Bonded leather is NOT real leather but is pleather or vinyl.

Bicast leather is thin leather veneer glued to fabric.

Both wear like crap and aren't worth the$$$ especially if you have pets or kids.

Anonymous wrote:It's thin layers of leather fragments glued together to make a thicker piece. I've heard that there are high-quality versions of it but most of the bonded-leather sofas will start to peel within a couple of years, even sooner if the sun hits it every day. Go with a full-grain leather or just get fabric upholstery.

We have an 8 year old and nieces (ages 2,4,5) who love to jump and play. We went with a bonded leather sectional but one that is a bit higher quality yet well-priced. I'm hoping this will last is at least 3-5 years before I buy something nicer. So far it's been a year and its holding up very well! It gets morning indirect sunlight.

It's thin layers of leather fragments glued together to make a thicker piece. I've heard that there are high-quality versions of it but most of the bonded-leather sofas will start to peel within a couple of years, even sooner if the sun hits it every day. Go with a full-grain leather or just get fabric upholstery.

Cracks badly. Sometimes just from the sun. I think it's because the leather doesn't stretch like real leather does.

It is a very thin piece of leather glued to fabric. I did not know this until we bought a set. 1.5 years later of gentle use it is all peeling and worthless. Do not do it.

From the ones I've seen, it looks like cheap, fake, shiny, hard leather.

What is it? How is it different?