What’s the difference between full-grain and top-grain leather?

Full-grain leather is considered the highest quality leather because the grain, or the top layer of the skin, remains intact and untouched. This leather type does not undergo corrective finishing, meaning it’s made from the best, cleanest rawhides. Since clean hides are rare and more expensive, full-grain leather is highly prized for its durability and natural beauty.

Top-grain leather, while still high-quality, undergoes slight buffing to remove surface imperfections. This process makes it more widely available than full-grain leather since super clean hides are hard to find. Most good leathers on the market are top-grain, offering a balance of quality and accessibility.