Throw pillow sizes

Start with the count: 13 throw pillows and throws in stock

This guide covers the 13 throw pillows and throws currently listed in the TidyCabinet range. That count is the whole of what the store carries in this category right now, so the size options below are drawn from those 13 products and nothing else.

If you are searching for throw pillow sizes, the short answer is that the range runs from 12 by 16 inches up to 22 by 22 inches for cushions, with larger quilted and patchwork throws at 60 by 70 inches and 61 by 86.6 inches. Three of the 13 products have a stated measurement in the product title. The rest are listed without a size in the title, so you will need to check the individual product page before you buy.

What is actually in stock right now

Of the 13 products, 10 are throw pillows and 3 are larger throws or blankets. The throw pillows break down into three size groups: four at 12 by 16 inches, three at 14 by 14 inches, and three at 18 by 18 inches. One throw pillow is listed at 22 by 22 inches. The larger items are one quilted throw at 60 by 70 inches and one patchwork throw at 61 by 86.6 inches.

Prices across the 13 products run from $17.36 to $81.98. The lower end covers the 12 by 16 inch and 14 by 14 inch pillows; the higher end covers the 22 by 22 inch linen pillow and the large throws. Every throw pillow in the range is described as machine washable and suitable for indoor or outdoor use. The count of 13 refers to all products in this category, not just the pillows.

Match the size to the seat, not the sofa

A throw pillow should relate to the furniture it sits on, not to the room as a whole. On a standard sofa, a 12 by 16 inch rectangular pillow works as a single accent or as the front layer of a pair. A 14 by 14 inch square is small enough for an armchair and large enough to read as a cushion rather than a scatter pad. An 18 by 18 inch square is the common default for a two or three seat sofa.

Measure the seat width and the back height before you choose. A pillow that is wider than the seat looks cramped; one that is much smaller than a third of the seat width disappears. For a bench or a deep armchair, a 22 by 22 inch pillow fills the space without crowding. If you are layering, keep the front pillow at least 2 inches smaller in both directions than the one behind it.

Rectangular versus square: what each does

Rectangular pillows at 12 by 16 inches are the most flexible shape in the range. They suit dining chairs, benches, window seats and the small of the back on an armchair. Because they are narrow, they take up less seat depth, which matters on shallow furniture. Four of the 13 products are this size.

Square pillows at 14 by 14 inches and 18 by 18 inches give a more even, symmetrical look. The 14 inch square is a good fit for a single armchair or a child's bed. The 18 inch square is the standard sofa cushion and works in pairs. A 22 by 22 inch square is a statement size: use one alone on a large chair or two on a wide sofa. Square pillows need more seat depth than rectangles, so check the seat before you commit.

Throws and blankets: the larger sizes

The two larger items in the range are not throw pillows. One is a quilted throw at 60 by 70 inches; the other is a patchwork throw at 61 by 86.6 inches. These are sized for draping over a sofa back, a bed foot or a chair, not for tucking behind your back.

Use the 60 by 70 inch size when you want a single-person cover that still folds neatly over an arm. The 61 by 86.6 inch size is long enough to cover an adult lying down or to run across a double bed. If you are buying a throw to match existing pillows, pick a colour from the pillow and let the throw carry it at scale. Do not treat a throw as a pillow: the proportions are different and it will not sit upright on a seat.

Check the product page before you buy

This guide can only describe what the titles and listings state. Two products described in the same words can still differ in filling, closure, exact cut and finish. A 12 by 16 inch pillow from one listing may be firmer or softer than another at the same stated size, and the seam allowance can vary by half an inch or more.

The individual product page governs. Where a size is not given in the title, the page is the only reliable source. Where a size is given, treat it as the nominal size: handmade and sewn items can vary slightly. If the fit matters, measure your furniture first, then compare that measurement with the product page rather than with this summary. The count of 13 and the price range of $17.36 to $81.98 are current as listed, but stock changes.

How to measure for a throw pillow

Measure the width of the seat between the arms, then measure the height of the back from the seat to the top edge. For a single pillow, aim for a width around one third of the seat width. For a pair, aim for each pillow at around one quarter of the seat width, so the two together fill about half the seat.

For depth, a pillow should not push you forward off the seat. On a chair with a 20 inch seat depth, a 12 by 16 inch pillow leaves plenty of room; an 18 by 18 inch pillow will take more. If you are layering, measure the back pillow first and subtract at least 2 inches for the front one. Write the numbers down before you shop, then match them to the sizes listed above.

Care and outdoor use

All ten throw pillows in the range are described as machine washable and suitable for indoor or outdoor use. That makes them practical for covered patios, sunrooms and busy family rooms as well as beds and sofas. Wash on a gentle cycle and dry fully before putting them back out, especially if they have been in damp air.

Outdoor use does not mean all-weather storage. Bring pillows in during heavy rain or prolonged damp, and keep them out of standing water. The two larger throws are not described as machine washable in the same way, so check the product page for their care instructions. If a pillow is going on a patio chair, choose a size that leaves the seat usable: a 14 by 14 inch or 12 by 16 inch pillow is usually enough.