How much hollowfiber you need for a pillow, a toy or a pouf

Hollowfiber is a light, lofty polyester fibre filling: it does not clump, dries fast, is hypoallergenic and holds its shape well. The most common question when buying it is how much you need for a pillow, a toy or a pouf. Below are guide amounts and a simple rule to work it out, and an explanation of why the amount of filling changes the feel of the finished item so much.

What hollowfiber is and why it is springy

Hollowfiber is made of polyester fibres that are hollow inside and crimped into a spiral. Each fibre is like a tiny spring with air inside. When you press a pillow, the spirals compress, and as soon as the load is gone they straighten and give the item its volume back. The air in the hollows makes the filling light and warm, and the smooth synthetic surface does not absorb moisture or odours, so hollowfiber dries quickly after washing and does not become a home for dust mites.

This structure is exactly why the amount of filling matters. With little fibre the spirals lie loosely and the pillow is soft but soon flattens under the head. With a lot of fibre the spirals press against each other and the item becomes springy and tall. That is why the chart gives ranges: you pick the point within them to suit your taste.

How much hollowfiber you need: chart

The lower figure gives a softer, flatter item, the higher one a springy, tall one. If you like firm pillows, take the upper end.

How to work it out yourself

1. Work out the item's volume in litres: length × width × height (in decimetres). A 50×70 cm pillow, 15 cm high: 5 × 7 × 1.5 = 52.5 L.
2. Multiply by the filling density: about 15 g per litre for a soft pillow, 20 g for medium, 25 g for firm. 52.5 L × 20 g = 1050 g.
3. Add 5-10 % to top up the corners and refill after washing.

For round items such as a bolster, the volume is 3.14 × radius × radius × length. A bolster 15 cm across and 45 cm long: 3.14 × 0.75 × 0.75 × 4.5 ≈ 8 L, about 160 g at medium density. For poufs and seats that take your whole weight, use 25 g per litre or more: otherwise the item soon sags.

Which density to choose

If in doubt, fill the pillow to the medium amount and leave the opening unsewn: sleep on it for a night or two, then add or remove a handful of filling.

How many portions to buy

We sell hollowfiber in 0.5 kg portions. A 50×70 cm pillow needs 2 portions (1 kg), a 70×70 cm pillow 2-3 portions, a 40×40 cm cushion one portion with some left for a toy. If you are making several pillows or a large item, the wholesale price applies from 2 kg.

A cat bed takes 1-2 portions, a 40×40×10 cm pouf two. Keep leftovers in a loose bag, not squeezed or tied tightly: that way the fibre keeps its spring until the next project.

How to stuff properly

• Fluff the fibre by hand in small handfuls before stuffing: the filling then lies evenly without lumps.
• Fill the corners and edges firmly first, then the middle.
• For toys, stuff small parts (paws, ears) with a pencil or stick in small portions.
• Pillow filling settles over time: leave a way to add more through a zip or a ladder-stitched seam.

Common mistakes

• Stuffing in big clumps. Unfluffed fibre lies in lumps, and the pillow comes out bumpy. Fluff every handful.
• Starting from the middle. The corners stay empty, and adding filling to them later is awkward.
• Buying exactly enough. Without a margin there is nothing to top up the corners or restore the volume a year later. Buy 5-10 % more.
• Drying on a radiator. Strong heat makes synthetic fibre lose its spring. Dry at room temperature.

Loose hollowfiber or wadding sheet

Hollowfiber comes in two forms. Loose fibre, like ours, is sold by weight: it fills pillows, toys, bolsters and poufs, items filled by volume. Sheet wadding is sold by the metre, and its thickness is given as a density in grams per square metre: thin sheet goes into spring and autumn clothing, thicker into winter jackets and duvets. Loose fibre can fill a duvet too, but then it is quilted into sections so the filling does not shift. For pillows and toys loose hollowfiber is handier: it is easy to spread evenly and to top up when needed.

How to check the quality of the filling

• Spring. Squeeze a handful in your fist and let go: good hollowfiber springs back at once.
• Uniformity. The fibre should be even, without hard knots, dust or bits of other material.
• Smell. Good filling smells of nothing. A sharp chemical smell points to low quality.
• Colour. Hollowfiber is white, without grey or yellow specks that recycled raw material can have.

Care

Items filled with hollowfiber can be machine washed at 30-40 °C on a gentle cycle with a soft spin. Dry them laid flat and shake them a few times while drying so the filling spreads evenly. A few tennis balls in the drum while washing and drying help break up lumps.

Frequently asked questions

How long does hollowfiber last?

With proper care a pillow keeps its shape for several years. When it no longer springs back after squeezing, it is time to refresh the filling: we explain how in «How to refresh an old pillow».

Is hollowfiber suitable for allergy sufferers?

Yes. It is a synthetic fibre with no down, feathers or plant particles, and it does not absorb moisture, so dust mites find it inhospitable.

How does hollowfiber differ from bonded wadding?

Wadding is bonded into a sheet and flattens over time; hollowfiber is loose and recovers its shape. A detailed comparison is in «Hollowfiber, wadding or silicone fibre».

Where to buy hollowfiber

Hollowfiber at Hop.Shop is sold by weight from 0.5 kg, with the wholesale price from 2 kg. Delivery across Ukraine by Nova Poshta. For covers, see our fabrics.

Read also

• Hollowfiber, wadding or silicone fibre: which to choose
• How to refresh an old pillow by replacing the filling