Waterproof Fabric Guide

As a small-to-medium sized fabric printing business, we research all about the various types of fabric that we print on. Here is an updated guide to waterproof fabric.

These days, various types of waterproof fabric are being produced that do more than just breathe and withstand moisture. Current methods used to make a modern fabric waterproof include either laminating the fabric or coating it with a special substance such as wax, silicone, rubber and polyurethane (PU).

Waterproof fabrics also offer a variety of bio-based materials and chemical-free waterproof treatments, sustainable fibres that can sense moisture and react by repelling it. There are also several improved coatings that enhance the material's durability. 

The Difference Between Waterproof, Water-Resistant & Water Repellent Fabrics

These terms are NOT the same thing, so check out the list below before you buy fabric:

• Waterproof: Blocks water completely, even if exposed for long periods of time, or using heavy pressure. To do this, it’s coated with specialised membranes and solid barriers, and specially sealed seams that don’t allow liquid through. Use this fabric for weather conditions that include severe, sustained storms and downpours.
• Water-Resistant: Slows down the rate at which water seeps through, but water will soak through in the end. For a fabric to be water resistant, it needs to be tightly woven, which is why polyester and nylon are such popular choices. Use this fabric to deter light water splashes, accidental liquid spills and brief exposure to a light mist of water (often used by outdoor restaurants to cool customers).
• Water-Repellent: If the fabric has a coating that has been treated with a special chemical finish, like silicone, water will form beads and roll off the material. Use this type of fabric on clothing that needs to withstand light rain or drizzle and humidity.

Fascinating Facts About Fabrics That Repel Water

1.  Waterproof fabric is the most resistant to water, while a water-resistant fabric is less so. Manufacturers often weave waterproof fabric far more tightly than water-resistant material so the water struggles to penetrate. That’s what makes the fabric the most resistant to water. Examples of waterproof fabric for outdoor furniture include nylon and polyester.
2.  Water-resistant fabrics resist less water but are not completely resistant to water. Examples of this type of fabric include cotton, which is not as tightly woven as synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester. The fabrics that are both waterproof and breathable are treated with an outer layer called "face fabric". This fabric layer is made from polyester or nylon fabric. There's also a laminated coating created from either polyurethane (PU) or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon® and often used to make non-stick cookware) that is used on these fabrics.
3.  Water repellent material sits between the two. It’s not tightly woven like waterproof fabric, or naturally resistant like water-resistant fabric. It’s treated with a special chemical coating such as PUL (polyurethane laminated) fabric, which causes water to bead and roll off the fabric surface instead of soaking into it. Common examples of this type of fabric include treated cotton canvas and polyester fabrics, which are often used to cover outdoor furniture.

Examples of Waterproof Fabric

These are the most popular fabrics used for various home furnishings and clothing:

ELS (Extra-Long-Staple) Cotton

This type of cotton fabric comes mainly from California in the US. It’s a very dense fabric, produced from specially cultivated extra-long fibres that are woven together. As it’s an excellent waterproof fabric, people use it to make outerwear to use in extreme weather conditions. They also use this cotton fabric for quilting waterproof bed protectors, and for sheets. Often, the cotton fabrics are used as part of a fabric blend to create other waterproof clothing, such as pants and shirts.

Gore-tex®

Manufacturers created this very hard-wearing, waterproof synthetic fabric from stretched Teflon threads (polytetrafluoroethylene). The fabric is mostly used for camping equipment, luggage, army uniforms, and in various countries' space programmes. What sets Gore-tex® fabrics apart from other waterproof fabric is that it’s also breathable.

Latex & Natural Rubber

Latex fabric products are made from either synthetic rubber or natural rubber (the natural sap from the rubber tree). The natural version is hardwearing and biodegradable, so it’s an extremely sustainable fabric. Both these fabrics are water resistant; this type of fabric is often used to make everything from rubber gloves to clothing and seat covers.

