Custom Pet Pillow: Sizes, Styles, Photo Tips & Prices (2026)

What is a custom pet pillow?

A custom pet pillow is a square throw pillow whose front is printed with a portrait of your pet. On a good one, the portrait isn't a snapshot pasted onto fabric. Your photo is first turned into an illustration (a watercolor, a royal oil painting, a cartoon and so on), and that artwork is printed edge to edge across the front so it looks like a designed pillow rather than a picture on a white square.

Ours are made from soft spun polyester with a concealed zipper and a polyester insert included, so the pillow arrives plump and ready for the sofa. Your pet's name is printed near the bottom of the design, and you can add an optional second line, such as a nickname, a date or a short phrase.

You'll also see people search for a pet face pillow, a personalized dog pillow or a custom cat pillow. They're all the same idea: your animal, your artwork, on something soft you'll actually use every day.

Portrait pillow vs. cut-out face pillow: which one do we make?

There are two kinds of pet pillows on the market, and it helps to know the difference before you order. A cut-out face pillow is sewn into the shape of your pet's head, like a cushion version of their face. It's a fun novelty, but the outline is cut by hand around a photo, so ears and fur edges often look rough, and the shape makes it awkward to lean against.

A portrait pillow, which is what we make, keeps a classic square shape and prints a full illustrated portrait across the front. It works as real home decor, fits any sofa, and gives the art room to breathe: background, colors, name and all. If you picture your pet's face filling a square cushion with their name underneath, that's exactly what you'll get.

What size custom pet pillow should you get?

All four sizes are square, use the same artwork and include the insert. Think about where the pillow will live and how big the furniture around it is:

• Measure your current throw pillows. Matching what's already on the sofa is the safest choice.
• On a bed, a 14″ or 16″ looks neat in front of sleeping pillows; a 22″ can stand on its own on a king.
• For kids, the 14″ is huggable and light enough to carry around.

The best art styles for a square pillow

Because the print fills the whole front, styles with a full painted background make the most of a square. You can preview every style with your own photo for free, but here's how they tend to work on a pillow:

Custom dog pillow: tips for dog owners

A custom dog pillow is the most common version, and a few dog-specific details make a big difference. Long-eared breeds like Beagles, Cavaliers and Spaniels need a photo where the ears are fully in frame, or the artist has to guess. Fluffy breeds such as Goldendoodles and Huskies look best in styles that show texture, like Watercolor or Renaissance.

Dark dogs, such as black Labs and Pit Bulls, shine in styles with lighter backgrounds, while white dogs pop against the rich, darker tones of the royal portraits. Got a big personality? The King or The General suits a dog who already acts like the boss of the couch. For breed-specific ideas, see our pages on Golden Retriever and French Bulldog portraits.

And yes, a personalized dog pillow with two dogs works well. Upload a clear photo of each dog and they're painted together in one portrait, for $15 per extra pet.

Custom cat pillows and other pets

A custom cat pillow is a favorite for the reading chair or the window seat where the cat actually sleeps. Cats rarely hold still, so pick a photo where your cat is resting and looking toward the camera; a sleepy, half-closed-eye shot can look sweet but loses the eye detail that makes cat portraits special. Orange tabbies and calicos look wonderful in Watercolor, and a black cat is striking in The Queen.

Rabbits, horses and other pets work too, as long as the photo is sharp and the face is clear. Browse cat portraits for style ideas.

How to choose a photo that prints sharply

A pillow is a large print, so the photo matters more than on a mug or an ornament. Phone photos are perfect when they follow a few rules:

• Daylight, no flash. Stand your pet near a window; flash flattens fur and creates glowing eyes.
• Eye level. Crouch down so the camera is at your pet's eye height, not looking down on the top of the head.
• Fill the frame. The head and shoulders should take up most of the photo.
• Both ears and both eyes visible, with the eyes in sharp focus.
• No filters or portrait-mode blur. The original photo gives the artwork the most detail.

Adding a name and a second line

Your pet's name (up to 18 characters) is printed in capitals near the bottom of the design. Choose Classic, Elegant or Handwritten lettering, and a name color: auto (picked to stand out on your background), black, white, gold, red or green. The optional second line holds up to 28 characters. Some ideas:

• Just the name: clean and timeless.
• A job title: Chief Couch Officer, Professional Napper, Queen of the House.
• An adoption year: Est. 2021 or Gotcha Day 2023.
• For a memorial: the years, such as 2012 – 2026, or Forever in our hearts.

Where a pet pillow looks good

Some spots where a portrait pillow earns its place:

• Living room sofa — an 18″ royal or pop-art pillow, with plain cushions on either side so it stands out.
• Bedroom — a watercolor pillow in front of the sleeping pillows; pair it with a matching sherpa blanket at the foot of the bed.
• Nursery or kids' room — a 14″ Astronaut or Superhero pillow of the family dog, the first friend a baby grows up with.
• Dorm room — a 16″ pillow of the dog back home; it helps with homesickness more than you'd think.
• Reading nook or window seat — the cat's favorite spot, now with the cat's portrait in it.

A custom pet pillow as a gift

Pillows suit nearly everyone on a list: dog moms and dog dads, grandparents who dote on the family pet, a friend who just adopted, kids, and the college student who misses their dog. At $44.99 to $64.99, it sits in the sweet spot between a small token and a big-ticket present. Pair it with a custom pet mug or a blanket from the same portrait: bundles save 15% on 2 items, 20% on 3 and 25% on 5 or more.

Enter their address at checkout and the pillow ships straight to them; packing slips never show prices. For Christmas, order by December 10 for delivery before Christmas in the continental US; for a last-minute gift, a digital download is emailed within one business day. More ideas in Christmas gifts for dog lovers and gifts for pet lovers.

Pet memorial pillows

After losing a pet, many people find comfort in something they can hold. A pet memorial pillow does that quietly: it sits where your pet used to curl up, and it's there on the evenings when the house feels too still. There's no right time to make one. Some people order within days, others wait until they can look at photos again.

If you're choosing a photo, pick the one that looks most like them on an ordinary good day rather than a perfect posed shot; it's often the one that feels truest. The gentle Forever in My Heart style adds soft clouds and a halo, and Watercolor is calm and timeless. Add the name and their years on the second line. If you're making one for a friend, a handwritten note means a lot; our guides to pet memorial gifts and pet loss gifts have more thoughtful ideas.

How to care for your pillow

The cover zips off, so care is simple: remove the insert, then spot clean the cover or machine wash it cold. Let it air dry or tumble dry on low, and skip bleach and ironing over the print. Keeping the pillow out of strong, direct afternoon sun on a window seat helps the colors stay bright for longer.

How much does a custom pet pillow cost?

Our prices are $44.99 for 14″, $49.99 for 16″, $54.99 for 18″ and $64.99 for 22″, and the insert is always included. Extra pets in the same portrait are $15 each. Shipping is a flat $6.99 in the US, free on orders over $75, so a 22″ pillow plus almost any second item ships free.

Each pillow is made to order: about 2–4 business days of production and 3–5 business days of delivery. The preview is free and you only pay when you love it, and every order is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. 10% of every order goes to animal rescue.

Frequently asked questions