Standard Pillowcase Size Australia: Full cm Chart

Pillowcase sizing is a mess because three countries use the same words for different rectangles. Here is every standard size in centimetres and inches, what "standard" actually means in Australia, and how to work out which one you need in thirty seconds.

What is the standard pillowcase size in Australia?

48 × 73 cm (19 × 29″). That is the Australian and New Zealand standard, and it fits a standard Australian pillow of the same nominal size. It is not the same as the US standard (51 × 66 cm) or the UK standard (50 × 75 cm) — so an American pillowcase on an Australian pillow will be too short and too wide, and a UK case will be slightly long. If you are buying from an overseas site, check the centimetres, not the word.

Every standard pillowcase size, in cm and inches

Australia and New Zealand

• Standard — 48 × 73 cm (19 × 29″)
• King — 50 × 90 cm (20 × 35″)
• European (Euro square) — 65 × 65 cm (26 × 26″)
• Body pillow — 45 × 150 cm (18 × 59″)

United States and Canada

• Standard — 51 × 66 cm (20 × 26″)
• Queen — 51 × 76 cm (20 × 30″)
• King — 51 × 92 cm (20 × 36″)
• Euro square — 66 × 66 cm (26 × 26″)

United Kingdom and Europe

• UK standard (housewife) — 50 × 75 cm (20 × 30″)
• UK king — 50 × 90 cm (20 × 35″)
• European square — 65 × 65 cm or 80 × 80 cm depending on country

Standard vs European pillowcase — what is the difference?

A standard pillowcase is a rectangle you sleep on. A European pillowcase is a 65 cm square used for sitting up and for styling — it goes at the back of the bed, against the headboard, with the standard pillows in front. They are not interchangeable: a square pillow in a rectangular case bunches, and a rectangular pillow in a square case slides around. Most made beds in Australia use two standards plus two Euros on a queen or king.

How to work out your size in 30 seconds

1. Take the pillow out of its current case and lay it flat, uncompressed.
2. Measure the width and the length in centimetres, edge to edge.
3. Add 2–3 cm to each measurement. That is your case size — snug enough to look tailored, loose enough to get the pillow in.
4. If the number does not match any row in the tables above, you have a non-standard pillow. That is common with memory foam, contour, and imported pillows.

What if your pillow is not a standard size?

Then order the case to the pillow rather than hunting for a lucky fit. Memory foam, contour, orthopaedic, bolster and body pillows almost never match a chart, and a case that is 4 cm too big looks sloppy on an otherwise nice bed. We cut every pillowcase to order in our Hanoi workshop, so a custom size costs the same as a standard one, with no minimum order — a single pillowcase is a valid order.

Common questions

What size is a standard pillowcase in Australia in cm? 48 × 73 cm. King is 50 × 90 cm, European square is 65 × 65 cm.

Is an Australian standard pillowcase the same as a US standard? No. US standard is 51 × 66 cm — 7 cm shorter and 3 cm wider. It will not sit correctly on an Australian pillow.

Do pillowcases shrink? Linen shrinks slightly on the first wash. Ours is pre-washed before it ships, so what you measure on arrival is what you keep.

Should a pillowcase be tight or loose? 2–3 cm larger than the pillow in each direction. Tighter and the pillow compresses at the corners; looser and the case wrinkles at the open end.

What is the difference between a housewife and an Oxford pillowcase? An Oxford has a flat fabric border (usually 5–8 cm) around the edge; a housewife has none. Same internal size, different look.

Can I get a pillowcase made to my exact measurements? Yes, at standard price and with no minimum order. Send the pillow's width × length in centimetres.

Related reading: Linen pillowcase sizes in Australia · How to measure your bed for custom bedding · Duvet cover size guide