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An Easy 5 Step Guide to Pillow Sizes

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Have you ever looked at all the size options and wondered which one is right for you? While, it can seem daunting, there is a method to pillow sizing and we are here to demystify pillow sizes for you. Pillows vary in size and shape to accommodate personal preferences in look and feel. Different pillow sizes can offer more comfort when you sleep by varying the volume of fill. They also vary to fit different sized beds and pillow cases. Choosing the right pillow doesn’t have to be complicated. Just keep a few things in mind and you will be sure to pick the right size every time.

1. Know your bed pillow sizes to create the most comfy bed

Pillows come in a variety of sizes, mostly to match bed sizes. The Super Standard – most often called Standard/Queen or Jumbo – provides retailers an option in between the small and medium size so they can carry more styles of pillows on their wall. Our Pillow Sizes Chart below shows the most common sizes for each type of pillow but keep in mind that sizes can vary greatly so be sure to look at the size if you need something specific.

Pillow Sizes Chart

Standard Pillow Size

Standard Queen Pillow Size

Queen Pillow Size

King Pillow Size

Euro Pillow Size

Most Common Pillow Size

20" x 26"

20" x 28"

20" x 30"

20" x 36"

26" x 26"

24" x 24"

22" x 22"

20" x 20"

18" x 18"

16" x 16"

Pillow Sizes Chart

Standard Pillow Size

20" x 26"

Standard Queen Pillow Size

20" x 28"

Queen Pillow Size

20" x 30"

King Pillow Size

20" x 36"

Euro Pillow Size

26" x 26"

24" x 24"

22" x 22"

20" x 20"

18" x 18"

16" x 16"

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2. Match your pillows to your bed size, or get creative

It might sound simple to just buy a king pillow for a king bed but actually, you can use any or all size pillows on a king sized bed. A good rule of thumb is to match the pillow size to your bed size but from there, you can get creative. While there are fewer options for a Queen or Full sized bed, there are hundreds of pillow combinations so don’t hold back if you find something else you like. Here are a few classics to get you started finding your own style:

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1
Twin Bed

Twin (38") Bed

One Super Standard,
One 26" or 24"
Euro Square

Queen Bed

Queen (60") Bed

Two Super Standard,
Two 26" or 24"
Euro Square

King Bed

King (76") Bed

California King (72") Bed

Three 24" Euro Square,
Two King,
Two Standard,
One Accent

3. Do you need to worry about pillow case sizes?

There are two sizes of bed pillow cases: Standard and King. Standard size is designed to fit three pillow sizes: Standard, Super Standard and Queen. Fortunately, sheet manufacturers accommodate all the different manufacturer’s variations when sizing their cases and will err on the larger side so our worst case scenario is the pillow case will have more room than less.

Pillow Case Sizes Chart

Standard Pillow Case Size

King Pillow Case Size

Size Range

Length: 20-21"

Width: 30-32"

Length: 20-21"

Width: 36-41"

4. Consider conformance for better comfort

Some sleepers – usually side and stomach sleepers– like to mold and squish their pillow up, even several times a night, so that it keeps its loft and softness and conforms around their head. These sleepers often find that a king sized pillow or even a queen sized pillow has too much volume and prefer a Standard or Super Standard size.

Other sleepers like a pillow over their head to shield themselves from light and noise. These sleepers need a light, conforming pillow and would probably not choose a king or queen size for this use. A softer pillow, such as one with an all-down or down alternative fill (maybe one that is getting retired), would work well.

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5. Other size matters for the ultimate pillow experience

Standard Queen Pillow Size or Standard Pillow Size: These sizes are really the best for sleeping and what we recommend first. The downside to a long pillow is that the fill can migrate to the ends more easily and they are less ‘squishable’ having more volume as discussed above. Some sleepers prefer a shorter pillow because they like the compactness. These sizes also save money so those that don’t really have a preference may choose the less expensive option.

Queen Pillow Size: The Queen pillow is a good choice for someone who tosses and turns because it gives you lots of room on each side of your head. As well, a large pillow can feel luxurious and contribute to a retreat-like feel in your bedroom.

King Pillow Size: King pillows were designed for the extra width of a King or California King bed but they are great for a twin bed if your sleeper tosses and turns. They also make a good back support pillow for reading or working on a laptop in bed. A king pillow can also work as a shorter body pillow.

Euro Pillow Size: With so many sizes of Euro Square pillows to choose from, it’s easy to get the right look for your bed. They are mostly used for décor and reading pillows (whether we are reading a book or like to bring the laptop to bed). However, did you know the 26" square is also used as a sleeping pillow in some European countries, such as Germany and Holland? If you buy bedding while traveling, you may be needing a new sized pillow.

Mixing Pillow Sizes: For a designer look, use a couple of sizes on your bed: a bigger size for your reading pillows (king, queen or euro) and then layer the smaller size that you may prefer to sleep on in front. This not only fills all your pillow needs but allows some fun color and pattern combinations in your shams and pillow cases.

We hope you’ve found our Bed Pillow Sizes Guide helpful to make your bed your own little haven. Send us an email if you have more questions.

5 Easy Tips to Getting the Right Pillow Size