A single-opening pillowcase is open at one end and closed at the other; a double-opening pillowcase is open at both ends. The first is used mainly on short, single pillows; the second on long pillows, such as the single long pillow on a double bed, because it lets you centre the pillow working from either side.
But the type of opening does not, by itself, tell you whether the case will fit. What counts is the actual length and width of the pillow and the allowance the case leaves. A case that is too loose looks untidy on the bed; one that is too tight slows down every room change and ends up too short after a few washes. This guide explains the differences between the two types, how to measure, what allowance to ask for and how to set out the order so that replacements are not got wrong.
Single-opening and double-opening: what changes
| Single-opening | Double-opening | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Open at one end; the other end is closed | Open at both ends |
| Usual pillow | Short, single | Long, the single pillow on a double bed |
| In housekeeping | The pillow always goes in from the same side and is pushed right to the end | The pillow is inserted and centred from either end |
| Look on the bed | One clean end and one with the opening, which is turned towards the less visible side | Two identical ends; the finish depends on the pillow being centred |
| In the laundry | The closed end can hold lint or forgotten objects | Easy to empty and shake out |
On a long pillow, being able to work from both ends makes it easier to centre. Our product sheet describes it like this: double-opening cases “allow quicker placement in housekeeping”. Even so, the real time each type saves depends on the pillow, on your team's technique and on the look you want, and it is worth checking with your own team before changing every bed.
What “90 cm pillow” means
In hospitality, the size that gives a pillow its name is normally its length, and it matches the width of the bed it is meant for: a 90 cm pillow is the single pillow for a 90 bed; a 135, the one for a 135 bed. The pillow's width does not appear in that name, and it matters just as much when choosing the case.
Two “70” pillows from different manufacturers can have different widths. An example from our catalogue: the sheet for the siliconised hollow-fibre pillow states that “the 70 cm pillow is 45 cm wide”, whereas pillowcase size charts usually assume pillows 40 cm wide. So before ordering cases, measure the pillow you have, without compressing it: length and width, seam to seam. If your property has pillows from several purchases, measure each type separately.
How to choose the pillowcase size
The case should be slightly larger than the pillow, so that the pillow goes in without strain and the case looks neatly finished. The sheet for our pillowcase recommends an allowance of 5 cm in width and 10 cm in length, and gives this size chart for pillows 40 cm wide:
| Pillow | Pillowcase | Opening |
|---|---|---|
| 40 × 70 cm | 45 × 80 cm | Single-opening |
| 40 × 80 cm | 45 × 90 or 50 × 90 cm | Single- or double-opening (45 × 90); double-opening (50 × 90) |
| 40 × 90 cm | 45 × 110 or 50 × 110 cm | Double-opening |
| 40 × 105 cm | 45 × 120 or 50 × 120 cm | Double-opening |
| 40 × 135 cm | 45 × 140 cm | Double-opening |
| 40 × 150 cm | 45 × 160 cm | Double-opening |
If your pillow is wider than 40 cm, apply the same allowance to its actual size and compare it with the 50 cm wide cases; if no size fits with that allowance, contact us with your pillow's measurements before ordering. For cushions and square pillows there are square cases of 40 × 40, 50 × 50, 55 × 55 and 60 × 60 cm.
The allowance also covers shrinkage
The allowance is not only there so that the pillow goes in: it also absorbs whatever the case loses in the wash. Public buyers control this in writing. The flat linen tender of the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (Comunidad de Madrid, 2024) sets a dimensional stability of 7 % for its 50 × 110 cm pillowcase. 7 % of 110 cm is almost 8 cm: nearly all the length allowance of a well-chosen case. That is why it is worth repeating the fit test after several washes, not only with the new case; and if you notice that your cases are coming up short, check the washing as well, as we explain in how much a sheet shrinks.
How hospitals specify it
Public tenders are a good reference for how to describe a pillowcase so that two suppliers understand the same thing. The same Madrid tender specifies the case as «abierta por los dos laterales» (open at both sides), with «dobladillos laterales 5 cm» (side hems of 5 cm), in 100 % cotton of 140 g/m². The framework agreement for healthcare and care linen of the Gobierno de Aragón (file HAP-2025-20058) buys its pillowcase in 1.10 × 0.47 m and, in a separate lot, the protective pillow cover.
