Standard Size Pillows

A standard UK pillow measures 48 × 74 cm (approximately 19 × 29 inches). This is the most common pillow size used in British bedrooms and fits all standard housewife and Oxford pillowcases. Belledorm's standard pillows are made to this size. If your pillow feels too small or too large for your pillowcase, it may be a continental square pillow (65 × 65 cm) or a king size pillow (50 × 90 cm), both of which require different pillowcases. Standard is the right choice for most single, double, king size, and super king beds.

Side sleepers need a pillow that fills the gap between the head and mattress without compressing flat, so the neck stays aligned with the spine. A 100% wool pillow or a duck down and feather pillow provides a firmer, more supportive feel that holds its height through the night - making both well suited to side sleeping. Goose down is softer and may compress more under the weight of a side sleeper's head, though some people prefer the cradling feel it offers. If you sleep on your side and find one pillow is not quite enough height, using two pillows or choosing a firmer filling will give better neck support.

Back sleepers need a pillow with a medium loft that gently supports the natural curve of the neck without pushing the head too far forward. Goose down and Mulberry silk are both good options - goose down provides a soft, yielding cushion that cradles without excessive height, while silk moulds gently to the shape of your head and neck. Duck down and feather offers a slightly firmer alternative with more structure. Microfibre provides a consistent medium-soft feel that keeps the head in a neutral position. The right filling depends on your mattress firmness as well - a softer mattress means your body sinks further in, so a lower-loft pillow may be needed.

Microfibre is the most practical choice for allergy sufferers. It is fully hypoallergenic, does not harbour dust mites, and can be machine washed at higher temperatures to remove allergens effectively. Belledorm's microfibre standard pillow provides a clean, consistent sleeping environment that suits people with asthma, eczema, or dust mite sensitivity. If you prefer a natural filling, Mulberry silk and 100% wool are both naturally resistant to dust mites and mould. Goose down and duck down and feather are not recommended for allergy sufferers, as natural down and feather can trigger reactions in some people. Whichever filling you choose, using a zipped pillow protector underneath your pillowcase adds an extra barrier against allergens.

Microfibre standard pillows can be machine washed at 40°C on a gentle cycle. Use a mild detergent, avoid bleach, and wash two pillows together to balance the drum. Tumble dry on a low setting until fully dry - any residual dampness in the filling can cause odours and encourage mould. Wool pillows should be spot cleaned or professionally laundered - machine washing can cause the filling to felt and lose its structure. Silk pillows are best hand washed or dry cleaned. Goose down and duck down and feather pillows can sometimes be machine washed on a delicate cycle at a low temperature, but always check the care label - improper drying can cause down to clump. The cooling pillow may have specific care requirements, so follow the label instructions for that product. Regular use of a pillow protector reduces how often the pillow itself needs cleaning.

Firmness varies across the range. 100% wool and duck down and feather provide the firmest feel, wool has a natural resilience that holds its shape, while the feather content in a duck down and feather blend adds structure and support. These suit side sleepers and anyone who needs their head held at a consistent height. Goose down is softer and lighter, creating a plush, yielding cushion that suits back and front sleepers. Mulberry silk is similarly soft, moulding gently without much resistance. Microfibre offers a medium-soft feel. The cooling pillow is designed with comfort and temperature management in mind. If you are unsure which firmness to choose, consider your sleeping position: side sleepers generally benefit from firmer, back sleepers from medium, and front sleepers from softer.

Replace your standard pillow every one to two years, depending on the filling and how well it has been maintained. A simple test is to fold the pillow in half lengthways, if it springs back to its original shape, it still has useful support; if it stays folded or recovers slowly, the filling has compressed beyond its effective life. Natural fillings like wool and silk tend to hold their structure slightly longer than microfibre, but all fillings lose loft and support with nightly use over time. Regular fluffing, airing, and the use of a pillow protector will extend the pillow's useful life, but eventual replacement is necessary for proper neck support and sleep hygiene.

You can, but standard pillows are designed for sleeping rather than upright support. If you regularly read, watch television, or work in bed while sitting up, a V-shape pillow or a bolster pillow provides better back and neck support in an upright position. Square continental pillows (65 × 65 cm) also work well as back rests when propped upright against a headboard. Using a standard pillow for sitting up will compress the filling unevenly over time, which can shorten its useful life and reduce the support it provides when you lie down to sleep. 

Standard pillows (48 × 74 cm) are sized for adults and older children. For younger children, a standard pillow may be too large and too high, which can push the head and neck out of alignment. Most guidelines suggest children under the age of two should not use a pillow at all. From age two onwards, a thinner, flatter pillow is more suitable until the child is large enough for a standard size. Belledorm's microfibre standard pillow is the most practical choice for older children and teenagers, it is hypoallergenic, machine washable, and provides a medium-soft feel that does not force the neck into an unnatural position.

