When it comes to products that live inside your home, few are larger or more expensive than a sofa. The living room sofa may also be the most-used product for many of us. Between watching TV, taking naps, general lounging and — increasingly — working remotely, a lot of people are spending countless hours on their couch.
So, as a major financial investment, the visual centerpiece of our living rooms and something we're constantly using day in and day out, doesn't it make sense to buy a sofa that's truly great? And if you want a great sofa, there's no beating a leather sofa. Below, you'll find the best leather sofas we've tested.
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Castlery Madison Leather Sofa Read More -
Article Nirvana Dakota Leather Sofa Read More
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Burrow Mambo 7-Piece U-Sectional Read More
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Crate & Barrel Wells Renew Vegan Leather Sofa Read More
How We Tested
We know a thing or two about sofa brands, so we called in leather sofas from some of our favorite names in furniture (except in one case, where a staffer already owned the sofa we wanted to test) and tested them in our own living rooms. We took into account the sofas' delivery process and assembly while noting how comfortable they were for lounging and napping and how they held up with the wear and tear of normal use.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
Best Overall Leather Sofa
I prefer a mid-century modern aesthetic when it comes to my decor, and Castlery's Madison fit the bill perfectly. While not mimicking any specific designer couch from the era, it nails that generic, mid-century sofa look I was going for thanks to its clean lines, sleek peg legs, thin arms, round bolster pillows and tufted bench seat. It's a beautiful couch and has been a compliment-generating machine whenever I have guests over.
Delivery of the sofa could not have been much easier. It's delivered mostly put together in one long box, and a trio of delivery men brought it up three flights of stairs and into my living room. It was up to me to unpack and assemble the couch, which I did easily by myself in about 15 minutes. Unwrapping all of the plastic and styrofoam is the biggest hassle, the couch itself simply requires screwing on five legs and arranging the cushions.
The Madison is comfortable. Very comfortable. The bench seat has the perfect amount of cushioning that's both soft and supportive, and since it's one long section, there are no gaps to fall into between seats. The back cushions are loose, but because they're so large they don't move around much, and they're extra soft and great for sinking into. It also includes a pair of bolster pillows, which are great at protecting you from the hard-ish sides of the sofa and allow you to forego throw pillows if you want to keep a minimalist look. The sofa is so comfy and welcoming that I've developed a habit of falling asleep on the couch most nights and then waking up in a daze in the wee hours of the morning, at which time I begrudgingly make my way to the bedroom.
The leather used on the sofa is buttery smooth and smells amazing. I love the way it looks too, as it has visible grain and is quite natural looking. The natural charm is shown off most around the biscuit tufting of the seat, as here the leather is stretched and wrinkled in a way that's quite aesthetically pleasing to my eye.
The tufting is also the source of one of my two beefs with this sofa. The indentations caused by the tufting in the seat may look stylish, but they are also absolute magnets for dirt and crumbs. They're easy enough to clean — just run a handheld vacuum over them — but they seem to fill up with debris quickly. Or maybe I'm just a slob.
My other beef has to do with the leather itself. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the leather. But it scratches very easily. Within hours of setting up the sofa, I noticed a couple of small peeling punctures on the seat. These soon began to appear elsewhere on the sofa, most notably on the back. Thankfully, these punctures and scratches weren't caused spontaneously, they were the work of my cats. I can't really fault the leather for the damage the cats do to it, but I do wish it held up better against their destruction. So just know that if you have cats, this sofa will show scratches.
Other than that, this sofa has been an absolute dream. It's affordable, beautiful and by far the most comfortable sofa I've owned. It isn't feline-proof, but then again, what sofa is? — Johnny Brayson, Associate Editor
Best Budget Leather Sofa
Yes, our budget pick is only a hundred bucks cheaper than our top pick. But the truth is, you really can't spend much less on a leather sofa while still getting something worth buying.
We bought the Article Nirvana Sofa in early 2018 when my wife and I were living in a shoebox apartment in New York City. We needed a specific size of couch to fit the limited layout we had, and this sofa fit the bill. Delivery was super easy thanks to the logistics team from Article; they hoofed the box up three flights of stairs and right into our living room.
Unpacking and assembling the couch was easy, but breaking down the box was not. Imagine tearing down a 6-foot x 3-foot thick cardboard box in a Manhattan studio and attempting to cut the cardboard down small enough to fit into the clear trashbags your super provided to then throw into the mouse-infested streetside trash bins. I think people who order this couch in the burbs will have a much easier time with the assembly aftermath.
The couch has been solid over the nearly six years we've had it. We've moved multiple times, and the sofa's easy disassembly and perfect size and weight make it a dream to get through doorways and jigsawed into moving trucks. The cushions need to be swapped to different positions every now and then as they tend to sag and require frequent fluffing, but even they have held their own quite well.
I have to say that one of the stars of the couch has been the leather. A lot of times, when spending under $2,000 on a leather couch, the leather you're getting is not of the greatest quality. But that's certainly not the case with Articla's Dakota leather. It's aged beautifully, like an worn-in baseball mit, and it wears its spills well as stylish blemishes. There are a couple of scratches from our toddler, but we like the story it tells, and any leather is going to scratch at the end of the day. All in all, I would recommend this couch for any family that has good taste and lives with a small footprint. — Joe Tornatzky, Creative Director
Best Leather Sectional
Burrow offers a safer, easier and more stylish approach to modular sofas. While many competitors connect modules with alligator clips, Burrow uses custom molded hardware to screw each section together, ensuring a solid connection. What's more, the pieces ship via FedEx and arrive ready to be assembled so you can quickly assemble a new sofa or add new modules to an existing one.
