You ordered pillowcases online and they do not fit your pillows. Or you bought new pillows and they hang over the edge of your twin bed like a dog's ears. Pillow sizing in North America follows a system that nobody ever explains, and the addition of bolster pillows, Euro squares, and body pillows makes the whole thing feel more complicated than it needs to be. It is not. Once you know the four standard sizes and what each one is for, the confusion ends.
Quick Answer
Standard pillows are 20" x 26" (fit twin and double beds). Queen pillows are 20" x 30" (fit queen beds, two across). King pillows are 20" x 36" (fit king beds, two across). Euro pillows are 26" x 26" square (decorative backdrop). Bolster pillows are cylindrical, typically 6-9" diameter and 20-36" long, used for lumbar support or decorative layering. Standard pillowcases fit standard pillows. Queen cases fit both standard and queen.
The Four Sizes That Matter
North American pillow sizing is built around bed widths. The logic is simple: two pillows side by side should roughly equal the width of the mattress.
A standard pillow measures 20" x 26". Two standards placed side by side span 52 inches, which covers a twin (38") comfortably with overhang, or a double (54") almost exactly. This is the most common pillow size sold in Canada.
A queen pillow measures 20" x 30". Two queens span 60 inches, matching a queen mattress width precisely. The extra four inches per pillow compared to standard gives side sleepers more room to move without ending up on the mattress surface. If you roll around at night, queen pillows are more forgiving.
A king pillow measures 20" x 36". Two kings span 72 inches, which works for a king mattress (76" wide) with a small gap in the centre. King pillows also work well as a single pillow propped against a headboard for reading. The extra length provides support across your entire upper back when sitting upright.
A Euro pillow is 26" x 26" square. These are decorative. They lean against the headboard behind your sleeping pillows and add visual depth. You do not sleep on them, though some people use them as back support when reading in bed.
Matching Pillows to Your Mattress
The pillow and mattress work together. A thick pillow on a soft mattress can push your head too high because your shoulder sinks deep, reducing the gap the pillow needs to fill. A thin pillow on a firm mattress may leave your head unsupported because your shoulder barely compresses. At Mattress Miracle, we see this mismatch regularly. Someone buys a new mattress, like our Restonic Revive St Charles at $3,150 for a queen, and then wonders why their old pillow feels wrong. The mattress changed the equation. Brad has over 38 years matching pillows to mattresses and can help you find the right height for your new sleep surface.
What a Bolster Pillow Actually Does
A bolster is a cylindrical pillow, round or oval in cross-section, ranging from 6 to 9 inches in diameter and 20 to 36 inches long. In Southeast Asian and South Asian cultures, bolsters are primary sleeping pillows, hugged or placed between the knees for alignment. In Western bedrooms, they serve mostly as decorative accents or lumbar support.
The practical case for a bolster is stronger than most people realise. Placed under your knees while sleeping on your back, a bolster relieves pressure on the lower spine by flattening the lumbar curve. Placed between your knees on your side, it keeps your hips aligned. It is a simple tool that physiotherapists have recommended for decades. You do not need a specialty product labelled "orthopaedic knee pillow" when a firm bolster does the same job.
Bolster sizes vary more than standard pillows. A neckroll bolster (4-6" diameter, 12-16" long) tucks under your cervical spine. A medium bolster (6-8" diameter, 20-30" long) works for knee support. A large bolster (8-12" diameter, 36"+ long) is a body pillow alternative for side sleepers who want something to hold.
Comfort Tip
When buying pillowcases, match the case to the pillow, not the bed. A queen pillowcase on a standard pillow creates bunched-up excess fabric that wrinkles under your face. A standard case on a queen pillow requires stuffing and creates a lumpy surface. Check the packaging dimensions before buying. Queen cases fit both standard and queen pillows acceptably, which is why many sheet sets now include queen-sized cases regardless of the set's bed size.
How Many Pillows Per Bed
The minimum is two sleeping pillows per person. One for your head, one as a spare or body support. Beyond that, pillow count is personal preference, not a rule.
For a styled bed with shams, the common arrangement is two Euro shams against the headboard, two sleeping-size shams in front, then your sleeping pillows in plain cases at the front. A bolster or accent pillow can sit at the very front. But this is decorating, not sleeping. If making the bed already feels like a chore, two good pillows in quality cases is perfectly fine.
For Brantford Residents
If you are replacing pillows, bring your current one to our showroom at 441 1/2 West Street. Dorothy can compare it against our pillow collection and tell you whether you need a different size, loft, or material. Most people keep pillows far too long. A pillow that h
as gone flat is not saving you money. It is costing you sleep. We carry standard, queen, and specialty pillows in memory foam, latex, and traditional fill. Call (519) 770-0001 or drop in during hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard pillow size in Canada?
The standard pillow in Canada measures 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm). This is the most widely sold size and fits twin, double, and queen beds. Two standard pillows cover a double mattress width almost exactly. For queen beds, many Canadians are now choosing the queen pillow (20" x 30") for slightly more coverage.
What size pillowcase fits a standard pillow?
A standard pillowcase typically measures 20" x 30" to 21" x 32", giving a couple of inches of extra room beyond the 20" x 26" pillow for easy tucking. Queen pillowcases (20" x 34") also fit standard pillows with more excess fabric. King pillowcases (20" x 40") are too large for standard pillows and will bunch up uncomfortably.
What is a bolster pillow used for?
A bolster pillow is a cylindrical pillow used for lumbar support (placed behind the lower back while sitting), knee support (placed between or under the knees while sleeping), or decorative layering on a made bed. In many Asian cultures, bolsters are primary sleeping pillows. In Canadian bedrooms, they are most useful as a body alignment tool for side and back sleepers.
Should I use standard or queen pillows on a queen bed?
Either works. Two queen pillows (20" x 30" each) span exactly 60 inches, matching a queen mattress width. Two standard pillows leave about 8 inches of uncovered mattress. If you share the bed, queen pillows prevent the gap between pillows that standard sizes create. If you sleep alone, standard pillows are fine on a queen bed.
Where can I test different pillow sizes in Brantford?
Mattress Miracle at 441 1/2 West Street, Brantford carries standard, queen, and specialty pillows in multiple materials. We encourage testing pillows while lying down in your actual sleep position. Dorothy and Talia can assess your neck alignment and recommend the right size and loft. Call (519) 770-0001 or visit during hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4.
Visit Mattress Miracle Brantford
The right pillow size is the one that keeps your spine aligned all night. Visit our showroom at 441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario and test pillows in your actual sleep position. Brad, Dorothy, and Talia will match pillow size and loft to your mattress and body. White glove delivery available to Hamilton, Kitchener, Toronto, and across Southern Ontario. Call 519-770-0001 or stop by: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4.
Sources
- Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers K, Trott P. Pillow use: the behaviour of cervical pain, sleep quality, and pillow comfort in side sleepers. Manual Therapy. 2009;14(6):671-678. DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2009.02.006
- Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers KA, Trott PH. Pillow use: the behaviour of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain. J Pain Res. 2010;3:137-145. DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S11074
- Erfanian P, Tenzif S, Guerriero RC. Assessing effects of a semi-customized experimental cervical pillow on sympathetic nervous system parameters. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2004;48(1):20-28. PMCID: PMC1840035
- Persson L, Moritz U. Neck support pillows: a comparative study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998;21(4):237-240. PMID: 9608379