Housewife pillowcases fit snuggly around the pillow and have a a simple stitched edge, while Oxford pillowcases feature an extra wide fabric border that makes the pillow look bigger and gives it a more decorative finish.
In this guide we take a closer look at their differences, as well as the best ways to style both types on your bed.
Oxford vs Housewife pillowcases at a glance
| Housewife pillowcase | Oxford pillowcase | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Simple, close-fitting shape | Decorative border around all four sides |
| Pillow size | Usually fits a standard 50 x 75cm pillow | Usually fits a standard 50 x 75cm pillow |
| Overall appearance | Neat and streamlined | Fuller and more decorative |
| How to use it | For sleeping or layering with other pillows | For sleeping or adding a decorative layer |
| Styling | Works well at the front of a layered arrangement | Border helps frame other pillows and bedding |
When you're shopping for pillowcases, just bear in mind that the dimensions of the pillow itself and the overall dimensions of an Oxford pillowcase won't be the same, as the decorative border extends beyond the edges of the pillow.
What is a Housewife pillowcase?
The classic style of pillowcase that most of us recognise from everyday bedding is the Housewife. The fabric of the pillowcase is sewn closely around the edges of the pillow, without any extra decorative border.
A standard Housewife pillowcase is generally designed to fit a 50 x 75cm pillow. It's designed with an internal flap at the open end that folds over the pillow, to help keep it neatly enclosed inside the case.
Their streamlined shape makes Housewife pillowcases particularly easy to arrange on a bed, as they will sit neatly against a headboard, layer easily with other pillows and give the bed a neat, uncluttered finish.
While the design may be simple, when it's made with a beautiful quality fabric, a Housewife pillowcase can create a sleek, luxurious finish.
What is an Oxford pillowcase?
An Oxford pillowcase has an additional fabric border around all four sides, which frames the pillow and gives it a larger, more decorative appearance on the bed. This relatively small design detail can make a huge visual difference once the bed is made.
The central section usually holds the same size of pillow as a Housewife pillowcase, so you don't need to buy different sized pillows. For instance, Hampton and Astley Oxford pillowcases are designed for a standard sized pillow and feature a 7cm border.
Our customers often comment how much they love the luxurious finish and appearance of our bedding, with details like the shape and edging of the pillowcases adding to the overall look.
Are Oxford pillowcases bigger than Housewife pillowcases?
While Oxford pillowcases are generally bigger than Housewife pillowcases due to the extra border, the part of the pillowcase that actually holds the pillow is usually exactly the same size.
A standard Oxford and a standard Housewife pillowcase are both designed to hold a 50 x 75cm pillow. This is worth remembering when you're looking at product dimensions online, as a larger overall measurement on an Oxford pillowcase doesn't mean you need a buy a larger pillow to put inside it.
Oxford pillowcases do naturally take up more visual space on the bed, which can be helpful when styling larger King, Super King and Emperor beds.
If you're unsure about bedding sizes, our UK bedding size guide covers mattress, duvet, duvet cover and fitted sheet sizes from Double to Emperor.
Can you sleep on Oxford pillowcases?
Absolutely. Oxford pillowcases may look more decorative, but they're still designed to be used as normal pillowcases. If you're choosing a pillowcase to sleep on, you should pay just as much attention to the fabric and weave as its shape.
Your pillowcase is in direct contact with your face for hours every night, so softness, smoothness and breathability can make a real difference to how comfortable it feels.
Hampton and Astley pillowcases are made from long-staple Egyptian cotton woven into smooth sateen. Customers regularly describe the fabric as soft, silky and smooth against the skin, which is why the same fabric is used across our duvet covers, sheets and pillowcases.
For a closer look at what makes high-quality bed linen feel different, read our guide to what thread count is best for luxury bedding.
How to style Oxford and Housewife pillowcases together
Combining Oxford and Housewife pillowcases is one of my favourite ways to create a luxurious, hotel-inspired bed set-up.
Pairing your pillowcases with a coordinating duvet cover and fitted sheet from the same bedding collection is also an easy way to create a polished, hotel-style look.
Start with Housewife pillowcases to create a simple base that's easy to arrange at bedtime. Then add a pair of Oxford pillows as a decorative layer. Their borders introduce extra shape and definition, helping to frame the other pillows and giving the bed a more finished appearance.
You can stack them in several ways depending on the look you prefer. For a simple arrangement, place two Oxford pillows against the headboard with two Housewife pillows in front.
Alternatively, you could reverse the order so the Oxford borders remain fully visible at the front of the bed.
On a wider Super King or Emperor bed, you can use extra pillows to fill the space and keep the whole pillow arrangement in proportion with the mattress.
