Bean bag chairs are synonymous with comfort and relaxation. A group of Italian designers created the first recognizable bean bag chair in the late 1960s, and people have been enjoying them ever since. Today's chairs are a far cry from the lumpy seat you may have had in your bedroom as a child or in your college dorm room.
To compile our picks of the best bean bag chairs, we researched the top options and spoke to two experts: Marielle Marquez, OTR/L, pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Thrive Little, and Stella Guan, an entrepreneur and multi-disciplinary designer who spans furniture to UI/UX design.
The 6-foot Yogibo Max Bean Bag Chair represents one of the top options, with a versatile shape that molds to you. It's lightweight and portable too. The Lovesac Sac Bean Chair functions more like a piece of furniture with a sophisticated look and a cushy foam blend fill. It's extremely customizable, with many fabrics and sizes to choose from.
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Our picks of the best bean bag chairs
Best overall: Yogibo Max 6-Foot Bean Bag Chair - See at Amazon
Best for adults: Lovesac SuperSac Bean Bag Chair - See at Lovesac
Best for kids: Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Beanbag - See at Pottery Barn
Best outdoor: Jaxx Juniper Outdoor Bean Bag Chair - See at Amazon
Best oversized: Big Joe Fuf XXL Foam Beanbag Chair - See at Amazon
Best for gaming: Moon Pod Bean Bag Chair - See at Moon Pod
Best for teens: Pottery Barn Teen Modern Lounger - See at Pottery Barn Teen
Best overall
The Yogibo Max is versatile and body-conforming. It also has a machine washable cover. It’s well-suited for the family room, play room, bedroom, or anywhere else you need a comfortable place to relax.
- Versatile
- Machine-washable cover
- Large enough for multiple people
- Lots of colors, including indoor, outdoor, and luxe fabrics
- Pricey
If you're going to spend money on a bean bag chair, it should be something you enjoy spending time in. The Yogibo Max can be configured in many different ways, meaning you'll always find a way to use it. You can pull it out as a spare bed for an unexpected guest or make it a comfy spot to lounge in your family room.
It comes in over 40 colors, from neutrals like dark gray and blue to vibrant colors including pink and mint, as well as outdoor and luxe fabrics. It's generously sized and, according to the manufacturer, can accommodate four people at once. Although it's a larger bean bag chair, it weighs under 20 pounds and takes up less than 4 square feet of space when stored upright.
The Yogibo Max comes with a hefty price tag, but many households will get a lot of use out it. "It is a bit on the bigger side and doesn't work with all types of aesthetics, but you can't get any better value with versatility and comfort," Guan said.
Best for adults
Incredibly popular and comfortable, Lovesac’s bean bag chair is available in several different size options and over 200 cover fabrics. The chair is filled with Durafoam, which helps the chair maintain its shape without going flat.
- Many size and cover options
- Filled with Durafoam (a foam blend)
- Machine-washable cover
- Most sizes are very large and heavy to move around
- Expensive
Lovesac is well-known for its incredibly comfortable and oversized bean bag chairs. They're filled with a recycled foam bled called Durafoam, and they don't have any beans or beads inside.
One of the major benefits of Lovesac is they provide a lot of options. Choose from several different sizes and over 200 cover options, of which more than 150 are machine washable. Cover fabric options include faux fur, velvet, chenille, denim, jacquard, linen, microsuede, polylinen, tweed, twill, velvet, weave, and crossweave. Their bean bags also come in a wide range of colors, from sapphire galaxy to solid black.
The dimensions and weight vary by the bag you choose: The BigOne is 95 pounds and about 6 feet wide, the SuperSac is 75 pounds and about 5 feet wide, the MovieSac is 45 pounds and 4 feet wide, the 36-pound PillowSac is roughly 4.6 feet wide, and the CitySac weighs 35 pounds is 3 feet wide.
While very comfortable and roomy, Lovesac bean bag chairs don't come cheap, and most of them are very large; the biggest chair can accommodate up to four people. Be sure you're ready for the investment and have the space in your home. If you do, you'll have one of the most popular and comfortable bean bag chairs available.
Best for kids
Kids can have their own special place to lounge, read, or do homework with the Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Beanbag that’s just their size. We like that there are a lot of designs and fabric options to choose from and that it’s lightweight so kids can move it around easily.
- Lots of design and personalization options
- Lightweight
- Machine-washable cover
- Kids might outgrow it quickly
Most kids appreciate a comfy space they can call their own, which is why they'll enjoy a bean bag chair for their bedroom or in a special nook in another room. The Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Bag has nearly 30 variations, from an R2-D2 version to a sherpa bear. You can even have it personalized with their name or monogram. There are plenty of neutral design options, too, if you want something to match your home decor.
The chair is available with four different cover options, all of which are machine washable: twill, sherpa, ribbed chamois, and polyester faux fur. According to Guan, faux fur is "cozy and soft but can be a bit high maintenance when it comes to cleaning." Patterned fabric, she says, can work great for a child's room.
