Product Guide
Hotel Pillows: Fill Types, How Many Per Bed and Whether to Offer a Pillow Menu
Down, feather, microfibre and foam pillows behave differently in a hotel. How many per bed, what to specify for allergies and laundry, whether a pillow menu pays, and when to replace.
By Mono Supplies4 min readPublished
Most hotels supply two pillows per guest, often one soft and one firm, in a washable microfibre fill, with down or feather in upper tiers. A pillow menu is worth it only if the stock is managed. Choose fill by laundry method and allergy policy, protect every pillow, and replace on a schedule, not on complaint.
Pillows are among the cheapest items in the room to get right and among the most common causes of a poor sleep review. They are also the item most often left out of a refurbishment plan until someone complains.
What are the main hotel pillow fill types?
- Down and feather: soft, light and long-lasting when cared for. They suit premium rooms but are costly, need careful cleaning and are unsuitable for guests with certain allergies.
- Microfibre or hollow fibre (polyester): washable at a higher temperature, quick to dry and non-allergenic by material. The standard for volume hotels, with a shorter life as the fill compacts.
- Memory foam: supportive and shapes to the head and neck, but holds heat and cannot be laundered, so it needs a protector.
- Latex: springy and durable, but heavier and more costly.
For most independent hotels the practical answer is microfibre as the main pillow, with a firmer or feather option for suites or on request.
How many pillows per bed should a hotel supply?
Hotels usually supply two pillows per guest in upper tiers and one to two per guest in midscale and economy rooms, so a king bed commonly carries four. There is no fixed standard: brand standards and positioning decide. Count pillows into your par levels and spare stock. Our linen par formula covers sets, and pillow protectors and cases should follow the same par.
Is a pillow menu worth it?
A pillow menu offers guests a choice, typically soft, firm and hypoallergenic, either in the room or on request. It signals care and can help sleep reviews, but it needs more stock, storage and tracking. Start with an on-request menu of two or three options, and count requests for three months before you stock every room with choices.
How do you handle allergies?
Make the policy simple and visible. Supply a non-feather option in every room type or on request, label it clearly and keep it in the same linen cupboard as the others so housekeeping can swap it quickly. Do not make health claims on the label beyond what the fill and the supplier's documents support. Washable protectors help, because they are laundered between guests.
How often should hotel pillows be replaced?
Pillows lose loft and hygiene faster than other soft goods. Our replacement-cycle guide puts soft goods at three to five years, and pillows usually sit at the short end or below it, depending on fill and laundry. Set a visible rule: replace when a pillow no longer springs back after folding, shows permanent stains or holds odour after washing.
Pillows work together with the bed. Read our mattress guide and sheets guide so the whole sleep surface is specified as one system, and browse bedding in the catalogue.
Hotel pillows: quick answers
Hotels commonly supply two pillows per guest in upper tiers and one or two per guest in midscale and economy rooms, so a king bed often has four. There is no single standard, so check the brand standard and your positioning. Include spares and protectors in your par levels.