Microfibre

This soft fabric is mostly used as a cloth for cleaning mobile phones, computer screens and glasses. The fabric is most often polyester. It's water-resistant and then coated to make it 100% waterproof. It's commonly used for jackets and bed sheets.

Nylon & Polyester

These two fabrics have a tight weave, which is ideal for a water-resistant product. If treated, polyester fabric is the perfect choice for a variety of outdoor products, including umbrellas, outdoor patio furniture and raincoats. Before polyester fabrics are treated, they are not entirely waterproof: when one weaves the polymer fibres into the fabric, water can soak through the gaps in the fabric’s weave. So manufacturers treat these outdoor fabrics to make them waterproof and more hard-wearing. 

Oilcloth

We initially made this type of fabric from tightly woven linen or duck cloth. Also known as ‘enamelled cloth’, the fabric is coated in boiled linseed oil, which stiffens the material and makes it waterproof and durable.

However, we rarely use this fabric for clothing anymore; in the past it was used to make sailors’ coats and boat sails. 

These days, oilcloth is coated with clear vinyl (see "vinyl" below). The fabric, which comes in both matte and shiny textures, is very hard-wearing and easy to clean. This type of material is primarily used for manufacturing luggage as well as for waterproof mattress covers in hospitals.

Vinyl

Made from PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, this fabric is extremely hard wearing, long lasting and waterproof. Called “pleather” or “faux leather”, we used it to produce music records from vinyl and also used it to make some iconic garments of clothing, especially in the punk rock era (1970s). Currently, we use vinyl fabric to make rain jackets, handbags and other water-resistant clothing and accessories.

Wool

Wool is a most interesting natural fibre. Not only is it naturally water-resistant, but it also absorbs water: in fact, this fabric can soak up to 30% of its natural weight in water! 

To make the fabric more water-resistant, we coat wool fabric with a thin layer of lanolin oil. However, this coating has to be regularly re-applied, or it won’t remain water-resistant. Before we make wool fabric garments, we usually boil the fabric in hot water to ensure it stays water-resistant. 

Waterproof Fabric Innovations in 2026

Until recently, the focus was on fluorinated chemicals, also called PFAS. However, as of October 2026, the EU will put new REACH restrictions in place, banning a subgroup of PFAS that are often used in durable water repellent (DWR) treatments for clothing and accessory fabrics that repel water, oil and stains, particularly in rain jackets and waterproofing sprays. Although UK legislation doesn’t have a similar ban, it’s just a matter of time before these substances will be banned here, too.

There is some good news: there's a waterproof coating that could solve the waterproof problem. According to an article published on the website TechXplore, a research term from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new “one-step fabrication strategy termed MARS (Molecularly Assembled Robust Superhydrophobic Shell). From this, superhydrophobic fabrics are being produced that work wonders under harsh conditions, "ranging from steam at 160°C to liquid nitrogen at -196°C”. The fabric remains soft and breathable despite its coating.

There’s more good news. Aside from scientific breakthroughs, waterproofing fabric technology is also embracing biology. I’ve discussed mycelium in previous blogs on maake. It is the root structure of mushrooms, used by savvy designers like Stella McCartney to create plant-based leather fabrics (see the maake blog on Alternative Leather).

This substance is now being developed into “naturally breathable waterproof membranes”, a great alternative to those produced from petroleum products. Cutting-edge fashion tech company Heuritech is responsible for this research. In an article on its website, Heuritech notes that “Bio-based and recycled materials are no longer niche alternatives; they have become the new industry standard in 2026. High-value fibres like Lyocell… and innovative materials derived from algae or mushrooms exemplify a successful reduction in reliance on resource-intensvie crops such as conventional cotton.”

The brand says the focus in 2026 “is moving beyond mere use to scalable circularity. Brands are now prioritising fibre-to-fibre technologies to handle complex textile blends…” It predicts that mycelium leather“ will reach $336 million (around £252 million) by 2033”.