What is the difference between cotton and linen canvases?

Painting canvases are made from cotton or linen fibres. There are benefits to each type, and plenty more to consider when you’re planning to use canvas as an artist. We take a look at the key differences between the two surfaces and address your commonly asked questions.

Do cotton and linen canvases have different textures?

Cotton is a soft, fluffy fibre that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants. The plant is native to the Americas, Africa and India, and is most frequently spun into yarn or thread to create a soft, breathable textile. 

Linen is made from the fibres of the flax plant; top quality flax is harvested mainly in Western Europe. It has a finer texture than cotton and is regarded as having a more ‘natural’ weaved finish. This makes it better for detailed work – the more obvious texture of cotton can obscure fine lines in a painting. If properly primed and stretched, it offers the smoothest and stiffest painting surface. It’s easier painting on a smoother surface, although some artists prefer canvas with more ‘tooth’, so the texture of the weave shows through the paint. 

Which is more expensive, cotton or linen canvas?

The advantage of cotton, for many people, is its affordability. Linen is more expensive. Linen’s strength comes from the fact that its threads, known as warp and weft threads, weigh the same. That means they’re less prone to expansion or contraction due to moisture.

Which is more durable out of cotton and linen?

A properly prepared cotton canvas will last for a good length of time, and it is the most popular surface for oil and acrylic painting, especially among students. However, linen is stronger, and ensures your painting will stand the test of time. Linen retains its natural oils, which helps to preserve the fibres’ flexibility and stops the canvas from becoming brittle. If you want to sell or exhibit your work, a linen canvas is a sound investment. It’s still regarded as the gold standard by classically trained artists.

Which is easier to use, cotton or linen?

A key advantage of cotton is that it stretches very easily, whereas linen can be difficult to prime and stretch properly. It’s possible to stretch cotton tighter than linen without straining the wooden support around the canvas, and a heavy-grade cotton can make up for its lack of strength and weight. 

Cotton is considered too flexible for very large paintings, however. And because of its strength, linen holds up to a heavy painting hand and does not become slack as easily as cotton canvas. 

How sustainable are cotton and linen?

Cotton production involves heavy use of water and pesticides, whereas naturally pest-resistant flax can grow in poor soil and is kinder on the environment.