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Cotton vs Linen for Upholstery — What's the Difference?
Cotton upholstery is stronger, cheaper, easier to dye evenly and holds a crisp shape; linen has a drier hand, a slub texture, better resistance to pilling and a distinctive way of filtering light, but it creases, costs more and comes in narrower widths. A linen-cotton blend keeps most of the linen character with cotton's price and handling.
| Cotton | Linen | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength / abrasion | High | High, less pilling, but lower wet strength |
| Hand and look | Smooth, uniform, crisp | Dry, textured, slubby |
| Creasing | Less | More |
| Width available | Up to 140 in | Typically to 63 in |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
Choose Cotton
Budget, wide seamless panels, even dyeing, and a smooth uniform face.
Choose Linen
The linen texture and light behaviour matter more than cost or crease resistance.
Common questions
What Martindale rub count should upholstery cotton meet?
General domestic use is usually specified at 15,000–25,000 Martindale, and contract use at 40,000+. A firm cotton canvas or a cotton-linen union reaches contract figures; we can arrange a test report against your target.
Does a linen-cotton blend crease less than pure linen?
Yes, noticeably. A 55/45 linen-cotton keeps the slub and dry hand but recovers from creasing far better, and it is available wider and at a lower price than pure linen.
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Not sure which fits your spec? Send us the end use and we will recommend one.