When your leather furniture gets damaged, instead of replacing it, you would probably prefer to repair it. You could call a professional upholsterer, but the expense may not be worth it.
Instead, you can take care of it yourself with a leather repair kit. These kits are easy to use, can match the color and feel of the original leather, and use quality material that lasts as long as the surrounding leather, sometimes even longer. When it comes to choosing the best leather repair kit, quality dictates results. Read on for more information about leather repair kits and our top picks.
- BEST OVERALL: FORTIVO Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit
- BEST BUDGET: Numola Leather Repair Patch Kit
- BEST FOR STAINS: Leather Hero Color Restorer Complete Repair Kit
- BEST FOR PET SCRATCHES: MastaPlasta Self-Adhesive Patch For Leather Repair
- BEST FOR COLOR RESTORATION: BlendItOn Leather Max Complete Leather Refinish
- BEST FOR CRACKED LEATHER: Coconix Vinyl and Leather Repair Kit
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Leather Repair Kit
Before choosing a leather repair kit for your furniture, take a few minutes to educate yourself on the most important shopping considerations to keep in mind.
Color
First and foremost, you need to verify that the leather repair kit you choose can match the color of the original material, or at least be within a range of acceptable difference. Leather repair kits come in several different color styles:
- Single color leather repair kits have only one color, which you must match to your original material. Most kits with this type of color selection are self-adhesive leather patches that can be quickly stuck on clean leather for a fast, effective, but often poorly color-matched, repair.
- Single dominant color leather repair kits contain a dominant color that you match to your existing furniture, as well as additional colors and shades for custom color mixing.
- Multiple color leather repair kits are ideal for repairs on several different materials because you can customize almost any color using the included dyes, mixing tools, and instructions. However, color mixing can be tricky. Always follow instructions for custom mixing.
Application
Different leather repair kits can be used to fix all kinds of furniture mishaps. Some kits can be used for virtually every type of leather damage, from cuts, rips, and burns to scratches, discoloration, and stains. However, most leather repair kits have specific intended uses, including kits for cuts and tears, abrasions and scratches, cracking, burns, and color renewal.
- Kits for cuts and tears will include products like patches, adhesives or glues, and dye that are best for fixing penetrating damage.
Abrasions and scratch kits also contain patches and dye, but these are designed to be used over a hole, instead of from within, as you would repair a cut. - Cracking leather repair kits have compounds that allow you to fill in the cracks and oil to increase the flexibility and elasticity of the leather.
- Burn repair kits are intended for removing excess burned material, filling in the gap caused by the burn, and covering the damage with a patch made to blend with the original material.
- Color renewal leather repair kits focus on dyeing the material and have penetrating solutions including cleaners and conditioners to ensure the treatment doesn’t rub off. These kits won’t help with physical damage, but they work well for reviving colors and repairing stains.
Versatility
A leather repair kit’s versatility is determined by the variety of materials it can be used to repair and the number of uses it has. Specialized repair kits may be good for only one type of material, like leather shoes, leather seats, or car seats, but versatile kits can help you repair furniture, car upholstery, clothing, accessories, footwear, and more.
In addition, some leather repair kits are made for repairing specific types of leather products, such as genuine leather, Italian leather, bonded leather, bicast leather, PU leather, pleather, vinyl, and so on. So double-check the leather repair kit you choose to make sure that it is rated for use with your original material.
Accessories
Leather repair kits usually come with a number of accessories—either several pieces of the same material for large repairs, or a variety of items for a broad spectrum of repairs. In general, a leather repair kit will include between 10 to 25 pieces.
In addition to any tools and materials needed, a leather repair kit may also contain alcohol wipes, cleaning cloths, sandpaper, grain paper, leather adhesive, application swabs, backing fabrics, leather samples for patching, paints, dye, sponges, mixing tools, bowls, brushes, dye pens, glue, and instructions.
If you are new to DIY leather repair, consider a leather repair kit with instructional videos, extra applicator tools, and a wide variety of application options so you can be certain you have everything you need to repair your furniture.
Our Top Picks
The top-rated products below were chosen for quality, price, and customer satisfaction to help you find the best leather repair kit for your furniture.
Photo: amazon.com
Designed for repairing cuts, burns, scratches, tears, and cracks, the Fortivo Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit includes a comprehensive color guide with easy-to-follow instructions and ten intermixable colors. Fill gaps or holes with the leather filler and customize the color to match the original material, or even dye it something different—it’s up to you.
