Difference between leather dye and leather paint

Leather is a stunning material that can be used for everything from clothing to furniture. Natural variations of leather are beautiful, but they’re not hugely interesting when it comes to the colour options available.

That’s where leather dyes and leather paints come in. These incredible tools allow you to recolour items like a leather couch relatively easily, achieving brilliant colours on your leather furniture or leather clothing. But there are some key differences between leather dye and leather paint that dictate where they should and shouldn’t be used, and which one is likely to give you the perfect pigmented finish on your leather product.

So here’s what you need to know about leather dye and leather paint, to help you pick the best one for your next leather-based project. Whether you’re trying to restore leather or just add some fun colour to your wardrobe, this information is key.

What is leather dye?

The first and most important thing to know is what each of the products actually are. This is what sets them apart the most. Leather dye is a solution that penetrates the leather and creates a chemical bond within the material. This allows a stable colour throughout the material.

Leather dyes are usually oil-based or spirit-based, and are often considered the best choice for long-term color. This is because dyed leathers are usually the most consistent and offer the best finish.

What is leather paint?

Leather paint, unlike leather dyes, sits on the surface of the leather. It creates a physical bond with the leather material instead of a chemical bond. This allows for much more pigmented finishes, as the paint simply covers the original leather. This makes paint ideal for use when trying to achieve a lighter shade or colour such as white, pastel colours, or yellow.

Leather paint is also great for precise details and finishes, such as when painting specific designs or words on leather.

What’s more popular?

Both painted leathers and dyed leathers have their pros and cons. However, dyed leather is significantly less prone to cracking and flaking, which means it lends itself to use on flexible leather products like clothing and seating. So have a look at the material type when buying a leather sofa.

That’s not to say, however, that leather paint is not popular. It’s just used for different projects.

Benefits of leather dye

There are a number of benefits to leather dye that make it an incredibly useful tool when it comes to trying to stain furniture or restore leather. For example:

More durable

The chemical bond formed by the dye when it penetrates the leather makes it much more durable than leather paint. This means that it will last longer, the colour is less likely to fade, and it will maintain its appearance.

Water-resistant finish

Since the dye is not sitting on top of the leather, it is much more water resistant. A spillage on your dyed leather couch will not ruin the colour, whereas on a painted leather couch, you may notice discolouration.

Range of colours available

Leather dye has been around for a long time, and as a result, there are lots of wonderful leather dye colours. Whether you’re looking to stick with the brown shades, or you want to go much darker, dyeing will allow you to do so.

Will not flake

Where leather paint sits on top of the leather, it is very prone to cracking when the leather moves, or just from general wear and tear over time. Leather dye does not have this issue, it will not flake or crack with use.

Downsides of leather dye

As well as all the positives, leather dye does have some drawbacks. For one, it is prone to fading and transference. The dye, when fresh, may leave marks on other surfaces – kind of like blue jeans which tend to stain light furniture and other surfaces.

It is also not possible to dye leather a lighter colour, and you will struggle to create a really pigmented, delicate design with leather dye.

Benefits of leather paint

Leather paint has its own range of benefits that make it suitable for different leather projects. Such as:

Easy to apply

Leather paint is just paint – it’s that straightforward. As a result, applying leather paints to the surface of the leather is incredibly simple. You just have to brush it on and follow any manufacturer’s instructions.

Retains colour

Leather paints may crack, but they will always retain their colour. Whether you’ve painted on a lighter or darker colour, the pigmented finish will stay even when the paint starts to flake away.

Does not penetrate the leather

Where leather dye soaks into the leather and penetrates the material, leather paint just sits on top. This can be really appealing to anyone afraid to change or stain their leather products.

More colours available

There are a vast array of colours available when it comes to leather paint. Leather paint sits on top of the leather, which means it is more able to cover the dark leather colour. This means that for lighter leather items, leather paint is definitely the way to go.

Fine details possible

If you’re looking to create pieces of art on leather, then leather paint is the better option. Where dye simply lets you stain the sofa or clothing with one blanket colour, leather paint allows for finer details.

Leather paint is, for that reason, chosen by people who are looking to design specific portraits or paintings onto leather surfaces (i.e., custom jackets and shoes).

Downsides to leather paints

The downside to painting leather is that it will inevitably flake, and there is not much you can do about it. When freshly done, a painted leather couch or chair is great, but it can soon look shabby when the paint starts to wear.

How leather dye and leather paint work with different kinds of leather

There are a number of types of leather, and each one reacts differently to different environments and coatings – including leather dye and leather paint. If you’re not sure how your leather will react to paint or dye, here’s what you need to know.

Leather dye and faux leather

Leather dye can work on fake leather, but it may not work as effectively as on real leather. You should always check the bottle or packet to see if there are any instructions regarding fake leather, as not every brand may work.

Leather paint and faux leather

Leather paint sits on the surface and due to the plastic and rubberized nature of man made leather it is often unable to achieve a good enough bond, causing flaky and unstable colour. It is usually not worth trying, as faux leather is closer to vinyl than the leather itself, and the color change is unlikely to occur by coating it in paint.

Aniline leather and leather dye

Aniline leather is a type of leather that has already been dyed using aniline dye. It is a natural Napa leather, so it is super soft. You can easily re-dye and restore aniline leathers using an aniline dye or stain.

Dyeing aniline leather is a great way to cover darker stains like oil stains or spillages on the leather.

Aniline leathers and leather paints

You can use leather paint on aniline and semi-aniline leathers if you’re looking to completely cover the colour of the aniline leather itself. Usually, leather paints will explain how to do this to provide a good finish.

Suede and leather dye

In order to dye suede you must use specialist suede dye. It will work just as well as ordinary dye on ordinary leather, creating a stable colour for your leather product.

Suede and leather paints

Certain fabric paints will work on suede, but you must be very careful about which products you pick up. You should also be sure to prime your suede surface before you begin.