stitch, design, and deliver

The Complete Guide to Custom Pillows Online

Everything you need to know to create stunning custom pillows — from planning and image prep to fabric selection, construction options, and ordering.

Why Custom Pillows Are Worth the Effort

A custom pillow is one of the most versatile and personal design choices you can make for a space. Whether you are refreshing a living room, creating a one-of-a-kind gift, commemorating a special occasion, or building out a cohesive home aesthetic from scratch, a well-designed custom pillow delivers something that off-the-shelf products simply cannot: exactly what you had in mind.

Online pillow design tools have made the process more accessible than ever. In 2026, you do not need a background in textile design, graphic design, or manufacturing to create a finished product that looks and feels professional. The tools handle the technical complexity, and your job is to bring the vision.

That said, there is a meaningful difference between a custom pillow that looks great and one that turns out blurry, color-shifted, or awkwardly proportioned. This guide walks you through every stage of the process, from initial planning and image preparation to design decisions, fabric choices, and what to expect when your order arrives.

step 1

Define What You Want Before You Start Designing

The most common mistake people make when creating a custom pillow is opening a design tool before they have a clear picture of what they actually want. A few minutes of planning at the start will save you hours of rework later.

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Start with Purpose

Ask yourself what this pillow is for. A decorative throw pillow for a sofa has different requirements than a floor cushion for a kids' playroom, a commemorative gift for a wedding, or a branded accent piece for a business space. The purpose shapes every decision that follows.

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Think About Placement

Consider the room, the furniture, and the color palette it will sit alongside. A pillow that clashes with its surroundings will feel out of place. Pull up a photo of the space before you start so you can reference it throughout the design process.

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Decide on the Design Concept

Are you printing a photograph? A pattern? Custom artwork? Text or a monogram? Each approach requires different preparation and has different strengths on fabric. Photographs require high resolution. Patterns need tiling in mind. Text needs to be large enough to read.

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Set a Budget

Custom pillow pricing varies based on size, fabric, print method, fill inclusion, and quantity. Knowing your budget before you start helps you make informed decisions about which options to prioritize and where to make trade-offs.

step 2

Choose the Right Size and Shape

Size and shape are foundational decisions that affect everything from how your design is laid out to how the finished pillow functions in a space.

Size	Best Use
12 x 12 in	Compact accent size, good for layering on larger pillows or for small chairs and benches
16 x 16 in	Versatile small throw pillow, works well in multiples on sofas and beds
18 x 18 in	Most popular standard size for decorative throw pillows, balances well on most furniture
20 x 20 in	Larger throw size that makes a strong visual statement and works well as a focal point
12 x 20 in	Lumbar pillow dimensions, designed to support the lower back and add a horizontal accent
26 x 26 in	Euro sham size, commonly used in layered bed styling
24 x 24 in+	Oversized floor cushion dimensions, suitable for casual seating areas and kids’ spaces

On Shape

Most custom pillows are square or rectangular, but some tools offer round, bolster, and other non-standard shapes. Non-standard shapes can make a design feel more distinctive, but they also require more care in how your design is positioned and cropped. When in doubt, a standard square size is the most forgiving format for most design types and the easiest to style in a real space.

step 3

Select Your Fabric and Print Method

The fabric and print method you choose will determine how your design looks on the finished product, how the pillow feels to the touch, and how well it holds up over time.

material options

Common Fabric Options

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Polyester

The most widely available fabric for custom printing. Accepts dye-sublimation exceptionally well, producing vivid, high-contrast colors with sharp detail. Durable, wrinkle-resistant, and easy to clean.

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Canvas

A heavier woven fabric with a slightly textured surface. Gives custom pillows a more artisanal, gallery-quality look. A strong choice for photographic designs or artwork reproductions.

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Linen Blend

A natural fiber fabric with an organic, casual aesthetic. Works well for subtle designs, monograms, and patterns where a softer, less saturated color palette suits the overall look.

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Velvet

A luxurious fabric option that adds visual depth and a premium tactile quality. Better suited to simpler designs, since the pile can affect how fine detail is perceived.

