Wyzenbeek vs Martindale: Abrasion Testing Compared

In short: the Martindale test (ISO 12947) rubs fabric in a figure-eight against wool and reports cycles. The Wyzenbeek test (ASTM D4157) rubs it back and forth against cotton duck or wire screen and reports double rubs. The two results aren't interchangeable for each other.

What Is Abrasion Testing? 

The Martindale Test (ISO 12947 / ASTM D4966)

Martindale is the predominant method in Europe, the UK, Australia, and most international markets. The machine rubs a circular fabric specimen against a standard worsted wool cloth in a continuous, multi-directional pattern known as a Lissajous curve. It begins as a straight line, gradually widens into an ellipse, and returns to a line again, so the fibres are worn from every direction.

Results are reported in cycles, often simply called rubs.

Both tests answer the same question: 

how well does a fabric surface resist wear?

The thing is that they ask it in different ways. That is why a fabric specified for a project in Chicago and the same fabric specified in London will usually carry two different-looking numbers. 

Section 2: Deep dive into how the two abrasion tests work

The Martindale Test for Fabric Rub Counts

Small discs of the fabric are clamped into specimen holders on the Martindale machine and pressed against the wool abradant under a fixed load. For upholstery, that load is around 12 kPa (roughly the pressure of a seated person).

The holders then trace their figure-eight path, one cycle after another. At set intervals, typically every 5,000 cycles for upholstery, a technician stops the machine and inspects the samples. The test ends when two threads have broken, or when the surface shows a clear change in appearance such as a hole or heavy wear. The last completed interval becomes the fabric’s Martindale rating.

Because several specimens are tested at once and the motion constantly changes direction, Martindale is well suited to simulating the varied, fabric-on-fabric wear that seating receives in daily life.

Wyzenbeek Abrasion Testing: Introducing Double Rubs

For the Wyzenbeek test, specimens are cut in both the warp (lengthwise) and weft (crosswise) directions of the fabric. Each one is stretched under tension over a curved surface and held firmly in place. An oscillating arm, covered with the abradant, then sweeps back and forth across the sample under controlled pressure.

The test ends when two yarns break or when noticeable wear appears. The number of double rubs completed up to that point is the result.

Wyzenbeek Uses Different Abradants

In a Wyzenbeek test, the upholstery fabric is rubbed against one of two specified materials, and the choice has a large effect on the result.

• Cotton duck is a heavy cotton canvas. It is the gentler of the two and the traditional standard for woven upholstery in North America. On the same fabric, it produces higher double rub counts than wire screen.
• Wire screen is a metal mesh. It is far more aggressive, and is used mainly for vinyls, polyurethane-coated fabrics, faux leathers, and some highly durable contract textiles. Because the surface is harsher, it produces lower counts.

The difference can be pretty big, actually. A fabric that reaches 100,000 double rubs on cotton duck may record only a fraction of that on wire screen.

Why Martindale Is Different

Martindale uses neither cotton duck nor wire screen. Instead, the standard test relies on:

1. a standardised worsted wool abrasive fabric
2. a defined pressure and a defined motion
3. a fabric-on-fabric style of wear

So, when we see 100,000 Wyzenbeek and 100,000 Martindale, those numbers do not mean the same thing. And when we see 100,000 Wyzenbeek (cotton duck) and 100,000 Wyzenbeek (wire screen), those do not mean the same thing either. A rub count is only meaningful alongside the method and abradant used to produce it. 

Section 4: Practical realities: rub counts are a starting point

Abrasion resistance is an important indicator of upholstery durability, but it's not the only one. A laboratory test isolates one form of wear under fixed conditions. In real life, how long upholstery lasts also depends on how it's used, how it's cared for, the environment it 'lives' in, and how the furniture itself is built. Once a fabric comfortably exceeds the requirement for its end use, other qualities, such as softness, drape, breathability, and how it looks after years of cleaning, often matter more.

• Pilling resistance helps maintain appearance. 
• Seam integrity supports long-term performance. 
• Colourfastness contributes to lasting aesthetics. 
• Lightfastness testing shows how well colours stand up to sunlight.
• Thoughtful care helps preserve fabric appearance. Regular vacuuming and cleaning remove the dirt and grit that settle between fibres and act as a fine abrasive with every use.
• Appropriate cleaning methods support long-term performance. Following the manufacturer’s care recommendations protects the fibres, the backing etc.

Interested in textiles testing? Find out what all these terms mean in our performance fabrics guide.

In Conclusion

Martindale and Wyzenbeek are the two key methodologies for abrasion testing in upholstery. 

Martindale, under ISO and ASTM standards, rubs fabric against wool in a figure-eight and counts cycles. Wyzenbeek, under ASTM D4157, rubs it back and forth against cotton duck or wire screen and counts double rubs. 

Each is valuable, and neither can be converted into the other.

Read correctly, alongside the test method, the abradant, and the intended application, a rub count is a reliable guide to how well a fabric will stand up to daily wear. Read together with pilling, seam slippage, and colourfastness results, it becomes part of a far more complete picture.

At FibreGuard, we believe performance should never come at the expense of comfort. Our fabrics are tested in our accredited laboratory against international standards, so they meet the durability demands of homes, hotels, and workplaces while keeping the soft, luxurious touch that makes our stain resistant upholstery a pleasure to live with.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Martindale test performed?

1. Discs of the fabric are mounted in specimen holders on the testing machine.
2. Each sample is pressed against a standard worsted wool abradant under controlled pressure.
3. The holders move in a continuous figure-eight pattern, mimicking the multi-directional friction of sitting, shifting, and getting up.
4. The samples are inspected at set intervals until two threads break or the surface shows a clear change in appearance.

The number of cycles completed is recorded as the fabric’s Martindale rating.

Why use a figure-eight motion?

In real life, wear rarely happens in just one direction. People sit down, shift position, lean, and stand up in many different ways. The figure-eight motion recreates this multi-directional wear and works the fibres from every angle.

How is the Wyzenbeek test performed?

1. Fabric samples, cut in both warp and weft directions, are pulled taut and mounted on a curved surface.
2. An abradant, usually cotton duck or sometimes wire screen, is placed against the fabric.
3. The abradant moves back and forth in a straight line under controlled pressure.
4. The motion is repeated thousands of times until two yarns break or noticeable wear appears.
5. The result is reported as the number of double rubs completed.

What is the difference between cycles and double rubs?

Martindale measures abrasion resistance in cycles; Wyzenbeek measures it in double rubs. Because the tests use different motions, pressures, and abradants, a cycle is not the same as a double rub, and results should be read within the context of each test rather than compared directly.

Can Martindale and Wyzenbeek results be converted?

No. There is no reliable conversion formula. The tests differ in motion, specimen set-up, and abradant, and Wyzenbeek results also vary with the abradant used. Any conversion chart should be treated with caution.

Does a high rub count guarantee long fabric life?

No. A fabric rated at 100,000 double rubs is not necessarily better overall, or more comfortable, than one rated at 40,000. Choosing a fabric that comfortably meets the needs of its end use allows softness, breathability, and comfort to be weighed alongside durability.

What other performance tests should be considered for upholstery?

Overall durability also depends on pilling resistance (graded 1 to 5), seam slippage, colourfastness to rubbing and light, and cleanability.

What information should appear alongside an abrasion rating?

• The test method (Martindale or Wyzenbeek)
• The number of cycles or double rubs
• The abradant used (cotton duck or wire screen, for Wyzenbeek)
• The intended application (residential, commercial, hospitality)
• Other durability measures, such as pilling resistance, seam slippage, and colourfastness