Short answer: most leather comes from cattle
Most leather comes from cattle. By most estimates, roughly two-thirds of leather is bovine, which covers cow, calf, steer and buffalo. Sheep and lamb, goat and kid, and pig make up much of the rest. Deer, horse and kangaroo are used for specialist goods. Exotic reptiles, birds and fish are a small share. Estimates vary by source.
Cattle: cowhide, calf, steer and buffalo
- Cowhide is thick and strong. It is split into thinner layers and used for almost everything, from shoes and bags to furniture and car interiors. Sources give different figures for how thick a raw cattle hide is, so think of it as several millimetres. Choosing leather for a project explains how thickness changes what a hide suits.
- Calfskin, from young cattle, has a finer, smoother grain and is thinner than cowhide. It is common in dress shoes, wallets and designer goods.
- Steer, cow and calf differ in grain and thickness, so check the listing rather than assuming the name tells you the quality.
- Water buffalo has a coarser grain and is very tough. It is used for rugged goods.
- Bison has a thick, pebbly grain and feels soft for its weight.
Sheep and lamb
Sheep and lamb leathers are soft, light and less strong than cowhide. They suit garments, gloves and linings. Sheepskin is sometimes sold with the wool still attached, which is called shearling. Lamb is among the softest common leathers. See what is the softest type of leather?.
Goat and kid
Goatskin is strong for its weight and has a fine, pebbly grain. It is used for gloves, bags, shoes and bookbinding, where it is known as morocco. Kid, from young goats, is thinner and is used for fine gloves.
Pig
Pig leather has pores in groups of three that go right through the hide. It is hard-wearing and is common in gloves, linings and suede. Pigskin is also used for some sports equipment.
Deer, elk and buckskin
Deer and elk leather is soft and stretchy, and it stays soft after getting wet and drying. It is used for gloves and moccasins. Traditionally, buckskin was brain-tanned deer leather. Today “buckskin” is often a colour or style rather than real deer hide, so check the listing.
Horse and shell cordovan
Horsehide is used for some jackets, including early flight jackets, and specialist goods. Shell cordovan comes from the flat, dense membrane on the rump of a horse. It is slow to tan and is used for shoes and straps.
Kangaroo, bison and fish leather
- Kangaroo is thin and strong for its weight. It has been used for whips, football boots and motorbike suits. Its legal status varies by place, and some regions restrict it.
- Fish leather, from salmon, cod, perch and tilapia, is a by-product of the food industry. It is strong across the grain.
Exotic skins
Exotic skins include alligator, crocodile, caiman, python, lizard, ostrich, stingray and shark. They are usually priced higher, and they are a small share of total leather. Luxury and exotic leathers covers them in detail.
Eel skin is usually hagfish
“Eel skin” is mostly hagfish, not eel. It is thin, soft and strong for its weight. If a listing says eel, ask which species it is.
Where animal leather comes from
Most leather is a by-product of the meat industry. The hides would otherwise be waste. Exotic skins are mainly farmed or ranched, and some are wild-harvested under quota.
Legal notes for some animal leathers
Many reptiles are listed under CITES, the treaty that regulates international wildlife trade. Trade in listed species needs permits. Kangaroo leather is legal in many countries but restricted in some places. Check local rules before you buy or travel with animal skins. Luxury and exotic leathers has more on these rules.
How to tell animals apart
Identification gets harder once a hide is tanned and finished, but a few features help:
- Pig: pores in groups of three.
- Ostrich: raised quill bumps on the back.
- Goat: a fine, even, pebbly grain.
- Calf: a very fine, smooth grain.
- Crocodilian: scale patterns that vary in size and shape across the skin.
Be careful, because embossing can copy many of these patterns. Leather grain patterns explains how to tell natural grain from embossed grain.