Frequently Asked Questions

Consider three factors: intended use, desired aesthetic, and working properties. For handbags and structured goods, look for firmer leathers like full-grain cowhide or veg-tan. For garments and items requiring drape, lambskin or soft cowhide works best. For small leather goods like wallets, choose tight-grain leather with good edge finishing. Upholstery requires durability and resistance to wear. If you're unsure, order swatches or contact us with your project details.

Yes. We offer two swatch options so you can evaluate a leather's color, texture, weight, and finish before purchasing a full hide.

Individual Leather Swatches — $5 per swatch Choose the specific colors and leather articles you want to evaluate directly from our swatch page. Each swatch is cut from our current stock, giving you an accurate representation of the leather you would receive.

Upholstery Leather Swatch Ring Our complete ring includes samples of our whole-hide, upholstery-grade leathers. Each swatch has a QR code that links directly to the corresponding product, making it easy to review and reorder. It is ideal for interior designers, upholstery shops, automotive shops, and businesses that work with leather regularly.

Both options help you make confident decisions before purchasing full hides.

Leather is a natural material, and hides carry markings from the animal's life — scars, insect bites, wrinkles, brands, and grain variations. These characteristics are not defects; they're inherent to genuine leather. Full-grain and natural leathers show more of these markings because they preserve the hide's original surface. Corrected-grain and heavily finished leathers minimize visible imperfections. We disclose any significant markings or quality issues upfront so you can make informed decisions.

Yield varies depending on the type of leather, the size of the hide, and the presence of natural markings. On average, expect 70-85% usable material from a full hide. The neck, belly, and edges may have looser grain or be too thin for certain applications. Plan your patterns to work around natural imperfections and maximize usable area.

Because leather is a natural material and each hide is unique, we encourage you to order swatches before purchasing full hides.

Returns accepted within 2 weeks if the item is uncut and undamaged. You'll receive a full refund minus original outbound shipping costs (typically $5 for pieces, $10 per skin). Customer pays return shipping. Full hides may have a restocking fee. Leather scrap orders are final sale.

Return with the packing slip or include your order number so we can process your refund.

Return to: TanneryNYC, 131 West 35th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10001

Contact us with questions before returning.

No. That's the point. Unlike traditional tanneries, we don't require wholesale minimums. You can purchase a single hide or scale up to larger production runs. Whether you're experimenting with a new design or fulfilling a full production order, we can support you.

Full hides and sides are sold per hide, not by the square foot. Each hide is a unique size, and the price reflects the entire hide. Some products are sold differently: pre-cut leather strips and continuous fringe are sold by the foot, and leather scrap packs are sold by the pound.

We don't retail hides by the square foot. Full hides and sides are purchased as complete pieces, priced per hide. However, if you're looking to place a larger bulk or production-level order, or if you want to stock inventory and save, we can offer volume-discounted per-square-foot pricing. Contact us to discuss your needs.

Yes. We offer free shipping within the USA. International orders may have additional shipping costs depending on destination and order size.

Most orders within the USA arrive within 3-7 business days. International delivery times vary by location. We'll provide tracking information once your order ships. If you need something expedited, contact us and we'll go from there.

We ship nationwide from New York. International shipping is available on request. Contact us for rates and delivery estimates outside the USA.

We carry a range of designer-grade leathers suited for fashion, accessories, footwear, upholstery, and creative projects: cowhide (full-grain, top-grain, corrected-grain), lambskin (soft, lightweight, premium drape), suede (reverse-side nap, rich texture), veg-tan (vegetable-tanned, tooling-friendly), metallic and iridescent finishes, pull-up leather (oils create rich color variation), and specialty leathers (embossed, patent, distressed, and more). Each type serves different applications. Browse our collection or reach out if you need guidance.

Yes. While we don't require wholesale minimums, we do offer wholesale and bulk pricing for larger quantities. If you're placing production-level orders or stocking inventory, we can provide volume-discounted rates. Reach out with your project details to get a quote.

The Upholstery Leather Swatch Ring is a complete collection of all our whole hide upholstery-grade leathers on one ring. Each leather sample includes a QR code that you can scan to quickly place orders. It's designed for professionals — interior designers, upholstery shops, auto upholstery specialists, and anyone who works with leather regularly and needs a comprehensive reference tool. Instead of ordering individual swatches each time, you have the entire collection at your fingertips.

We serve independent designers, small brands, studios, artists, and manufacturers who need access to high-quality leather without being locked into massive wholesale minimums. Whether you're prototyping a new handbag line, making custom footwear, producing small-batch goods, or working on one-off creative projects, we support both experimentation and scaled production.

Both. We don't require minimums, so you can start small. As your production scales, we offer wholesale and bulk pricing to support larger orders. Whether you're making 10 bags or 1,000, we can accommodate your needs.

Our leathers are produced in the USA and select global tanneries. Many of our suppliers are Leather Working Group (LWG) Gold certified, which means they meet rigorous environmental and social responsibility standards. We work with tanneries that prioritize quality, ethical practices, and sustainable production.

Pretty much all of our leathers are LWG certified unless otherwise specified in the product description. We prioritize working with suppliers who maintain high environmental and ethical standards. If certification status is important for your project and you don't see it mentioned, feel free to reach out and we can confirm for the specific leather you're interested in.

The Leather Working Group (LWG) is an international organization that audits and certifies tanneries based on environmental and social responsibility. LWG Gold-rated tanneries meet the highest standards for water and energy use, waste management, chemical handling, and traceability. The majority of our leathers come from LWG-certified tanneries.

Our leather comes from tanneries that follow responsible sourcing practices. Leather is a byproduct of the meat industry — hides come from animals raised for food, not solely for their skins. We work with tanneries that prioritize animal welfare, environmental responsibility, and safe working conditions. If you have specific sourcing requirements, we're happy to discuss options.

We can offer general guidance on leather characteristics and help you understand the differences between our products, but for specific project requirements — like how much leather you'll need or technical application questions — we recommend consulting with your upholsterer, maker, or fabricator. They'll be best equipped to assess your exact needs. We can make educated recommendations based on our experience, but we're not liable for project outcomes. We provide quality leather; the application is up to you and your maker. That said, if you have questions about our products, we'll do our best to help.

Custom tanning typically requires larger order quantities due to production requirements at the tannery level. If you're interested in custom colors, finishes, or specifications, contact us with your project details. We'll let you know what's possible and what minimums apply.

You can place orders directly through our website. Browse our collection, select the leather you need, and add it to your cart. If you have questions about a specific hide or need assistance, reach out to us before ordering.

We operate primarily online, but we're based in New York and open to arranging visits for larger projects or established customers. Contact us to discuss scheduling.

Call us, email us, submit a form — whatever works best for you. If you have any questions about an item or order, feel free to reach out. We typically respond within the hour on business days, and within the day on weekends.

Email: contact@tannerynyc.com

Phone: +1 (800) 745-9548