Storing Leather Stock Properly

Leather that sits around waiting to be used is just as vulnerable to damage as a finished project — arguably more so, since scrap and remnant pieces often get shoved in a corner and forgotten. A few habits prevent most of the damage.

Climate

Aim to store leather somewhere cool and dry, roughly 50-70°F with humidity around 40-50%. Both extremes cause problems: too humid and you risk mold and mildew, especially in a closed container with no airflow; too dry and leather loses moisture and becomes stiff and prone to cracking. Avoid storing leather directly on concrete — it wicks moisture out of the leather and can leave it brittle.

Light

Keep hides and cut pieces out of direct sunlight. UV exposure dries leather out and fades dye unevenly, so a shelf or drawer away from windows is much safer than anywhere sunlight falls for part of the day.

How to lay it out

Store pieces flat with the grain side down when possible, or loosely rolled — never folded, since a hard fold creates a crease that can turn into a permanent crack line. If pieces are stacked, keep dyed, oiled, or waxed leather from touching other pieces directly; color and oil can transfer.

Containers

Skip plastic bags and airtight bins. Plastic traps whatever moisture is already in the leather (or in the air around it) and creates exactly the still, damp conditions mold needs to take hold. A breathable option — a cotton dust bag, wrapped in dark paper, or simply an open shelf — lets the leather stay stable instead of sweating inside its own packaging.