You can use this leather furniture repair kit on a wide variety of materials, including genuine leather, Italian leather, pleather, vinyl, and faux leather to repair furniture, automotive upholstery, clothing, accessories, luggage, and more. This leather and vinyl repair kit also comes with a step-by-step instruction video, spatula, mixing bottle, backing fabric, and practice leather sample.
Product Specs
- Application: Most types of damage
- Compatible Materials: Leather and vinyl
- Colors: 7
Pros
- Suitable for cuts, burns, scratches, tears, and cracks
- Color guide and instructions included
- Works on furniture, automotive upholstery, clothing, accessories, luggage, and more
- Comes with spatula, mixing bottle, backing fabric, and practice leather sample
Cons
- No alcohol or razor included
Get the FORTIVO repair kit on Amazon or at Walmart.
Photo: amazon.com
Affordable and effective, the Numola Self-Adhesive Leather Repair Patch is a ready-made solution to quickly repair leather, vinyl, car seats, luggage, clothing, and more. Simply clean the leather, peel the protective film from the patch, and apply it to the damaged area, following the precise manufacturer instructions for a quick fix.
One thing to remember with this leather and vinyl repair kit is that the simple application comes at the expense of proper color matching. Instead, you select a repair kit color that appears to match your original furniture. Because of this, the patch is best used as a leather couch repair kit and has a common color palette, like black, dark brown, or beige.
Product Specs
- Application: Most types of damage
- Compatible Materials: Leather and vinyl
- Colors: 16
Pros
- Suitable for car seats, luggage, and clothing
- Easy to apply
- Comes in 16 colorways
- Available in multiple sizes
Cons
- May not be a perfect color-match
- May not be suitable for brighter colors and materials
Get the Numola repair kit on Amazon or at Walmart.
Photo: amazon.com
While you won’t be repairing cuts or tears with the Leather Hero Color Restorer Complete Repair Kit, you will have everything you need to cover stains, restore original coloring, and bring a renewed vibrancy back to the material. The kit includes a color restorer matched to your selected color, black and white coloring for customization, foam brushes, leather cleaner and conditioner, leather sealant, a microfiber cloth, and directions for use.
Use this kit with leather, vinyl, automotive upholstery, furniture, footwear, accessories, and even a tough leather couch seat. You can even use the included cleaner and leather conditioner regularly to keep your leather looking great and prevent future damage.
Product Specs
- Application: Stains and color correction
- Compatible Materials: Automotive upholstery, furniture, footwear, and accessories
- Colors: 23
Pros
- Color restorer and black and white coloring included
- Comes with a foam brush, leather cleaner and conditioner, leather sealant, a cloth, and instructions
- Leather cleaner and conditioner can be used regularly
- Bright color options included
Cons
- Pricier than comparable options
- Some users have reported issues with color correction
Get the Leather Hero repair kit on Amazon or at Walmart.
Photo: amazon.com
When it comes to our pets, we want them to enjoy everything that we enjoy, but the results can leave our furniture looking tattered. The MastaPlasta Self-Adhesive Patch For Leather Repair is a cost-effective leather couch repair kit for pet problems by using a simple patch that takes seconds to apply.
You won’t be able to match the exact color of your material with this repair kit. This kit can be used with suede, leather, faux leather, vinyl, and many other upholstered fabrics and can be used for furniture, automotive upholstery, outerwear, accessories, and footwear. Simply clean the material, then peel and stick the patch. If applied correctly, you can use the furniture immediately.
Product Specs
- Application: Scratches
- Compatible Materials: Leather and vinyl
- Colors: 9
Pros
- Suitable for furniture, automotive upholstery, outerwear, accessories, and footwear
- Furniture can be used immediately after application
- Easy to apply
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Color-matching may not be perfect
- Only one size offered
Get the MASTAPLASTA repair kit on Amazon or at Walmart.
Photo: amazon.com
The Leather Max Refinish, Restore, Recolor, and Repair Kit delivers on its name by providing you with everything you need to restore your aging leather furniture to its vibrant color. This leather couch repair kit comes with a cleaner and conditioner, black and white color restorer, a sponge applicator, filler for rips and tears, cotton swabs for testing and mixing, and color refinisher and restorer in several selectable shades.
Choose the color that is closest to your original material and use the white and black coloring to brighten or darken the color until it matches. You can use this leather repair kit on leather or vinyl furniture, accessories, and automotive upholstery, and the kit includes full instructions and links to instructional videos for repair, application, and color mixing.
