How to Repair Leather Car Seats

Co-authored by Tom Eisenberg and Sophia Latorre

If you’ve got a tear, hole, or crack in your leather car seat, you may be wondering whether you need all new upholstery. Fortunately, you can repair small amounts of damage by yourself. Fix tears with a repair kit, use a patch to fix holes, or refinish the seats with liquid leather to hide cracks. Keep in mind that large gouges and rips are best fixed by someone with upholstery experience.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Fixing Tears with a Repair Kit

1
Choose a repair kit with colorant that matches the leather. Your best bet is to find a repair kit made by the manufacturer of your car. Otherwise, compare several kits to your upholstery to find the best color match.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Clean the seat. Use mild soap and a damp rag to clean the leather. Remove crumbs, dust, dirt, and grime by scrubbing the seat gently. Allow it to dry completely before proceeding.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Trim any ragged edges around the tear. If the edges of the tear curl outward or have threads hanging from them, use a pair of scissors to trim them off.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Glue the canvas backing cloth underneath the tear. Slip a piece of backing cloth into the hole and then slide it beneath the tear. Put a small amount of the included glue on the edges of the tear so they stick to the cloth. Allow the glue to dry completely.^{[4]
X
Research source}
5
Build up layers of leather filler. Use a palette knife to spread the leather filler onto the backing cloth between the edges of the tear. Allow each layer to dry before applying another. Keep building up the filler until it slightly overlaps the leather seat.^{[5]
X
Research source}
6
Sand down the filler. Once the filler is completely dry, use a fine-grit sanding block to sand down the top layer. Stop when the filler is even with the rest of the leather.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Do your best not to sand too much of the surrounding leather. A sanding block, rather than sand paper, will give you more control over the area.
7
Wipe down the seat with a damp cloth. Use a slightly damp, clean cloth, to remove any dust or debris leftover from the sanding process. Allow the seat to dry before moving on.^{[7]
X
Research source}
8
Apply the colorant to the filler. Use a clean cloth to rub the colorant onto the area where you applied filler. Build up several layers if necessary, allowing each layer to dry fully, until the color matches the rest of the leather.^{[8]
X
Research source}
9
Cover the area with leather sealant. Apply leather sealant with a clean cloth to the area you repaired. This will prevent the colorant from rubbing off. Allow the sealant to dry completely before sitting on the seat.^{[9]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Applying a Patch

1
Choose a patch that matches your seat. The leather you choose to patch the seat with should be an exact match, if possible, such as an extra swatch of leather that came with the car or a piece of the upholstery from under the seat near the frame.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Otherwise, choose another piece of leather with a similar texture and dye it to match your upholstery.
2
Cut the patch to fit the damaged area. The patch should be slightly larger than the hole or tear so that you can attach it to the good leather around the damage. Use sharp scissors to cut out the patch so the edges are neat.^{[11]
X
Research source}
3
Put wax paper behind the hole or tear. In order to keep the glue from hardening the foam interior of the seat, put a piece of wax paper behind the hole or tear that is larger than the patch. Slip it in one side then push the other side through the hole so it is behind the leather.^{[12]
X
Research source}
4
Attach the patch with leather adhesive. Apply leather adhesive to the edges of the patch. Carefully press the patch over the hole or tear, making sure the patch covers the hole or tear entirely and bonds to the good leather.^{[13]
X
Research source}
5
Allow the adhesive to dry completely. Refer to the instructions that came with the leather adhesive to find out how long it takes to cure. Avoid sitting on or placing any objects on the seat until the adhesive is dry.^{[14]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Refinishing with Liquid Leather

1
Ensure the liquid leather matches perfectly. You can send a small swatch of the leather (there will be extra underneath the seat) to the liquid leather distributor to find an exact match. Or, provide the color code or name to the distributor to make sure you get the right shade. Liquid leather is a combination filler and adhesive compound that can be purchased online and in many auto parts and upholstery stores.^{[15]
X
Research source}
- Test the product in an inconspicuous spot before applying it to the rest of the seat. Adjust the color with the provided toner or exchange it for a better match, if necessary.
2
Clean your leather seats. Sweep any any debris or crumbs, then put a small amount of leather cleaner on a soft cloth or rag. Scrub the seats with the cloth to remove dirt and grime. Then, put a mild solvent, like 50% isopropyl alcohol, on a clean rag and wipe down the seats to remove any residue. Allow the seats to dry completely before moving on.^{[16]
X
Research source}
3
Apply diluted liquid leather with a sponge to worn areas. Dilute the liquid leather with water by 30% before rubbing it into cracks and creases. Wipe off the seat with a damp cloth so that the product is removed from the good leather and left in the cracks. Let the liquid leather dry then apply another coat to strengthen the color or build up cracks, if necessary.^{[17]
X
Research source}
4
Add a full-strength coat to the entire seat. Once the worn areas have dried, apply an even coat of liquid leather to the entire seat. This will ensure that the whole seat is the same color and will make repaired areas less noticeable.^{[18]
X
Research source}
5
Condition the leather after it dries. Once the liquid leather has dried completely, you should condition the leather to prevent it from cracking further. Use a leather conditioner and apply it with a soft cloth to the entire seat. Allow it to dry fully before sitting on the seat.^{[19]
X
Research source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preventing Further Damage

1
Use a sun shade. Direct sunlight is what causes leather seats to fade and crack. Put an expandable sun shade in your windshield to protect the leather from harsh light and heat. Place a sun shade in your windshield any time your car will be exposed to the sun for extended periods of time, such as when your car is parked in the office parking lot during the day.^{[20]
X
Research source}
2
Condition the leather regularly. When leather dries out, it is more likely to crack or tear. Clean the leather seats then apply a leather conditioner to them every 6 months or so. Use a soft cloth and small circular motions to apply the conditioner to the entire seat.^{[21]
X
Research source}

EXPERT TIP

Tom Eisenberg
Auto Technician
Tom Eisenberg is the Owner and General Manager of West Coast Tires & Service in Los Angeles, California, a family-owned AAA-approved and certified auto shop. Tom has over 10 years of experience in the auto industry. Modern Tire Dealer Magazine voted his shop one of the Best 10 Operations in the Country.

Tom Eisenberg
Auto Technician

The best advice is to protect your leather and not scratch it. Scratches and cracks are fairly easy, but tears are difficult to treat. There are some leather magicians out there that can fix tears and recondition your leather, but tears are not easily repaired.
3
Avoid sharp objects. Keys, tools, pocket knives, and other sharp objects can poke holes or create tears in your leather seats. Take care to remove sharp objects from your pockets before getting into the car. Place sharp objects in the trunk or on the floor, or cover your seats with a thick blanket first.^{[22]
X
Research source}