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Fleece

A soft, casual option commonly used for cozy or functional pillows. Accepts printing reasonably well but is not suited to designs requiring fine detail or sharp edge definition.

printing technology

Common Print Methods

Recommended

Dye Sublimation

Dye is heat-transferred directly into the fabric fibers rather than sitting on top of them. Produces exceptionally vivid colors, smooth gradients, and sharp detail. Works best on polyester and polyester blends. The print will not crack, peel, or fade.

Direct-to-Fabric (DTF)

Ink is applied directly to the fabric surface. Works on a wider range of fabric types including natural fibers, but colors may be slightly less vibrant and the print sits on top of the fabric.

Woven Jacquard

The design is created as part of the fabric structure itself using colored threads. Premium, tactile quality but limited in color complexity and fine detail compared to printed options.

Best combination

For most custom pillow projects involving photographs, artwork, or detailed graphics, dye sublimation on polyester delivers the best results. For a more natural look and feel, direct-to-fabric printing on a linen blend is a strong alternative.

step 4

Prepare Your Image or Artwork

Image quality is the single most important factor in determining how your finished pillow looks. Even the best printing technology cannot compensate for a low-resolution source image.

Resolution

At least 150 DPI at final print size. 300 DPI is ideal. Divide pixel dimensions by 300 to find maximum print size at optimal quality.

Color Mode

Design in RGB color mode for screen-based tools. Printed colors may differ slightly from screen — use soft proof features if available.

Background

If your design has a white background on white fabric, it blends seamlessly. For no visible background, match the fabric color or fill edge to edge.

Bleed & Safe Zone

Keep all critical elements — faces, text, focal points — well within the safe zone. Background elements can extend to the edge or beyond.

If your image is smaller than required, do not artificially upscale it using standard image editing software. Upscaling raster images adds pixels through interpolation, which typically produces a blurry, soft result. Some AI-powered image upscaling tools can improve low-resolution images more effectively, but there is a limit to how much detail can be recovered from a very small source file.

step 5

Build Your Design

With your image prepared and your specifications decided, you are ready to work inside the design tool.

Positioning Your Design

Center your focal point within the print area and check that nothing important is near the edges. For photograph-based designs, the face or main subject should be well within the safe zone. For pattern-based designs, confirm that the repeat tiles correctly at the edges so there are no awkward gaps or mismatches at the seams.

Working with Text

If your design includes text, make sure the font size is large enough to be legible on the finished product. A rule of thumb is that text smaller than half an inch tall on the finished pillow is likely to be difficult to read. Use high-contrast color combinations between your text and background to maximize legibility. Avoid placing text over busy or highly textured areas of a photograph.

Color Adjustments

Use any color adjustment tools available in the design interface to boost vibrancy, adjust contrast, or correct white balance if your source image needs it. Slightly increasing the saturation and contrast of a photographic image before printing often produces a more vivid result on fabric, since the printing process can soften colors slightly compared to a screen preview.

Previewing Your Design

Take advantage of any preview features the tool offers. Many tools provide a rendered mockup showing how your design will look on the actual product. Use this to check proportions, color balance, and positioning before placing your order. Zoom in to check fine details and text legibility in the preview if the tool allows it.

step 6

Choose Your Pillow Construction Options

Beyond the print itself, most online pillow design tools offer choices about how the pillow is constructed. These decisions affect both the appearance and the practicality of the finished product.

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Cover vs. Insert

Cover-only is more economical if you own inserts. Complete pillow with insert is more convenient for gifts or if you lack a compatible insert.

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Single vs. Double-Sided

Single-sided applies your design to the front only. Double-sided allows the same or different designs on both faces — more expensive but more creative flexibility.

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Closure Type

Hidden zippers offer the cleanest look and easy washing. Envelope closures are simple and casual. Sewn-shut pillows are typically not designed to be machine-washed.

