Pillow Buying Guide

Choosing a pillow is easier when you break it into a few decisions instead of one big one. This guide walks you through size, fill, fabric and a few other details so you can shop with confidence.

New to buckwheat hull pillows? Our Why Buckwheat? page covers what they are and how they feel, which is worth reading before you decide on size and fill.

1. Start with size

Our pillows come in six sizes, from a small neck roll to a full King. If you already know which one you want, jump to our Pillow & Cushion Size Guide for exact dimensions and pillowcase fit. If not, here's a quick overview:

Size	Dimensions	Typical use
Round neck roll	14 x 6 in	Neck support while reading, travel, yoga
Travel	12 x 16 in	Trips, naps, kids
Japanese	14 x 20 in	The traditional buckwheat pillow size
Standard	20 x 26 in	Most sleepers, fits standard pillowcases
Queen	20 x 30 in	More surface area, fits queen pillowcases
King	20 x 36 in	Wide beds, sleepers who move around

2. Decide how many you need

Most people sleep on one Standard, Queen or King pillow, sometimes with a smaller Round Neck Roll or Travel pillow added for extra neck or lower-back support. If you're outfitting a guest room or a couple's bed, two matching pillows plus a spare cover or two is a common starting point, so you always have a clean one ready between washes.

3. Match fill and height to how you sleep

How firm and how tall you want your pillow depends a lot on your sleep position:

Side sleepers usually want more height and fill, to keep the head and neck in a comfortable, neutral line with the spine.
Back sleepers tend to prefer a medium fill.
Stomach sleepers generally want less fill, for a flatter pillow.
Combination sleepers who move between positions often do well with a medium-to-full fill and a size with a little extra surface area, like Queen.

Our Sleep Position Guide goes through each position in detail, and our Firmness & Fill Guide explains exactly how to add or remove hulls once your pillow arrives. Every pillow ships with fill you can adjust, so it's less about getting it perfect on the first try and more about knowing you can fine-tune it after.

4. Pick a cover fabric

We make covers in three fabrics, each with its own feel:

Undyed cotton is light, breathable and simple, a good all-around choice, and the easiest of the three to wash and dry quickly.
Linen has a slightly heavier hand and a natural texture, and softens further with washing. Some linen pillows close with a rope tie instead of a zipper.
Printed cotton comes in block-print floral designs, for a more decorative look on a bed or a reading chair.

Any of the three holds up well with the simple, cold-wash care in our Care Guide, so fabric choice comes down mostly to feel and look rather than upkeep.

5. Decide between filled and Cover Only

Most listings come in two versions. The filled version is the complete, ready-to-use pillow shown in the photos. Cover Only is the empty, zippered cover, for when you already have buckwheat hulls, want a spare or replacement cover, or want to fill it yourself with hulls purchased separately.

6. Buying for someone else

Shopping as a gift? Our Why Buckwheat? page explains the trade-offs, a firm feel, some rustle, and a bit of extra weight, so you can set the right expectations. Our Gift Ideas collection has ready-to-give options too.

7. Consider a set

If you're furnishing a guest room or shopping for two, our Bundles & Sets collection pairs pillows and covers together, often at a better value than buying separately. Sets are also a simple way to make sure both pillows on a bed match, even if you buy them a while apart.

8. Plan for care

Buckwheat pillows need a little different care than a standard pillow: the hulls stay dry, and the cover comes off to wash. Our Care Guide covers the details so your pillow stays fresh for years.