Emu feathers vary in size from less than 1 inch to roughly 18 inches long. The smaller the feather, the softer. As the feathers increase in length, they become more straw-like in their feel. All of these feathers are double plumed, or have two feathers coming out of the same shaft. Feather color ranges from a soft off-white to shades of brown and seal.

There are 1 1/4 pounds of feathers on an adult bird. Of these, 3/4 to 1 pound are usable. Emu feathers are finding niches in a number of different industries, including the fashion, fishing, automotive and craft industries.