11 Best Fabrics That Glow In The Dark
I went looking for glow-in-the-dark fabric for a Halloween quilt and learned quickly that this is a small corner of the fabric world. The short answer: the best ones are 100% cotton prints where the design itself glows rather than the whole surface, they keep glowing for roughly a hundred washes, and almost none of them carry more than a couple of hundred reviews. Below are the eleven I would cut into, with the real review counts stated so you can judge the thin ones yourself.
So, what are the best fabrics that glow in the dark? The best glow-in-the-dark fabrics are made of durable and high-quality materials, produce a bright glow at night, are easy to work with, and feature a design that fits with your aesthetic preferences.
This article will tell you all about glow-in-the-dark fabric and introduce you to a few of our favorite ones available to buy online.
What Makes Fabrics Glow In The Dark?
Products that are marketed as glow-in-the-dark actually contain a chemical substance called phosphor, which emits light when it is energized. Because of this characteristic, it’s commonly used in TV screens and computer monitors. In a standard incandescent light, ultraviolet light activates the phosphor, which then produces a light that appears white to us.
When it comes to making glow-in-the-dark things, the key is a phosphor that has a long-term persistence and is energized by normal light. Zinc Sulfide and Strontium Aluminate both meet these requirements.
Why does this matter anyway? Well, glow-in-the-dark stuff doesn’t glow in the dark by itself; it’s actually coated with phosphor in order to glow in the dark.
When you buy fabric that glows in the dark, you should pay attention to how many wash cycles it can handle. After a certain amount of washes, the phosphor will wash away completely, and the fabric will no longer glow.
Usually, this number is about 100 washes, so if you want the fabric to glow in the dark for longer, you will need to limit how often you wash the fabric to keep its glow-in-the-dark properties for longer.
When it comes to using glow-in-the-dark fabrics, it’s best to use them for things that will be washed infrequently, like wall hangings, tents, bags, clutches, or decorative pillows.
Don’t use glow-in-the-dark fabrics for sheets or other garments that need to be laundered frequently, or you’ll lose the glow-in-the-dark properties faster!
Phosphor-Coated Fabric Vs. Printed Vs. Embellished Fabrics
If you want to purchase glow-in-the-dark fabrics, you’ll find that there are two common variations. Phosphor-coated fabrics are usually plain pieces of fabrics that have been coated with phosphor all the way across their surface, so the entire piece of fabric will glow in the dark.
While this is great if you want to create glow-in-the-dark designs on your own, they’re not great if you want to wash the fabric. The phosphor won’t come off evenly after each wash, and after a few washes, you’ll find that the glow-in-the-dark effect will no longer be even.
Then, we have the printed fabrics. This type of fabric is basically printed with phosphoric ink on a plain background, so while the background fabric won’t glow in the dark, the design will.
This is quite a treat if you want to make wall hangings and table runners that glow in the dark at parties, and you won’t have to worry about the phosphor looking uneven after a few washes.
Finally, we have embellished fabrics, which have glitter or other design elements that have been treated with phosphor. The embellishments are basically laying on top of the fabric, so you’ll only see the embellished patterns glow in the dark.
We suggest not washing this type of fabric because the embellishments may come off and ruin your washing machine. This type of fabric is best suited for making handbags and hats that perhaps don’t need to be laundered very often.
Uses For Glow-In-The-Dark Fabrics
The main function of the glow-in-the-dark fabric is to emit light in the dark, and there are plenty of applications for this.
An obvious use for glow-in-the-dark fabric is for Halloween decorations such as tablecloths and napkins, and also costumes that need an extra touch of supernatural-looking light. You can create your own creepy-crawly designs with the glow-in-the-dark fabric and use them to decorate your home for Halloween for an extra spooky touch.
Glow-in-the-dark fabric is also perfect for making visibility clothing, especially when you’re working outside in poor light conditions. If you’re working a job that requires you to be outside after dark, then why not make yourself a vest or some other piece of clothing with glow-in-the-dark fabric? It’s the perfect way to keep yourself safe while you work.
If you’re a bartender or club owner, then glow-in-the-dark fabrics would make amazing upholstery and decor items. From simple bunting to more elaborate handmade designs, there are all kinds of exciting things you can make if you’ve got some imagination.
It’s also a great alternative to expensive decors if you want to change the mood or atmosphere of your bar or club. If you just want to make some fun quilts or sheets for your child’s bedroom, there are also tons of designs available for glow-in-the-dark fabrics.
For this option, make sure to get 100% cotton fabrics so that when the glow-in-the-dark feature washes off, you will still have perfectly functional sheets that are delightful to have in your child’s bed.
How To Care For Glow-In-The-Dark Fabrics
The glow-in-the-dark fabric has a small amount of phosphorous material added to it, which makes it glow in the dark. If the garment is washed too many times, then the phosphor will wash away and eventually stop glowing in the dark.
