How to Order a Custom Dakimakura: A Practical Guide

A custom dakimakura turns your chosen artwork into a body pillow cover, but the result begins well before checkout. The most useful preparation is not complicated: decide what you want on each side, choose a cover size that matches your inner pillow, select a fabric deliberately, and review every option on the product page before placing the order.

This guide explains how to prepare for a custom dakimakura order using choices that are currently visible on DakimakuraStore. It does not impose an unofficial file specification. Instead, it helps you organize the artwork and decisions that the custom listings actually ask you to provide.

Start by choosing the right custom product

The custom dakimakura collection contains more than one type of product. That matters because the required inputs and available options are not identical across every listing.

The standard custom body pillow cover provides separate Front and Back upload fields. On its current product form, Front is optional and Back is required. It also lets shoppers choose from five sizes—100 × 34, 120 × 40, 150 × 50, 160 × 50, and 180 × 60 cm—and five materials: Peach Skin, Natural Velvet, Smooth Knit, Two Way Tricot, and Upgraded Two Way Tricot.

Custom dakimakura product placeholder showing where submitted artwork appears on a body pillow — The custom-cover listing uses a placeholder to show the body-pillow print area; your selected files define the finished artwork.

A separate custom apart-legs or zipper pillow cover asks for an “Enter Sku” value and offers a Type choice between Apart Legs and Zipper. Its current size choices are 150 × 50, 160 × 50, and 180 × 60 cm, while its material choices are Two Way Tricot and Upgraded Two Way Tricot. If you want a conventional rectangular cover, do not select this specialized listing by accident.

Decision	Standard custom cover	Apart-legs or zipper custom cover
Artwork/input fields	Separate Front and Back uploads	Enter Sku field on the product form
Displayed sizes	100 × 34 through 180 × 60 cm	150 × 50, 160 × 50, and 180 × 60 cm
Displayed materials	Five fabric choices	Two Way Tricot or Upgraded Two Way Tricot
Best fit for	A conventional custom body pillow cover	A shopper intentionally choosing one of the listed specialized constructions

Use the live product form as the final authority. Options and pricing can differ by product and selection, so compare the listing with your plan immediately before checkout.

Prepare the front and back as separate decisions

Even when both sides use the same character, treat them as two separate compositions. A body pillow is tall and narrow, so an image that looks balanced on a square screen can lose important details when adapted to the cover’s proportions.

Choose a clear subject for each side

Start with one primary subject and decide which details must remain visible. Background elements should support the subject rather than compete for the limited width. If the art includes text, signatures, borders, or props near an edge, make a note to check their placement carefully.

Give the front and back files unmistakable names, such as character-front and character-back. Clear naming reduces your own chance of reversing the two sides while completing the upload fields. Open both files one last time after naming them; a filename alone is not proof that the contents are correct.

Use the strongest source file you have

Avoid enlarging a tiny preview or a compressed screenshot when a larger original is available. Zoom in and look for blocky edges, blurred facial features, halos around line art, or compression noise in gradients. These problems are easier to catch on a monitor before ordering than after an image has been adapted to a full-length cover.

The product page does not publish a universal resolution or file-format rule, so this guide will not invent one. If you are unsure whether a specific file can be used, confirm with the store before ordering. Keep an untouched copy of the original artwork in addition to any edited version.

Check the tall crop before uploading

Make a tall preview that roughly follows the selected cover’s proportions. You do not need to guess a production template to perform this visual check. The goal is simply to see whether the character, clothing, hair, and other important details still read well in a narrow layout.

Keep essential facial and character details away from the extreme edges.
Check that neither side contains an accidental blank strip or unrelated screen content.
Make sure the front and back use the orientation you intend.
Review the files at normal view and at high zoom for different kinds of problems.
Save the final versions in a dedicated folder so you upload the approved files.

Choose the size before you finalize the crop

Size affects both physical compatibility and the shape of the artwork area. The correct order of operations is to choose a size, confirm that the matching inner pillow exists for your setup, and then review the art with that size in mind.

If you already own an inner pillow, measure its complete length and width instead of matching only one number. A 150 × 50 cm cover and a 160 × 50 cm inner share the same width but not the same length. The dakimakura size guide explains the matching process and the dimensions currently shown on example covers and inserts.

If you are buying both pieces, write down the selected cover size and choose the same dimensions in the inner pillow collection. Do not assume that a custom cover automatically includes an insert; the site uses separate cover and inner-pillow listings.

Pick fabric for feel, stretch, and use

The standard custom listing currently presents Peach Skin, Natural Velvet, Smooth Knit, Two Way Tricot, and Upgraded Two Way Tricot. The specialized apart-legs or zipper listing presents only the two tricot choices. This is another reason to select the product type before settling on a material.

