Written by the Kehls team · Last updated: 21 July 2026
Polycotton is a woven blend of cotton and polyester, most commonly 50/50 or 65/35 polyester to cotton. Cotton brings the softness, breathability and print quality; polyester adds strength, shrink resistance and a friendlier price. Pure cotton gives the most natural feel, while full synthetics push durability and easy cleaning the furthest.
Choosing upholstery fabric gets much easier once you stop reading labels and start matching fibres to jobs. So, what is polycotton, and how does polycotton fabric vs cotton actually play out on a sofa that earns its keep every day? Below we compare all three fibre families honestly, then point you to the right ranges. Polycotton also turns up in shirts, bedding and workwear; this guide keeps the spotlight on upholstery and décor.
Contents
- What is polycotton, exactly?
- Cotton vs polycotton vs synthetic: the honest comparison
- When 100% cotton is the right choice
- When polycotton wins
- When to go fully synthetic
- Does polycotton shrink? And other care questions
- Feel the difference before you buy
- Resources
- FAQ
What is polycotton, exactly?
The polycotton fabric meaning is hiding in plain sight: polyester plus cotton, combined into a single cloth. The fibres are blended at the yarn stage, so every thread carries both; you cannot unpick one from the other. Woven up, it reads as one fabric with two sets of strengths.
Blend ratios tell you the recipe. The most common are 50/50 and 65/35 polyester to cotton. And what is 50 cotton 50 polyester? Exactly what it says: equal halves of each fibre, the most balanced mix of softness and strength. Tip the ratio towards polyester and you gain crease and shrink resistance; tip it towards cotton and you gain breathability and a softer, more matte handle.
You will also see “cotton blend” on labels, and the terms overlap. Polycotton is a cotton blend; it is simply the specific one where the partner fibre is polyester rather than viscose or linen. Blending is mainstream textile engineering, not a shortcut: polyester accounts for roughly 57% of the world’s fibre production, according to Textile Exchange’s Materials Market Report.
Polycotton twill and other weaves
Polycotton twill is the same blend woven with a diagonal rib, which adds weight, drape and hard-wearing body. Plain and Panama-style constructions sit flatter and take prints crisply. Same fibres, different weave, different job.
How to tell cotton from polycotton
Trust your hands before the label. Cotton feels matte, cool and slightly crisp; polycotton feels smoother, with a faint sheen in raking light. Then test crease recovery: scrunch a corner in your fist, hold, and let go. Cotton keeps the wrinkles; polycotton springs most of them back out. Trade professionals sometimes burn-test a spare offcut (cotton chars to soft ash, polyester melts to a hard bead), but that is strictly a workshop method, not one for your lounge.
Cotton vs polycotton vs synthetic: the honest comparison
There is no single best fibre, only the best fibre for the seat in front of you. The table below sums up the polycotton fabric properties that matter in real rooms, alongside pure cotton and full synthetics; it is the short version of every polycotton fabric vs cotton conversation at our trade counters.
| 100% Cotton | Polycotton | Full Synthetic (Polyester) | |
| Feel | Soft, matte, natural handle | Soft with a smoother, crisper finish | Varies by weave; chenille and velvet piles feel plush |
| Durability | Very strong in heavy weaves like bull denim and Panama plain | Strong; the polyester core resists abrasion | Highest abrasion resistance overall |
| Shrinkage | Can shrink in hot washes; follow the care label | Minimal; polyester stabilises the weave | Negligible |
| Fading | Can mellow in direct sun | Good colour holding | Excellent; polyester grips dye tightly |
| Cleaning | Spot-clean or gentle machine wash (check the label) | Easy washing, quick drying | Very easy; many pieces need only a vacuum and wipe |
| Breathability | Excellent | Good | Moderate; pile weaves sit warm and cosy |
| Price band | Mid-range | Budget-friendly | Budget-friendly to mid, depending on weave |
| Best uses | Sofas and loose covers where natural feel matters | Printed scatters, curtains, kids’ rooms, budget recovers | High-traffic seating, family sofas, chenille and velvet looks |
Myth: polycotton is just cotton’s budget cousin. Reality: it is an engineered blend that beats pure cotton on shrinkage, creasing and drying time, which is exactly why workwear and hospitality linen have leaned on it for decades.
One note on wear in any fibre: a dense, tight weave is your best defence against pilling. That is far easier to judge with cloth in hand, which is where free fabric samples earn their keep.
“Nine times out of ten, when a customer can’t decide, we cut a free sample of each and let the sofa decide. Fabric you’ve felt at home is fabric you won’t regret.”
- Retail Sales Consultant, Kehls Cape Town
When 100% cotton is the right choice
Some projects simply ask for cotton. For sofas and loose covers we stock heavier-weight cottons built for the job: bull denim and Panama plain are both designed to withstand everyday sofa wear while keeping that natural, matte handle no synthetic quite copies.
Cotton also breathes better than anything else here. Textile references put cotton’s moisture regain at about 8.5%, against roughly 0.4% for polyester, which is why a cotton-covered seat feels cooler on a February afternoon. It takes dye and print beautifully too, giving the deepest, most natural colour.
Key takeaway: choose 100% cotton upholstery fabric when feel, breathability and print depth top your list, and pick a heavyweight weave for seating. Cotton fabric is sold by the metre, with exact lengths cut to order.
