I like the ones from Crate and Barrel - generally order the same size. But I make my own. So I cut 18" squares and use an 18" insert - but it becomes 17" after seam allowances.

Yes, i use a size bigger and i only use down. I like pottery barn inserts. have you tried down alternative?

I love Pottery Barn inserts—good price, good quality. i order the next size up.

I like the way feather inserts look. I buy mine from Pottery Barn.

Tina Marie, i haven’t tried the down alternatives but am open to them.. Have you used them?

Novice and probably dumb question: do you buy the insert a size larger than the cover or the same size? I've seen both suggested. Don't understand how a larger insert would fit a smaller cover. Thank you.

All mine are ikea, they have down and polyfill. I buy the size of the cover. It fills them just fine.

The insert should be bigger than the cover

Doesn't whether you get the same size or a size bigger depend on whether you want the pillow taut or more relaxed?

I get it. Thank you for explaining. I'm going pillow shopping! LOL

I use different sizes and materials, depending on if I want slouchy or filled tight. I have one pillow that I hope the zipper holds … otherwise that insert is going to shoot out so fast it goes through the window. :D

I’ve bought them from West Elm and Ama.zon.

@jlsch I have a couple from Amazon. I don't like them quite as well as the down, but they are close!

@jqueen3 using an insert that is a couple of inches larger gives you a nice, full pillow. It's not overstuffed. You will be able to somewhat "fold" a down insert to get it into the cover. It really makes the pillow look nicer. Flat looking pillows bug me. LOL

I'm not a fan of overstuffed pillows myself, so I buy same size. I recently bought some Pottery Barn pillows from Poshmark which had feather inserts. They smelled foul (pun intended) when I received them, so I washed them after checking the tag which said they could be washed. Washing and drying them did not remove the smell, and I ended up throwing the inserts away.

With down, the larger size helps the pillow still look nice and full, even as the feathers settle.

Deeinohio, That makes sense. I can't find inserts that are down only. They all tend to be down with feathers. I'm guessing that the quality of the fabric used for the insert helps in keeping feathers from poking through. I want a couch pillow that I can also lay on without being poked by feathers! hah

I always get a size larger for inserts. I've had luck with Ikea inserts and some from Aza mon. I don't care for down/feathers inserts because I've found they don't wash well (smell is off-putting), and one of my dogs had an obsession with them.

Down alternative from The Company Store.

https://www.thecompanystore.com/pillows/tcs-down-free-square-pillow/PO46.html?dwvar_PO46_color=WHITE

Someone mentioned some used down inserts smelling. I would guess the odor was absorbed from the home of the previous owners. I haven't noticed a smell from our inserts. I don't wash mine as they are rarely used, just to look pretty : ) TBH, I'm not sure if washing is recommended.

Big Lots/church garage sale--doesn't' really matter. No one wants them on the sofa when they sit down anyway.

I like Pottery Barn inserts also and always size up. I have used both down and their alternative. Some brands I have tried in the past are better than others, depending on where you will be using them. For example, my large square shams, I want them to be full and stand up without floppy corners. I bought some cheap ones from A for my DGD to use at college in shams and they seemed fine.

And yes, arcy, it does matter.

I noticed West Elm has free shipping today, 01/07, on inserts.

I’m another fan of Pottery Barn inserts but I got mine from the PB Outlet store. I love that it doesn’t matter how squished or flat they get, they always poof back out.

Arcy I think pillows that don’t get used are thrown aside because they‘re too stiff, too big or over stuffed. Why use them if they aren’t comfortable? The down pillows I have are used all the time by myself and my family so for me, it really does matter where I buy them from. As a rule, I don’t buy anything like pillows, linens, bedding or even upholstered furniture from garage sales, but that’s just me.

I've bought the PB ones for years but they can get pokey.

I have had my down pillow inserts for years and years. I used to find them in discount stores like TjMa x, Ross, Marshalls and such in the sale sections. They usually have hideously ugly pillow covers so you can get them cheap. I would buy the ones with zip covers for easy removal. I always keep a little tape measure in my purse to check for standard sizes. You can buy them used at garage sales if the place looks clean. Put the down inserts in a home dry cleaning bag with cleaner cloth, use med high heat for 20 to 30 min.

I do agree they look nicer one size up from the cover's size.

They are cheap enough; I wouldn't buy them used.

Eleven years ago I went to a moving/garage sale and bought six or eight (?) used, velvet zip coverers, down pillows at $2.00 ea for my sons first place. The home was spotless and nice. So, as far as "used" goes the pillows probably had no more cooties than anywhere else.I still heat home dry cleaned them though in the bag...covers and inserts. They are still used to this day. I wouldn't buy used just anywhere though.

I buy the down ones on Ama zon now. They are packaged just like PB’s 🙄

and A is cheaper, allowing me to switch then out every few years as needed.

A timely topic for me. In re-doing DD’s guest room, I need ONE Euro pillow. I have 2. I have 2 each of 2 different kinds because I used to have a queen bed and so did DD. Now, I need just one, but I need it to match the other two. You and I both know what is going to happen. I’m not going to find the one, so I’ll buy 3 new ones, then I’ll have 4 orphan pillows for which I’ll have absolutely no use!

I agree with @just_terrilynn...For indoor, I buy feather/down inserts at thrift stores. They're INSIDE a zippered pillow....never touched by humans or pets! $2.50ea. For outdoor pillows ......A stager for model homes, gave me a pile of pillows....I just rip one of those up.

I use regular down pillows from Ikea. They're rectangular, but not filled very much so you can squish them down into an insert very easily.

I'm picky about where I buy my down because some sources get it in a horribly inhumane way (google "live plucking"). Ikea is one of the good ones.

nicole___ good idea! down pillows can be washed too. if anyone is still icked out by this, you can add an allergy pillowcase inside as an extra layer. (if it's too big it's NBD, just fold it in. you won't be able to tell if the outer case is thick enough.)