---
title: "Bolster Pillow Diameter: 8 in (20 cm) Standard, Any Size Made"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/bolster-pillow-diameter-size-guide/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Harlan Pruitt, The Elder of High Point"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/harlan/"
published: "2026-06-24"
updated: "2026-06-24"
keywords: "bolster pillow diameter, bolster pillow size, armrest bolster length, daybed bolster diameter, custom bolster pillows"
---

# What diameter should a bolster pillow be?

*A bolster is a small thing that sets the whole line of a daybed. Get the round right and nobody notices it; get it wrong and nobody notices anything else.*

Also asked as: What diameter are those bolsters?; Please recommend the length and diameter.

> **The quick answer:** A bolster pillow should be 8 in (20 cm) in diameter for most seats; that is the workshop standard and the size the craftsmen say looks best on a bolster about 20 in (50 cm) long. Choose 10 in (25 cm) for a fuller roll, or go slimmer, down to 4 in (10 cm), beside thin cushions. Armrest length usually follows the seat depth.

![Turquoise velvet bolster with self piping lying on an oatmeal daybed cushion next to a white painted arm](https://cushionguide.com/media/bolster-pillows/turquoise-velvet-bolster-white-daybed-rail-1600.webp "A jewel-bright teal velvet that picks up every bit of daylight, set against oatmeal seat and back cushions.")

## Key facts

- Standard bolster diameter is 8 in (20 cm).
- 8 in (20 cm) is the recommended diameter for a bolster about 20 in (50 cm) long.
- A fuller 10 in (25 cm) diameter is made on request.
- Any diameter can be made, down to 4 in (10 cm) for 2 in (5 cm) thick bench cushions.
- A 20 in (51 cm) diameter bolster would be unusually large.
- Armrest bolster length follows seat depth, e.g. 21 in (53 cm) for a 21 in deep seat.
- Long benches can have the bolster split into two pieces.

## Bolster diameters from the cutting table, and where each one sits

| Diameter | Where it sits | From real orders |
|---|---|---|
| 4 in (10 cm) | Beside slim 2 in (5 cm) bench cushions | Ordered by an interior designer for thin seats |
| 6 in (15 cm) | Long, lean bench bolsters | Made at 44 in (112 cm) long |
| 7 in (18 cm) | Very long backrest rolls | Made at 65 in (165 cm) long |
| 8 in (20 cm) | The standard: daybeds, window seats, armrests | Looks best on a 20 in (50 cm) bolster |
| 10 in (25 cm) | A fuller, plumper arm | Made on request |
| 20 in (51 cm) | Almost never the right call | Unusually large for a cylinder |

## Why eight inches keeps winning

Eight inches is the round the old hands reach for without thinking. On a bolster about 20 in (50 cm) long it sits in proportion with a seat cushion of ordinary thickness: full enough to lean an elbow on, slim enough not to crowd the seat. The turquoise [velvet](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/velvet/) roll in the photograph is cut to that measure.

The rule I'd hand you, my friend, is to size the bolster to the cushion beside it. A designer once ordered 4 in bolsters for 2 in thick bench cushions, and they looked right because they followed the slim line of the seat. Put an 8 in roll on a 2 in pad and it looks like a log on a plank.

## Length follows the seat, not the other way around

For an [armrest bolster](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#armrest-bolster), length usually follows the seat depth: 21 in for a 21 in deep seat, or about 27.5 in (70 cm) on a 32 in (81 cm) deep seat. It can be cut shorter, say 23.5 in (60 cm), if you want the ends to breathe.

Long benches are different. A roll that runs the full bench can be split into two pieces, and extra [bolster pillows](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bolster-pillows/) for an L-shaped bench are ordered separately once you give the sizes. The [bolster size Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/bolster-pillow-size-diameter/) has the rest. What does your seat measure front to back?

> **Tailor's margin:** Size a bolster pillow to the cushion beside it: 8 in (20 cm) for everyday seats, 4 in (10 cm) beside a 2 in (5 cm) bench pad.

> A standard bolster pillow is 8 in (20 cm) in diameter; a 20 in (51 cm) cylinder is unusually large, and real orders run from 4 to 10 in.
>
> — Harlan

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Can you make matching bolsters for my cushion, and what diameter should they be?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Matching bolsters about 20 in (50 cm) long were made through a separate custom link after the main order. The standard diameter is 8 in (20 cm), which the craftsmen say looks best at that length, but 10 in (25 cm) can be made if you prefer.