Belledorm offers filled pillows in four shapes: standard (48 × 74 cm), square (continental, 65 × 65 cm), bolster (long cylindrical, designed to sit across the width of the bed), and V-shape (orthopaedic support). Fillings include natural options, wool and Mulberry silk, and a synthetic microfibre that is hypoallergenic and machine washable. Standard pillows are the most common shape for sleeping, while square and bolster pillows are typically used for layering, back support, or decorative styling. V-shape pillows provide targeted neck and shoulder support and are often used for reading in bed, pregnancy, or recovery.

A housewife pillowcase has a simple sewn edge with an internal flap that holds the pillow in place, it fits closely around the pillow with no visible border. An Oxford pillowcase has a wide, flat fabric border (usually 5–10 cm) stitched around all four sides, which creates a more decorative, tailored appearance. Both fit the same size pillow, the Oxford border sits outside the pillow, not over it. Housewife pillowcases suit a clean, minimal look and are the most practical for everyday use. Oxford pillowcases add a more finished, structured appearance and are often used in hotels and styled bedrooms.

A standard UK pillow measures approximately 48 × 74 cm (sometimes listed as 50 × 75 cm), and both housewife and Oxford pillowcases are made to fit this size. You do not need to match the exact centimetre — Belledorm's standard pillowcases are cut to accommodate standard UK pillows comfortably. If you have square continental pillows (65 × 65 cm) or bolster pillows, you will need the corresponding pillowcase shape, as standard pillowcases will not fit. Belledorm stocks pillowcases for all four pillow shapes: standard housewife, standard Oxford, continental square, and bolster.

Belledorm pillowcases are available across the same fabric ranges as the sheets and duvet covers, so you can coordinate your full bedding set. Fabrics include 200 thread count polycotton percale, 200 thread count cotton, Egyptian cotton at 200, 400, 600, 1000, and 1200 thread count, 450 thread count Pima cotton, bamboo, brushed cotton, jersey cotton, pure linen, and Mulberry silk. Each fabric has a different feel, percale is crisp and cool, sateen is smooth and silky, brushed cotton is warm and soft, and silk is naturally temperature-regulating and gentle on hair and skin. The fabric you choose for your pillowcase affects how the pillow feels against your face and neck.

A pillow protector is recommended as an additional layer between the pillow and the pillowcase. It acts as a barrier against sweat, body oils, dust mites, and allergens, keeping the pillow itself cleaner and extending its useful life. A pillowcase is designed for comfort and aesthetics, it is the layer your skin rests against. A protector is designed for hygiene and protection, it zips around the pillow underneath the pillowcase. Using both means you can wash the pillowcase weekly and the protector monthly, while the pillow itself only needs occasional washing or professional cleaning depending on the filling.

Most pillow manufacturers and sleep experts recommend replacing pillows every one to two years. Over time, pillows lose their loft and support as the filling compresses, which can lead to poor neck alignment and disrupted sleep. They also accumulate dust mites, skin cells, and moisture, even with regular pillowcase and protector use. A simple test is to fold the pillow in half: if it does not spring back to its original shape, it has lost its support and needs replacing. Natural-filled pillows (wool, silk) tend to maintain their structure slightly longer than synthetic microfibre, but all fillings deteriorate with nightly use over time.

Yes. While most Belledorm duvet cover sets include matching pillowcases (one with a single set, two with double and above), you can also buy pillowcases separately in pairs or multipacks across all fabric ranges and colourways. This is useful if you use more pillows than the set provides, want to mix housewife and Oxford styles on the same bed, or need to replace worn pillowcases without buying a new duvet cover. Belledorm's pillowcases are dyed to match the corresponding duvet covers and fitted sheets, so colours coordinate accurately across the full range.

A continental square pillowcase fits a square-shaped pillow measuring 65 × 65 cm, which is the standard continental European pillow size. Square pillows are typically used for layering behind standard pillows to create a styled, stacked look, or as back support when sitting up in bed. They are larger than standard UK pillows and require their own dedicated pillowcase, a standard housewife or Oxford pillowcase will not fit. Belledorm's continental square pillowcases are available across multiple fabric ranges, so you can coordinate them with your existing sheets and duvet cover.

Mulberry silk is the gentlest pillowcase fabric for both skin and hair. Silk creates less friction than cotton or polycotton, which means less pulling on hair overnight, reducing frizz, breakage, and tangling, and less creasing against facial skin. Silk is also naturally temperature-regulating and hypoallergenic. If silk is outside your budget, a high thread count cotton sateen pillowcase (400TC or above) provides a smoother surface than percale, with less friction than a standard cotton weave. Bamboo pillowcases are another option, bamboo fabric is naturally soft, moisture-wicking, and gentle on skin.

Most Belledorm pillowcases can be machine washed at 40°C on a standard cycle. Turn them inside out before washing to protect any embroidery, printed detail, or the outer surface of the fabric. Use a mild detergent and avoid bleach, which can weaken fibres and affect colour over time. Tumble dry on a low to medium setting or line dry. Higher thread count cotton and Egyptian cotton pillowcases benefit from being removed from the dryer slightly damp and smoothed flat to reduce creasing. Silk pillowcases should be hand washed or machine washed on a delicate cycle at 30°C, always check the care label for your specific fabric.