Pillowcase sizing is the one part of buying bedding where two countries use the same word for two different things. "Standard" means one size in the United States and another in the UK and Europe. Order the wrong one and the case either strains at the seams or slides around the pillow all night.
Here is what our sizes are, what they correspond to where you live, and how to tell which one you need before you order.
The short answer
Our rectangular silk pillowcase is 75 x 50 cm. That is the UK and European standard, and it matches the US Queen size, not the US Standard, which is smaller at 51 x 66 cm.
If you are in the US and your pillows are Queen, our rectangular case fits. If your pillows are Standard, the case will be slightly generous. That is usually fine, and many people prefer it, but it is worth knowing before you order rather than after.
Our square case is 50 x 50 cm, the European continental size used for the decorative pillows that sit against the headboard.
The size chart
| Name | Centimetres | Inches | Where it's standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Standard | 51 x 66 | 20 x 26 | United States |
| UK / EU Standard, our size | 75 x 50 | 30 x 20 | UK, France, most of Europe |
| US Queen | 76 x 51 | 30 x 20 | United States |
| US King | 51 x 91 | 20 x 36 | United States |
| European square, our size | 50 x 50 | 20 x 20 | France, Germany, Italy |
| European square (large) | 65 x 65 | 26 x 26 | Germany, Scandinavia |
The important line is the second one. UK standard and US Queen are the same dimensions with different names. If a US size chart tells you that you need a Queen case, our rectangular silk pillowcase is the one.
Why the names don't match
The confusion is historical rather than logical. American bedding sizing grew around mattress names: a Queen pillow was sold alongside a Queen bed. European sizing developed around the pillow itself, and the pillow shapes were different to begin with. France in particular has long used the square oreiller as the sleeping pillow, with the rectangle as the more recent import.
The result is that "Standard" is not a standard at all. It is a national convention, and there are at least two of them.
How to measure your pillow
Do not measure your current pillowcase. Cases are cut with ease built in, so measuring one tells you about the case, not the pillow inside it.
Lay the pillow flat, without compressing it, and measure edge to edge across the widest points. Then add roughly 2 to 5 cm to each dimension to get the case size you want. That margin lets the pillow sit inside without straining the seams, which is where pillowcases usually fail first.
If your pillow measures around 70 x 45 cm, our 75 x 50 case is right. If it measures around 50 x 65 cm, you are on the US Standard, and our case will be roomy rather than snug.
What happens if the size is slightly off
A case that is a little too large is a minor cosmetic issue. The fabric gathers at the closed end, and the pillow shifts a little inside. With silk this is more noticeable than with cotton, because silk slides, so a loose case moves more than a loose percale one would.
A case that is too small is a real problem. The pillow compresses at the corners and the seams take constant tension every night. Momme is the weight of the silk, and ours is 19 momme: heavy enough to take that tension for years, but no fabric survives being permanently stretched. Seams are where an undersized pillowcase fails, and it fails early.
When in doubt, size up.
The closure, and why it matters for sizing
Our pillowcases close with an invisible zip set into the side seam. The pillow goes in, the zip closes, and the case stays where you put it through the night. Nothing presses against your face and nothing is visible from the outside.
A zip is more forgiving of an imperfect fit than an envelope flap: it holds a slightly loose pillow in place instead of letting it wander. What it will not do is rescue a case that is genuinely too small, because the tension still lands on the seams.
One habit worth keeping: close the zip before washing, and wash the pillowcase in a mesh bag, separately from anything with hooks or open zips. The full routine is in our silk care guide.
Frequently asked questions
Will a UK standard pillowcase fit a US Standard pillow?
Yes, but loosely. Our 75 x 50 cm case is about 9 cm longer than a US Standard pillow. The case will fit and function; there will simply be some fabric gathered at the end.
Is 75x50 the same as a US Queen?
Effectively yes. US Queen is 76 x 51 cm, ours is 75 x 50 cm. The one-centimetre difference is well within the ease built into any pillowcase.
What size do I need for a French bed?
Most French beds use the 65 x 65 cm square oreiller for sleeping, and a rectangle for decoration or for those who prefer it. Our 50 x 50 square suits the smaller decorative cushions; for a full-size French square pillow you would need the 65 x 65, which we do not currently make.
Can I put two pillowcases on one pillow?
You can, and some people do to extend the time between washes. It is not something we would recommend with silk: the outer case slides against the inner one and shifts through the night. Two pillowcases in rotation works better, and we worked through the count in how many silk pillowcases you really need.
Does the size affect the price?
Yes. The rectangular 75 x 50 and the square 50 x 50 are sold as separate items, priced by the amount of silk each one takes.
Getting the size right is most of getting the pillowcase right. Our silk pillowcases come in rectangular 75 x 50 cm and square 50 x 50 cm, in ten colorways, with free worldwide shipping.
Still deciding between silk and satin? Our comparison of silk vs satin covers what each fabric actually does. And if you have the size settled but not the shade, silk pillowcase colors walks through all ten.
