Just because you are on a plane or in a car does not mean that you have to sacrifice comfort when it comes to your pillow cases. There are many high-quality and comfortable pillowcases that you can bring with you and place on your travel pillows wherever you go.
In this article, I will cover the different types of travel pillows you might encounter and provide you with some recommendations of some of the most highly reviewed travel pillow cases around.
Table of Contents
Travel pillows overview
Travel pillows come in a variety of sizes and shapes but there are some standardized versions of travel pillows that you will probably see at stores in the airport and when shopping online for travel pillows.
Standard travel pillow
The standard travel pillow will likely be rectangular and 12″ x 16″ or 14″ x 20″. They might be filled with a variety of fillers like feathers, down, gel fiber, etc. Travel pillows are usually pretty cheap so you don’t have to splurge to find a decent pillow. And likewise, travel pillowcases are also pretty cheap.
A standard travel pillow is the type of pillow that you might bring along on a flight, road trip, or in your luggage for random times when you need some extra support from a pillow.
They are also very handy when traveling with toddlers or with babies. In fact, many pillows that are “travel sized” are actually toddler sized pillows that you would use for every day use with a toddler or a baby.
And when you are not traveling, these types of pillows can come in handy for added support for your various body parts. For example, I have seen people use smaller travel pillows to help provide them with some additional back support. Or they might plop their legs on top of them when lying down.
Since travel pillows are so popular, it is not that difficult to find a travel pillow case for them. By the way, if you are also interested in finding some quality travel blankets be sure to check out the article here.
The travel neck pillow
Neck pillows also come in a few varieties but the standard neck pillow comes in a U-shape. This is the type of pillow that wraps around your neck and provides questionable comfort for a lot of people. They also have U-shaped pillows that have additional “arms” for support and other types of neck pillows that provide support in different types of ways.
You don’t always use a pillowcase for these type of pillows but you can in some instances. The tricky thing with pillows like these is that you have to find a U-shaped pillow case that will fit and the U-shaped pillows often have different dimensions and different fillings which can make it difficult to match them with a pillowcase.
Standard hotel pillows
When some people are shopping for travel pillow cases, they are not looking for pillowcases for smaller neck and travel pillows.
Instead, they are interested in finding pillowcases that they can take with them to use at hotels.
This gives a lot of people an extra level of comfort and security, knowing that their pillowcases are clean and perhaps more protective of things like allergies. If you fall into this boat, you will be looking to buy pillowcases that are in a standard size or perhaps a queen/king size since many hotel beds are larger.
The issue with this is that hotels use pillows that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Therefore, you may not always be able to use your travel pillowcase unless you travel with several different sizes.
The best travel pillowcases
Below are some of the top-rated travel pillow cases that you will find online.
ALASKA BEAR – Natural Silk Travel Pillowcase
The ALASKA BEAR – Natural Silk Travel Pillowcase is a very highly rated silk travel pillowcase that comes in a variety of sizes including toddler which is 14″ x 18,” a standard size which is 20″ x 26,” and also queen and king sizes. These pillowcases feature 100% 19 momme mulberry silk and a 600 thread count, allowing for an incredibly smooth feeling on the skin.
Silk pillows may actually have a lot of health benefits. Silk can help reduce allergic reactions to materials and substances that might otherwise be stuck in your cotton pillows. Silk can also help with issues like dry skin and perhaps even help to reduce wrinkles. Finally, it is probably one of the best options for protecting your hair while you sleep. So if health and beauty or at the top of your mind, a pillowcase like this might be perfect for you.
TILLYOU Toddler Travel Pillowcases
The TILLYOU Toddler Travel Pillowcases are some of the most popular travel pillowcases.
These are 100% silky soft microfiber polyester and they are extremely popular with kids and babies due to their smooth texture. They are 14″ x 20″ and come with a pack of two. The pillow cases will fit pillows in the following sizes: 13 x 18, 14 x 19, or 12 x 16 and from the following brands: TILLYOU, Dreamtown Kids, Little Sleepy Head, PharMeDoc, A Little Pillow, My Pillow, and others.