**A common question:** What diameter and length are the round armrests?

**The workshop's answer:** Round armrests are 8 in (20 cm) in diameter as standard, and their length follows the seat depth, for example 21 in for a 21 in deep seat. They can be made shorter or fuller, such as 23.5 in (60 cm) long or 10 in across.

**A common question:** Can you make bolsters skinnier than the ones in your photos, plus extras for an L-shaped bench?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes, in any diameter. One interior designer ordered 4 in bolsters to go with 2 in thick bench cushions. Extra or longer bolsters are ordered separately once you give the size.

**A common question:** Can I get bolsters to match my bench cushion?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes, in the bench fabric or fully in a contrast or stripe. Custom lengths and diameters are made, such as 44 in long by 6 in across. Long benches can have the bolster split into two pieces.

**A common question:** Can I order matching bolsters later for a cushion I bought a while ago?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Fabric stock is kept, so bolsters can be made later in your original fabric. Send the sizes, quantity and the fabric code from your first order for a custom link.

## Questions buyers ask next

### How long should a bolster be when it's used as a backrest?

A backrest bolster is made to the bench length, with rounded ends, in matching fabric. Plan extra depth for it: a 31.5 in (80 cm) seating depth needed about 39.5 in (100 cm) of total depth to fit an 8 in roll behind the sitter.

### Do bolsters stay in place, or can they be fastened?

They come loose as standard, with no straps. On request the workshop adds a strap to hold a bolster on a mattress, or hook-and-loop fasteners to fix armrests to the base. Perfectly flat ends aren't possible on a round bolster.

### Can a bolster be a different fabric from the seat cushion?

Yes. Bolsters are made in the seat's fabric and piping, or fully in a contrast or stripe fabric. Give the fabric code for the bolster separately in your order note so the two pieces aren't confused.

### Should I give my bolster's diameter or its circumference?

The diameter: measure straight across the flat round end, seam to seam, and give the length from one end seam to the other. If you only have a tape wrapped around the bolster, that's the circumference; divide it by 3.14 to get the diameter. A 25 in circumference is about an 8 in bolster.

## Related at the atelier

- [Bolster pillow sizes: choosing diameter and length for a seat or daybed](https://cushionguide.com/guides/bolster-pillow-size-diameter/): A standard bolster pillow is 8 in (20 cm) in diameter, with a length that matches the seat depth or runs about 4 in (10 cm) shorter.
- [How do I order bolsters if there's no listing for them?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/how-to-order-custom-bolster-pillows/): Custom bolster pillows have no listing of their own: order your seat or window seat cushion first, then message the bolster sizes and the shop sends a custom payment link.
- [Can you make a bolster or neck roll for my daybed?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/daybed-bolster-neck-roll-custom/): Yes, daybed bolsters and neck rolls are made to any length and diameter, in the same fabric as the mattress cover, with filling included.
- [Bolster Pillow Pyramid in Plum, Navy and Burgundy on a Daybed](https://cushionguide.com/readings/plum-navy-burgundy-bolster-pyramid-linen-daybed/): A bolster stack on a daybed stays put when every bolster shares one diameter, so size them all to the same roll, here matched to the green stripe.
- [Navy Corduroy Bolster Pillow: How Wide Wale Feels and Washes](https://cushionguide.com/readings/navy-wide-wale-corduroy-bolster-closeup/): A wide-wale corduroy bolster pillow feels plush and ribbed, belongs indoors, and cleans through a zippered cover washed at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle, no bleach, air dried.
- [Wine Red Bolster Pillow on a Rattan Daybed: How It Will Age](https://cushionguide.com/readings/wine-red-bolster-herringbone-rattan-daybed-pothos/): A linen-look bolster on a sunny rattan daybed ages well when you plan for its daily life: turn it end over end so one side does not take all the window light, wash the zip-off cover at no more than…
- [Reading nook bolsters, back pillows and a seat depth that invites a nap](https://cushionguide.com/guides/reading-nook-cushion-bolsters/)

*Sit well. — Harlan*

---

Written by Harlan Pruitt (https://cushionguide.com/masters/harlan/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/bolster-pillow-diameter-size-guide/