Leather Thickness for Belts and Straps

Belts and straps sit at the heavy end of everyday leatherwork. One supplier says heavier leathers of 8-10 oz are generally best for belts, sheaths and holsters¹.

What the charts suggest

A US thickness chart lists uses beside each weight range²:

So "belt" isn't one weight. A lighter belt for everyday clothes sits lower on that list, and a heavy belt sits higher.

An Australian supplier lists its bands in millimetres. It names 3.2 to 3.6 mm for standard belts, standard sheaths, straps and medium holsters, and 3.6 to 4.0 mm for heavy holsters and heavy belts³. In its list, belts also appear at 2.8 to 3.2 mm³.

The sources agree that belts lean heavy, but they don't give identical numbers. Use the range as a starting point. The Australian list puts heavy holsters and heavy belts in its 3.6 to 4.0 mm band, above the 3.2 to 3.6 mm band for standard belts³. The US chart names the same kind of use for its heavy weights². Neither source says every belt must be heavy, so check the use first.

Dog collars

None of these sources gives a figure for dog collars, so this page gives no collar weight. For straps, use the sourced ranges above.

Why not just go heavier

Heavier isn't always better. Leather that's too thick can be hard to fold or sew². At a buckle or loop, two layers meet, so the total can double. Pick a weight you can still fold at the buckle end.

Your hide won't be the same all over, either. Thickness varies across a hide and is thinnest at the edge¹, so measure along the strap (the variation notes).

Test the buckle end before you commit. Fold a scrap of the same leather over itself the way the belt will fold, and see whether it bends cleanly or fights you. If it fights, step down a weight or thin the fold area. Thinning means cutting leather away, so keep the blade moving away from you and your other hand clear.

Cutting straps safely

A strap cutter or knife makes thick leather easy to cut badly. Keep these habits:

• Cut away from your body and away from the hand holding the leather.
• Keep blades covered when you're not cutting.
• Keep knives and cutters well away from children.
• Cut on a mat, with the leather held flat.

Before you buy or cut

Check your piece first. The home measuring routine is quick, and the ounces to millimetres table turns the label into a number. For small goods that need slimmer leather, see the page on wallets and card holders.