There are multitude of distinct kinds of leather, while some are known for their strength and toughness, others are known for their softness. Full grain is produced from the top side of the leather - that is the outside of the skin, the surface will be smooth and polishable. Suede is produced from the underside of the skin and has a distinctive nap. The nap can be altered to be very fine, or long-almost hairy in appearance. Pigmented leathers have a light surface spray of color added at the final stage. This produces a uniform appearance, good for more formal shoes or leather goods. Nubuck is produced from full grain leathers. The grain is abraded away to create a light surface nap. This can be adjusted to be very fine, or a longer, softer effect can be produced.

Printed leathers can have any type of pattern/design placed onto the surface. The designs are embossed onto the leather surface under pressure and add to the character of the material, the structure of the leather is not affected. Oils and waxes are coated onto the surface of the leather to produce a tacky finish that gives improved grip. They can be used in many sports, e.g. American football gloves. Laminating leather to other materials is a means of creating a product that has unique properties. The properties can be varied by selecting different laminates with their own special properties.