The Best Inserts for Throw Pillow Covers
Here's something we tell customers all the time: a beautiful pillow cover is only half the equation. You can have the loveliest designer fabric in the world, but if it's stuffed with the wrong insert, it'll look flat, lumpy, or a little sad. The insert is the part nobody photographs and everybody notices.
Since we make covers only — so you can swap your look without rebuying inserts every time — the "which insert should I buy?" question is easily the one we hear most. So let's settle it.
Down vs. down alternative: which is better?
The two main choices are down (or a feather-down blend) and down alternative (a synthetic fill). Down is the traditional luxury option: it's soft, it has beautiful "give," and it molds and slumps in that relaxed, lived-in way you see in design magazines. The trade-offs are that it costs more, it needs a fluff now and then, and it's not ideal if anyone in the home has a feather allergy.
Down alternative has come a long way and is what we most often recommend. It gives you that same full, plush look, holds its shape well, is allergy-friendly, and is much easier to care for and to budget for. For most people, a quality down-alternative insert is the sweet spot. We specifically like PillowFlex Down Alternative inserts — they're well-filled and hold up beautifully.
The sizing rule that matters most
This is the step that makes the biggest visible difference, and the one most people get wrong: size your insert up. For square and lumbar covers, choose an insert about 2 inches larger than the cover. A 20x20 cover takes a 22x22 insert; a 22x22 takes a 24x24. That slight oversizing is what fills the corners and gives you a plump, high-end pillow instead of a limp one with saggy edges. (Bolsters are the exception — they take an insert the same size as the cover.) You'll find the full size-by-size chart in our throw pillow size guide.
Do I need a special insert for outdoor pillows?
Yes. If you're using one of our indoor/outdoor pillow covers on a porch or patio, pair it with an outdoor-rated insert made to resist moisture and mildew. A regular indoor insert will hold water and break down quickly outside. The cover is built for the elements; the insert should be too.
A few honest tips
Buy your inserts before or alongside your covers so you're not left with beautiful covers and nothing to fill them. Give down inserts a good karate-chop fluff to shape them. And don't be tempted to match insert size exactly to cover size to "save money" — it's the fastest way to make a designer cover look cheap.
One more thing about our covers
Because every cover is made to order and final sale, choosing the right insert size is part of getting the look you're picturing. If you'd like to see a fabric in person before you commit — and plan your insert around it — order a $5 fabric sample first. Then all that's left is the fun part: styling.
Ready to give your inserts a proper home? Browse our handmade designer pillow covers.