Simili vs PU leather vs genuine leather explained

On sofas, cafe chairs, upholstered panels and many interior products, three kinds of “leather” are often confused: simili, PU synthetic leather and genuine (tanned) leather. They differ hugely in composition, feel, durability and price — knowing how to tell them apart keeps you from paying genuine-leather money for a simili-covered product.

Quick answer: simili is faux leather coated with PVC plastic over a fabric backing — the cheapest, easy to clean, water-resistant but not durable, with a plasticky feel. PU leather is a step up from simili, softer and more durable with less plastic smell but still synthetic. Genuine leather (tanned from animal hide) is the most beautiful, durable and premium, ageing well but expensive and needing care.

The three leathers and their composition

Type	Composition	Feel & smell	Durability	Price
Simili (PVC)	Polyester fabric backing coated with textured PVC	Stiff, glossy, strong plastic smell	Low	Cheapest
PU synthetic leather	Ground leather/fabric scrap, coated with textured polyurethane	Softer than simili, still a chemical smell	Medium	Moderate
Genuine (tanned) leather	Real animal hide (cattle, buffalo, crocodile…) tanned traditionally	Naturally soft, distinctive leather smell	Highest	Expensive

Quick ways to tell them apart

1. Smell

• Simili and PU: a clear plastic/chemical smell that is hard to remove.
• Genuine leather: a distinctive natural leather smell, not a sharp plastic odour.

2. Look at the surface and pores

• Genuine leather: under close inspection shows natural pores, imperfect veining and subtle colour variation.
• Simili/PU: an evenly printed, repeating pattern; simili is usually glossier and brighter than the real thing.

3. Check the backing

• Simili: the back clearly shows a woven fabric layer.
• Genuine leather: the back is a fibrous suede-like layer, not woven fabric.

4. Press and feel

• Simili: pressing leaves a dent easily; stiff, with poor elasticity.
• PU leather: better elasticity than simili, softer.
• Genuine leather: warm to the touch, naturally elastic, recovers well.

Pros, cons and applications

• Simili: water-resistant, easy to clean, cheap, many colours — suits budget products and high-use chairs that are easy to replace (for example cafe chairs); downsides are a short lifespan and cracking/peeling.
• PU leather: nicer and softer than simili, a more animal-friendly leather alternative — suits fashion and mid-range sofas; downsides are a lingering plastic smell and a thin coating that can peel.
• Genuine leather: durable, beautiful, premium, developing a nicer patina with use — suits high-end sofas and accent chairs; downsides are cost and maintenance.

Beyond seat upholstery, simili and synthetic leather are also used for upholstered panels — one of many surface finishes alongside popular wall cladding materials.

Frequently asked questions

How do simili and PU leather differ?

Simili is a fabric backing coated in PVC — stiffer, with a strong plastic smell and low durability. PU leather is coated in polyurethane, softer and more durable than simili with finer texture — but both are synthetic, not genuine leather.

How can I tell if a sofa is genuine or synthetic leather?

The fastest checks are smell (genuine leather smells natural, synthetic smells of plastic), looking for natural pores, and checking the backing: genuine leather has a fibrous suede layer, synthetic shows a woven fabric base.

Is synthetic leather as durable as genuine leather?

No. Genuine leather is far more durable and ages beautifully, developing a patina. PU leather is moderately durable, and simili is the least durable, cracking and peeling after a few years. In return, synthetic leather is much cheaper and easy to clean.

AIC designs and builds interiors as a single-point contractor, advising on upholstery materials (simili, PU leather, genuine leather, fabric) to suit the usage, frequency and budget of each project. For F&B chains and shops needing high-frequency upholstered seating, this is an item AIC handles in retail and F&B fit-out.