Euro Pillow Sizes: Dimensions, Sham Fit & How Many You Need (26 x 26 Chart)

Key Takeaways

• The standard euro pillow is 26 x 26 inches (about 66 x 66 cm).
• Euros also come as 24, 28, 30 and 32 inch squares. German squares run bigger, at 80 x 80 cm.
• For a full look, put an insert 2 inches bigger than the sham inside it, like a 28 in a 26.
• A queen bed takes 2 euros. A king or California king takes three 26s or two 28s.
• A standard pillowcase won't fit a euro. You need a euro sham.

A standard euro pillow size is 26 x 26 inches (about 66 x 66 cm). That's the number you came for. It's the only common square bed pillow, and euro shams are cut to fit it.

Here's the catch: shams and inserts aren't measured the same way. Pair them wrong and your bed looks deflated. We've sewn euro pillow inserts in Chicago since 1987, so let's get yours right.

What Size Are Euro Pillows? (The 10-Second Answer)

Euro pillows are 26 x 26 inches, or 66 x 66 cm. That's the standard size in the US, and it's the size most euro shams are sewn to fit. You'll also see 24 and 28 inch squares sold as euros, but 26 is the default.

Why does that size matter? Propped against a headboard, a euro stands 6 inches taller than a standard pillow's 20-inch side. That height fills the gap above your sleep pillows. Here are the other numbers worth knowing:

• 1 inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so 26 inches is 66.04 cm. You can check the math with NIST's exact inch-to-centimeter conversion.
• European labels often say 65 x 65 cm. Treat that as the same nominal size.
• Inserts are measured flat, so a filled insert looks slightly smaller than the number on its label.

Euro Pillow Sizes Chart: 5 Squares Worth Knowing

Most stores stock 26 x 26 and stop there. But euro pillows come in a small family of square sizes, and each one has a job.

Here's how they line up, inches first, centimeters rounded:

What about 22 x 22? It's usually sold as a large throw pillow, not a euro. The Bean organic kapok euro insert comes in 24, 26 and 28 inches, and 30 or 32 inch squares can be sewn as custom sizes.

Shopping from a European brand? Sizes change there. Germany's common pillow sizes today are 80 x 80 cm and 40 x 80 cm, according to the German down and feather industry association. An 80 cm square is about 31.5 inches, so it's far bigger than a US euro.

Euro Pillow Dimensions vs. Standard, Queen and King

Standard, queen and king pillows are all 20 inches deep. Only the length changes, from 26 to 36 inches.

The euro breaks the pattern. It's a 26-inch square, so it spans the same width as a standard pillow but stands 6 inches taller.

The big takeaway? A standard pillowcase won't fit a euro. You need a euro sham, a cover cut for a 26-inch square.

And those long 20 x 54 pillows are body pillows, not euros. The body pillow sizes guide covers them properly.

How Many Euro Pillows Do You Need? (Let's Do the Math)

Count by mattress width. Each 26-inch euro covers 26 inches, so you add squares until the row spans most of the headboard.

Here's how that works out on every US bed size:

Notice the king row? Three 26s add up to 78 inches on a 76-inch mattress. They press together a little, and that's normal. It reads full, not crowded.

Once you have the count, layer from back to front:

1. Euros stand against the headboard.
2. Sleep pillows go in front of them.
3. Throw pillows come last.

Euro Sham and Insert Sizing: Which Size Actually Fits?

Here's why the advice online clashes. Shams are cut to their stated size, but inserts are measured flat.

Once an insert is filled, its edges pull in. So a 26-inch insert in a 26-inch sham looks softer than you might expect. Neither choice is wrong. It comes down to the look you want and the fill you pick.

Same Size for a Relaxed Look

A 26 insert in a 26 sham gives a soft, flatter profile with slightly loose corners.

It suits a minimal bed, or anyone who likes a backrest that gives a little.

Size Up 2 Inches for a Full Look

A 28 insert in a 26 sham fills the corners and stands up straight. It also makes a firmer backrest for reading in bed.

