Leatherwork Merit Badge
Five requirements. Requirement 1 is the hazards of leatherwork tools and materials, and first aid shown for injuries and illnesses from working with leather. Requirement 2 explains leather and its kinds. Requirement 3 is one or more leather articles using at least five of eight steps, and 4 is a braided or plaited article. Requirement 5 is ONE of: the commercial tanning process, tanning a small skin, caring for leather articles, or visiting a leather business.
Elective Merit Badges Arts Hobbies Merit Badges Requirements Safety
The plan behind this
Safety first
1(a) explains the hazards you are most likely to encounter using leatherwork tools and materials, and what to do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, or lessen them. 1(b) shows first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while working with leather, including minor cuts and scratches, puncture wounds, ingested poisoning, and reactions from exposure to chemicals such as dyes, cements, and finishes.
Requirement 3: at least FIVE of eight steps
Make one or more articles of leather that, between them, use at least five of:
| part | step |
|---|---|
| 3(a) | pattern layout and transfer |
| 3(b) | cutting leather |
| 3(c) | punching holes |
| 3(d) | carving or stamping surface designs |
| 3(e) | applying dye or stain and finish to the project |
| 3(f) | assembly by lacing or stitching |
| 3(g) | setting snaps and rivets |
| 3(h) | dressing edges |
Requirement 4: braid or plait
An article braided or plaited out of leather, vinyl lace, or paracord.
Requirement 5: ONE of four
| route | what it asks |
|---|---|
| 5(a) | learn about the commercial tanning process and report about it to your counselor |
| 5(b) | tan the skin of a small animal; describe the safety precautions you will take and the tanning method you used |
| 5(c) | recondition, or show you can take proper care of, your shoes, a baseball glove, a saddle, furniture, or other leather articles; discuss the advantages or disadvantages of leather vs. synthetic materials |
| 5(d) | visit a leather-related business (a leathercraft supply company, a tannery, a leather goods or shoe factory, or a saddle shop) and report on your visit |
Requirement 2: the explanation
Where leather comes from, the kinds of hides used to make it, five types of leather, and the best uses for each type.
What this page is
The Leatherwork merit badge, drawn so the safety and first aid of requirement 1 come first and the things you make stand out, with the steps of requirement 3 drawn as a multiple-choice question and requirement 5 as a question. It is not a copy of the requirements: each step is a short label with a link to the official requirements, which are what actually governs and which change from year to year. The free official pamphlet is the fuller guide.
Sources for this page
- Leatherwork Merit Badge Requirements, Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-09-19 · The requirements themselves, and the free official pamphlet linked from them.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.0.3 · The process every merit badge is earned through, which this page does not repeat.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.4.3 · Which version of a changed requirement applies to a Scout who has already started.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 4.0.0.1 · Why the requirements are not in the Guide to Advancement and are expected to change annually.
Last checked against its sources on .