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Insert Fill

Polyester fiberfill is hypoallergenic and maintains shape well. Down and down-alternative fills are softer and more luxurious but may require more fluffing.

step 7

Review, Order, and What to Expect

Before you finalize your order, take a thorough pass through everything.

Final Checklist Before Ordering

Confirm the pillow size and shape match your intention
Verify that all text is spelled correctly and is the right size
Check that your design is centered and within the safe zone
Confirm the fabric and print method selections
Review the color preview one more time in good lighting
Double-check the shipping address and estimated delivery timeframe

Production and Shipping Timelines

Custom pillows are made to order, which means they require a production period before they ship. Production times vary by vendor and product complexity, but most standard custom pillows take between three and seven business days to produce. Shipping time is additional. Plan accordingly if your pillow is intended as a gift for a specific date.

When Your Pillow Arrives

Inspect your pillow as soon as it arrives. Check the print quality, color accuracy, and construction. Most reputable online design tools have a satisfaction guarantee or a return policy for products that arrive defective or significantly different from the preview. Document any issues with photographs before contacting customer support.

common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What image format should I upload for the best print quality?

PNG and TIFF files are the best choices for custom pillow printing because they are lossless formats that preserve fine detail and color accuracy. JPEG files are acceptable if the compression level is high (meaning low compression, high quality), but repeated saving as JPEG degrades image quality. Avoid using images sourced from social media platforms, since these are typically compressed to low resolutions during upload.

Can I use a photo taken on my smartphone?

Yes, in many cases. Modern smartphones produce images with enough resolution for smaller pillow sizes, particularly when the photo was taken in good lighting with the camera’s full resolution setting enabled. Check the pixel dimensions of your photo against the recommended resolution for your chosen pillow size before uploading.

Will the colors on my finished pillow match what I see on my screen?

Not exactly. Screens display color using light, while printers use pigment, and the two systems render color differently. In general, printed colors tend to be slightly less saturated and slightly warmer than screen colors. To minimize surprises, slightly boost the saturation and contrast of your design before printing.

How do I care for a custom printed pillow?

Most custom pillow covers with zipper closures can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in cold water and tumble dried on a low heat setting. Avoid bleach or harsh detergents, which can degrade print quality over time. Always check the care label on your specific product before washing.

Can I create a custom pillow from artwork I did not create myself?

You should only print artwork, photographs, illustrations, or graphics on a custom pillow if you hold the rights to use that content. Using copyrighted images, licensed characters, branded logos, or someone else’s artwork without permission is a violation of intellectual property law and is against the terms of service of most online design platforms.

What is the minimum order quantity for custom pillows?

Most online pillow design tools are set up for single-unit orders, which makes them ideal for personal projects and one-of-a-kind gifts. Some platforms offer volume discounts for orders of multiple units, which can be useful for events, merchandise, or interior design projects requiring multiple matching pieces.

Can I make a pillow from a child’s drawing or handmade artwork?

Yes, and this is one of the most popular uses of custom pillow design tools. To get the best results, photograph or scan the artwork in good lighting at the highest resolution possible. A flatbed scanner set to 600 DPI or higher will produce better results than a photograph for most hand-drawn artwork.

What should I do if my finished pillow looks different from the preview?

Contact the platform’s customer support with photos showing the difference between the preview and the received product. Reputable platforms will typically offer a reprint or a refund for products that arrive with significant color shifts, print defects, or construction issues.

How far in advance should I order a custom pillow for a gift or event?

Place your order at least two to three weeks before your target delivery date. This provides a buffer for production time, standard shipping, and any unexpected delays. During peak seasons such as holidays, extend that buffer to four weeks or more.

Can I order a custom pillow in a shape other than a square or rectangle?

Many platforms offer round, bolster, and other novelty pillow shapes in addition to standard sizes. Non-standard shapes typically have a smaller selection of size options and may have slightly longer production times. Pay particular attention to how your design is cropped at the edges.

Ready to Create Your Custom Pillow?

Start designing with Adobe Express — the browser-based creative platform with thousands of templates, AI-powered tools, and print-ready exports. Free to start.

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