The brand's newest sofa, the Mambo, is inspired by classic European designs with a large blocky shape, minimal floor clearance and wide comfortable seats. But, because it's modular, the configurations are endless. Customers can choose a layout between three and eight pieces and decide whether they want high or low arms. Additionally, they can choose to add an ottoman or lumbar pillows as needed.
Having a larger living room, I opted for the L-shape 7-piece sofa. Though the FedEx delivery is relatively painless, you are ultimately at the whims of the carrier, so be aware of that during peak shipping seasons. Assembly of the sofa is actually pretty simple: each back or arm attaches to the base cushion with three long hand screws. It takes a little finessing but is a very solid attachment once secured. After each cushion has a back and/or side attached, you connect it to the other modules with connectors that hook around adjacent legs. These snap into place and ensure the modules won't budge.
The Mambo has deep seats that are great for leaning back and relaxing. Unlike other blocky-style sofas, the back cushions have a curve that encourages reclining and lounging. If you'd prefer to sit more upright, the lumbar pillows are a nice addition. Out of the box, the cushions are comfortable and firm — you don't sink into them and they feel like they'll hold their shape nicely for the foreseeable future — perfect for lounging, napping and sitting with friends or family.
The leather is smooth and taut, and numerous guests have commented on how nice it looks and feels. During assembly and initial use, there haven't been any notable scuffs, scrapes or marks. Each module has a solid build, so the final sofa layout is heavy when assembled, making sure it won't shift or move when guests sit down.
Because the Mambo is a blocky sofa, it is an anchor in the room and takes up more visual space than other styles. If you like the aesthetic, it's hard to beat. In my space, it's a perfect fit and delivers both style and comfort. It's a notably tasteful design and stands out among other sofas you can order online. I was happy to see that the final build matched the photos online to a T — what you see is definitely what you get.
If you like blocky, stylish sofas but want something modular, this is your best bet. You can customize your layout to your space and needs, and even adjust if you move or want to build it out. Unlike pre-built sofas, the assembly takes a little extra work to ensure everything is lined up perfectly and secured, but once it is, you won't be able to tell the difference. If compelling layouts, deep seats, comfortable backs and corners, beautiful leather and the option to change things up sounds good to you, the Mambo is worth investing in. — John Zientek, Managing Editor
Best Vegan Leather Sofa
Starting with delivery, the Crate & Barrel White Glove Delivery removed all the hassle around getting a new couch and allowed me to start enjoying the new piece within 15 minutes. The friendly, attentive team wore shoe covers in my home, protected my hardwood floors, took care of all the setup in record time and took away the packaging, so all I had to do was sit down and relax. My partner and I were easily able to move the couch around our space after the delivery team was gone to find the perfect spot for it, so if we had to move it ourselves, it would not be a struggle.
My first impression of the sofa was exceptional; it has clean lines, the vegan leather is buttery soft and the cushions have the perfect amount of flex. At 7 feet wide, the Wells Sofa is a great size for a small living room and in a larger space would be well-complemented by a couple of chairs. It seats two people super comfortably, three to four with closer quarters. The design is minimalist, so it can easily be integrated into any style space.
You barely need extra pillows with this couch, as the adjustable arm cushions are great to lean up against, throw your arm over, or use as a headrest for a well-deserved nap. You may notice that the back cushions slip down a bit, pushing the seat forward in some positions as they aren’t secured by anything but a little friction, but that's an easy fix and doesn’t affect the comfort of the sofa.
After two months, I can tell where we sit the most on the couch as there’s a bit of a distortion in the cushions, but otherwise, the sofa looks as good as the day it arrived ... even with a little bit of cat hair on it. — Erica Givans, Content Strategist
Other Leather Sofas We Considered
Not every sofa could be called in for testing. The following models all drew consideration from our team, but without hands-on testing, we aren't able to fully recommend them.
What to Look for in a Leather Sofa
Buying furniture online can sometimes feel like a challenge since you can't actually sit on or feel the item you're purchasing. This is especially important when shopping for a big-ticket item like a leather sofa. Make a mistake, and you're looking at a considerable hassle to get that sofa out of your home and returned. So, to keep your risk level low, here are a few things to look out for when shopping for a leather sofa online.
Delivery and Assembly: Sofas are big and heavy, so you'll want to check and see how your furniture will be delivered and what the assembly process looks like. Look at the sofa's dimensions and measure your own doorways, hallways, staircases and living room — there's nothing worse than having a piece of furniture show up at your door only to learn it's too big to get into your home. You'll also want to see what kind of delivery options are offered, and how much they cost. A white-glove delivery where the sofa is assembled for you and all packaging is hauled away can save you a lot of headaches, but may cost a small fortune. Be sure to closely examine your options.
Quality Leather: You'll want real leather for your sofa, meaning either top-grain or full-grain. The former is more affordable and more uniform in appearance while being slightly less durable. The latter is more expensive but can take more of a beating and has a more varied appearance that some people value. You'll also want to avoid bonded leather, which is made up of a layer of leather glued onto cheaper fabric. This can peel and flake away and won't last nearly as long as real leather.
Construction: There's more that goes into a sofa besides the leather you actually come into contact with. You'll also want to check out the frame and cushions as well. Most sites should give you an idea of what sort of comfort level is offered by the cushions, whether they're sink-in, supportive or somewhere in between, and you'll need to consider what kind of lounging experience you want. You should also take note of how the frame is constructed. Look for frames made of durable materials like solid wood and plywood, and avoid anything made from MDF or particle board that will break down in a short amount of time.
