top 5 most durable sofa fabric types useful. Now you can go and select the best fabric for your indoor or outdoor sofa.
If you are also in the market for some other durable gear and accessories for your home or office, then feel free to check out RUGGED RATINGS. With our handy site, you can find quality homeware and accessories that are sure to last a long time!
- The Most Durable Sofa Fabrics - February 18, 2024
- New Rugged Phone from Doogee. The V20 is coming. - February 11, 2022
