Upholstery Fabric Specification Guide

How to read an upholstery spec sheet and choose fabric that will last: abrasion ratings, the contract textile guidelines, cleaning codes, fibre types and leather grades.

Contract performance guidelines (ACT)

The Association for Contract Textiles publishes voluntary performance guidelines that most contract fabric spec sheets follow. These are the thresholds for woven upholstery, February 2025 edition:

Property	Test	Guideline
Abrasion, low traffic (private offices, low-use areas)	Wyzenbeek (ASTM D4157) or Martindale (ASTM D4966)	15,000 double rubs, or 20,000 cycles
Abrasion, high traffic (public spaces, hospitality, healthcare)	Wyzenbeek or Martindale	30,000 double rubs, or 40,000 cycles
Colourfastness to light	AATCC 16.3	Grade 4 after 40 hours
Colourfastness to crocking (rub-off)	AATCC 8	Grade 4 dry, grade 3 wet
Pilling	ASTM D3511 or D4970	Class 3
Breaking strength	ASTM D5034	50 lb in both directions
Seam slippage	ASTM D4034	25 lb in both directions
Flammability	California TB 117-2013, Section 1	Pass

For drapery, ACT calls for NFPA 701 flammability and grade 4 lightfastness at 60 hours; for upholstered wall panels, ASTM E84 Class A. Ratings far above the high-traffic guideline haven’t been shown to make a fabric last longer, and Wyzenbeek and Martindale results don’t convert into each other.

Residential abrasion ratings

Rating	Wyzenbeek double rubs	Good for
Delicate duty	Under 3,000	Pillows, drapery, decorative pieces
Light duty	3,000–9,000	Occasional and formal seating
Medium duty	9,000–15,000	Everyday living-room seating
Heavy duty	15,000 or more	Family rooms, kids and pets; some retailers reserve “heavy duty” for 30,000 or more

Retail conventions rather than a standard. For hospitality or other public use, follow the ACT high-traffic guideline above.

Cleaning codes

Code	Meaning
W	Clean with water-based cleaners: the foam of a mild detergent or upholstery shampoo. Don’t over-wet, and don’t use solvents.
S	Clean with a water-free dry-cleaning solvent only, sparingly and with ventilation. Water can leave permanent marks.
W/S (also SW)	Either a water-based foam or a mild solvent. Don’t saturate.
X	Vacuum or brush only. No liquid cleaners of any kind; call a professional for stains.

Fibres compared

Fibre	Strengths	Watch for
Wool	Resilient, resists wrinkling and soiling; naturally flame resistant	Moths and carpet beetles unless treated; fades gradually in sun
Cotton	Durable, soft, easy to clean	Wrinkles and creases unless finished; can mildew; yellows and weakens in sun
Linen	Strong, crisp, natural texture	Wrinkles and can shrink; colours may run; weakens in sun
Polyester	Strong; resists abrasion, wrinkles, stretching and fading	Can pill and attract lint and static
Nylon	Very strong and abrasion resistant	Can fade in sun, attract soil and pill
Olefin (polypropylene)	Abrasion and stain resistant, light and quick-drying; doesn’t pill	Heat sensitive; older grades degrade in sun unless stabilized
Acrylic	Holds colour well in sun; resists abrasion and wrinkling	Some types pill; weaker when wet
Solution-dyed acrylic	Colour runs through the fibre, so it resists fading and bleach cleaning; common in performance and outdoor fabrics	Check the abrasion rating of the specific fabric
Viscose and rayon	Soft drape and sheen	Weak, especially when wet; can shrink or stretch; best kept to light-use pieces
Leather	Strong and long-lasting; develops patina	Dries and cracks near heat unless cared for; aniline types mark easily

Properties from university extension fibre tables (New Mexico State and Michigan State). Blends and finishes change performance, so judge each fabric by its spec sheet.

Performance fabrics

“Performance fabric” has no industry definition. It usually means some mix of stain resistance, cleanability (sometimes with diluted bleach), fade resistance and a high abrasion rating. The performance either comes from the fibre itself, as with solution-dyed acrylic or olefin, or from a finish applied afterwards, which can wear off over time. Ask which it is, and ask for the cleaning code and test results.

Leather grades

Grade	What it is
Full grain	The complete outer grain, not sanded or buffed. Keeps natural markings and develops patina; the most durable.
Top grain	Technically the upper layer of the hide, which full grain and corrected grain both come from. In retail use it often means lightly sanded leather, so ask exactly what a supplier means.
Corrected grain	Buffed to remove blemishes, then embossed and pigmented for a uniform look. Most hides need some correction.
Split	The lower layer left after the grain is removed; less durable, often used on sides and backs or for suede.
Aniline and semi-aniline	Aniline is dyed through with no pigment coat: the most natural, and the most easily marked. Semi-aniline adds a light protective coat.