What Is Jute Fabric? Types, Uses & Buying Guide

Jute fabric is one of the oldest and most versatile natural textiles in the world — and, after cotton, one of the most produced. You have almost certainly handled it: it is the coarse, golden-brown cloth of coffee sacks, garden landscaping rolls, rustic table runners and eco-friendly tote bags. This guide answers the questions people most often ask — what jute fabric is, what it is made of, its properties and uses, and where to buy it in bulk.

In one line

Jute fabric is a woven cloth made from the natural fibers of the jute plant. The plain-woven version is known as hessian or burlap; heavier weaves are used for sacking.

What is jute fabric made of?

Jute fabric is woven from the long, soft bast fibers of the jute plant (Corchorus species). The fiber is extracted from the plant stalks by retting (soaking) and stripping, then spun into jute yarn and woven into cloth. Because it is 100% plant-based, jute fabric is fully natural, renewable and biodegradable. We cover the raw material in depth in our jute fiber guide.

Is jute fabric the same as burlap and hessian?

Largely, yes — the terms overlap. “Hessian” (British/Commonwealth) and “burlap” (North American) both refer to the plain-woven jute fabric most people mean by “jute fabric.” Strictly, “jute fabric” is the broad category; hessian/burlap is its most common plain-weave form, and “sacking” is a heavier, coarser weave. For the full construction detail — weights, weave and widths — see our hessian & burlap specification guide.

Types of jute fabric

The main jute fabrics and where they are used.
Type	What it is	Typical use
Hessian / burlap	Standard plain-weave jute cloth	Packaging, bags, décor, crafts
Sacking	Heavier, coarser weave	Grain and commodity sacks
Carpet backing (CBC)	Fine, even-weave cloth	Backing for tufted carpets
Scrim	Light, open-weave cloth	Plaster reinforcement, laminating
Jute blends	Jute with cotton/other fibers	Apparel, furnishing, fashion

Jute fabric properties

Jute fabric's appeal comes from a rare mix of qualities at a very low price:

Strong — high tensile strength for its weight
Breathable — an open weave that lets contents “breathe,” reducing spoilage
Biodegradable & compostable — returns to soil, no microplastics
Renewable — from a fast-growing annual crop
Insulating & antistatic — useful in technical and packaging uses
Natural look & texture — prized in décor, retail and fashion

What is jute fabric used for?

Jute fabric appears across a remarkable range of industries:

Packaging — coffee, cocoa and grain sacks, liners and wraps
Agriculture & landscaping — erosion-control geo-textiles, root-ball wrap, weed control
Interiors & décor — wall coverings, upholstery backing, runners, lampshades
Retail & fashion — tote and gift bags, rustic packaging, accessories
Construction — plaster scrim, pipe wrapping

It is the same material behind our jute bags & sacks and hessian fabric.

Is jute fabric eco-friendly?

Very. Jute grows in months with little irrigation and minimal pesticide, absorbs CO₂ as it grows, and biodegrades completely at end of life — the opposite of woven polypropylene. It is one of the reasons buyers are switching back to natural fiber, which we explore in jute vs. synthetic fiber.

How is jute fabric made?

In short: the plant is harvested and retted, the fiber is stripped and dried, spun into yarn, and woven into cloth on looms — then finished, cut and rolled. We walk through the full sequence in how jute yarn is made and on our manufacturing process page.

Where to buy jute fabric in bulk

For wholesale and export quantities, the most cost-effective source is a manufacturer in Bangladesh — the origin of the world's finest jute — rather than a re-seller. Wahab Jute Mills weaves hessian, sacking and carpet-backing cloth to your weight, width and finish, and ships worldwide. Browse our products or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions