Size
Most hotels outfit guest rooms with standard size (20 x 26 inch) pillows, because they accommodate most body sizes and types, and standard size pillow cases/covers are most common. Some luxury hotels might offer larger queen (20 x 30 inch) or king (20 x 36 inch) pillows in rooms with larger beds, or to accommodate guest preferences.
Why Buy Hotel Pillows for the Home?
Spending a night in a hotel is often a relaxing, restful experience, and it’s common for travelers to want to recreate the hotel environment at home. Buying hotel style pillows helps add some luxury to your bed, and recreates some of that “on vacation” feeling.
Beyond your own bed, though, you might wish to buy hotel pillows that appeal to a wide variety of sleepers, regardless of their size and preferred sleeping position if your property is a vacation rental (like an Airbnb) or if you often have guests come to stay. Not only are hotel pillows comfortable for a wide range of people, they can usually be easily washed and dried, giving every guest a fresh and clean pillow to rest their head.
Hotel Pillow Care and Maintenance
Generally speaking, most hotels replace pillows every 6-8 months (Wyndham Hotels, for instance, purchase more than a million pillows every year.) Since buying a new pillow several times a year isn’t practical, proper care to keep pillows fresh, clean, and comfortable is a priority.
Most machine washable pillows can be washed with cool water on a delicate or gentle cycle, and tumble dried on low or no heat. Some feather pillows should only be tumble dried on low heat to fluff the feathers and shake out any dirt or dust. These pillows should only be spot cleaned with a gentle cleaner and air dried. Keep in mind that pillows filled with natural fibers like feather and down should only be washed occasionally to prevent flattening.
What Else Should You Consider When Buying Hotel Pillows?
If you stay in a hotel and especially like a pillow, check the tag or ask the concierge for more information about it. You may be able to purchase that exact pillow or one very similar to it from the same manufacturer.
Before purchasing a pillow, be sure to consider:
- Sleeping Position: Ideal pillow firmness depends on whether you’re a side, back, or stomach sleeper.
- Pain: If you suffer from chronic pain, you need a pillow with plenty of support and cushioning.
- Sleeping Habits: If you have a tendency to sweat or drool in your sleep, your pillow can become stained or hold odors. Choose one that can be easily cleaned.
