Finding reliable sources for chrome tanned leather is essential when you need soft, supple, and consistent hides. Chrome-tanned, garment, and upholstery leathers are a different animal from veg tan — they are ready to use immediately without a long break-in period.
Where to Buy Chrome Tanned Leather Online
Whether you are making a jacket, lining a bag, or upholstering a custom piece, the suppliers below are the ones worth knowing. Rankings reflect Kevin’s personal picks first, followed by community scores from across the web.
*Rankings are compiled from hands-on shop experience, verified buyer reviews on Etsy, discussions in r/Leatherworking, and Facebook leathercraft groups.
Quick Jump
The Hide House
The Hide House in Napa, California has been a go-to for garment and upholstery leather since 1969. Their selection of chrome-tanned hides is genuinely impressive — soft, consistent, and available in a wide range of colors and weights. If you are sourcing leather for a jacket, a bag lining, or an upholstery project, this is the first place to look. Walk-in customers are welcome at the Napa location, and the online store ships nationwide.
Shop The Hide House Read Full Review →Rocky Mountain Leather Supply
Rocky Mountain Leather Supply carries a solid range of chrome-tanned and garment leathers alongside their veg tan offerings. They are a reliable mid-size supplier with good customer service and a catalog that covers most project needs. Their pricing is competitive and they ship quickly from their Colorado warehouse.
Shop Rocky Mountain Leather Read Full Review →A&A Crack & Sons
A&A Crack and Sons is one of the best international leather suppliers for chrome-tanned and garment hides. Based in the UK, they stock an exceptional range of soft, supple leathers that are hard to find from domestic US suppliers — including some of the finest lamb, goat, and pig skins available online. If you are willing to ship internationally, the quality more than justifies it.
Shop A&A Crack & Sons Read Full Review →Acadia Leather
Acadia Leather is a well-regarded supplier with a strong selection of chrome-tanned hides for garment and upholstery work. Their catalog skews toward softer, more pliable leathers that work well for clothing, accessories, and interior projects. Pricing is reasonable and the quality is consistent across orders.
Shop Acadia Leather Read Full Review →Frog Jelly Leather
Frog Jelly Leather is a smaller, more specialized supplier with a loyal following among makers who want something a little different. Their chrome-tanned selection includes some interesting colors and finishes that you will not find at the bigger suppliers. Worth checking if you are looking for something unique for a garment or fashion accessory project.
Shop Frog Jelly Leather Read Full Review →Leather 4 Craft
Leather 4 Craft is a European supplier with a strong online presence and a well-organized catalog of chrome-tanned and garment leathers. Based in the UK, they ship internationally and offer competitive pricing on a range of soft leathers suitable for garments, bags, and upholstery. A solid option when you want European quality without the complexity of sourcing directly from a tannery.
Shop Leather 4 Craft Read Full Review →Also Carry Chrome, Garment & Upholstery Leather
These suppliers are primarily known for veg tan or full-line leather, but carry a meaningful selection of chrome-tanned, garment, and upholstery hides worth checking:
- The Hide House — deep garment and upholstery catalog, Napa CA
- Springfield Leather — carries garment and upholstery alongside veg tan
- Tandy Leather — limited but accessible chrome-tan selection, good for beginners
- Weaver Leather Supply — strong upholstery and saddlery leather selection
- Makers Leather Supply — curated selection including some chrome-tanned options
Chrome vs. Garment vs. Upholstery: What Is the Difference?
These three terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe meaningfully different products. Knowing the difference before you order saves you from buying the wrong leather for your project.
Chrome Tanned Leather
Chrome tanning uses chromium salts to tan the hide, producing leather that is softer, more supple, and more water-resistant than vegetable tanned leather. The process takes hours rather than weeks, which is why chrome tan dominates commercial leather production. Chrome tan does not tool or carve well — the tanning process changes the fiber structure in a way that prevents clean impressions. But for bags, garments, upholstery, and anything where softness and drape matter, chrome tan is the right choice. It is also more consistent in color and finish than veg tan, which makes it easier to work with for production runs.
Garment Leather
Garment leather is chrome tanned leather that has been processed to be lightweight and drapey — thin enough to be comfortable against the skin and flexible enough to move with the body. It is used for jackets, vests, pants, gloves, and any wearable leather item. Garment leather is typically 0.5-1.2 mm thick (roughly 1-3 oz ), significantly thinner than bag or belt leather. When ordering garment leather, confirm the thickness in millimeters — “garment weight” means different things to different suppliers.
Upholstery Leather
Upholstery leather is chrome tanned leather processed for durability under repeated contact and friction — the demands of furniture, automotive seating, and commercial applications. It is typically thicker than garment leather (1.2-2.0 mm), more abrasion-resistant, and treated with protective coatings that extend its life under heavy use. Automotive upholstery leather has additional requirements for UV resistance and temperature stability. Residential furniture leather prioritizes softness and appearance. These are different products — confirm the application before ordering.
The Practical Takeaway
For bags and structured accessories: chrome tan in the 1.5-2.5 mm range (roughly 4-6 oz). For garments: garment-weight chrome tan at 0.5-1.2 mm. For furniture or automotive: upholstery-grade chrome tan with the appropriate protective finish. When in doubt, contact the supplier with your project description — any of the suppliers on this page will help you find the right hide for your application.
Are You a Chrome, Garment & Upholstery Leather Supplier?
This page is actively maintained and open to new listings. If your store sells chrome-tanned, garment, or upholstery leather and you would like to be featured here — including sponsored placement at the top of the page — get in touch.
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