Fabric choice does not change the dimensions you should buy. A 160 × 50 cm custom cover still needs a 160 × 50 cm inner pillow. Use the store’s dakimakura fabric comparison to review the available materials, then return to the custom listing and verify that your preferred fabric is selectable there.

Think about how the cover will be used. A display-focused purchase, a frequently handled cover, and a warmer-feeling fabric preference may lead to different choices. There is no need to force a single “best” material onto every buyer; the useful choice is the one that fits your priorities and appears on your chosen custom product.

A practical custom dakimakura order checklist

Select the product type. Decide whether you want the standard custom cover or intentionally want a specialized construction.
Choose exact dimensions. Match both numbers to an existing or planned inner pillow.
Choose a listed fabric. Confirm that the material appears on the specific custom product, not only elsewhere on the site.
Approve each side. Open the front and back files, check orientation, crop, edges, and visible details.
Complete every required field. The standard listing currently marks Back as required; other custom listings use different inputs.
Review the configured product. Recheck type, size, material, uploads, and the price shown after your selections.
Save your source files. Keep the originals and the exact final files together for reference.

Common mistakes that are easy to prevent

Choosing the artwork before the product type

A conventional cover and a specialized pillowcase do not present the same inputs or choices. Start with the product page so your artwork preparation follows the item you actually intend to order.

Matching only one size number

Width alone is not enough. Match the entire length × width pair between the custom cover and inner pillow.

Uploading from a cluttered download folder

Move the approved files into a clean order folder and use descriptive filenames. This small organizational step helps prevent an old draft, thumbnail, or reversed side from being selected.

Assuming every fabric appears on every custom listing

The current standard and specialized custom products show different material menus. Check the exact listing instead of carrying an assumption from another product page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I order a custom dakimakura with different art on each side?

The standard custom body pillow cover currently provides separate Front and Back upload fields, so prepare and label the two sides independently. Check which fields are required on the live form before submitting.

Which custom dakimakura size should I choose?

Choose the exact dimensions of the inner pillow you own or plan to buy. Match both length and width; do not substitute a 150 × 50 cm cover for a 160 × 50 cm inner.

Does a custom body pillow cover include the inner pillow?

Do not assume that it does. Custom covers and inner pillows are presented as separate product listings on the site, so add a matching insert when your setup needs one.

What image resolution or file format does the store require?

The custom product page does not publish one universal specification in the information reviewed for this guide. Use the best original file available and contact the store before ordering if you need confirmation for a particular file.

Build your custom cover with fewer surprises

A successful custom order begins with a short sequence: choose the correct product, lock in the size and fabric, prepare each side carefully, and check every required field. When those decisions are complete, visit the custom collection, configure the listing that matches your plan, and give the files one final visual review before checkout.

Dakimakura Size Guide: Match Covers and Inner Pillows

Choosing an anime body pillow cover is the fun part. Choosing the correct size is the part that determines whether the finished pillow looks smooth, feels evenly filled, and is easy to assemble. This dakimakura size guide explains how to match a cover to an inner pillow using the measurements shown on DakimakuraStore product pages.

The essential rule is simple: match both dimensions exactly. A cover listed as 150 × 50 cm should be paired with a 150 × 50 cm inner pillow, while a 160 × 50 cm cover calls for a 160 × 50 cm inner. Similar-looking sizes are not interchangeable just because they share the same width.

Start with the two numbers, not the character design

Dakimakura measurements are written as length × width in centimeters. In “160 × 50 cm,” 160 cm is the length from end to end and 50 cm is the width across the pillow. Check both numbers before adding a cover or inner pillow to your cart.

The current anime dakimakura collection includes covers with several selectable dimensions. For example, the Ranko Kanzaki pillow cover and Hatsune Miku body pillow cover both show 100 × 34, 120 × 40, 150 × 50, 160 × 50, and 180 × 60 cm options on their product pages. That range makes it especially important to confirm the selected size rather than assuming every cover is the same.

Ranko Kanzaki anime dakimakura pillow cover product image — This cover listing lets shoppers select from five dimensions, including 150 × 50 and 160 × 50 cm.

Dakimakura sizes available in the store

The table below summarizes dimensions visible on the cited cover and inner-pillow listings. It is a shopping reference, not a claim that every design is offered in every size. Always use the options on the individual product page as the final check.