AmazonBasics Light-Weight Microfiber Pillowcases
AmazonBasics Light-Weight Microfiber Pillowcases are pretty cheap but highly reviewed. It is made with 100% polyester and it includes two 20″ x 30″ pillowcases, so these are a little bit bigger than standard travel pillows.
What is nice about these pillowcases is that they have so many different colors and patterns. You should not have an issue finding a color that matches or compliments whatever look you are going for.
NTBAY Satin Pillowcases
If you are looking for satin travel pillowcases then you might want to check out the NTBAY satin pillowcases. These have fantastic reviews and come with a toddler size of 13″ x 18.” They also come in a variety of colors as well. These pillowcases come with a 90 day return and replacement service so they guarantee your satisfaction which is nice.
Satin pillowcases also have a lot of health benefits just like silk. Satin can help reduce wrinkles and lines in your face by reducing the amount of friction against your face that you would experience with a typical cotton pillow case. It might also help to protect your eyelashes and to keep your hair in good condition as well.
Bedsure Satin Pillowcase
If you are in the market for a larger satin pillowcase then you might go with the queen size Bedsure Satin pillow case. These measure 20″ x 30″ so they are significantly larger than the satin pillow cases above. These satin pillow cases are highly regarded and have nearly 10,000 reviews averaging close to five stars which is pretty amazing. The satin is 100% polyester satin and will provide you with a smooth and soft feeling.
NTBAY Velvet Pillowcase
If velvet is more your style then look into the NTBAY Velvet Pillowcases. These are super comfortable pillows that come in a toddler size of 13″ x 18.” These pillows come in a number of solid colors and they feature wrinkle, shrink, and fade resistance .
NTBAY Organic Cotton Toddler Pillowcases
NTBAY Organic Cotton Toddler Pillowcases are good choices for anybody looking for some solid cotton travel pillow cases. These come in toddler size of 13″ x 18″ and will provide you with a set of two pillowcases. You can find these pillows in a variety of different patterns and colors.
Empyrean Bedding Hotel Luxury Set
Walmart has some pretty high-quality travel pillowcases that you can find. The Empyrean Bedding Hotel Luxury Set comes with two pillowcases and the king size pillowcase measures 20” x 40.” The pillowcases are pure microfiber linen, which unlike cotton, is more breathable and durable.
AllerEase Allergy Protection Zippered Travel Pillow Protector
If you are in search of a travel pillow case with an enclosed zipper then consider the AllerEase Allergy Protection Zippered Travel Pillow Protector. It comes in a 14″ x 20″ size and is made of 100% polyester microfiber fabric. The pillowcase only comes in a handful of colors, however.
If you struggle with allergies this might be the type of pillow case that could help you out by blocking dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and other allergens.
Travel neck pillowcase
If you are traveling with a neck pillow, there is a chance that you would want to use your own pillow cover for the pillow. Maybe the pillow is a little bit worn and in bad condition or you just want a pillow case that is more comfortable, if you are looking for a good plush pillow cover for a neck pillow then try out Cloudz Washable Travel Neck Pillow Cover.
This pillow case is 100% polyester and slips right over your Cloudz pillow. It even comes with a pocket where you can store your cell phone.
Personalized travel pillow cases
Some people are really into personalization, especially when it comes to things like travel products. If you would like to find a personalized travel pillow I would head over to Etsy because there are endless customizable products on that website including travel pillows.
Final word
There are a lot of high-quality travel pillow cases out there for you to choose from. The first thing you need to figure out is what type of travel pillow you want a pillowcase for and what size. Then look at all of the different fabrics and decide on what type of texture you find most comfortable. Once you have narrowed that down, it will not be very difficult to find the perfect travel pillow case for you!
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
