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How to Measure a Body Pillow for a Dakimakura Cover
Buying a dakimakura cover for a pillow you already own starts with three measurements: length, width, and practical thickness. The first two determine whether the cover and insert share the same stated size. The third helps you judge whether a very full pillow may put extra tension on the fabric, seams, or zipper.
This guide shows how to measure a body pillow for a dakimakura cover without compressing it into a misleading shape. You will also learn how to interpret rounded measurements, what to do with a tapered or overfilled insert, and when a purpose-made inner pillow is the simpler choice.
The three measurements that matter
| Measurement | How to take it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Length | End to end along the pillow’s longest center line | Too much difference leaves empty fabric or prevents the insert from reaching both ends |
| Width | Straight across the widest flat part | A width mismatch changes the fit even when the length looks correct |
| Thickness | From the surface beneath the pillow to its highest point | An unusually full insert can make a nominally matching cover feel tight |
A cover size such as 160 × 50 cm describes length and width, not the distance around a stuffed pillow. That is why measuring around the pillow with a soft tape does not give the number you need for a standard cover listing.
What you need before measuring
- A firm, flat surface large enough for the pillow
- A flexible tape measure that stays straight when lightly tensioned
- A ruler or book for checking thickness
- A note on your phone or paper for recording every number in centimeters
Remove any existing pillowcase first. A decorative case can add bulk, hide tapered ends, or hold an uneven pillow in a shape it would not naturally take. Gently redistribute the filling, then let the bare insert rest flat for a few minutes. Do not kneel on it or pull the ends to make it reach a target size.
How to measure a body pillow step by step
1. Let the pillow settle naturally
Place the insert on a clean floor, bed, or large table. Smooth obvious bunching with your hands, but do not flatten the pillow. The goal is to record its normal resting dimensions, not the smallest shape you can force it into.
2. Measure the full length
Run the tape from the center of one end to the center of the other. Keep it on a straight line above the pillow rather than following every curve in the fabric. If the ends are rounded, measure between the two furthest natural points without stretching them.
Record the result to the nearest centimeter. Repeat once after rotating the pillow 180 degrees. If the two readings differ, check whether filling has shifted or the tape was angled.
3. Measure the width at more than one point
Measure straight across the pillow near the top, center, and bottom. Use the widest stable reading as your comparison number. This catches inserts that taper toward one end or have a center section that has spread with use.
Do not wrap the tape around the curve. A 50 cm listing means a cover laid flat is designed around that stated width; the circumference of a filled pillow is a different measurement.
4. Check practical thickness
Thickness is a fit warning rather than a selectable cover size. Lay a ruler vertically beside the pillow and place a flat book lightly across its highest point. Read the height without pressing down.
If your insert is extremely firm, overfilled, or much deeper in the center than at the ends, note that shape. Two pillows can share the same length and width while placing very different tension on a cover.
5. Write the result as length × width
Keep the numbers in the same order used on product pages. For example, write “approximately 160 × 50 cm,” followed by your thickness note. Then compare both listed dimensions—not only the width—with the store’s dakimakura size guide.
How close should the measurements be?
Start with exact stated compatibility. If the cover option is 160 × 50 cm, the clearest match is an inner pillow listed at 160 × 50 cm. A pillow that is 150 × 50 cm is not equivalent merely because the width is the same.
Small differences in a home measurement can come from rounded ends, soft filling, tape angle, or normal use. That does not justify jumping to a different nominal size. Look for a label or original product specification when possible, and compare it with your repeated measurements.
When the insert falls between common sizes, has a nonrectangular shape, or is unusually thick, do not assume stretch will solve the mismatch. A loose cover can leave unfilled ends and shifting fabric. A tight cover can make fitting difficult and concentrate stress near seams and the opening.
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring over the old case: remove every outer layer first.
- Following the curved surface: length and width should be straight-line readings.
- Using circumference as width: the distance around a stuffed pillow is not a flat cover dimension.
- Checking only one spot: older pillows may taper or spread unevenly.
- Compressing the filling: this understates the insert’s real bulk.
- Matching only one number: both length and width must agree.
If you are unsure whether a listing is the printed outer layer or the supportive insert, review the cover-versus-inner-pillow guide before comparing dimensions.
When a purpose-made inner pillow is easier
An existing body pillow may work when its labeled size, measured dimensions, shape, and fullness match the chosen cover. A purpose-made insert is easier to evaluate when the old pillow is tapered, permanently lumpy, heavily overfilled, or has no reliable size information.
Browse the store’s inner pillow collection after choosing the cover size. Treat the printed cover and the insert as separate products, and verify the exact options on both pages before ordering.
Choose the cover only after the fit check
With the measurements saved, browse the main dakimakura cover collection. The Alexis Rhodes body pillow cover and Luluka Moria body pillow cover are two real artwork examples, but the same process applies across the catalog: open the exact listing, choose the artwork, then confirm its live size and fabric options.
Fabric affects feel, stretch, image presentation, and care, but it should not be used to excuse a wrong size. Compare the available choices with the store’s five-fabric dakimakura guide. After ordering a matching setup, use the gradual method in the cover fitting guide instead of pulling the closure against a compressed insert.
Frequently asked questions
Should I measure a body pillow with or without its case?
Measure the bare insert. An existing case can add bulk, restrict the pillow’s natural shape, or hide tapered ends.
Is pillow circumference the same as dakimakura cover width?
No. Circumference follows the stuffed curve around the pillow. A cover option such as 160 × 50 cm uses stated length and flat width, so compare it with straight measurements.
Can a 150 × 50 cm pillow fit a 160 × 50 cm cover?
They are different nominal sizes. Sharing a 50 cm width does not correct the 10 cm length difference, which can leave part of the cover unsupported.
What if my pillow measures one or two centimeters off?
Repeat the measurement after redistributing the filling and check any original label. Rounded ends and soft filling can produce small home-measurement differences; use the labeled nominal size when it is available.
Does a dakimakura cover product include the inner pillow?
Do not assume it does. Treat a printed cover and inner pillow as separate products unless the exact live listing explicitly states otherwise.
Measure first, then shop with confidence
A reliable fit begins with a bare, settled pillow and two straight measurements: full length and widest flat width. Add a thickness note to flag unusual fullness, compare both dimensions with the exact cover option, and avoid relying on stretch to correct a mismatch. Once those checks are complete, you can choose artwork and fabric without guessing whether the finished setup will fit.