Oxford Pillowcases

Designed with a thick fabric border, usually extending 5-10cm outwards, oxford pillowcases are the ultimate symbol of luxury sleeping. Equipped with the exact same internal dimensions as standard housewife pillowcases, you won’t have to worry about replacing your sleeping pillow in order to upgrade your space.

Fancy making your bedroom that little bit bolder? Our full bedding collection will get you there in no time. Set down a superb foundation with our ultra-soft bed sheets, dream in style with a dressy duvet cover set, and layer to your heart’s content with a cosy chorus of bed cushions and throws.

Waiting for inspiration to strike? Head over to our blog and get yourself off to a winning start. It’s packed with home decor guides and design tips, from our essential bedding buying guide to our expert take on thread count, to our insider tips on how to keep white bedding white.

what is an oxford pillowcase?

An oxford pillowcase is pretty much the same as your standard housewife pillowcase, aside from a 5-10cm wide flap of fabric that runs around the border. It’s mainly an aesthetic choice, as the flap of fabric gives the illusion of a bigger, more luxurious pillow. The look works especially well with larger bed sizes like king and super king, where pillows tend to get dwarfed by the rest of the bedding.

The name comes from oxford cloth, which you might recognise as a common dress shirt fabric. Oxford pillowcases were originally made from oxford cloth, as it was tough, hard-wearing material that could survive repeated washing without becoming damaged.

are oxford pillowcases bigger?

Oxford pillowcases have the same internal dimensions as standard housewife pillowcases (50cm x 75cm), meaning both will fit over the average sleeping pillow. The difference is in the outer measurements of the pillowcases. Because oxford pillowcases come with their signature 5-10cm fabric border, however, they do bring some added size when placed on your bed. Expect a final maximum size of about 60cm x 85cm once you’ve got your oxford pillowcase filled and popped on your bed arrangement.

Both types of pillowcase are fine for sleeping on, but you’ll often find that oxford pillowcases are placed on top of a pillow arrangement for aesthetic reasons, with housewife pillowcases tucked underneath for sleeping. It’s really down to your personal preference however, and a quality pillow will make a bigger difference to your comfort than the type of pillowcase you’re using.