Three lessons for an accommodation business: a pillowcase is described by its size, type of opening and finish, not only by the bed it goes on; the case that is seen and the protective cover are two different items, with two specifications; and a long double-opening case is the usual solution when a single pillow takes up the full width of the bed.
In housekeeping: how each one is put on
Single-opening. Fold the pillow lengthwise, push it right to the closed end, let it go inside and shake the case so that the pillow spreads out. Tuck the spare fabric at the opening inside. Place the pillow with the opening facing away from the room door: this is the usual convention among housekeeping teams, because a guest walking in sees the closed end.
Double-opening. Insert the pillow at one end, bring it through until it shows at the other and centre it. Tuck in both spare ends equally: if one side is longer than the other, the bed looks badly made even though the case is correct.
If you are deciding between the two types, ask two people to change several beds with each and note the time, the orientation mistakes and how easy it is to get the same look every time. Choose on a repeatable result, not on a generic promise of saving minutes.
In the laundry
- Shake out every pillowcase before washing it. In single-opening cases, the closed end holds lint, hairpins or small objects that later turn up in the washing machine or the flatwork ironer.
- Sort by size. Miele Professional, in its guide to flatwork ironing (2023), recommends sorting linen by size and feeding small items alternately on the left, right and centre to use the whole roller; the linen should go in straight and free of creases.
- Close zips. Protective covers with a zip are washed with the zip closed.
- Follow the label. For our pillowcase, the sheet states: wash at max. 40 °C · bleach/chlorine allowed · iron at low temp. (max. 110 °C) · dry cleaning allowed · tumble drying allowed.
Make-up and lipstick stains are what take the most pillowcases out of service early; the procedure for treating them is in how to remove make-up stains from sheets.
Pillowcase and protective cover: two layers
The pillowcase is changed at every check-out. Underneath, a protective cover with a zip shields the pillow from sweat and is washed less often. They are two items with two sizes: our ticking protective cover, for example, is chosen 5 cm larger than the pillow, from 45 × 70 cm for a 40 × 70 pillow to 45 × 135 cm for a 40 × 135 one. When ordering, note the two sizes separately so that they are not confused.
How to order them so that replacements are right
In orders and in your inventory, write the pillowcase with all its details, for example “pillowcase 45 × 110 cm, double-opening, Eco 50/50”, and not just “case for a 150 bed”. A 150 bed with one long pillow and another with two single pillows need different cases, even if the mattress is the same. A table by bed type stops the order turning into two different products:
| Bed type | Beds | Pillows per bed | Actual pillow size | Pillowcase (size and opening) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 cm | 8 | 1 | To be measured | To be defined |
| 150 cm, single pillow | 4 | 1 | To be measured | To be defined |
| 150 cm, two pillows | 2 | 2 | To be measured | To be defined |
The figures only illustrate the record; they are not a recommended set-up. Every pillow size you add is one more pillowcase reference to replace, which is why it pays to standardise them, as we explain in the cost of not standardising. Then multiply the cases per bed by the number of sets your operation needs in the room, in the laundry and in reserve; the PAR guide explains how to do it.
Frequently asked questions
What pillowcase does a 135 cm pillow take?
For a 40 × 135 cm pillow, a 45 × 140 cm double-opening case. Measure the actual width first: if it is more than 40 cm, apply the 5 cm allowance to its size.
Is single-opening or double-opening better?
It depends on the pillow. On short pillows, a single-opening case gives a clean finish at one end; on long pillows, a double-opening case makes centring easier. Try it with your team before deciding for every bed.
How much larger than the pillow should the case be?
As a guide, about 5 cm in width and 10 cm in length. That allowance lets you put the case on without strain and absorbs part of the shrinkage in the wash.
Which way should the opening face?
Away from the room door, so that a guest walking in sees the closed end or the cleaner finish.
In summary
Single-opening for short pillows, double-opening for long pillows; the size always taken from the actual pillow, with an allowance in width and length, and checked after several washes. Write every pillowcase with its size, opening and quality, and keep the number of pillow sizes as low as you can. You can see every size in our pillowcases collection.
Sources
- Pliego de prescripciones técnicas para el suministro de ropa plana del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (Exp. 2024-0-49) — Comunidad de Madrid, 2024
- Pliego de prescripciones técnicas del acuerdo marco de lencería sanitaria y asistencial (HAP-2025-20058) — Gobierno de Aragón, 2025
- Guide to flatwork ironing — Miele Professional, 2023