Pillow Sizes and Pillowcase Sizes: UK, Germany and the US
The standard pillowcase size is the size of a standard pillow, and pillow sizes differ from country to country. In the UK a standard pillow usually measures 50 × 75 cm, in Germany the standard sizes are 40 × 80 cm and 80 × 80 cm, and in the US a standard pillow is usually 20 × 26 inches (about 51 × 66 cm). Wherever your pillow comes from, the reliable way to choose a pillowcase is to measure the pillow and look for a case of the same size.
Common pillow sizes in Germany and Switzerland
A pillowcase is the removable fabric cover of a pillow, and it comes in the same fixed sizes as the pillows themselves. In Germany, two pillow sizes turn up especially often:
- 80 × 80 cm: the large square pillow, the classic German pillow size.
- 40 × 80 cm: a rectangular pillow half as wide as the square one, and also very common.
Alongside these, you will find pillows in 40 × 60 cm, 50 × 70 cm, 60 × 60 cm and 65 × 65 cm. In Switzerland, 65 × 65 cm and 65 × 100 cm are common. So the size of your pillow depends partly on where it was bought, and not every pillow in a household is necessarily the same size.
For the pillowcase, what counts is not what is usual in a country but the size of the pillow you actually want to cover.
How to measure a pillow
All you need is a tape measure and a flat surface.
- Lay the pillow flat on a table or on the bed.
- Measure the width, the shorter side, from seam to seam.
- Measure the length, the longer side, from seam to seam as well.
- Note both figures as width × length, for example 50 × 75 cm. On a square pillow, the two figures are the same.
Pillows and pillowcases are sold by nominal size, a fixed stated size such as the sizes above. Your measurement tells you which nominal size your pillow has, and that is the size to look for in a pillowcase. If the size is printed on the pillow's sewn-in label, you can read it there and check it against your own figures.
Silk pillowcase sizes
A silk pillowcase is a pillowcase made from silk fabric, and the same rule applies to it as to any other: it is offered in the size of the pillow it is meant for. Our silk pillowcases come in seven sizes. The table shows what each size is typical for, and both German standard sizes, 40 × 80 cm and 80 × 80 cm, are among them.
| Size | Typical for |
|---|---|
| 40 × 80 cm | pillows in Germany, very common |
| 50 × 70 cm | rectangular pillows, also found in Germany |
| 50 × 75 cm | usually the UK standard pillow size |
| 50 × 90 cm | the UK king pillow size |
| 60 × 60 cm | square pillows, also found in Germany |
| 65 × 65 cm | square pillows, common in Switzerland and also found in Germany |
| 80 × 80 cm | the classic German pillow size |
The deciding factor is your own pillow: a 50 × 75 cm case is meant for a 50 × 75 cm pillow, whatever that size is called elsewhere.
Pillow sizes in the UK and the US
In the UK, a standard pillow usually measures 50 × 75 cm, and the longer 50 × 90 cm size is known as king.
In the US, pillow sizes are given in inches and are known by name. An inch is 2.54 cm. The three common sizes are:
- Standard: usually 20 × 26 in, about 51 × 66 cm
- Queen: usually 20 × 30 in, about 51 × 76 cm
- King: usually 20 × 36 in, about 51 × 91 cm
Sources differ slightly on the metric figures; for king, for example, you will also see 51 × 92 cm. All three US sizes are about 51 cm wide and differ mainly in length.
A name on its own says little about the measurements: “standard” means 50 × 75 cm in the UK but about 51 × 66 cm in the US. If your pillow was bought in another country, measure it rather than going by what it is called.
Closures: zip or envelope
Many pillowcases have a closure at the open end to keep the pillow inside. A zip closes the opening completely; on a hidden zip, the teeth are covered, for example by a strip of fabric, so that the zip cannot be seen from outside. The other common option is an envelope closure, where a flap of fabric folds over the end of the pillow and no hardware is needed. Neither closure affects which size you need: that still depends on your pillow. Decorative pillow shams usually open at the back rather than at one end; our guide “What is a pillow sham?” explains what sets them apart from a pillowcase.
Frequently asked questions about pillowcase sizes
What is the standard pillowcase size in the UK?
In the UK, a standard pillow usually measures 50 × 75 cm, and that is the size to look for in a standard pillowcase. The longer king size is 50 × 90 cm.
What is the standard pillow size in Germany?
A standard pillow in Germany usually measures 40 × 80 cm or 80 × 80 cm.
Does an 80 × 80 cm pillowcase fit a 40 × 80 cm pillow?
No, an 80 × 80 cm pillowcase is too big for a 40 × 80 cm pillow, because it is twice as wide. Pillowcases are offered in the size of the pillow they are made for.
How do I measure my pillow?
Lay the pillow flat and measure its width and length from seam to seam with a tape measure, then note the result as width × length, for example 40 × 80 cm.
Are pillowcase sizes the same in the UK and the US?
No, UK and US pillowcase sizes are not the same: a UK standard pillow usually measures 50 × 75 cm, while a US standard pillow is usually 20 × 26 in, about 51 × 66 cm.
What our silk pillowcases are made of
The RENESSY silk pillowcases are made from 100% organic mulberry silk at 22 momme, with silk on the front and on the back. Mulberry silk is spun by silkworms fed on the leaves of the mulberry tree, and momme is a unit of weight for silk fabric. The raw silk is rated grade 6A, a raw-silk grade that assesses several qualities of the thread together. GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard, certifies textiles made from organically grown fibres. The silk is GOTS certified. OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN is a label for textiles tested for harmful substances and made in traceable, certified production. The pillowcases carry the OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN label, and the label ID M27MNB1V9 can be checked on the OEKO-TEX website. The pillowcases carry the Dermatest 5-Star seal and the Dermatest Sensitive Skin seal, dermatologically tested for sensitive skin. Each case closes with a hidden zip made by YKK.