Custom Pet Pillow Size Guide: Which Size Should You Choose?

Most people should choose a 22 inch custom pet pillow. It is large enough to feel like a real plush version of your pet, but still easy to place on a couch, bed, office chair, or memorial shelf. Choose 16 inch for desks and small gifts, and 30 inch when you want the pillow to be the main statement piece.

The right size depends on where the pillow will live, who is receiving it, and whether the design is meant to feel cute, comforting, or dramatic.

Size	Best for	Softspawt price
16 inch small	Desk decor, kids, stocking-size gifts, small cats and rabbits	$44 single-sided / $54 double-sided
22 inch medium	Most couches, beds, dog mom gifts, memorial pillows	$64 single-sided / $74 double-sided
30 inch large	Statement gifts, big dogs, photo moments, bedroom display	$84 single-sided / $94 double-sided

If you want the full pricing context, see our custom pet pillow cost guide. If you already have a photo, you can preview your pet as a custom pillow before paying.

16 inch: small, cute, and easy to gift

A 16 inch custom pet pillow works best when you want something compact. It fits well on a desk chair, nursery shelf, small apartment couch, or as a gift that does not take over the room.

This size is also strong for cats, rabbits, puppies, and small dogs because the final pillow still feels proportional. A tiny pet printed too large can look funny in a good way, but it can also feel less like the animal you know.

Choose 16 inch if:

• The recipient has limited space.
• The pillow is meant to be a cute accent, not the center of the room.
• You are ordering for a child.
• You want a lower-cost gift but still want a real preview-first custom product.

Skip 16 inch if the pet has very fine details, like a complex brindle coat, a tortoiseshell pattern, or a face with several small color patches. Those details usually read better at 22 inch.

22 inch: the safest size for most custom pet pillows

The 22 inch size is the best default. It has enough print area to show the pet's face, ears, paws, and body shape clearly, but it still behaves like a normal pillow in a home.

This is the size we would pick for most dog mom gifts, cat lover gifts, birthday gifts, and memorial pillows. It gives the design enough presence without making the room feel like a product photo set.

Choose 22 inch if:

• You are not sure what size to pick.
• The pillow is a meaningful gift and accuracy matters.
• The pet has distinctive markings.
• The photo includes a full sitting or lying pose.
• You want the pillow to feel huggable.

For most buyers comparing custom pet pillow sizes, this is the right answer.

30 inch: large, funny, emotional, and very visible

A 30 inch custom pet pillow is for people who want the pet to be the room. It is the statement size: big couch, big bed, big reaction when the gift box opens.

This size works especially well for golden retrievers, huskies, German shepherds, doodles, and other medium-to-large dogs. It can also work for a cat if the goal is deliberately funny and oversized.

Choose 30 inch if:

• The pillow is the main gift.
• You want a photo-worthy reaction.
• The pet is physically large.
• The recipient loves bold, playful home decor.
• The design will live on a bed or large couch.

Skip 30 inch if the photo is low-resolution or blurry. Larger pillows make photo quality problems easier to see.

Single-sided or double-sided?

Single-sided printing is the best value for most people. The pet appears on the front, and the back is plain fabric.

Double-sided printing makes sense when the pillow will be held, turned around, photographed from different angles, or used by a child. It also helps memorial pillows feel more finished because the object looks custom from every side.

At Softspawt, double-sided printing adds $10 to each size. That keeps the decision simple:

• Choose single-sided if the pillow will sit against a wall, chair, or headboard.
• Choose double-sided if the pillow will be hugged, carried, or photographed often.

Photo quality matters more as the pillow gets bigger

The larger the pillow, the more important the original photo becomes. A 16 inch pillow can forgive a slightly soft photo. A 30 inch pillow needs a sharper image, especially around the eyes and face.

Use a photo where:

• The pet's face is sharp.
• The full body or sitting pose is visible.
• The ears are not cropped off.
• The lighting is bright enough to show coat color.
• There are not hands, blankets, or furniture blocking the outline.

For a deeper checklist, read our photo guide for custom pet pillows.

What size is best for memorial pillows?

For a memorial pet pillow, choose 22 inch unless you have a specific reason not to. It is large enough to feel comforting and recognizable, but not so large that it becomes hard to place.

If the recipient already has a memorial shelf or small bedroom setup, 16 inch may be more respectful. If the pet was a large dog and the family wants the pillow on a bed or couch, 30 inch can feel more emotionally right.

When the photo is imperfect, size down rather than up. A smaller pillow can make an old or low-light photo look cleaner.

Pillow vs blanket sizing

Pillows and blankets solve different problems. A custom pet pillow is best when you want the pet's shape as a soft object you can hold. A custom pet blanket is better when you want a large scene, a couch throw, or artwork that covers more surface area.

If you want a small personal object, choose a pillow. If you want a big cozy gift for a bed or sofa, choose a blanket.

The simple recommendation

Choose 16 inch for small gifts and compact spaces. Choose 22 inch for almost everyone. Choose 30 inch when the gift should feel big, funny, emotional, or dramatic.

The easiest way to decide is to see the design first. Upload your pet photo, preview the pillow for free, and pick the size after you know which version feels right.