Pillow Fill Calculator
Pillow fill weight from size and loft.
What it does
Pillows are volume jobs: shell size times loft sets the cavity, and fill density turns cavity into ounces. This page multiplies those two for one pillow in ounces or grams across three common fills.
The default is a 20 by 26 in bed pillow at 6 in loft with down alternative. Volume is 3,120 in3 at 0.008 oz each, so 25 oz of fill. Metric defaults convert the same pillow to 51 by 66 by 15 cm and give 50,490 cm3 with 699 g.
Loft decides feel more than faces do. A 4 in loft sleeps flat, 6 in suits most backs, and 8 in props sides, with each inch scaling fill straight. Measure a liked pillow squeezed lightly rather than guessing from labels.
Fill choice moves weight most. Feather blends run denser than down alternative, and shredded foam doubles it again, so swapping fills without reweighing stuffs or starves the same shell.
How to use
- Pick imperial or metric first.
- Enter pillow length and width.
- Enter loft thickness.
- Pick the fill closest to stock.
- Read fill weight first, then volume.
Formula
- L
- Pillow length in the active units.
- W
- Pillow width in the active units.
- loft
- Pillow loft or thickness.
- density
- Fill oz per in3 for the chosen fill.
Densities are planning averages for recovered loft, not compressed bag weight. Down alternative 0.008, feather blend 0.01, and shredded memory foam 0.02 oz per in3; metric divides by 16.387 cm3 per in3 then grams at 28.3495 per oz. Real fills vary by brand and humidity.
Worked example
Example: standard bed pillow
20 by 26 in pillow, 6 in loft, down alternative (metric 51 by 66 by 15 cm).
- Volume: 20 x 26 x 6 = 3,120 in3.
- Fill: 3,120 x 0.008 = 25 oz.
- Metric: 51 x 66 x 15 = 50,490 cm3.
- Metric fill: 50,490 x 0.008/16.387 = 699 g.
- Tool shows 25 oz imperial and 699 g metric.
Reference table
| Loft | Volume | Fill |
|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 2,080 in3 | 16.6 oz |
| 5 in | 2,600 in3 | 20.8 oz |
| 6 in | 3,120 in3 | 25 oz |
| 7 in | 3,640 in3 | 29.1 oz |
| 8 in | 4,160 in3 | 33.3 oz |
Limits
- One pillow per pass. Pairs need doubling.
- Averages per fill. Brands vary.
- Recovered loft assumed. Packed bags read low.
- Shell and trim excluded.
Common mistakes
- Guessing loft instead of measuring.
- Swapping fills without reweighing.
- Mixing inches with cm mid chain.
- Reading bag weight as lofted need.
- Stuffing to the seam with no ease.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
10 by 26 by 6 in, down alt?
12.5 oz (1,560 x 0.008) for half volume.
20 by 26 by 6 in feather blend?
31.2 oz (3,120 x 0.01).
Questions
How much fill?
Length times width times loft times density. Here 25 oz.
What is the volume?
3,120 in3 here (20 x 26 x 6).
What is that in metric?
699 g for 50,490 cm3.
What densities are used?
0.008 down alt, 0.01 feather, 0.02 shredded foam per in3.
Firmer pillow?
Firmer lofts need more. Raise loft input rather than guessing.
Does it include the shell?
No. Shell, zipper, and welting sit outside fill math.