The primary difference between Pottery Barn's High Performance Canvas and Sunbrella fabric lies in their material, selection, and availability. Sunbrella is an industry-leading brand known for its incredibly durable solution-dyed acrylic that offers a massive variety of colors and patterns, while Pottery Barn's High Performance Canvas is a proprietary, curated collection designed to perfectly complement its furniture for a seamless shopping experience.
Here’s a detailed look at both options to help you choose the best performance fabric for your outdoor or indoor space.
Pottery Barn High Performance Canvas
Pottery Barn's High Performance Canvas is the brand's proprietary fabric specifically engineered for their outdoor furniture collections. It's designed to offer a blend of style, comfort, and resilience, providing excellent resistance to stains, fading, and moisture while maintaining a soft feel. This fabric simplifies the buying process by offering a curated selection that perfectly matches their furniture aesthetics.
- What it is: A proprietary outdoor performance fabric created by Pottery Barn for its outdoor furniture cushions and slipcovers.
- Key features: Specially designed to be stain-resistant, fade-resistant, and easy to clean. Available in colors and patterns curated for Pottery Barn's signature style.
- Price: Included in the price of their outdoor furniture, with custom upholstery upgrades typically ranging from $50 to $150 per yard.
- Materials/Construction: A durable and weather-resistant proprietary blend designed to feel soft while withstanding the elements. Specific fiber content is not always disclosed.
- Style: Classic and versatile, with a tailored look that complements traditional and contemporary outdoor decor.
- Pros: A seamless, one-stop shopping experience when buying new furniture. Colors are guaranteed to match the brand’s aesthetic. Reliable performance for everyday use. Easy to return and backed by Pottery Barn's customer service.
- Cons: Limited selection of colors and patterns compared to other brands. Higher cost when calculated per yard. Less transparency about material composition and specific performance ratings.
This fabric is ideal for homeowners buying Pottery Barn furniture who want a stylish, low-maintenance, and convenient option guaranteed to create a cohesive look.
Shop this product: potterybarn.com/shop/outdoor/all-outdoor-upholstery
Sunbrella Performance Fabric
Sunbrella is the globally recognized gold standard for performance fabrics, trusted in outdoor, indoor, and marine applications. Their materials are famous for exceptional durability, thanks to solution-dyed acrylic fibers where color is saturated to the core of each yarn. This process makes Sunbrella fabrics incredibly resistant to fading from UV rays, while also providing excellent water, mold, and stain resistance.
- What it is: A best-in-class performance fabric made from solution-dyed acrylic fibers, used for upholstery, awnings, and marine products.
- Key features: Industry-leading UV and fade resistance. Water, mold, mildew, and stain resistant. Enormous selection of colors, textures, and patterns. Easy to clean. Many products are GREENGUARD Gold certified for low chemical emissions.
- Price: Typically ranges from $20 to $50 per yard, making it an accessible option for DIY projects or professional upholsterers.
- Materials/Construction: Made from 100% solution-dyed acrylic fibers, ensuring colorfastness and extreme durability.
- Style: Extremely versatile, with thousands of options from basic solids to complex, trend-forward patterns that can suit any design style.
- Pros: Unmatched durability and longevity, especially in harsh climates. Vast selection gives you complete design freedom. Generally more affordable on a per-yard basis. Backed by extensive testing and certifications for performance.
- Cons: Requires sourcing from third-party retailers or upholsterers, adding a step to the process. The sheer number of choices can be overwhelming for some buyers.
Sunbrella is for the discerning buyer, DIYer, or designer who needs maximum durability and a limitless selection to create a customized space.
Shop this product: sunbrella.com/en-us/fabrics/upholstery
Pottery Barn High Performance Canvas vs. Sunbrella Comparison
Materials & Durability
This is the most significant point of difference. Sunbrella fabrics are made from solution-dyed acrylic, meaning the color pigment is mixed into the acrylic material before it even becomes a fiber. This makes them almost impossible to fade and incredibly resistant to stains and mildew. Sunbrella has built a decades-long reputation on this performance, and it remains the top choice for harsh sun, salty air, and high-traffic environments.
Pottery Barn’s High Performance Canvas is also designed for outdoor use and performs well against typical stains and moisture. While durable for most residential settings, it is a proprietary blend and isn't made with the same core-saturated fiber technology as Sunbrella. In a head-to-head matchup under intense, prolonged sunlight, Sunbrella fabric will almost always hold its color and structural integrity longer.
