Show the formula and working
This pillow size converter helps people in the UK, Ireland and Europe find the pillow or pillowcase size that matches their pillow in another country, including the US. Choose your pillow from the list or type in its measurements, pick the country you are buying from, and the tool names the closest standard size, the gap in centimetres, the size in inches and the pillowcase to look for.
Quick answer: A UK standard pillow is about 48 x 74 cm, closest to a US queen (20 x 30 in) rather than a US standard (20 x 26 in). A UK king is 48 x 90 cm, near a US king (20 x 36 in). European pillows are often square, 65 or 80 cm. A pillow size converter shows exact gaps.
What Is a Pillow Size Converter?
A pillow size converter is a tool that compares the two sides of your pillow with the standard pillow sizes used in another country and names the closest match. The formula in plain words: for each standard pillow, add the width gap to the length gap in centimetres, and the size with the smallest total is the match. Inches are centimetres divided by 2.54.
Unlike beds, pillow sizes differ a lot from country to country. The US uses rectangles named standard, queen and king, the UK uses a rectangle of about 48 x 74 cm plus a longer king, and much of continental Europe uses squares. The country sizes in this tool follow the table in the pillow article on Wikipedia, with UK sizes from the Woolroom pillow size guide and Marks and Spencer and the IKEA standard from the IKEA pillowcase guide.
How Do You Use the Pillow Size Converter?
- Choose your pillow in Your pillow size. UK, European and US sizes are listed.
- If you do not know the name, choose Custom pillow size and enter the Custom pillow width and Custom pillow length, measured flat from seam to seam.
- Choose the country you are buying from in Convert to.
- Read the closest pillow, the width and length difference and the pillowcase to look for in the breakdown.
- Read the result and open “Show the formula and working” to see how the match was scored.
What Size Is a Standard UK Pillow?
A standard UK pillow measures about 48 x 74 cm, and the standard UK pillowcase, often called a housewife pillowcase, is about 50 x 75 cm or 48 x 76 cm. The case is a couple of centimetres bigger so the pillow slides in. IKEA is an exception: its standard pillow and pillowcase in the UK are 50 x 80 cm, so IKEA cases are a little long for other UK pillows.
Is a UK Standard Pillow the Same as a US Standard Pillow?
No: a US standard pillow is 20 x 26 in (51 x 66 cm), about 8 cm shorter than a UK standard pillow at 48 x 74 cm. The closest US size to a UK standard is the queen, 20 x 30 in (51 x 76 cm). US pillowcases for standard pillows are often cut to about 20 x 30 in, so many US standard cases also fit UK pillows, but a US standard pillow will look small in a UK case.
What Size Are European Pillows?
European pillows are most often square: 65 x 65 cm in many countries and 80 x 80 cm in Germany, with a smaller 40 x 80 cm rectangle also common in Germany. Italy, Spain and Norway use 50 x 70 cm, Sweden 50 x 60 cm and Denmark 60 x 60 cm. In the UK, a 65 x 65 cm pillow is called a continental or Oxford square, and in the US it is sold as a Euro pillow or Euro sham at 26 x 26 in.
UK, European and US Pillow Size Chart
| Name | Size in cm | Size in inches | Closest in other regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK standard | 48 x 74 | 18.9 x 29.1 | US queen; Italy, Spain 50 x 70 |
| UK king | 48 x 90 | 18.9 x 35.4 | US king 20 x 36 in |
| UK square, Euro square | 65 x 65 | 25.6 x 25.6 | US Euro 26 x 26 in |
| Germany standard | 80 x 80 | 31.5 x 31.5 | UK continental square 80 x 80 |
| Germany small | 40 x 80 | 15.7 x 31.5 | No close UK or US match |
| IKEA standard | 50 x 80 | 19.7 x 31.5 | US queen 20 x 30 in |
| US standard | 51 x 66 | 20 x 26 | Italy, Spain 50 x 70; Sweden 50 x 60 |
| US queen | 51 x 76 | 20 x 30 | UK standard |
| US king | 51 x 91 | 20 x 36 | UK king |
Worked Example: UK Pillows Moving to the US
Example: a household moving to Chicago wants American pillowcases for UK standard pillows. Choose UK standard (48 x 74 cm) in Your pillow size and United States and Canada in Convert to. The converter shows US queen, 51 x 76 cm, a difference of +3 cm in width and +2 cm in length, which is 20 x 30 in. US queen pillowcases will fit the pillows with a little room, while US standard pillows would be 8 cm shorter than the UK ones.
If you are measuring a new bedroom at the same time, our carpet calculator and paint calculator work out how much flooring and paint the room needs.
Pillow Size Converter FAQs
What is a housewife pillowcase?
A housewife pillowcase is the standard UK pillowcase, about 50 x 75 cm, with an inside flap that holds the pillow in and no decorative border. It fits a standard UK pillow of about 48 x 74 cm. An Oxford pillowcase is the same size with a flat border added.
What size is a king pillow in the UK?
A UK king pillow is about 48 x 90 cm, around 16 cm longer than a standard pillow, and it needs a king pillowcase of about 48 x 90 cm. It is close to a US king pillow (20 x 36 in, 51 x 91 cm), so cases swap well between the two.
Will a US standard pillowcase fit a UK pillow?
Often, yes, because many US standard pillowcases are cut to about 20 x 30 in (51 x 76 cm), slightly larger than a UK pillow. Some US brands cut standard cases at 20 x 26 or 27 in, which are too short, so check the case size rather than the name.
What is a Euro pillow?
A Euro pillow is a square pillow, sold in the US at 26 x 26 in (66 x 66 cm) and in the UK and Europe at 65 x 65 cm. It is used mainly for sitting up in bed or as a decorative layer behind sleeping pillows. Its cover is called a Euro sham.
How do I measure a pillow?
Lay the pillow flat and measure from seam to seam across the short side and along the long side, in centimetres. Do not measure over the puffed-up middle. The label sewn into the seam usually gives the size too, which is the most reliable figure.
Why does my pillowcase not fit even though the names match?
Pillow names mean different sizes in different countries and brands. A US standard is 20 x 26 in, a UK standard about 48 x 74 cm and an IKEA standard 50 x 80 cm. Compare the sizes in centimetres, not the names, and choose a case the same size or a few centimetres bigger.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Pillow, sizes by country (Wikipedia), Woolroom pillow size guide, Marks and Spencer bedding size guide, IKEA UK pillowcase size guide, Brooklinen pillowcase dimensions.