Emily recently bought a new memory foam pillow — the Tempur-Pedic Cloud Dual Cooling Pillow — hoping it would improve her sleep. Naturally, she wanted to pair it with a soft, well-fitting pillowcase.
But as she looked at the product specs, she noticed:Queen size: 27″ x 19″ x 6.4″
She paused and thought: “It lists the height as 6.4 inches. If I’m ordering a custom pillowcase, do I need to include that height? What if it doesn’t fit?”
This is a common question: If a pillow lists a height, do you need to include that measurement when buying or customizing a pillowcase?
In Most Cases: You Don’t Need to Include the Height When Choosing Pillowcases
If your pillow is a standard rectangular shape, with a height between 4 and 8 inches, and it’s made from a material that allows a bit of compression (like most memory foam or fiberfill), then you typically don’t need to provide the height when ordering a pillowcase. Most ready-made or custom pillowcases are designed with enough room to accommodate that thickness.
In Emily’s case, her Tempur-Cloud pillow is 6.4 inches high, which might sound thick — but it still falls within the normal range. So she doesn’t need to report the height when ordering.
However, the pillow’s overall size is 27″ x 19″, which is not the same as a standard Queen pillow (usually 20″ x 30″). That means Emily does need a custom-sized pillowcase — but she only needs to provide the length and width, not the height.
When You Should Include the Height
While most pillows don’t require you to include the height, there are two important exceptions:
1. Extra-thick pillows (over 8 inches tall)
Some pillows — especially firm latex pillows or orthopedic pillows — can be extra thick and don’t compress easily. In those cases, a standard pillowcase might be too tight or won’t zip closed.
2. Shaped or contoured pillows
Pillows with unusual shapes, like cervical pillows, wave or butterfly designs, often have uneven height and unique curves. Even if they’re not especially tall, standard pillowcases won’t fit them well. In these cases, you’ll need a custom case — and yes, you should include the height along with the shape details.
Quick Guide:
| Pillow Type | Include Height? |
| Standard rectangular, 4–8″ high | ❌ No |
| Over 8″ tall | ✅ Yes |
| Contoured / shaped / cervical pillows | ✅ Yes |
If you’re unsure whether your pillow needs a custom case or what measurements to include, feel free to share your pillow’s size or model — we’re happy to help you figure it out.