What the terms mean
Canvas is a heavy plain-weave fabric, traditionally cotton. Duck cloth is a closely related term for a tightly woven canvas, often sold by a numbered grade or by weight. In dog bed quotes, both words are used for a sturdy, matte, slightly textured cover.
Some canvas on the market is a cotton and polyester blend, or fully polyester made to look like canvas. The fiber content decides how the fabric washes, so it must be stated.
Strengths
- A dense weave that resists scratching and light snagging.
- A natural look that suits living room use.
- A surface that wipes clean and holds up to regular washing when the fiber is cotton or a blend.
- Good fit for chew-tolerant designs when the seams and zipper are also reinforced.
Limits to explain to your customers
Cotton absorbs moisture. A cotton canvas cover left damp can develop odor or mildew, so it needs to dry fully. Cotton can also shrink in a hot wash, which affects how a removable cover fits over the insert.
Ask the supplier whether the fabric is pre-washed or pre-shrunk, and by how much it is expected to shrink. Where the supplier cannot give a figure, wash a sample at the care label temperature and measure it before and after.
Natural canvas can also show color transfer when new. Wash dark covers separately for the first wash, and put that on the care card.
Specification fields
| Field to confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Fiber content | Cotton, blend, or polyester. This changes shrinkage, drying time, and the care label. |
| Weight (g/m2) or grade | Duck grades are not standardized across mills, so ask for measured weight. |
| Pre-shrink treatment | Determines whether the cover fits the insert after washing. |
| Finish | Ask whether any water-repellent or stain-resistant finish is applied, and how it is described in the test report. |
| Seam and zipper | Canvas is heavy; a light zipper may fail before the fabric does. |
Sample checks
Wash the sample once at the label setting and check shrinkage, color loss, and seam puckering. Weigh and measure it dry. Record the result in the sample file so you can compare it with the production lot.
If the cover is meant to be removable, test how easily it goes back on after washing. A cover that fits tightly when new can become a struggle after a small amount of shrinkage.
Related product line: Outdoor dog beds. Quotes and specifications are confirmed in writing for each order.