Size Guide

Last updated: October 29, 2026

Choosing a size for a pillow or a blanket is easier than choosing clothes: there is no fit to worry about, only the space where the piece will live and how the person will use it. This guide explains how to measure that space, how our size labels work, how to choose between two sizes, and what to do if a size turns out wrong. The exact dimensions of each product are listed on its product page next to the size options; when you choose a size there, that is the size we print.

How our size labels work

Every size option on an Ink Hug product page is written in inches, width by height, for example “18 x 18 in” for a square pillow or “50 x 60 in” for a blanket. For pillows, the size is the size of the cover. For blankets, it is the size of the finished blanket laid flat.

Not every product is offered in every size. Only the sizes shown on a product page can be ordered for that product. Textiles are cut and sewn, so a finished piece can differ very slightly from the label; this is normal and not a defect.

What you need to measure

• A tape measure, preferably a soft sewing tape. A metal tape or a ruler works too.
• Somewhere to write the numbers down.
• Optional: a sheet of paper or a towel to lay out a rough size on the sofa or bed.

Measuring for a pillow

Choosing a size for a sofa or armchair

1. Measure the depth of the seat, from the front edge to the back cushion.
2. Measure the height of the back cushion above the seat.
3. Look at the cushions already there. Measure one from seam to seam.

A pillow that is noticeably smaller than the back cushion sits neatly in front of it. A pillow close to the size of the back cushion makes a bolder statement and gives more support when someone leans on it. If a photo is the star of the gift, a larger pillow shows faces bigger and clearer from across the room.

Choosing a pillow cover for an insert you already own

1. Lay the insert flat without squashing it.
2. Measure from one seam to the opposite seam across the middle, in both directions.
3. Choose the cover size that matches the insert measurement. A cover the same size as the insert, or one size smaller, gives a full, plump look. A cover larger than the insert looks loose and the print can wrinkle.

If your insert measures between two cover sizes, choose the smaller cover for a fuller look, or the larger one if the insert is very firm.

Choosing a pillow for a bed

Measure the width of the headboard or the bed. Decorative pillows usually sit in front of sleeping pillows, so a medium square pillow works well on most beds, while larger squares suit wide beds. For a child’s bed, a smaller size feels more in proportion and is easier for small arms to hug.

Measuring for a blanket

Lap and sofa use

Sit on the sofa where the blanket will be used and measure from your shoulders to your feet, and across your lap with arms out. A blanket that covers that area lets you tuck it around yourself. Smaller sizes suit children, laps in a wheelchair or a reading chair, and travel. Larger sizes suit two people sharing the sofa or someone tall who likes to be fully covered.

Bed use

1. Measure the top of the mattress, width and length.
2. Decide how you want the blanket to sit: folded across the foot of the bed as a throw, or covering the top of the mattress.
3. For a throw across the foot of the bed, a blanket narrower than the mattress looks neat. For covering the top, choose a size close to the mattress dimensions.

Our blankets are throws and bed-top blankets, not full bedspreads designed to hang to the floor on all sides. If you want coverage that drapes over the edges, compare the largest size on the product page with your mattress measurements first.

Photo collages and size

The more photos you want on a blanket, the larger the blanket should be. On a small blanket, a collage of many photos makes each one small and faces harder to recognize. As a general guide, choose a larger blanket for a collage of many photos and a smaller one for a single photo or a short name.

Choosing between two sizes

Sizes for different rooms

• Living room: pillows join the sofa cushions; blankets get folded over the arm or the back. Think about how many cushions are already there before adding a large pillow.
• Bedroom: pillows sit in front of sleeping pillows; blankets lie across the foot of the bed or cover the top. Measure the mattress, not the bed frame.
• Nursery: pillows and blankets are for the parent’s chair or for display, never for the crib. Smaller sizes are easier to keep tidy and wash often.
• Dorm or first apartment: space is tight, so mid-size pieces that work on a bed and a desk chair are the most useful.
• Car, cabin or camping: a smaller fleece throw folds into a bag and dries quickly.

