Custom pillows are one of those products where the difference between good and bad is entirely in the details nobody mentions before you order.

Whether the photo survives being enlarged. Whether the crop clips somebody's head. Whether the fabric makes skin look natural or glossy. Whether the print washes or cracks.

We deal with that by showing you the finished design before you pay anything. Upload an image, see a free preview at the size and shape you chose, and order only when it looks right.

Everything is printed on demand. No minimum order, no setup fee, and nothing waiting in a warehouse. Prices start at $25 and production takes about three days.

This page is a map rather than a sales pitch. Below is every type of custom pillow we make, what each one is for, and where to read the detail.

Custom pillow covers a lot of ground. Here is each type in a sentence, with a link to the page that goes into proper detail.

By shape

Body pillows are full length at 150 x 50 cm, huggable rather than decorative, and the format people choose when they want to hold something. See custom body pillows. If you already own an insert and only need the printed cover, go to custom body pillow cases instead.

Shaped pillows are cut to follow any outline you upload rather than being square, which turns a cushion into the thing itself. See custom shaped pillows.

By subject

Photo pillows take any picture, one image or a collage of up to nine, on a standard square cushion. See custom photo pillows.

Face pillows crop tight to somebody's face, often cut around the head. Equal parts sincere gift and excellent joke. See custom face pillows.

Pet pillows work for any animal, with species specific guidance for dogs and cats, or start at custom pet pillows if yours is a rabbit, horse, bird or anything else.

For artists

If you are printing original artwork rather than a photograph, the file requirements are different and worth reading properly. See custom dakimakura printing, which covers resolution, bleed and colour, and has no minimum order.

Still not sure

Upload your photo and try the preview. It costs nothing and you can switch formats and sizes to see which one suits the image before deciding anything.

The process is identical whatever shape you choose, which is why the advice on every page here overlaps.

Printing

Dye based inks are pushed into the fabric fibers rather than laid on top as a coating. That is the reason a printed pillow can be washed without the image cracking, and why it still feels like fabric rather than plastic.

Every format prints double sided at no extra cost. Same image both sides, two different images, or a plain colour on the back.

Cutting and sewing

Square formats are straightforward. Shaped formats are traced, cut with a seam allowance and sewn individually, which is why anything thinner than about two centimeters has to be thickened before it can survive being stitched.

Filling

Polyester fiber fill, hand packed into narrow areas so ears, tails and letter strokes do not stay flat. Covers sold without an insert are the exception, and those are listed clearly as covers.

Timing

About three days in production, then four to eight business days of tracked shipping. For a fixed date, order at least two weeks ahead and earlier in December.

Two fabrics

Peach skin is soft, matte and breathable, and it suits photographs of people and animals because skin and fur look natural rather than glossy. 2 way tricot is smoother and more saturated, which suits flat artwork and anime style illustration. If you cannot decide, peach skin.

Common sizes

• Mini, 15 to 20 cm, for desks and sets
• Square, 40 x 40 cm, the standard cushion
• Shaped, 30 to 60 cm measured on the longest edge
• Full body, 150 x 50 cm

Photo requirements

At least 1500 pixels on the short side for anything cushion sized, and considerably more for full body artwork. The preview warns you before you pay if a file is too small, which is the whole point of having one.

Washing

Cold gentle cycle, mild detergent, air dry. Never iron the print and skip the hot dryer. Heat is the only thing that reliably damages a dye based print. Covers can be removed and washed separately; filled cushions go in a laundry bag.