Dakimakura Pillowcase vs. Pillow Insert: What’s the Difference & What to Order
By DakiCustomize Production Team Last updatedIf you are buying your very first anime body pillow, it is surprisingly easy to mix up the terminology. Every week, someone asks our team: "If I order a custom dakimakura, does it come stuffed and ready to hug?"
The short answer is no—unless you add an inner pillow separately. In the dakimakura world, the printed cover and the inner cushion are almost always sold as two separate items. Understanding why they are separate—and how they fit together—will save you from ordering the wrong size or getting surprised when your package arrives.
1. Pillowcase vs. Pillow Insert: Side-by-Side Breakdown
Think of it just like your regular bed bedding: you have the decorative pillowcase on the outside, and the actual pillow on the inside. Here is how the two pieces compare at DakiCustomize:
| Feature | Dakimakura Pillowcase (Cover) | Pillow Insert (Inner Pillow) |
|---|---|---|
| What It Is | The removable outer fabric case printed with your custom artwork. | The plain white, stuffed cushion that gives the pillow its shape and weight. |
| Materials Used | 2WAY Tricot (soft, stretchy, smooth) or Peach Skin (lightweight, smooth, budget-friendly). | Soft PP cotton filling inside a durable outer shell. |
| Available Sizes | 137×50cm, 150×50cm, 160×50cm, 180×60cm, plus custom sizes. | 137×50cm, 150×50cm, 160×50cm, and 180×60cm (check our insert page for current stock). |
| How People Buy It | Collectors often own multiple covers and swap them out whenever they want a new look. | You usually only need one good insert and can reuse it with different covers of the same size. |
2. Why Are Covers and Inserts Sold Separately?
Selling the cover by itself isn't a trick—it actually saves repeat collectors a ton of money and closet space. Once you own a solid 160×50cm inner pillow, you don't need to buy a bulky new cushion every time you want to print a new OC, VTuber, or favorite character. You just order a new custom dakimakura cover, unzip the old one, and swap it over in two minutes.
It also affects shipping and budgeting. A folded fabric pillowcase is light and compact, whereas a full-size PP cotton insert is much heavier and bulkier to ship. Keeping them separate lets you pay only for what you actually need.
3. What Happens If the Cover and Insert Sizes Don't Match?
Never rely on vague labels like "Standard Body Pillow" when matching a cover to an insert. Always check the actual centimeter (or inch) numbers on both items:
- If the cover is bigger than the insert (e.g., a 160×50cm cover on a 150×50cm or 20×54" US pillow): You will end up with 10 to 20 centimeters of empty, floppy fabric hanging off the bottom, and the artwork won't fill out properly. (Tip: If you own a standard US 20×54 inch retail pillow, choose our 137×50cm cover option so it fits snugly!)
- If the insert is bigger than the cover (e.g., cramming a 160×50cm insert into a 150×50cm cover): The pillow will bunch up, distort the printed character proportions, and put extreme tension on the seams and hidden zipper. Never force a zipper closed over an oversized insert.
Not sure which dimensions suit your bed or artwork best? Check out our complete dakimakura size guide (137cm vs 150cm vs 160cm vs 180cm) before locking in your choice.
4. Which Should You Order Today?
- Order the Pillowcase Only if: You already have a body pillow insert at home. Just measure your existing cover or check the wash tag (our replacement measurement guide shows you how) and select the matching size—137×50cm, 150×50cm (Standard), 160×50cm (Most Popular), 180×60cm (Full Size / Oversized Edition), or a custom size.
- Order Both the Pillowcase + Insert if: This is your first dakimakura, you are upgrading to a bigger size (like 180×60cm), or your old inner pillow has gone flat and lumpy. Simply configure your custom cover first, then add a matching dakimakura body pillow insert to your cart before checkout.
5. Care, Artwork Prep & Order Policies
One more practical difference: how you clean them. You should never throw a stuffed inner pillow into a normal wash cycle with its cover still on. Always unzip and remove the cover first, then hand wash the cover inside out in cold water with mild detergent and air dry it in the shade (see our dakimakura washing and care guide for step-by-step instructions).
When preparing the artwork for your custom pillowcase, please submit a genuine 300 DPI file in RGB color mode (PNG preferred, or a high-quality JPG without compression artifacts). Keep critical details like faces and text away from the trim edges. Our team checks every file for obvious production issues before printing, though this does not replace a full design review or retouching service.
Because custom covers are made to order, we cannot accept returns or exchanges for non-quality issues—such as ordering the wrong size, forgetting to add an insert, minor screen-to-fabric color differences, or flaws in the original file. Once your order and artwork are confirmed, production usually takes 2–4 business days, followed by 7–10 business days for worldwide shipping (calculated separately, and delivery estimates are not guaranteed). Every order includes taxes and import duties in the price and ships in plain, unbranded, discreet packaging.
Ready to put your setup together? Start by customizing your cover on our custom dakimakura pillowcase page, and grab a matching dakimakura pillow insert if you need the inner cushion too. Have a question before placing your order? Email our team anytime at pawnshopno7@gmail.com!