Buying Leather, Hides and Skins
How we price leather, hides and skins
Tandy Leather prices leather and other hides and skins using two methods:
1) By the each. Leathers sold by the each have one price regardless of the size of the product. By entering the number "1" into the quantity field, you are ordering 1 piece and the price is the same regardless of size.
2) By the side, hide, skin, split or belly. Leathers sold by the side, hide, skin, split or belly are priced by the square foot or meter and therefore the price varies according to the size of the piece. The actual size is determined by measuring devices at the tannery. When you place an order for leathers sold by the belly, side, skin or split, you can order in increments of the average sq. ft. or meters. Your shopping cart will show a cost approximation based on the number of sq. ft. or meters you added times the price per square foot or meters, whichever the case. After your order is filled, this cost approximation will be adjusted based on the actual size of the product (as measured by the tannery). Your final charges will be for the actual size of the product (as measured by the tannery), not the average.
The Subdivisions of Leather
 |
| Belly |
F or G |
| Single Bend |
D or E |
| Double Back |
B+C+D+E+A |
| Side |
A+B+D+F or A+C+E+G |
| Back |
A+B+D or A+C+E |
| Double Shoulder |
B+C |
| Single Shoulder |
A+B or A+C |
Leathercraft terms
Buying leather can be much easier if you understand what the different types of leather are used for, how different leathers are tanned and how skins are sold. If you still have questions, please call us at 1.888.890.1611.
Back – A side with the belly cut off, usually 15 – 18 sq. ft.
Belly – The lower part of a side, usually 4 – 8 sq. ft.
Kip – The skin of a large calf, usually 9 – 17 sq. ft.
Split – This refers to the undersection of a piece of leather that has been split into two or more thicknesses. Splits are usually embossed with a design and finished or sueded.
Suede Split – Leather that has been sanded to produce a nap.
Grain – The epidermis or outer layer of animal skins.
Full Grain – Leather that is just as it was when taken off the animal. Only the hair has been removed and the grain or epidermis is left on.
Note: Only full grain, vegetable tanned leather will absorb water and tool correctly. All leather carving and tooling must be done on full grain leather.
Top Grain – Top grain leather has often been sanded to remove scars and then sprayed or pasted to "cover up" the work. Top grain is not the same as "Full Grain" leather.
Thickness or Weight – Leather is usually measured in terms of ounces. One ounce equals 1/64th of an inch thickness. Thus, a weight of 7 to 8 oz. means the leather is 7/64th to 8/64th of an inch thickness. In an effort to make leather a uniform thickness, wet hides are run through a splitting machine. However, each animal is different and there is always a slight thickness variation throughout the hide. This is why leathers are usually shown with a range of thickness, such as, 4 to 5 oz., 6 to 7 oz., etc.
