Inner Pillow Guide: Choosing the Right Insert for Your Dakimakura
- A dakimakura cover is fabric only. The inner pillow insert is the separate piece that gives it shape, weight and huggability.
- Inserts come in three sizes, 40x120cm, 50x150cm and 50x160cm, and picking the one that matches your cover length keeps the finished pillow taut instead of loose.
- The filling is hypoallergenic and machine washable, and ordering the insert together with a cover unlocks a bundle discount.
You unzip the package for your first dakimakura cover, unfold the fabric, and realize something is missing. There is artwork on both sides, there is a zipper along one edge, but there is nothing inside to give it shape. That missing piece is the inner pillow insert, and it matters more than most new buyers expect, since the same printed cover can feel flat and sad or full and huggable depending entirely on what you stuff it with.
Our inner pillow insert is built specifically to slide inside a standard dakimakura cover and hold its shape night after night. Getting the size and the fill right takes about five minutes of reading, and it changes how every future cover you buy actually feels once it arrives.
What the Insert Actually Does
Think of the printed cover as a pillowcase and the insert as the pillow itself. The cover carries the artwork, usually a different pose on each side, and it zips closed along one edge so you can slide the insert in and out. On its own, a cover is just fabric, light enough to fold flat in a drawer. Add the insert and it becomes an actual pillow with volume, weight and a surface you can wrap your arms around. Skip the insert and the character you love stays a flat sheet of cloth.
Matching Insert Size to Your Cover
The insert only does its job well when its dimensions match the cover going over it. Too small and the corners sag with loose fabric. Too large and the zipper will not close comfortably. Here is how our three sizes line up.
| Insert size | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 40x120cm | $49.99 | A compact hugging pillow on its own, or a smaller cover |
| 50x150cm | $74.99 | Covers around 150cm long |
| 50x160cm | $99.99 | Covers around 160cm long, the more common full length |
If you already own a cover and are not sure which length it is, our dakimakura size guide breaks down the two standard cover lengths in detail before you order an insert to match.
What Is Inside the Insert
The insert itself is filled with a hypoallergenic material, so it is a reasonable choice even if you tend to react to certain pillow fillings. That filling sits inside its own plain fabric shell, closed with a zipper along one seam. That zipper is not decorative, it is what lets you fluff the fill by hand or spot clean the shell itself when needed, separately from whatever printed cover you put over it.
Caring for Your Insert
The insert is machine washable, though most fans wash the printed cover far more often since it is thinner and dries faster. The insert itself, being a full size stuffed pillow, takes longer to dry, so plan on washing it occasionally rather than every week. For the details on cleaning the printed cover itself, our care guide walks through the safest wash settings.
Buying the Insert and Cover Together
If this is your first order, buying the insert and a cover in the same order unlocks a bundle discount, and it also guarantees the sizing matches without a second purchase later. Browse waifu covers or husbando covers for a specific character, or check what other fans are currently picking in our best selling list. If nothing jumps out yet, our full catalog covers every character and franchise we currently print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which insert size matches a 160cm dakimakura cover?
The 50x160cm insert is made for covers around 160cm long, the longer and more common of the two standard cover lengths. Matching the insert to the cover keeps the fabric taut instead of leaving loose material at either end.
Can I wash the inner pillow insert?
Yes, the insert is machine washable and filled with hypoallergenic material. Most fans still wash the printed cover on its own for everyday cleaning and save the full insert wash for occasional deep cleaning, since a stuffed insert takes longer to dry than a thin cover.
Do I need a new insert every time I buy a new cover?
No. If you already own an insert in the right size, you only need to order a new cover for your next favorite character. The insert works with any cover cut to the same dimensions, so it is the one piece you are not buying again and again.
Anime Body Pillow, dakimakura covers for anime fans, online only.
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