Size	Where it appears	What to verify
100 × 34 cm	Selected covers and the standard inner pillow	Both length and narrow 34 cm width
120 × 40 cm	Selected covers and the standard inner pillow	Do not pair with a 50 cm-wide inner
150 × 50 cm	Selected covers and inner pillows	Match to a 150 × 50 cm inner
160 × 50 cm	Selected covers and inner pillows	Match to a 160 × 50 cm inner
170 × 60 cm	Standard inner-pillow listing	Confirm a chosen cover specifically offers 170 × 60 cm
180 × 60 cm	Selected covers and the standard inner pillow	Match the full 180 × 60 cm dimensions

Notice the potential trap around 170 × 60 cm. The standard body pillow inner lists that dimension, but the two example character covers above do not. An inner pillow being available in a size does not prove that a particular cover is available in the same size.

How to choose between 150 × 50 and 160 × 50 cm

These two options share a 50 cm width, so the decision comes down to length and compatibility. If you already own an inner pillow, measure it and choose the cover with the same stated dimensions. If you are buying both pieces together, select one size first and mirror that selection on the other product page.

Do not treat the extra 10 cm as harmless. Putting a 160 cm inner into a 150 cm cover asks the fabric and zipper area to accommodate more length than the cover was sold for. Going the other direction leaves a dimensional gap. Exact matching is the cleanest, lowest-guesswork approach.

Measure an inner pillow you already own

Lay the inner pillow on a flat surface without compressing or stretching it.
Measure end to end for the length.
Measure straight across the widest part for the width.
Compare the result with the selectable dimensions on the cover page.
If your result falls between listed sizes, remeasure before ordering rather than rounding to the nearest option.

A soft pillow can shift while you measure it, so take the reading twice. The store’s cover pages also display a reminder to measure your inner pillow before ordering.

Choose the inner pillow and cover as a system

A dakimakura cover is the printed outer layer; the inner pillow supplies the shape and fill. The store’s inner pillow category is therefore the practical next stop after you choose a cover dimension.

The standard inner-pillow product currently shows six selectable dimensions: 100 × 34, 120 × 40, 150 × 50, 160 × 50, 170 × 60, and 180 × 60 cm. It also shows polypropylene cotton and down cotton as fill selections. A separate double-sided zipper inner pillow specifically names 150 × 50 and 160 × 50 cm in its listing. Use the options actually displayed when you order, because product configurations can differ.

Dakimakura body pillow inner pillow product image — The standard inner-pillow listing provides multiple dimensions for pairing with compatible covers.

A quick pre-purchase compatibility check

Cover length equals inner length. Compare the first number.
Cover width equals inner width. Compare the second number.
The size is selectable now. Check the live product option, not only a search result or product title.
You know what is included. A cover product and an inner-pillow product are separate listings unless the page explicitly states otherwise.
Your bed or display space fits the finished size. Use the centimeter dimensions to check the physical space before ordering.

Does fabric choice change the size you should buy?

No—the listed dimensions should still match. Stretch is a fabric characteristic, not a reason to compensate for a size mismatch. The example cover pages offer Peach Skin, Natural Velvet, Smooth Knit, Two Way Tricot, and Upgraded Two Way Tricot. Their feel and elasticity differ, but a 160 × 50 cm cover should still be paired with a 160 × 50 cm inner pillow.

If fabric is your next decision, use the store’s existing dakimakura material guide for a comparison of those choices. Keeping the decisions separate helps: first match the dimensions, then choose the fabric based on feel, stretch, warmth, and print preferences.

Common size mistakes to avoid

Matching only the width

A 150 × 50 cm cover and 160 × 50 cm inner share a width but not a length. Check the complete pair of numbers.

Assuming the product image represents one fixed size

The same design page can offer several dimensions. The image identifies the design; the option you select identifies the physical size.

Letting fabric stretch substitute for compatibility

Elastic materials may conform differently, but stretching a smaller cover over a larger inner is not the same as selecting a matching set. Follow the listed measurements.

Ordering first and measuring later

If you already have an inner pillow, measure before choosing the cover. If you are starting from scratch, record the selected cover size and use that exact dimension when choosing the inner.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important dakimakura measurement?

Both measurements matter. The first number is the length and the second is the width. The cover and inner pillow should match on both.

Can I use a 150 × 50 cm cover on a 160 × 50 cm inner pillow?

They are different sizes, despite sharing the same width. Choose a 150 × 50 cm inner for that cover, or select a 160 × 50 cm cover for the longer inner.

Does a dakimakura cover include the inner pillow?

Do not assume it does. The store has separate cover and inner-pillow product listings. Read the individual product page and add a compatible inner separately when needed.

How should I care for the cover after choosing the right size?

Remove the cover from the inner pillow before cleaning and follow the care instructions appropriate to the selected material. The store’s cover and inner-pillow washing guide provides the existing step-by-step reference.

Ready to build a matching set?

Choose a design, write down its full dimensions, and pair it with an inner pillow carrying the exact same two numbers. That one-minute check removes the most common source of uncertainty and lets you focus on the character art and fabric you actually want.