Buying guide
The Most Durable Upholstery Fabrics: Martindale, Performance Fabric and OEKO-TEX Explained
How to choose a hard-wearing upholstery fabric: what Martindale rub counts mean, what makes a fabric a performance fabric, and what the OEKO-TEX label does and does not tell you.
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Quick answer: For a hard-wearing sofa, look for a Martindale score of 25,000 rubs or more and a tightly woven fabric such as solution-dyed acrylic, polyester or microfibre. "Performance fabric" means a fabric engineered to resist stains, water or fading, but it is not one standard. OEKO-TEX is a safety label for harmful substances, not a durability rating.
When you are choosing fabric for a sofa, chair or set of cushions, three labels come up again and again: a Martindale number, the phrase "performance fabric" and the OEKO-TEX logo. They measure very different things. Here is what each one tells you, and how to put them together.
Martindale: how hard-wearing is the fabric?
The Martindale rub test measures abrasion resistance. A machine rubs the fabric in a repeating pattern against a standard abrasive (wool or a fine abrasive cloth) until it starts to show wear. The number of rubs it survives is the Martindale score. Higher is more hard-wearing.
UK retailers commonly use these bands as a guide:
| Martindale rubs | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Up to 10,000 | Decorative: scatter cushions, curtains, headboards |
| 10,000 to 15,000 | Light domestic: occasional chairs |
| 15,000 to 25,000 | General domestic: everyday sofas and armchairs |
| 25,000 to 30,000 | Heavy domestic: busy family sofas, recliners |
| 30,000 and above | Commercial: hotels, pubs, offices |
Bands vary slightly between suppliers, so treat them as a guide rather than a guarantee. A fabric's weave, fibre and how it is used matter too.
What is performance fabric?
"Performance fabric" is not a single standard. It is a term for fabrics engineered to cope with everyday life better than ordinary upholstery. Depending on the fabric, that can mean:
- stain resistance, so spills can be blotted away;
- water repellency;
- fade resistance in sunlight;
- resistance to mould and mildew;
- easy cleaning, sometimes with removable, washable covers.
Common examples include solution-dyed acrylics such as Sunbrella, where the colour goes right through the fibre rather than sitting on the surface, plus many polyester, olefin and performance velvet fabrics. Because the term is used loosely, always check what a particular fabric claims and how it should be cleaned. Our guide to Sunbrella vs other outdoor fabrics compares the main types.
The most durable fabrics for sofas and cushions
- Solution-dyed acrylic (e.g. Sunbrella): excellent fade and stain resistance, cleanable, good indoors in sunny rooms and outdoors. Sunbrella is machine washable.
- Polyester and polyester blends: hard-wearing, resist creasing and are usually affordable.
- Microfibre: tightly woven and soft, with no loops for claws to catch.
- Faux leather and Ultraleather: wipe clean, good for dining chairs, kitchens and commercial seating.
- Tightly woven velvet: many modern velvets are tougher than people expect, though they need gentle cleaning. See how to clean a velvet sofa.
For homes with dogs and cats, avoid loose or looped weaves that claws can catch. Our guide to pet-friendly sofa cushions and covers goes into more detail.
OEKO-TEX: is the fabric tested for harmful substances?
The OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 label is about safety, not durability. It means the textile has been tested against a list of more than 1,000 harmful substances, covering every thread, button and accessory. Certificates are issued for one year and must be renewed.
Products are tested in one of four classes, from the strictest to the least strict:
- Products for babies and children up to 3 years.
- Products with direct skin contact, such as bed linen.
- Products without direct skin contact, such as jackets.
- Home textiles and decoration materials, such as curtains.
Polyester and other synthetics can be OEKO-TEX certified just like natural fibres: the label is about what has been tested in the finished textile, not which fibre it is. If a product shows the label, you can check its certificate number on the OEKO-TEX website.
Note that OEKO-TEX certification belongs to the specific product or material that has been tested. It is not a rating of how long a fabric will last, and it is separate from UK fire safety rules.
Don't forget fire safety
Upholstered furniture and cushions sold for UK homes must meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. Furniture in pubs, hotels, care homes and other venues usually needs a higher standard such as Crib 5. Our guide to fire safety for commercial cushions in the UK explains the tests.
How to put it all together
- Decide where the fabric will be used and how hard: an accent chair needs far less than a family sofa.
- Check the Martindale score suits that use.
- Check the cleaning code and whether covers can be removed.
- For sunny rooms or outdoors, choose a fade-resistant, solution-dyed fabric.
- Check for any certificates that matter to you, such as OEKO-TEX, and the right fire standard.
If you would like to see fabrics in person before you order, we offer fabric swatches, and every made-to-measure cushion cover we make has a zip so it can come off for cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most durable fabric for upholstery?
Tightly woven synthetics such as solution-dyed acrylic, polyester and microfibre, plus faux leather, are among the most hard-wearing. Look for a Martindale score of 25,000 or more for a busy family sofa.
What is performance fabric?
A general term for fabrics engineered to resist stains, water, fading or mould and to clean easily. It is not one standard, so check each fabric's own claims.
What Martindale rub count do I need for a sofa?
15,000 to 25,000 suits general domestic use. Choose 25,000 or more for heavy family use, and 30,000 or more for commercial seating.
Is OEKO-TEX safe?
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 means the textile has been tested for more than 1,000 harmful substances. It is a safety label, not a measure of durability.
Can polyester be OEKO-TEX certified?
Yes. Synthetic and natural fibres can both be certified, as the test looks at harmful substances in the finished textile.
What fabric is best if you have pets?
Tightly woven fabrics such as microfibre, solution-dyed acrylic and many performance velvets. Avoid loose or looped weaves that claws can catch.