The chair is definitely on the smaller side, so kids will likely outgrow it by the time they're tweens or teens. If you're looking for something for a toddler or younger kid to grow with, this is a great pick. Older kids might want to look into one of our other top picks.
The chair is filled with up to 50% recycled polystyrene, and it's Greenguard Gold Certified. Additionally, it's light enough for many kids to carry from room to room.
Best outdoor
The cover fabric on the Jaxx Juniper Outdoor Bean Bag Chair is designed to withstand the elements and is water, mildew, stain, and fade resistant. It elevates the style of your outdoor space while simultaneously providing a comfortable place to sit.
- Machine-washable cover
- Various cover options
- Designed for 1,500 hours of UV protection
- Need to keep out of the elements to extend life
An outdoor bean bag chair is a unique way to add seating to your back patio or around the pool. The Jaxx Juniper Outdoor Bean Bag Chair provides a comfy lounge spot filled with lightweight yet cushioning polystyrene beads.
Made to withstand the outdoors, the Omnova Nautolex woven acrylic fabric is designed for 1,500 hours of UV protection, and it's resistant to water, mildew, stains, and fading. The cover is also machine washable and available in 19 colors, including solids, stripes, neutrals, and a few vibrant options. It also has a durable bottom to withstand rough surfaces
The chair has a carrying handle to make it easier to move. To extend its life, it's recommended to keep it out of the weather when it isn't being used, which isn't ideal if you want to leave your outdoor furniture in place.
Best oversized
deal for a large space, the Big Joe Fuf XXL Foam Beanbag Chair is truly extra large. Re-fluffing the shredded memory foam filling helps it stay comfortable, and it’s a great choice for someone who wants a bean bag chair that can accommodate multiple people.
- Polyester blend
- Machine-washable cover
- Two cover material options
- Fits multiple people
- Heavy
- Takes up a lot of space
The Big Joe Fuf XXL Foam Beanbag Chair is certainly oversized. This is the type of bean bag chair you can really sink into either by yourself or with a few friends. It's filled with shredded foam which makes it fluffy and plush. Shredded foam is a dense and supportive fill option that also stays comfortable even after extended use. Simply re-fluff if the chair starts to go flat.
One of the biggest downsides, which is to be expected with an oversized bean bag chair, is that it's very large, heavy, and cumbersome. The bean bag chair weighs over 70 pounds, so it's not easy to move around. It does have an attached carrying handle to make maneuvering it a bit easier. The massive size might also mean it's too big for some spaces.
You can choose from either plush or lenox material for the cover; both are a polyester blend. According to the brand, the lenox material has a denim feel while the plush is softer. The lenox is available in three neutral colors, and the plush comes in three neutrals or three vibrant colors and patterns. Both cover types are machine washable.
Best for gaming
The Moon Pod can be adjusted into three comfortable positions and is filled with unique beads that mimic the feeling of flotation. Insider Reviews home and kitchen fellow Maliah West tested the Moon Pod and was impressed with how relaxed she felt while sitting and laying on it.
- Shape is versatile
- Machine-washable cover
- Lightweight
- Limited cover material and color options
When you spend a lot of time gaming, a comfortable chair is a necessity. Moon Pod's bean bag chair is designed to mimic the feeling of flotation therapy. The bag is filled with EPS beads that help the chair conform to your body.
The Moon Pod has five colors: moon indigo, cosmic ash, space gray, neptune blue, and rose quartz. The outer cover is removable and machine washable. The brand describes the chair as amorphous because it conforms to your body. That means the chair's dimensions are approximately 50 to 56 inches long by 20 to 24 inches high and 20 to 24 inches wide.
Former Insider contributor Maliah West found the Moon Pod cushiony and simple to set up. "The chair is comfortable and provides enough support to work sitting up but is still cozy enough for a quick nap," she said. Having a chair that can support you in an upright position is essential when you're using it for gaming.
Best for teens
The Pottery Barn Teen Modern Lounger is a structured bean bag chair that makes a statement in a teen’s room, and it’s made of 65% recycled beads. It comes in two sizes, seven cover fabrics, and many different colors.
- Structured chair
- Many cover options
- Two sizes options
- Made of recycled beads
- Spot clean only
- Cover not removable
Most teenagers enjoy a comfy space that elevates the decor of their room. The Pottery Barn Teen Modern Lounger will be a statement piece in their room that they can use for homework, gaming, or just hanging out.
The lounger is available in seven cover fabrics: vegan leather, tweed, textured faux-suede, faux fur, chunky boucle, boucle twill, and chamois. It also comes in many colors, including caramel and navy. Unfortunately, the covers are not removable and are spot clean only, which can be a major con for some teens (or the adults they live with).
Both sizes are pretty lightweight. The chair is filled with polystyrene beads, 65% of which are recycled. It's a more structured bean bag chair, which is nice if you want something that looks a bit more like a traditional piece of furniture.
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