Style & Variety
Pottery Barn offers a limited, highly curated selection of colors and classic patterns. This is a benefit for those who want a guaranteed match with their other Pottery Barn pieces. The aesthetic is clean, timeless, and fits neatly within the brand's popular traditional and coastal styles.
In contrast, Sunbrella is a playground for designers and homeowners who want choice. With thousands of fabrics spanning every color of the rainbow, plus a huge range of textures, stripes, florals, and modern geometrics, you can achieve any look imaginable. This vast selection gives it the edge for custom looks, accent pieces, or anyone wanting to step outside of a predefined style.
Price & Value
When purchasing new outdoor furniture, Pottery Barn's fabric is integrated into the final price, which offers convenience. If bought as an upgrade or by the yard, it can run upwards of $50 per yard. This positions it as a premium, but bundled, offering.
Sunbrella fabric is more affordable on a yard-by-yard basis, generally costing between $20 and $50. This provides better upfront value, especially for large projects or reupholstering existing furniture. Given its superior longevity, Sunbrella often provides better long-term value, as you're less likely to need to replace cushions or covers due to fading or wear.
Shopping Experience & Availability
The experience couldn't be more different. Buying Pottery Barn's High Performance Canvas is simple and direct - you select it when you buy a sofa or chair from their website or store. It's a vertically integrated solution perfect for those who want to avoid hassle.
Sunbrella is sold through authorized fabric retailers, furniture makers, and online stores. This means you have to source the fabric yourself if you're doing a DIY project or work with an upholsterer. While this process offers more flexibility, it does require extra research and coordination.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both fabrics offer great performance but are designed for different customer needs and priorities.
Choose Pottery Barn High Performance Canvas if:
- You are buying new furniture directly from Pottery Barn and a seamless purchase is your top priority.
- You value a curated aesthetic and want your cushions to perfectly match their furniture styles.
- You prefer the convenience and customer support of a single-brand experience.
- Your outdoor space has moderate sun exposure and you don't require the most extreme level of durability.
Choose Sunbrella if:
- Maximum durability and fade resistance are non-negotiable, especially in a sunny or harsh climate.
- You are reupholstering existing furniture or undertaking a custom DIY project.
- You want access to a massive selection of colors, textures, and patterns to create a unique look.
- Getting the best long-term value and proven performance is more important than shopping convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Sunbrella and Pottery Barn's canvas?
The main difference is the material and manufacturing process. Sunbrella uses solution-dyed acrylic for superior, scientifically proven fade and mildew resistance. Pottery Barn High Performance Canvas is a proprietary blend designed for good weather resistance and to stylistically fit within their brand ecosystem.
Which fabric is more fade-resistant?
Sunbrella is known to be more fade-resistant. The solution-dyeing process ensures the color is part of the fiber itself, not just a surface application, providing exceptional protection against UV degradation over many years.
Can I use Sunbrella fabric on Pottery Barn furniture?
Absolutely. Many people buy Pottery Barn furniture frames and then have custom cushions made with Sunbrella fabric for a more durable or customized look. You will just need to find a local upholsterer or online cushion maker.
How do you clean Pottery Barn High Performance Canvas?
Most spills on their High Performance Canvas can be cleaned with a solution of mild soap and water. You should blot the stain, gently scrub with a soft brush, rinse thoroughly, and let it air dry. Always refer to Pottery Barn’s specific care instructions.
How do you clean Sunbrella fabric?
Sunbrella is famously easy to clean. Most spills can be addressed with mild soap and water. For tougher stains, you can use a diluted bleach solution without damaging the fabric coloration, a major advantage of its material.
Which fabric is better for a very sunny patio?
For areas with intense, direct sunlight, Sunbrella is the superior choice. Its unmatched UV resistance is designed to prevent fading and material breakdown from sun exposure better than nearly any other outdoor textile.
Is Pottery Barn's fabric waterproof?
Pottery Barn's fabric is not waterproof but is highly water-resistant. This means water will bead up and roll off the surface, but it can become saturated if left in standing water or heavy, persistent rain.
Why is Sunbrella so well-regarded?
Sunbrella has been an innovator in performance fabric for over 60 years. Its reputation is built on extensive, long-term testing and proven reliability in the most demanding environments, from boats to commercial awnings and residential patios.
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