The 7 best bean bag chairs for all ages

The best bean bag chairs are the pinnacle of comfort. Contouring to the body, they provide enough support to be comfortable for hours, perfect for a movie night or long hours of gaming. Our favorites 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.

Bean bag chairs come in all shapes and sizes, available in a range of covers to match any aesthetic. 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 SuperSac 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.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.

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 Kids

Best for teens: Pottery Barn Teen Modern Lounger - See at PB Teen

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 outdoor: Jaxx Juniper Outdoor Bean Bag Chair - See at Amazon

Best overall

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 30 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. The cover is removable and machine washable. The inner liner which houses the foam fill skips a zipper pull to keep kids from trying to open it, but all you need to access is to thread through a paperclip. 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

Lovesac is well-known for its incredibly comfortable and oversized bean bag chairs. They're filled with a recycled foam blend 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. You can choose from over 140 covers, most of which are machine washable. Cover fabric options include faux fur, velvet, boucle, linen, and chenille across a wide range of colors, though quick-shipping options condense down to 19 choices.

The SuperSac is 75 pounds and about 5 feet wide, but if you're looking for a different size, Lovesac has you covered. The BigOne is 95 pounds and about 6 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 and 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

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 over 20 variations, from a Hello Kitty version to a sherpa baseball. 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 three 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 for teens

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: faux leather, tweed, faux suede, faux fur, boucle, twill, corduroy, eco-performance weave, 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, with a fill of polystyrene beads. 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.

Best oversized

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

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 Business 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 outdoor

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 UV protection, and it's resistant to water, mildew, stains, and fading. The cover is also machine washable and available in 27 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.

What to look for

Finding the right bean bag chair for you depends on your style and comfort preferences. Regardless, when shopping, we recommend looking out for the following:

Fill Material: Bean bag chairs typically contain polystyrene beads or shredded foam. Beads are less supportive and compress over time. Foam-filled bags need re-plumping to retain its shape.

Cover: We recommend searching for a bean bag chair with a removable, machine-washable cover for ease of cleaning. You'll find cover materials like traditional cotton or more luxe fabrics like faux leather or fur. Outdoor covers are usually waterproof and protect the bean bag chair from the elements.

Size: If you have a smaller space, you'll want to be aware of the size limitations and consider it's weight if you want to move it around the house. We strongly suggest paying attention to measurements when shopping and even taking the time to measure your room prior to making any purchases. If you're planning to use your bean bag chair like a couch, larger sizes can accommodate multiple people.

Bean bag chair FAQs

Is it good to sit on a bean bag chair?

"These days there are many different options, including high-end products," said Marielle Marquez, OTR/L, pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Thrive Little. "Many of the bean bag chairs on the market provide better postural support than the bean bag chairs of old, but they still aren't the best choice for all-day or all-activity use."

How do you clean a bean bag chair?

Bean bag chairs either have a removable cover or a non-removable cover. You can easily machine wash and dry most removable covers. Non-removable covers need to be spot cleaned, which may be difficult depending on the fabric. Six of our seven recommendations sport machine-washable covers.

How do you refill a flat bean bag chair?

Your bean bag chair may flatten after sitting and lying on it over time. Not every bag is refillable. Some brands, such asMoon Pod, encourage customers to contact their customer service team if their chair has flattened.

The post The 7 best bean bag chairs for all ages appeared first on Business Insider