Compare Top Grain Leather and Faux Leather options. Every leather chair here is one of our standard lift recliners in a different cover: real top grain hide, or a synthetic faux leather. Choose the fit first, then the upholstery.
Real leather: the upper layer of the hide with its natural grain left on. Mid-weight, supple, tested to resist wear and fading. Because it is hide it has pores and breathes — and for the same reason it should not stay wet for long; liquid left on it can seep in. Camel brown or dark blue on most models, light gray on the 9188 Pro.
A synthetic upholstery, listed on every product page as "Faux Leather". Its surface is water-resistant — spills wipe off — and we chose a hydrolysis-resistant grade whose grain is close to top grain hide. Hydrolysis is what makes ordinary faux leather peel and crack, fastest in humid air. More colours than top grain — brown, gray, cream white, blue, beige yellow — and priced below it on the same model.
Frame, lift mechanism, motors, recline range, heat and massage are identical between the leather, faux leather and chenille versions of a model. You are choosing a cover, not a different chair.
Our faux leather is a high-quality, thick grade: better water resistance, and a feel and look very close to natural leather. Top grain is natural hide: it breathes and feels even better in the hand, but its surface has pores, so it resists water less. Both covers are tested to resist wear and fading.
Height range, weight rating and seat width decide which model fits. Only then look at covers — not every model comes in both leathers.
Top grain only: 9188 Pro, 9188E Pro, 9199, 9205L Pro. Faux leather only: 9188T, 9205, 9185, 9196. Both: 9188, 9188E, 9188ET, 9205L, 9188S Pro and both EWT500 models.
On the same model, top grain is priced about $200–$300 above faux leather. Prices on the cards below are read live from stock.
Want camel brown or dark blue — either leather. Want cream white, gray, blue or beige yellow — faux leather. Light gray — top grain, 9188 Pro only.
Choose faux leather if spills or incontinence are a concern: its surface is water-resistant and wipes clean. Choose top grain for a cover that breathes and shows natural grain, and keep it from staying wet. Either cover lasts longest in a room that is not persistently humid and not extremely hot or cold.
Open the model page and switch between covers — photos of every colour are there. Or ask us for daylight photos before you order.
Cards marked Top Grain Leather count only leather colours; cards marked Faux Leather count only faux leather colours. Prices and counts update with stock.
The 9188 is our standard medium size and best-seller — a classic design whose comfort has been proven by a large number of customers. The 9199 is the traditional button-tufted style; tufting and all, its backrest is very comfortable. The 9196 adds a built-in cup holder and is larger than both — a medium-large frame.
Taller back and extended footrest. In leather, the 9188T comes in faux leather only — for top grain at this height, see the 9188ET below.
26"–27.5" seats, rated 400 lb, on a standard-height frame.
Taller backs, longer seats and extended footrests, rated 400 lb. Both covers on the 9188ET and 9205L.
The two 500 lb frames, both triple motor, both covers. They recline to 165°, not 180°.
Lower seats and shorter seat depth for shorter users.
Everything on this page in real leather, in one place.
9188, 9188 Pro, 9199, 9188S Pro, 9188E, 9188E Pro, 9188ET, 9205L, 9205L Pro, 9188 EWT500 and 9205 EWT500. All use the same mid-weight top grain leather — the upper layer of the hide with its natural grain left on, supple to the touch and tested to resist wear and fading. Because it is real hide it has pores and breathes; for the same reason it is not the cover for a chair that will often get wet — liquid left standing on it can seep in. Camel brown (listed as Yellow Brown) on all eleven, dark blue on most, light gray on the 9188 Pro. Grain and shade vary slightly, and the colour reads differently in daylight, lamplight and on a screen.
Top grain keeps the natural surface of the hide, so you can see the grain and the small variations in it — the same leather on every top grain model on this page.
The synthetic-cover versions, named "Faux Leather" on every product page.
9188, 9188T, 9188E, 9188ET, 9205, 9205L, 9185, 9196, 9188S Pro, 9188 EWT500 and 9205 EWT500. Faux leather is a synthetic upholstery; it is not hide, and we do not call it leather without the word "faux". Its surface is water-resistant — spills, and accidents, wipe off — which is why we recommend it where incontinence is a concern. We chose a hydrolysis-resistant grade with a grain close to top grain hide; hydrolysis is what makes ordinary faux leather peel and crack, and it happens fastest in humid air. More colours than top grain — brown, gray, cream white, blue and beige yellow — and priced below top grain on the same model. Cover warranty terms are on our warranty page.
This is the faux leather on every Faux Leather card above — a thick grade with a grain close to top grain, in blue, gray, brown and cream white, and a surface that spills wipe off.
Open any model above and switch cover on the product page, or browse by fit: Lay Flat 180° · Tall · Big & Tall · Heavy Duty 400–500 lb.
Top Grain Leather (genuine leather) is made from the upper layer of the hide, keeping much of the leather's natural grain and character. Each piece can show subtle variations in texture and shade — that is the nature of real leather, not a defect. It breathes through its natural pores, and for the same reason it should not be left wet.
Faux Leather is a synthetic upholstery with a leather-like grain — on our grade, very close to top grain in look and feel. Its surface is water-resistant: spills and accidents sit on top and wipe off with a soft, slightly damp cloth, which is why we suggest it where incontinence is a concern. It is not breathable, and we do not call it leather without the word "faux". We chose a hydrolysis-resistant grade to reduce the peeling and cracking seen on lower-grade PU upholstery.
Neither is automatically better. Choose Top Grain Leather if genuine leather, natural grain and the way real leather develops character with use matter to you. Choose Faux Leather if you want a water-resistant, wipe-clean surface, more colour choices, or a lower price on the same model. Either way, the chair's fit, dimensions and functions come first; upholstery is the final comfort and material preference.
Top Grain Leather is offered on selected Irene House families, not every model, and that includes tall, big & tall and 500 lb configurations. The cards above show what is in stock right now in each fit group. If you are taller or need more capacity, compare recommended height, seat dimensions and leg support first, then check which leather colours that model offers.
No. Upholstery is a material choice, not a different fit. A 9188ET in Top Grain Leather is the same model configuration as a 9188ET in Faux Leather or chenille — leather does not turn a standard-fit chair into a tall chair or change its weight rating. Choose your fit first. Then choose your upholstery.
Yes — upholstery changes the surface feel even when the seat underneath is identical. Top Grain Leather has the natural surface of genuine leather; Faux Leather is a smoother, leather-like synthetic surface; chenille feels like fabric. If fit and support are your main concern, choose the right size and configuration first, then pick the surface you prefer to sit on.
For routine cleaning, wipe gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth and let it air dry. Do not soak the upholstery, and avoid harsh household cleaners, solvents, bleach and abrasives. Wipe spills promptly, and keep the chair out of prolonged direct sunlight and excessive heat. On Top Grain Leather, variation in grain and shade is part of genuine leather.
No single number of years predicts upholstery life. Durability depends on how often the chair is used, friction, body oils and perspiration, sunlight, heat, humidity and how it is cleaned. Our Faux Leather uses a hydrolysis-resistant material — hydrolysis is one of the processes that degrades polyurethane upholstery, especially under prolonged heat and humidity. Top Grain Leather does not have that polyurethane structure, but it still needs normal indoor conditions and regular care. For coverage periods, see the current Irene House warranty page.
Standard → Tall → Big & Tall → Heavy Duty 400–500 lb → Lay Flat 180° → Zero Gravity → Leather →
Height, then seat width, then capacity. Top grain or faux leather is the last choice, not the first.
Choose the fit first →
