This page collects the questions we receive most frequently from restaurant and hotel buyers before placing their first order. Each answer links to a more detailed guide where relevant.

About the Product

What is the difference between genuine leather and PU leather menu covers?

Genuine leather is made from animal hide — typically full-grain or top-grain cowhide. It develops a patina with use, lasts five to ten years in normal restaurant service, and has a tactile quality that synthetic materials cannot fully replicate. PU leather is a polyurethane-coated synthetic material — more resistant to spills, easier to clean, lower in cost, and typically lasting two to four years before delamination at edges and corners. For a full comparison including cost-of-ownership analysis, see our leather vs PU guide.

How long do leather menu covers last?

Genuine leather covers in a fine dining or low-turnover environment typically last seven to ten years. In a high-volume casual dining environment, two to four years. PU leather covers last one to four years depending on volume and handling. For a full breakdown by material and venue type, see our durability guide.

What sizes do you supply?

We supply A5, A4, US Letter, A3, and any custom size specified to your insert dimensions. For a full size reference including dimension tables and regional standards, see our sizes guide.

Do you supply vegan leather menu covers?

Yes. We supply high-grade PU leather (which contains no animal products) and microfibre vegan leather. Microfibre vegan leather offers a closer hand-feel to genuine leather and better durability than standard PU. Contact us for pricing on microfibre specifications.

Can I get a sample before ordering in bulk?

Yes, and we recommend it for all first orders. We produce a physical sample to your exact specification — your leather colour, your logo, your format — within seven working days. The sample ships DHL and arrives in most of Europe in five to seven working days. The sample fee is credited against your bulk order. See our MOQ and sampling page for details.

About Customisation

Can you emboss my restaurant logo on the covers?

Yes. We offer blind debossing (the logo pressed into the leather without colour), gold foil stamping, silver foil stamping and custom foil colours. The embossing method is your choice; we produce a digital proof showing the logo on the cover before production. For file format requirements, see our logo embossing guide.

What file format do I need to send for my logo?

A vector file — .AI, .EPS or outlined PDF — is preferred. If you only have a raster file, send the highest-resolution PNG or TIFF available. If your file is too low resolution for embossing, we can trace it into a vector format for a small fee. Full details in our logo guide.

Can you match a specific leather colour?

Yes. We match to Pantone references for standard colours and to physical swatches for non-standard colours. For precise colour matching, we recommend ordering a physical sample in the matched colour before committing to bulk production — leather colour under restaurant lighting can differ from how it appears in photographs.

Can individual covers be personalised with different names?

Yes. Individual personalisation by laser engraving adds $1.50–$3.00 per piece depending on the length and complexity of the text. Provide a numbered spreadsheet listing the name or initials for each piece. See our corporate gifts guide for more on individual personalisation.

Can you produce coordinated sets — menu covers, wine list covers and check presenters in the same leather?

Yes, and this is what we recommend. Ordering all products together in a single production run ensures they are cut from the same leather batch, with the same dye lot, the same stitching thread and the same logo impression. See our check presenter guide and wine list covers for product details.

Can you produce non-standard formats — unusual sizes, multiple panels, interior pockets?

Yes. We produce covers to any dimension, with bi-fold, tri-fold or quad-fold configurations, internal pockets, card slots, pen loops, ribbon markers and silk or microfibre linings. Specify your requirements in the brief and we will include them in the digital proof.

About Ordering

What is your minimum order quantity?

50 pieces per product line. This means 50 menu covers, or 50 check presenters — each product type counts separately. For coordinated sets, each product in the set must meet the 50-piece MOQ independently. See our MOQ page for details.

How much do leather menu covers cost?

PU leather covers: $8–$15 per piece at MOQ 50 pcs. Genuine leather covers: $15–$25 per piece at MOQ 50 pcs. Prices vary by material grade, format complexity and quantity. Use the quote form for a specific price based on your specification.

What are your payment terms?

30% deposit before production begins; 70% balance after pre-shipment inspection approval and before DHL pickup. Payment by international bank transfer (T/T). We do not accept payment via Alibaba Trade Assurance for direct orders.

How long does the full order process take?

First order including sampling: approximately seven to nine weeks from initial brief to delivery (EU/UK). Repeat order without new sampling: approximately four to five weeks. For a detailed timeline breakdown, see our hotel sourcing guide — the timeline section applies to all product categories.

Can I order covers without a logo?

Yes. Plain covers without embossing are available at the same MOQ and lead time. Some buyers order plain covers initially while their branding is finalised, then order a logo batch once the design is confirmed.

About Delivery

Where do you deliver?

We deliver worldwide via DHL Express. Primary markets are Europe (UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain) and the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar). For delivery time estimates by country, see our UK guide, Europe guide and Middle East guide.

What does DHL shipping cost?

DHL shipping cost depends on the weight and dimensions of the shipment and the destination. For an order of 65 A4 leather menu covers (approximately 15–20 kg), DHL Express to a UK address is typically £90–£140. We include a DHL estimate in every quote.

Do I need to pay import duty?

Yes, for most destinations. EU buyers pay EU import duty (typically 3.7% for leather goods) plus VAT at the destination country rate. UK buyers pay UK import duty and UK VAT. VAT-registered businesses can typically reclaim import VAT. Duty is a non-reclaimable cost. See our Europe guide for EU customs detail and our UK guide for UK customs detail.

Can you deliver to multiple addresses from a single order?

Yes. For multi-site restaurant groups and hotel chains, we offer split shipping — a single production run delivered to multiple addresses via DHL. Provide a delivery manifest with each address and quantity before production and we build it into the shipping plan.

About Quality

How do I know the bulk order will match the sample?

The sampling process is the primary protection. Once you approve the physical sample, bulk production replicates the approved specification. Before shipment, we send a pre-shipment photo report — typically 15–20 photographs of covers from across the production batch — for your review before the order is dispatched. If the batch deviates significantly from the approved sample, we address it before the goods leave our facility.

Do you provide REACH compliance documentation?

Yes, on request. Third-party REACH testing is arranged through accredited laboratories in Guangzhou (SGS, Intertek or equivalent). Allow seven to ten additional working days for testing. Confirm this requirement when placing your order. See our Europe guide for more on EU compliance requirements.

Where are the covers produced?

In Shiling, Huadu District, Guangzhou — China’s largest leather goods manufacturing cluster, with over 8,000 manufacturers and 55,000+ product lines in the local supply chain. For background on the manufacturing infrastructure, see our Shiling guide.

Still Have Questions?

Use the quote form to send us your specification and any questions not answered here. We reply within 24 hours.

Browse our full product range: leather menu covers, check presenters, wine list covers and hotel leather goods.

HoReCa Leather supplies custom leather hospitality goods from Shiling, Guangzhou. MOQ from 50 pieces, 7-day sampling, DHL delivery worldwide.