Sunbrella vs. Crypton vs. Revolution: Which Performance Fabric Is Best for Indoor Sofas?

Sunbrella, Crypton, and Revolution all make durable, stain-resistant upholstery fabric, but they get there in three different ways. Sunbrella is a solution-dyed acrylic best known for outdoor UV resistance. Crypton is a protective technology applied to approved fabrics through an immersion process. Revolution Performance Fabrics are woven from olefin yarn whose stain resistance is inherent — no topical treatments at all. For an indoor sofa, the right choice comes down to how each one resists stains, how you clean it, and what chemistry you're bringing into your home.

What's the actual difference between Sunbrella, Crypton, and Revolution?

The clearest way to compare the three is by where the performance comes from:

One distinction matters more than the brand names: performance yarns versus performance treatments. Sunbrella and Revolution are performance fibers — the durability and stain resistance are built into the yarn before the fabric is woven. Crypton is a performance technology — Crypton describes an immersion process that transforms approved fabrics "at a molecular level" and fuses with the yarns rather than coating them. We've written about why that distinction matters in Performance Fabrics: Performance Yarns or Chemical Treatments?

What is Sunbrella best for?

Sunbrella built its reputation outdoors. It's a solution-dyed acrylic, which means the color saturates each fiber all the way through instead of being applied to the surface, and the brand is known for UV resistance, color retention, and mildew resistance. Retailers note that many Sunbrella collections carry 5- or 10-year warranties depending on the line. If your project is a patio cushion, a boat cover, or a sunroom sectional that takes direct sun all day, Sunbrella's acrylic fiber is the benchmark most people compare against.

Indoors, those same traits carry over — acrylic resists fading near bright windows — though an indoor sofa rarely needs marine-grade UV protection, so you may be paying for performance you won't use.

What is Crypton best for?

Crypton comes at the problem from the opposite direction: instead of starting with a performance fiber, it starts with pre-tested, approved fabrics and adds protection. According to Crypton's own FAQ, approved fabrics go through an immersion process that adds permanent stain and odor protection, and most Crypton fabric includes a moisture barrier that keeps spills from soaking into cushions (the Crypton Home line omits the integrated barrier). That barrier is a big part of why Crypton is specified so often in restaurants, healthcare, and other contract interiors.

The trade-off is that Crypton is a treatment applied to someone else's base cloth, so the hand, weight, and durability vary with the underlying fabric — and you'll usually buy it through a furniture brand or showroom rather than directly.

What is Revolution best for?

Revolution Fabrics is performance upholstery fabric woven in Kings Mountain, North Carolina from olefin yarn. Olefin is 100% polypropylene, a fiber that doesn't absorb water-based spills, so the stain resistance is inherent in the yarn itself — Revolution adds no topical stain treatments, and the fabric contains no PFC/PFAS chemicals, formaldehyde, heavy metals, phenols, phthalates, or added flame retardants.

Because the performance can't wash off or wear away, Revolution fabrics are bleach-cleanable without discoloring: a diluted bleach solution handles the stains that defeat soap and water, which is why these fabrics show up so often in homes with dogs, cats, and kids. Durability is rated in double rubs — for example, Hailey tests at 102,000 double rubs and Ocala at 100,000, well beyond typical residential thresholds. (New to rub counts? See our guide to what double rub counts mean.)

Revolution is also the only one of the three sold direct-to-consumer by the yard, with swatches shipped to your door — browse the performance fabric collection or the Crypton Alternative collection to compare specific patterns.

How do the three handle stains and cleaning?

All three clean up everyday messes with soap and water. The differences show at the extremes. Sunbrella says cleaning solutions such as bleach won't damage its acrylic. Crypton recommends blotting spills, water, and mild soap. Revolution's olefin is bleach-cleanable without discoloring — and because there's no topical treatment, there's nothing to re-apply after deep cleaning. If bleach-safe cleaning is the deciding factor for you, our guide to bleach-cleanable upholstery fabric goes deeper.

Which should you choose for an indoor sofa?

• Choose Sunbrella for outdoor furniture, sunrooms, or indoor pieces in intense direct sunlight where fade resistance is the top priority.
• Choose Crypton when you're buying finished furniture from a brand that offers it, or specifying contract interiors where a moisture barrier is required.
• Choose Revolution Fabrics for indoor or outdoor sofas, sectionals, and chairs in real family homes — inherent stain resistance with no PFAS chemistry, bleach-cleanable, made in the USA, and available by the yard without a trade account.

Still deciding whether performance fabric is worth the upgrade at all? Start with Is Performance Fabric Worth It for a Sofa?

Frequently asked questions

Is Revolution fabric the same thing as Crypton?

No. Crypton is a protective technology applied to approved fabrics through an immersion process. Revolution is a woven olefin fabric whose stain resistance is inherent in the yarn — no treatment is applied. Both resist stains; they get there differently.

Can you use Sunbrella or Revolution indoors?

Yes. Sunbrella's acrylic works indoors, especially in sunny rooms. Revolution is designed first for indoor residential upholstery and is rated by double rubs for everyday seating.

Which is easiest to clean?

All three handle routine spills with soap and water. Revolution and Sunbrella both state their fabrics tolerate bleach; Revolution's olefin is bleach-cleanable without discoloring, which matters for set-in pet and food stains.

Does Revolution fabric contain PFAS?

No. Revolution Fabrics contain no PFC/PFAS chemicals and no topical stain treatments — the stain resistance comes from the olefin fiber itself.

Where can I buy each one by the yard?

Sunbrella and Crypton are sold through dealers, showrooms, and furniture brands. Revolution Fabrics sells direct at revolutionfabrics.com, by the yard, with swatches available for any pattern.