That's the house rule on the Bean euro pillow inserts collection: go 2 inches bigger than the cover.

Adjust the Fill Instead

Zippered inserts let you add or remove fill, so one insert can do both jobs. Kapok settles when you lean on it and fluffs back with a shake, while the recycled polyester euro insert keeps a crisper shape.

Two checks before you buy a sham:

• Cut size or finished size? A sham listed by its cut size ends up a little smaller once it's sewn, so your insert will look fuller.
• Standard or not? Bean sells inserts only, not shams. Any standard 26 x 26 euro sham fits them.

The Best Fill for a Euro Pillow Insert (And One to Skip)

Fill decides how your euro looks after an hour of leaning on it. At 26 inches square, weight matters too.

Here's how the common fills stack up:

• Kapok: a soft, plant-based fiber that feels a lot like down. The Bean kapok insert has a GOTS-certified organic cotton shell.
• Recycled polyester: lighter, holds a crisper shape and is easier to wash. For any synthetic insert, look for an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 label.
• Down and feather: plush and traditional, but it needs regular fluffing to stay full.
• Memory foam: holds one fixed shape, and you can't adjust it.
• Buckwheat (skip it here): at 26 x 26, a hull fill gets heavy fast. Keep buckwheat for sleep pillows.

Want the long version on kapok? Read are kapok pillows good for an honest look at how it wears.

Kapok does need a little care: spot clean the shell and keep the fill dry. Here's how to wash a kapok pillow, plus the materials and certifications behind every Bean fabric and fill.

Can You Sleep on a Euro Pillow? (Germany Says Yes)

Yes, and in parts of Europe it's the norm. The euro square is a standard sleep pillow in Germany and the Netherlands, according to the Sleep Foundation's pillow size guide. In the US, it's mostly a backrest and decor.

So where does a euro shine on an American bed? Try it as:

• A reading backrest against the headboard
• A cushion between or under your knees
• A sofa or floor cushion

Sleeping on one every night? Watch the height. A 2016 study on pillow height found that higher pillows raised pressure on the head and neck and increased neck extension when lying on the back.

Pick your nightly loft by sleep position instead. Our guide to pillow height for sleep can help, or browse sleep pillows made for the job.

How to Measure a Euro Pillow or Sham in 5 Steps

Not sure what's already on your bed? Grab a soft tape measure. This takes about a minute.

Measure the insert and the sham separately, since they're sized in different ways.

1. Take the cover off the insert.
2. Lay the insert flat on a table or the floor.
3. Measure seam to seam across the middle, in both directions.
4. For a sham, measure the inside, seam to seam.
5. Compare the two numbers and apply the sizing rule above.

Euro Pillow Size FAQs

Still have a question? You're not alone.

These are the ones shoppers ask most, answered in a sentence or two.

Is a euro pillow the same as a euro sham?

No.

The euro pillow is the filled insert. The euro sham is the decorative cover that slips over it.

What size insert goes in a 26 x 26 euro sham?

A 26 x 26 insert gives a relaxed look.

For full, crisp corners, size up to a 28 x 28. Going 2 inches bigger fills the sham.

Will a euro pillow fit a standard pillowcase?

No.

A standard pillowcase is made for a 20-inch-deep rectangle, so a 26-inch square won't fit. Use a euro sham instead.

What are euro pillow dimensions in centimeters?

A 26 x 26 inch euro is 66.04 x 66.04 cm, usually labeled 66 x 66 cm.

European brands often round to 65 x 65 cm. German squares run larger, at 80 x 80 cm.

Are 24 x 24 pillows considered euro pillows?

Yes. A 24 x 24 is the smaller euro size.

It works well on twin and full beds, or layered in front of 26-inch euros.

Ready to Fill Those Euro Shams?

So, the standard euro pillow size is 26 x 26 inches. Want a full, crisp look? Put in an insert 2 inches bigger than the sham.

Now pick your size and fill, then shop euro pillow inserts, sewn in Chicago with organic kapok or recycled polyester fill. Got an odd-sized sham? Send us its measurements and we'll suggest the right insert.