UK pillow and pillowcase sizes
Most UK pillows are standard size. King pillows are longer, and an Oxford case is the same pillow with a border.
Checked against UK retailer and maker guides on 21 October 2026.
| Pillow | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 50 × 75 cm (20 × 30 in) | Dunelm lists its standard pillow as 48 × 74 cm; it fits any standard case |
| King / super king | 50 × 90 cm (20 × 36 in) | Dunelm lists 48 × 91 cm; two fit across a super king |
| Square / continental | 65 × 65 cm (26 × 26 in) | Back support or decoration |
| Body / bolster | 137 × 48 cm | Dunelm also lists 152 × 48 cm and 90 × 48 cm body pillows |
Scooms and Bed and Bath Emporium both give 50 × 75 cm for standard and 50 × 90 cm for king; Dunelm lists slightly smaller pillows that fit the same cases.
Oxford vs housewife pillowcases
A housewife case has a plain sewn edge. An Oxford case has a flat fabric border, usually 5 to 10 cm wide (Scooms). The pocket is the same size, so a standard Oxford case still fits a 50 × 75 cm pillow; it just measures about 60 × 85 cm outside with a wide border (Bed and Bath Emporium). “Oxford” is the style and “standard” is the size.
How many pillows across a bed?
- Two king pillows fit across a super king (Bed and Bath Emporium).
- Square 65 × 65 cm pillows are usually propped against the headboard behind the sleeping pillows (Scooms).
Memory foam pillows often don’t follow standard sizes and may need their own cases (Dunelm).
Questions
What size is a standard UK pillowcase?
50 × 75 cm (20 × 30 inches).
What size is a king pillowcase?
50 × 90 cm (20 × 36 inches).
Is an Oxford pillowcase bigger?
Only on the outside. The pocket is the same size; the border adds 5 to 10 cm all round.
Where these numbers come from
- Scooms: Oxford v Housewife pillowcases
- Bed and Bath Emporium: pillow and pillowcase size chart
- Dunelm: pillows buying guide
- Dunelm: bed linen buying guide
Checked 21 October 2026. Makers round sizes differently, so always check the dimensions on the product you're buying.