If you want to preserve the glow-in-the-dark material for as long as possible, then make sure you follow these instructions:
First, you should wash the fabric very infrequently and only when needed. Washing causes friction against the phosphorous material, which causes it to peel off. So if you are washing your garment frequently, then the garment will stop glowing after 100 washes or so.
To reduce friction against the glow-in-the-dark fabric and to prevent fading, make sure you hand wash your garment or at least use delicate settings in the washing machine to prevent the phosphor from being rubbed off unevenly in the wash.
When washing a glow-in-the-dark fabric, you should wash it separately from other garments. Since the phosphor can come off in the wash, you definitely don’t want it to get on your other garments. The other garments won’t glow in the dark, but the colors may look uneven or discolored.
For fabrics that have been embellished with glow-in-the-dark glitter, you should wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth rather than put it in the wash. Depending on the manufacturing process, the glitter can come off in the wash, which will create a flaky, uneven finish.
Best Fabrics That Glow In The Dark
What are the best fabrics that glow in the dark? It really depends on your project and how long you want the glow-in-the-dark effect to last. Let’s take a look at some popular options on the market below.
1. Bright Creations Faux Leather Sheet For Crafts
Are you looking for something to add some fun and excitement to your crafts? These glow-in-the-dark glitter faux leather sheets are perfect for your next craft projects.
This colorful sheet comes in 10 different colors, which makes it ideal for a wide range of projects. It’s made of soft and durable faux leather with glitter, which makes it very versatile. Each sheet measures 13.25 by 7.8 inches.
Each sheet is embellished with chunky glitter pieces that allow the sheets to light up in the dark, creating a unique and exciting effect. These faux leather sheets are strong, durable yet flexible, and easy to work with, perfect for beginners looking for a fun touch for their projects.
Because of the material, these sheets are quite easy to keep clean. Whether you’re creating earrings, bracelets, keychains, or any other accessories, these glow-in-the-dark leather sheets are a great choice for your project.
2. David Angie Plain Color Glow-In-The-Dark Fine Glitter Faux Leather
These beautiful faux leather sheets are made of PVC with a fine glitter finish.
The glitter is embedded in the faux leather, so it won’t fall off or rub off on your hands and other items. The glitter also glows in the dark, perfect for luxury handmade items.
The leather has a nice embossed finish that looks like it was made from shiny patent leather. In addition, this durable fabric can easily be cut, sewn, and glued into any shape you desire.
This durable faux leather can be used for any craft project. It is strong enough to withstand everyday wear-and-tear as well as regular use. Each sheet measures 7.7″ x 12.9″, enough for a medium-sized project.
3. Fabric Empire Store Vinyl Upholstery Glow-In-The-Dark Faux Leather
Truly unique, this fabric is a glow-in-the-dark faux leather vinyl upholstery fabric.
This is a faux leather fabric that continuously glows at night or in the dark for 8-10 hours after absorbing visible light. All you need to do is charge it by exposing it to visible light (natural or artificial), then turn off the lights and watch it glow.
This is a medium-weight upholstery grade vinyl and features a very smooth surface with a soft hand feel.
This fabric is also waterproof, wear-resistant, tear-resistant, durable, and easy to clean. It has great flexibility, and it’s perfect for upholstery or making accessories.
4. Timeless Treasures Glow-In-The-Dark Constellations Midnight
If you love to sew, then you know that the fabric makes all the difference. You want a fabric that is easy on your eyes and that you can work with. Glow-in-the-dark quilting fabric is a great option for those who are looking for something a little different.
This material is printed with constellation designs that glow in the dark, giving it a unique feel. The design makes it perfect for quilting, curtains, throws, and other projects.
In addition to its glow-in-the-dark feature, this 100% cotton fabric is lightweight and breathable, making for a perfect summer quilt. It can also be used as a blanket if you want something cozy without adding bulkiness.
5. Craftido Glow-In-The-Dark Luminous Velvet Fabric
Craftido sells this one by the yard at 63 inches wide, which is generous enough that a single yard covers a card table with room left over. It is a soft velvet rather than a stiff technical fabric, so it drapes instead of standing up on its own.
In daylight it reads as plain white. Leave it under a lamp for half an hour, kill the lights, and the whole surface goes a strong green. The glow sits in the fibers rather than being printed on top, so it covers the full width of the cut instead of following a pattern.
It carries 4.2 stars across 56 reviews. That is a thin number by most standards, and it is worth saying plainly: no glow-in-the-dark fabric on Amazon has more than a couple of hundred ratings, so 56 puts this near the top of what the category actually offers.
6. Timeless Treasures Halloween Glow-In-The-Dark Motifs Cotton Fabric
Timeless Treasures prints this on black quilting cotton and packs it with white Halloween line art. Ghosts, skeleton cats, spiderwebs, pumpkins, bats, gravestones, crescent moons and little poison bottles all turn up in the repeat. Charge it under a light and the printed motifs come back at you once the room goes dark, while the black ground stays dark.
