How to Fluff a Pillow and Keep It Plump

By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026

Here is how to fluff a pillow so it stays full. Every pillow flattens overnight: the fill is pressed down in one place for hours, and by morning the middle is lower than the ends. A quick fluff puts air back between the fibres and spreads the fill out evenly again.

These methods are for fibre-filled pillows like ours. Feather pillows fluff in much the same way; foam and latex pillows do not need fluffing at all.

Five ways to fluff a pillow

1. The accordion squeeze

With the case on or off, hold the pillow by its two short ends and push them together towards the middle, then pull them apart. Repeat five or six times. This moves fill from the squashed centre back out towards the ends, and it is the quickest daily fix.

2. The shake and punch

Hold one end and shake the pillow hard, then swap ends and do it again. Lay it flat and give it a few firm pats or light punches round the edges, working towards the centre.

3. Knead out the lumps

If you can feel clumps, work them between your fingers through the shell, pulling each one gently apart and spreading it into any thin patches. Then shake again. This is worth doing after washing, when fibre fill tends to dry in clumps.

4. A low tumble with dryer balls

For a pillow that has gone flat over weeks, put the dry pillow in a tumble dryer on the lowest heat or an air-only setting for about 20 minutes with two or three dryer balls, or clean tennis balls in a pair of socks. The balls knock the fill about and break up clumps. Only do this if the care label allows tumble drying; our classic microfibre insert can be tumble dried on low, but the care instructions for our microgel insert do not include tumble drying, so fluff that one by hand.

5. Air it outside

On a dry, breezy day, lay the pillow flat outside for an hour or two, turning it halfway through, and give it a good shake when you bring it in.

Microfibre and microgel fluff differently

A classic microfibre pillow is one springy mass of fibre, so it mostly needs the accordion squeeze and a shake to even out the height. A microgel pillow is filled with small loose clusters that move around as you sleep, so it needs a good shake from each end every morning to spread the clusters back out. If you are choosing between the two, our guide to microgel vs microfibre pillows compares them.

Habits that keep a pillow plump

• Fluff it as you make the bed. A daily squeeze and shake stops fill settling into one hard, flat layer.
• Turn it over and round. Swap which side and which end is under your head each day, so the wear is spread across the pillow.
• Use the right size case. A case that is too small squashes the pillow. Our guide to standard vs king pillowcases explains the fit.
• Keep a separate pillow for sitting up. Leaning against your sleeping pillow to read puts a lot of weight on one spot.
• Wash it now and then and dry it fully. A pillow put back damp clumps. Our guide to washing a pillow has the drying steps.

How to fluff a pillow for a plump look on a made bed

Once the pillows are fluffed, the case finishes the look. Push the pillow right into the closed end of the case so both corners are filled, fold the envelope flap neatly over the open end, then stand the pillow up and give it a karate chop across the top if you like a dented, styled look, or pat it smooth if you prefer it plain. Crisp percale shows a sharp outline; gauze and linen look softer and more relaxed even when the pillow is full.

When fluffing no longer works

If the pillow still lies flat after a shake and a tumble, fold it in half and let go. If it stays folded, the fill has lost its loft and no amount of fluffing will bring it back. Our guide to how often to replace pillows lists the other signs.

Pillows that plump up well

Our microgel pillow insert has a plush, down-like cluster fill in soft, medium or firm, from £33.90 for a soft standard, and fluffs up with a good shake. The classic microfibre pillow insert is medium-firm with 700 g of fill in the standard and 900 g in the king, from £23.90, and can be tumble dried on low. Both come in standard 48 × 73.5 × 20 cm and king 50 × 90 × 20 cm.

Frequently asked questions

How do you fluff a flat pillow?

Hold both short ends and push them together towards the middle a few times, then shake it hard from each end and pat it smooth. Knead out any lumps with your fingers through the shell.

Can you fluff a pillow in the tumble dryer?

Yes, if the care label allows tumble drying. Put the dry pillow in on low or air-only for about 20 minutes with two or three dryer balls to break up clumps.

Why does my pillow go flat during the night?

The fill is pressed down in one place for hours, which is normal. A shake and squeeze in the morning spreads the fill out again.

How often should you fluff a pillow?

Every day, when you make the bed. It takes under a minute and keeps the fill from settling into a flat layer.

What can I use instead of dryer balls?

Clean tennis balls work well. Put them in a pair of clean socks first so they move freely and do not mark the pillow.

What if my pillow will not fluff up any more?

Fold it in half and let go. If it stays folded, the fill has lost its loft for good and it is time to replace the pillow.