The key is to avoid making everything too symmetrical or rigid. Plump the pillows, allow the Oxford borders to sit naturally and finish with a softly folded throw for a relaxed, inviting look.
For more ideas on recreating the feel of a beautifully dressed hotel bed at home, see our guide to how to make your bedroom feel like a luxury hotel.
How many pillowcases do you need?
How many pillowcases you need depends partly on how many pillows you sleep on and partly on how you like to style your bed. Some people prefer one pillow each, while others sleep with two, and larger beds can often accommodate a few extra pillows without looking overcrowded.
It’s also worth having at least one spare set of pillowcases for each of your sleeping pillows. This means you can change them regularly and still have a fresh set ready while the others are in the wash. If you like to change your pillowcases more frequently than the rest of your bedding, having a few extra pairs can be particularly useful.
For styling, mixing Housewife and Oxford pillowcases gives you more flexibility. A simple arrangement might be:
Double or King bed:
Two Housewife pillows + two Oxford pillows
Super King or Emperor bed:
Four sleeping pillows + two Oxford pillows, adjusted to suit the width of the bed and the size of your pillows.
There’s no set formula for how many pillows should be on a bed. The size of your mattress, the height of your headboard and whether you prefer a simple or more layered look will all influence what works best. Just remember to allow for spare pillowcases as well as those currently on the bed when deciding how many sets to buy.
What is the difference between standard and Super King pillowcases?
A standard pillow measures approximately 50 x 75cm, while a Super King pillow is considerably wider, typically measuring 50 x 90cm.
This makes Super King pillows ideal for larger beds, usually Super King or Emperor sizes, as their wider shape helps create a more well-proportioned arrangement.
A helpful tip is to always check the dimensions of the pillowcase, as well as whether it's described as Oxford or Housewife, before ordering.
Which pillowcase style should you choose?
The style of pillowcase you go for really depends on how you want your finished bed to look.
Choose Housewife pillowcases if you prefer a clean, simple shape or want practical pillowcases that layer easily with other bedding. For very narrow beds, Housewife pillowcases are often the best choice, as they look neater.
Choose Oxford pillowcases if you like a fuller look and want the decorative border to become part of the way you style the bed.
You can, of course, combine the two styles, especially if you have a bigger bed. Combining Housewife and Oxford pillowcases together adds visual interest and looks great when layered with a few scatter cushions.
Whichever style you choose, the quality of the fabric is just as important as the shape. High-quality cotton, a smooth weave and good finishing will have a much greater impact on how your pillowcases feel against your skin and how well they continue to look after repeated washing.
Tried, tested and loved
At Hampton and Astley, we've been creating luxury Egyptian cotton bedding since 2017, with thousands of five-star customer reviews on Trustpilot praising its softness, quality and hotel-style feel.
Our bedding has been independently recognised by leading interiors and lifestyle publications including Good Housekeeping, The Telegraph, GLAMOUR, GQ, Ideal Home and the Evening Standard. Our 500 thread count Egyptian cotton bedding has also been Good Housekeeping Institute Approved following independent testing for quality and performance.
Made from long-staple Egyptian cotton in a silky-smooth sateen weave, our pillowcases are designed to feel as beautiful as they look, with carefully considered finishing details that help create a luxurious bed.
Explore our Egyptian cotton pillowcase collection to discover Oxford, Housewife and Super King pillowcases.
Oxford and Housewife pillowcase FAQs
Why is it called a Housewife pillowcase?
The name Housewife refers to the traditional close-fitting pillowcase design without an external decorative border. Today, the term is simply used by bedding manufacturers and retailers to distinguish this style from an Oxford pillowcase.
Why is it called an Oxford pillowcase?
Oxford refers to the style of pillowcase with a wide decorative fabric border around its edges. You'll sometimes also see this border described as a flange.
Do Oxford pillowcases fit normal pillows?
Yes. A standard Oxford pillowcase is usually designed to hold a standard 50 x 75cm pillow. Its overall dimensions are larger because the decorative border extends beyond the pillow.
Always check the individual product measurements before buying, as sizing can vary between manufacturers.
Can you use Oxford pillowcases for sleeping?
Yes. Oxford pillowcases are fully functional pillowcases and can be slept on in exactly the same way as Housewife pillowcases.
Do you put Oxford pillowcases in front or behind?
Either works. Placing Oxford pillows behind Housewife pillows creates a decorative frame around the arrangement, while putting them in front makes their borders more prominent.
Try both arrangements and see which works best with the proportions of your bed and headboard.
What's the difference between Oxford and Housewife pillowcases?
A Housewife pillowcase has a simple sewn edge that fits closely around the pillow. An Oxford pillowcase has an additional decorative fabric border around all four sides. Both can be designed to fit the same standard-sized pillow; the Oxford style simply has larger overall dimensions because of its border.