Product Specs
- Application: Color-correction
- Compatible Materials: Leather and vinyl
- Colors: 10
Pros
- Suitable for leather or vinyl furniture, accessories, and automotive upholstery
- Comes with multiple accessories and tools
- Full instructions included
Cons
- Some users reported issues with application
Get the Leather Max repair kit on Amazon or at Walmart.
Photo: amazon.com
Aging leather furniture can lose elasticity and flexibility, causing it to crack, but the Coconix Professional Leather Repair Kit uses custom colors and a quick-dry formula that is perfect for repairing your cracked leather. The kit includes backing fabric for large cracks, a spatula and brush for filler application, a mixing jar, and 10 different colors for customization.
You can use this leather and vinyl repair kit on old or new furniture with leatherette, faux, synthetic, bicast, PU, and premium leather upholstery, which makes it perfect for footwear, furniture, and accessories. This kit is great for repairing cracks, holes, scratches, burns, and discoloration, and it comes with an instructional video as well as personalized repair advice on the manufacturer’s website.
Product Specs
- Application: Cracks
- Compatible Materials: Leatherette, faux, synthetic, bicast, PU, and premium leather upholstery
- Colors: 10
Pros
- Suitable for footwear, furniture, and accessories
- Custom colors included
- Multiple tools and accessories included
- Quick-drying formula
Cons
- Full upholstery recolor not included
Get the Coconix repair kit on Amazon.
Our Verdict
With so many leather repair kits on the market today, it can be hard to know which one is best for removing ink and stains, repairing scratches and cracks, and restoring color. One of the best options overall is the FORTIVO kit which has 7 color options including black, dark brown, and red and it works on leather and vinyl surfaces for cuts, burns, scratches, tears, and cracks.
Alternatively, for a budget-friendly option, the Numola kit comes with an easy-to-apply patch, has 16 colorways and 3 size options, and is suitable for car seats, luggage, and clothing.
How We Chose the Best Leather Repair Kits
We researched the most sought-after leather repair kits in their respective categories and discovered that the best models are determined by their colorways, application type and versatility, compatibility with multiple surfaces, accessories included, and other special features included by select brands.
For optimal versatility and convenience, we prioritized options that came in many colorways, with some picks offering over 23. Based on the type of repair required the above adhesives and patches are made for correcting scratches, cracks, tears, discoloration, and stains on leather, faux leather, leatherette, vinyl, synthetic, bicast, PU, and more. With that in mind, these options can be used on damaged furniture, car seats, purses, clothing, and footwear.
For ease of application, our list of leather repair kits come with multiple accessories including alcohol wipes, cleaners, backing fabric, spatulas, brushes, sponges, mixing jars, conditioners, guides and instruction links, and more.
The Advantages of Owning a Leather Repair Kit
When furniture gets worn, scratched, or torn, it can make a home look a bit shabby or neglected, but throwing out an entire leather sofa because of a few scratches is a waste of an investment. If the damage is bad enough, it might be best to call in a professional upholsterer. However, for light to moderate repairs, a leather repair kit could be just what you need to do the repairs yourself.
Aside from the money you save by fixing furniture yourself, having a leather repair kit on hand enables you to regularly maintain your furniture so that it can be yours for years without looking shabby and worn. And by customizing the leather dye in your kit to your exact preference, you’ll know the color outcome before the job is done, instead of having to wait for the big reveal from a professional.
- Having a leather repair kit is cost-effective.
- With your own leather repair kit, you can return your leather furniture to a like-new appearance.
- Owning a leather repair kit allows you to fully customize your furniture repair for perfect color matching.
FAQs
You may still have questions about using your leather repair kit and the results. See answers to some of the most commonly asked questions below.
Q: How do you use a leather repair kit?
Each leather repair kit will come with its own set of instructions that should be your first reference, but these are the basic steps to follow when using a leather repair kit:
- Clean the leather.
- Trim the damaged areas.
- Insert backing in large tears.
- Apply leather repair compound.
- Grain the repair.
- Apply sealer.
- Mix the dye.
- Apply the dye.
- Seal the leather.
Q: How long will leather repair results last?
If done correctly, a leather repair should last as long as the surrounding material, and may even outlive the original leather. If the repair is not done correctly, the area will wear quickly due to increased friction and poor adhesion.
Q: Are any ingredients in leather repair kits toxic?
This depends on the individual leather repair kit. Some kits contain toxic ingredients in the leather dye and sealer, but others use natural, non-toxic ingredients. If you are unsure, check the manufacturer’s website or the product description for more information.