Fabric and how it affects size

Fleece is light and drapes softly, so it hangs a little more over edges. Sherpa is thicker and holds its shape, so the same size can feel larger on the lap and heavier to fold. A sherpa blanket folded at the foot of a bed takes up more height than a fleece one. If space in a drawer or closet matters, fleece folds smaller.

How printing relates to size

• The print covers the front of each piece. On pillows, the edges and seams are where a photo gets trimmed, so keep important details near the middle.
• Photos are cropped to the shape of the product. A tall phone photo on a square pillow loses some of the top and bottom; a wide landscape photo loses the sides.
• Names and text are sized to fit comfortably on the chosen product. Long text on a small pillow is printed smaller. If a message is long, choose a larger size or shorten the wording.
• Larger sizes show more detail but also reveal more of any blur in a photo. A sharp, original photo matters more on a large blanket than on a small pillow.

Try it at home before you order

Numbers on a screen can be hard to picture. A quick mock-up at home makes the decision obvious.

1. Find something you already own that is close to the size you are considering: a bath towel, a folded sheet, a square cushion, or a few sheets of paper taped together.
2. Measure it, then fold or trim it to the size on the product page. For a pillow, a cushion or a folded towel works well. For a blanket, a sheet or a duvet cover folded to size is ideal.
3. Put it where the gift will live: on the sofa, the armchair or the bed. Sit with it, lean on it, wrap it around your shoulders.
4. Look at it from where people usually sit or stand. A photo pillow is often seen from across a room, so a size that looks big in your hands can look just right from the doorway.
5. If you are buying for someone else, think about their furniture rather than yours. A small apartment sofa and a large family sectional suit very different sizes.

Size questions we hear often

Is the pillow size the size of the insert or the cover?

On Ink Hug product pages, pillow sizes describe the cover. For a pillow with insert, the insert is matched to the cover so it looks full. For a pillow cover on its own, choose the cover size that matches your insert, as explained above.

Will a blanket shrink in the wash?

Washing cold on a gentle cycle and drying on low heat or flat keeps shrinkage to a minimum. High heat in the dryer is the most common cause of a blanket changing shape, and it can also soften the print over time. See our care tips in the Help Center.

Can I order one size and swap it later?

Yes. If the size is not right when it arrives, you can return it within 60 days of delivery and choose an exchange for another size, with a free return label and free shipping on the replacement.

Do you make custom sizes?

We can only print the sizes listed on each product page. If you need something different, email us with the measurements and we will tell you honestly whether one of our existing sizes is a good fit.

If the size is not right

If the pillow or blanket arrives and the size is not what you expected, you can return it within 60 days of delivery for any reason, and we pay the return postage with a free label. You can choose a refund, store credit that never expires, or an exchange for a different size with the same or new personalization. The replacement ships free. See Returns & Exchanges for the steps and the Refund Policy for refund timing, which is within 7 days of receiving your return.

If you notice a size mistake within 24 hours of ordering, email us and we can change it before printing, free of charge. See Cancel or Change an Order.

Examples

• A photo pillow for Grandpa’s recliner. The recliner back is tall and he likes to lean on a cushion. A larger square pillow shows the grandkids’ faces clearly and gives support.
• A cover for an existing insert. The insert measures 18 inches across from seam to seam. An 18 x 18 in cover fits snugly and looks full.
• A blanket for a dorm room. A single bed and a desk chair. A mid-size sherpa blanket covers the top of the bed and folds onto the chair.
• A baby name blanket for the nursery chair. A small fleece throw suits a parent’s lap during feeds. Remember that blankets and pillows should not be placed in a crib with a sleeping baby.
• A collage of twenty family photos. The largest blanket size keeps each photo big enough to recognize faces.

Still unsure?

Email support@inkhug.shop with the measurements of the space and, if it is a photo gift, the photo. We reply within 24 hours on business days and will suggest a size honestly. You can also browse pillows and blankets, or read our FAQs.