Leather for bags and handbags

Leather for bags and handbags

Natural grain, pull-up, metallic, suede and printed leathers, in stock and shipped from New York. Test your pattern on a pre-cut sheet, then order full sides.

Shop bag leatherStart with a pre-cut sheet

How much you need

Finished pattern area by project

  • Cardholder1-2 sq ft
  • Bifold wallet2-3 sq ft
  • Clutch or pouch3-5 sq ft
  • Crossbody or shoulder bag6-9 sq ft
  • Tote10-14 sq ft
  • Weekender or duffle18-25 sq ft

These are finished pattern areas, before waste. Add 20-30% for cutting, and more if you are pulling long straps - those have to come from the back along the spine where the leather stretches least.

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Choose your leather

The leathers bag makers use most

Most used for bagsNatural Grain CowhideNatural Grain Cowhide Our best-selling side leather, and the one bag makers come back to most. A soft, pebbled grain in the widest color range we carry. 1.1–1.3 mm (3 oz) · chrome tanned · full aniline · made in USASheets from $10.99 · sides ~20 sq ftShop natural grain → Pull-Up & Crazy HorsePull-Up & Crazy Horse Wax and oil finishes that pull lighter where the leather is bent or scuffed. Pull-up is the lighter weight; Crazy Horse is heavier when the bag needs more body. Pull-up 1.1–1.3 mm (3 oz) · Crazy Horse 1.8–2.0 mm (4–5 oz) · combination tannedSheets from $10.99 · sides ~20–25 sq ftShop pull-up & Crazy Horse → MetallicMetallic Metallic foil over natural-grain cowhide, at the same weight as our natural grain. For whole metallic bags, or for straps, trims and accents. 1.1–1.3 mm (3 oz) · chrome tanned · metallic foil · made in USASheets from $12.99 · sides ~20 sq ftShop metallic → Cow SuedeCow Suede Suede sold by the double butt. For suede bags, panels and contrast details. 1.1–1.3 mm (3 oz) · suedeDouble butt ~14 sq ft · $79.99Shop cow suede → Printed & EmbossedPrinted & Embossed Stars, camo and animal prints, plus floral and alligator embossing, for bags where the surface is the design. Cowhide · printed and embossed finishes · made in USASheets from $10.99 · full sidesShop printed & embossed →

For linings, use our Italian nappa lambskin (0.8–0.9 mm). Cutting large panels? A whole hide gives you about 45 sq ft in one piece.

Leather suited to bags

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Specifications

What you are buying

  • FormatsPre-cut sheets (8.5 x 11, some in 12 x 12 or 12 x 24), sides (~20–25 sq ft), suede double butts (~14 sq ft) and whole hides (~45 sq ft)
  • ThicknessMost bag leathers here are 1.1–1.3 mm (3 oz). Crazy Horse is 1.8–2.0 mm (4–5 oz). Lining lambskin is 0.8–0.9 mm (2 oz).
  • TannageChrome tanned (natural grain, metallic, printed) or combination tanned (pull-up, Crazy Horse)
  • LiningItalian nappa lambskin, 0.8–0.9 mm, sold by the skin (~7–10 sq ft)
  • Cutting allowanceAdd 20-30% over your pattern area, more if straps are long and one-piece
  • StrapsCut long straps from the back along the spine, where the leather stretches least
  • ShippingIn stock and shipped from New York. Free shipping within the US.

Producing a run rather than a one-off?Bulk pricing on qualifying orders, net terms for approved trade accounts, custom die cuts for repeat panels, and NYC sourcing appointments if you want to handle the leather before you commit.

Bulk pricingCustom die cuts

Questions

Before you order

What thickness are your bag leathers?
Most are 1.1–1.3 mm (3 oz): natural grain, metallic, pull-up, cow suede and the printed sides. Crazy Horse is heavier at 1.8–2.0 mm (4–5 oz). For linings, our lambskin is 0.8–0.9 mm (2 oz).
How much leather do I need for a tote?
Around 10-14 sq ft of finished pattern area for a standard tote. Add 20-30% on top for cutting waste, and more than that if the handles are long and cut in one piece.
Can I buy a small piece to test a pattern?
Yes. Pre-cut 8.5 x 11 sheets start at $10.99 and are cut from the same leathers we sell as full sides.
What should I line a bag with?
Our Italian nappa lambskin. It's 0.8–0.9 mm and sold by the skin, about 7–10 sq ft each, in a range of colors.
Will the whole bag match?
Cut one bag from one piece wherever you can. Color and grain vary between hides and even across a single hide, so keep panels that sit next to each other on the finished bag from the same area of the skin.
Do you supply brands producing a run?
Yes. Bulk pricing on qualifying orders, net terms for approved trade accounts, and custom die cuts if you are cutting the same panel repeatedly.
When should I buy a whole hide instead of sides?
When you're cutting large panels. A whole hide gives you about 45 sq ft in one piece, against about 20–25 sq ft for a side.

Other projects

Working on something else?

Leather thickness guideOunces to millimetres How much leather do I need?Yardage to sheets Leather for sofas and couchesUpholstery whole hides Leather for dining chairsWhole hides for seats Leather fringe and trimFringe, strips and lace by the foot Leather for wallets and small goodsPre-cut sheets