Pillowcase vs Pillow Sham: Which One Should You Buy?

Quick answer

Buy pillowcases for sleeping and shams for the finished look on top. A pillowcase is the plain, washable cover that touches your face every night; a sham is a decorative cover, usually with a flange or embroidery, that stays on the bed during the day. Most beds need both: a pillowcase on the pillow you actually sleep on, and a sham over a second pillow behind it. If you only buy one, buy the pillowcase.

The real difference between a pillowcase and a sham

A pillowcase is a simple tube or envelope that slides over your sleeping pillow. It is meant to be washed often and to feel smooth against your skin. A sham is a tailored cover with a finished edge, often a flange or embroidery, and it is designed to be seen rather than slept on. That is why shams are usually sold in sets and styled at the back of the bed, while pillowcases are sold as part of a sheet set.

The practical difference shows up in laundry day. Pillowcases get washed weekly with your sheets. Shams get spot-cleaned or washed far less often because they are not absorbing nightly oils and sweat. If you treat a sham like a pillowcase, the embroidery and flange will wear out faster than the rest of the bedding.

How to size a pillowcase and a sham

Sizing is where most people get tripped up, because the two covers are not interchangeable. A standard pillowcase fits a standard sleeping pillow, and a king pillowcase fits a king sleeping pillow. Shams are sized to the pillow insert they cover, and a standard sham set and a king sham set are not the same as standard and king pillowcases. Euro shams are square and take a square insert, which is why they sit at the very back of the bed as a backdrop.

Measure your pillow before you buy. If you sleep on a queen pillow, a standard pillowcase is usually the right fit, while a king pillowcase will leave extra fabric at the end. For shams, match the sham size to the insert, not to your mattress size. A king bed can still use standard shams if the pillows behind the sleeping pillow are standard.

Decorative pillow covers: when a sham is worth it

A sham earns its place when you want the bed to look made without adding a separate throw or blanket. The finished edge and embroidery do the styling work, so a plain sheet set plus two shams can look intentional. This is also where a quilted sham adds texture: the diamond pattern and cotton batting give the bed a layered look that a flat pillowcase cannot.

The trade-off is maintenance and cost. Shams cost more per cover than pillowcases, and they need gentler care to protect the embroidery or quilting. If you have pets that sleep on the bed or you wash bedding very frequently, keep the shams for the top layer and accept that they will need replacing sooner than your sheets.

How to layer pillowcases and shams together

The simplest working formula is two layers: a sleeping pillow in a pillowcase at the front, and a sham-covered pillow behind it. On a queen or king bed, that usually means two sleeping pillows and two shams. Add a euro sham at the back only if you want height. This keeps the bed easy to make and easy to strip on laundry day.

If you are building a set from scratch, start with a sheet set that includes pillowcases, then add shams in a coordinating color. A white or natural percale sheet set with an embroidered sham in the same tone reads calm; a ticking stripe quilted sham adds pattern without changing the sheets.

Pillowcase vs sham: the trade-offs

• Comfort and sleep surface: A pillowcase is the smooth layer your face touches nightly. A sham has embroidery, a flange, or quilting that can feel textured against skin. Sleep on the pillowcase; style with the sham.
• Laundry frequency: Pillowcases get washed weekly with sheets. Shams are washed less often and need gentler care to protect their finish. Buy at least two pillowcases per sleeping pillow so one is always clean.
• Cost per cover: Pillowcases usually come included in a sheet set, while shams are sold as separate sets and cost more per cover. Budget for the sheet set first, then add shams as a styling upgrade.
• Sizing: Pillowcases match sleeping pillow sizes; shams match the insert they cover, and euro shams are square. Measure your pillow and insert before ordering, and do not assume king bedding means king shams.

Two covers that show the difference

• Basic Sheet Set: Crafted from 100% cotton grown on the family farm in Alabama, with a signature percale weave and a set that includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. This is the sleeping layer. The percale weave is crisp and cool, and the included pillowcases mean you do not need to buy them separately.
• Ella Embroidered Pillow Sham: The Ella Embroidered Collection features two lines of embroidery and is crafted from 100% cotton grown in Alabama, with a crisp cool percale construction, sold as a standard or king sham set of two. This is the finished top layer. The embroidery is the styling detail, so it belongs on the pillow behind your sleeping pillow, not under your face.
• Ticking Stripe Quilted Pillow Sham - Last Chance + Final Sale!: The Ticking Stripe Quilted Sham has a classic repeating diamond pattern and is filled with 100% cotton batting from the family farm in Alabama, available as a standard set, king set, or single euro sham. A quilted sham adds texture and a little loft, which is useful if you want the bed to look layered without adding a quilt.

Which should you buy?

Best for

• Anyone who needs a washable cover for the pillow they actually sleep on
• Shoppers building a first set of bedding who want the essentials covered
• Hot sleepers who want a crisp, cool percale surface

Not for

• Shoppers who only want a decorative top layer and already have sleeping pillowcases
• Beds where the pillow is never seen and only needs a plain cover