It is 100% cotton by the yard, machine washable, and behaves like ordinary quilting cotton under the needle, so it suits costumes, table runners and Halloween quilts.
One caution on the numbers: it has a single five-star rating. That is not much to go on. If you are planning something large, buy a smaller cut first and see how the glow holds after a wash.
7. Henry Glass Glow Ghosts Tossed Bones Glow-In-The-Dark Fabric
Henry Glass prints this on a pale grey ground scattered with black skeleton cats, bats, bones and the occasional BOO. It is 100% cotton at 44 to 45 inches wide, kind to the skin, and machine washable.
The printed figures are what glow once the fabric has had some light on it, which keeps the effect crisp rather than washing the whole piece out. Two buyers have reviewed it and both gave it five stars, so read the rating as a starting point rather than a verdict.
8. Michael Miller Owls Aglow Glow-In-The-Dark Fabric
This is a navy quilting cotton covered in white line-drawn owls, each one patterned a little differently, with small starbursts filling the gaps. It is a softer, less spooky option than the Halloween prints above, and it works year round in a child’s room rather than for two weeks in October.
Michael Miller sells it by the yard in 100% cotton, so it takes a rotary cutter and a walking foot without complaint.
It has one five-star review, which tells you very little on its own. That is a common problem in a category this small, and it is the reason we are quoting the review count rather than hiding it.
9. Timeless Treasures Glow-In-The-Dark Science & Space
This 100% cotton fabric is perfect for quilting and craft projects and can be used as apparel or home decor accents.
This glow-in-the-dark fabric is made from 100% cotton fabric with a science and space printed design. With this quilting cotton, you can make space-inspired crafts and projects for your home.
This fabric is made with quality cotton material that is soft to touch and easy to sew on. It can be washed in your machine without the worry of the prints fading or bleeding.
The glow effect is activated by exposing the fabric to sunlight or an artificial light source like a lamp or flashlight for a few minutes. It can provide a long-lasting glow that gives a unique feel to your garment.
10. Michael Miller Super Fred Starlettes Glow-In-The-Dark Fabric
Stars, and a lot of them. The Starlettes print puts dense white five-pointed stars across a navy ground, with smaller ones filling the space between the larger ones, so there is no obvious repeat to line up when you are piecing.
It is 100% cotton by the yard and suits bedding, throws and pillowcases. The glow comes from the printed stars once they have taken on some light.
Like most of the Michael Miller glow line it has a single five-star rating, so the review count is not doing any real work here.
11. Michael Miller Light Up My World By The Light Of The Fire Glow-In-The-Dark Fabric
This print swaps rockets for campfires. Orange flames sit on a black ground with small yellow crescent moons, pinprick stars and grey tent shapes tucked between them, which makes it read as a night under canvas rather than outer space.
It is 100% cotton by the yard, easy to sew, and gentle enough for a child’s bedding. Charge it under a lamp and the fire and moon shapes hold their glow after lights out, which is rather the point if you are making it for a kid who stalls at bedtime.
It carries one five-star review. Michael Miller and Henry Glass are two of the few mills still printing glow quilting cotton and their listings turn over quickly, so a low review count here is normal rather than a warning sign.
Glow-In-The-Dark Fabric FAQ
What makes fabric glow in the dark?
Glow fabrics are coated or printed with phosphor, a substance that gives off light after ordinary light has energized it. Zinc sulfide and strontium aluminate are the two used most often, because they hold their charge long enough to be useful. The cloth itself does not glow; the phosphor does.
How many washes does glow-in-the-dark fabric survive?
Roughly 100. Every wash rubs a little phosphor away, so the glow first goes patchy and then stops. Wash the fabric as rarely as you can, hand wash it or use a delicate cycle, and keep it separate from other garments so the loose phosphor does not discolour them.
What is the difference between phosphor-coated, printed and embellished glow fabric?
A coated fabric carries phosphor across its whole surface, so the entire piece glows, but it wears unevenly in the wash. A printed fabric carries phosphoric ink in the design only, so the print glows against a dark ground and holds up far better to laundering. An embellished fabric has glitter or trims treated with phosphor sitting on top, and is best wiped clean with a damp cloth rather than washed.
What can you make with glow-in-the-dark fabric?
Anything that is not laundered often. Wall hangings, tents, bags, clutches and decorative pillows all work well, as do Halloween tablecloths and costumes, bar and club upholstery, and quilts or curtains for a child’s room. Skip sheets and everyday clothing, which need washing too frequently to keep the glow.
Do any glow-in-the-dark fabrics have hundreds of reviews?
No. The most-reviewed glow fabric still in stock on Amazon carries 184 ratings, and most of the printed quilting cottons sit in the single digits. That is a measure of how small the category is rather than a sign the fabrics are poor, which is why the review count is quoted on every pick above.
Up Next: Best Outdoor Glow-In-The-Dark Paints