When polycotton wins
Scenario: you are recovering a window seat and running up six scatter cushions for a playroom that hosts juice, crayons and a muddy spaniel. This is polycotton territory. Whether you’re recovering a bench, sewing scatters or lining curtains, the blend keeps its shape wash after wash.
If you are wondering what polycotton fabric is good for, start here:
- Shrink & Crease Resistant: covers come out of the machine close to the size they went in, with fewer wrinkles to iron.
- Print-Friendly: the cotton face takes bold designs and the polyester keeps them crisp; our printed polycotton ranges run from florals to geometrics.
- Budget-Friendly: an affordable and quality choice that stretches further on big jobs like full curtain runs.
- Quick-Drying: cushion covers washed in the morning are back on the couch by evening.
Polycotton lining fabric deserves a mention too: blended linings hang straight, resist creasing and shrug off cleaning, and we stock a dedicated Lining range alongside the prints. Little wonder polycotton fabric in South Africa fills so many curtain rails and scatter cushions; it suits hard-working homes.
When to go fully synthetic
High-traffic seating is where full synthetics shine. Polyester upholstery fabric shrugs off abrasion, holds its colour and cleans up fast, and our plush chenille ranges and velvets prove how soft “synthetic” can feel under hand.
For family sofas and homes with pets, a rule of thumb from our counters: dark and/or patterned fabric disguises marks and hair between cleans. Pair that with a textured synthetic pile and the sofa stays presentable all week.
Synthetics also carry the outdoor brief. Anything living on a stoep, under an awning or beside a pool belongs with the purpose-woven options in our outdoor, patio and indoor fabric guide; for wipe-down commercial seating, pop in-store and ask about vinyl.
Does polycotton shrink? And other care questions
Straight answer to “does polycotton fabric shrink?”: far less than pure cotton, because polyester barely absorbs water and anchors the weave. As typical guidance, an unwashed 100% cotton can pull in by around 3 to 5% on its first warm wash, while a comparable polycotton moves only slightly. Pre-wash any cotton before sewing fitted covers.
Caring for polycotton fabric is refreshingly simple. Most cotton fabrics can be spot-cleaned or machine washed on a gentle cycle; always check the care label first. Wash dark colours separately the first time, dry out of direct sun to protect the shade, and iron cooler than you would pure cotton, since the polyester side prefers less heat.
“Wash the offcut first. Whatever the offcut does in the machine, the full length will do on your cushions.”
- Fabric Consultant, Kehls George
Feel the difference before you buy
Swatches settle debates that spec sheets cannot. Order free fabric samples from your nearest Kehls branch and feel the difference between cotton and polycotton before you buy; if you are still weighing polycotton fabric vs cotton after that, WhatsApp the branch and talk the project through.
Kehls has supplied affordable and quality fabric to the Upholsterer, Motor Trimmer and Public since 1970. Pop in-store in Cape Town (Maitland), Pinetown or George, or use our free delivery in and around Cape Town, Monday to Friday. Not sure of quantities? Our guide to how much fabric you need to reupholster a chair or sofa turns guesswork into a number before you order.
Resources
- Textile Exchange, Materials Market Report 2024: https://textileexchange.org/knowledge-center/reports/materials-market-report-2024/
- CottonWorks (Cotton Incorporated), cotton fibre science and performance resources: https://www.cottonworks.com/
- GINETEX, the international care labelling association (care symbol meanings): https://www.ginetex.net/
FAQ
What type of fabric is polycotton?
Polycotton is a blended woven fabric made from two materials: natural cotton fibre and polyester, a man-made fibre. The two are blended at the yarn stage and woven into a single cloth, so every thread carries both. The result behaves like one fabric with cotton’s soft, breathable character plus polyester’s strength and stability. For décor work, the most common blends are 50/50 and 65/35 polyester to cotton, in plain, twill and printed constructions.
What can you make with polycotton fabric?
Almost any soft-furnishing project: scatter cushions, curtains and curtain linings, loose covers, headboards, table linen, kids’ room makeovers and light upholstery. It sews cleanly, washes without drama and holds printed patterns crisply. For seating, choose an upholstery-weight cloth rather than a light sheeting weight. If you are unsure, order free fabric samples from your nearest Kehls branch and judge the weight in hand before you cut.
Is polycotton fabric good for a family sofa?
For light to medium everyday duty, yes: an upholstery-weight polycotton is a practical, budget-friendly choice, and printed designs help disguise daily wear. For heavier daily traffic, consider a robust 100% cotton such as bull denim or Panama plain, or a hard-wearing synthetic pile such as chenille. The honest answer depends on the seat, so tell us how the room is used and we will point you to the right ranges.
Is polycotton fabric waterproof?
No woven cotton or polycotton is waterproof on its own. The polyester share resists soaking and dries quickly, but water will still pass through the weave, so blot spills promptly rather than rubbing them in. For stoeps, patios and other damp-prone spots, our Outdoor and Patio ranges are woven for that job; ask your nearest branch which suits a covered or open position.
How do you dye polycotton fabric?
With care, and with managed expectations. Household machine dyes colour the cotton portion only, so a 50/50 blend comes out roughly half-strength: a soft, heathered version of the shade on the box. Colouring the polyester share needs disperse dye at sustained high heat, which is a specialist process rather than a home one. If you want a strong, even colour, it is usually quicker to start from our printed or plain polycotton ranges.