The 11 Best Bean Bag Chairs for Kids, Tested

Nov 09, 2024

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Maximize downtime with these top-rated, comfortable, and stylish bean bags.

In This Article

Parents / Alexander Huang

Forget the brown blobs of the ‘70s and ‘80s: today’s bean bag chairs are stylish, comfortable, and durable places for kids to sit and lounge. We love that these cozy pieces of furniture are often more affordable than a couch, making them a great pick for kids’ playrooms, bedrooms, or game rooms. Plus, they can be a safer option for little ones since they’re close to the ground (provided younger kids don’t sleep on them).

Yes, bean bag chairs are a squishy place for little ones to relax, but we also recommend them as a convenient perch for parents while they supervise or join playtime. (You might never want to get off them.)

To find the best bean bag chairs for kids, we put 24 of them through rigorous at-home testing. Our kids, ranging in age from 2 to 12 years old, used the bean bags daily for over a month, squishing, jumping, reading, lounging, and playing on them. We evaluated each bean bag chair on comfort, durability, quality, and design. These picks were our 11 favorites. As time goes on, we will update this list with the latest insights as we continue to use these products on a daily basis.

The Moon Pod Bean Bag Chair earned our top spot for being a soft and inviting seat the whole family can enjoy. This chair is comfy right out of the box and gets more comfortable with time as it softens. It’s big enough for kids and adults and conforms to every body shape, from an energetic 2-year-old to their pregnant mother, who found it a comfy spot to sit and watch as her son was busy in his playroom.

To set it up, insert the bean bag into the cover. We loved that the cover is removable and machine-washable. If your kiddo spills something or you have shedding pets (in our experience, cats also like the Moon Pod!), simply unzip the cover and toss it in the washing machine.

“I would recommend this bean bag chair because it's really cute for a kids’ room or playroom. It's also really comfortable and isn't just made for kids.” —Julia, mom of a 2-year-old

The only real downside to the Moon Pod is its price; it's not cheap. But given the overall quality and versatility, we think it's worth the splurge. Also, while it might start out a little firm, it gets softer and even more comfortable over time.

The Details:

Toddlers need cozy places to rest, but many bean bag chairs are too large for younger children. The Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Beanbag is a great option with a smaller footprint, measuring just 31 inches on all sides. We found it to be just the right size for toddlers to get in and out of independently. It's also cushy and a bit floppy, which was a plus for our pint-size testers.

It's lightweight, making it easy to pick up and move around, while the canvas cover is easy to remove and toss in the washing machine. We also love that there’s a large array of colors, patterns, and textures to choose from. For an additional fee, you can personalize the chair with your child’s name or initials.

“The fact that it is small really is a win if you're looking to buy it for a toddler. It's just the perfect size for them to get in and out of on their own.” —Lauren, mom of a 2.5-year-old

It may be too soft/floppy for older kids and teenagers.

The Details:

If you haven’t used a stuffed animal storage bean bag before, it may come as a surprise when it arrives as an empty sack. But if, like us, you have a million Squishmallows, stuffed animals, or small cushions lying around, this bag is the perfect place to store them. The designs are cute but not babyish: the black cat was a neat addition to our 11-year-old’s bedroom.

We loved that the soft fabric and the decorative features (ears, tails, etc) are soft enough not to reduce comfort in any way. It’s super easy to empty and fill, and it’s also machine washable. Our little tester (plus the dog) spent so much time in this chair lounging and watching TV, giving it the thumbs (and paws) up.

“Honestly my only complaint so far is that I'd like to be bigger to hold even more stuffies.” —Karen, mom of an 11-year-old

Because you stuff it yourself, and stuffed animals come in all shapes and sizes, it can be tricky to get the shape right for a comfy spot to sit. But you can always add/subtract stuffing to find the right balance. We’d love to see a larger option, so we could hide even more stuffies inside.

The Details:

This bean bag chair is so big it’s an attraction all its own—perfect as a quiet reading nook or a lively play zone for multiple kids. The chair has no beans; instead, it’s filled with a foam block that conforms to your body as you sink in. It’s so supportive that even a wriggly toddler had no problems staying on it.

We loved the softness of the faux fur cover, which is machine washable. The chair fits with classic or modern decor and you can buy additional covers separately. Using it corner to corner, it’s possible to create a more upright chair with neck support, but we mostly used it as a flat lounge pillow for playing and watching TV. If you’ve got space and can afford the splurge, we highly recommend it.

“If I was setting up a hang-out spot for the family, this would be a must-have. It really is not a bean bag chair for children—it's a bean bag chair for everyone!” —Abby, mom of a 5-year-old and 2-year-old

This chair is huge and heavy, so it’s not ideal if you want to move it around often. It’s also tricky to get out of and flattens after heavy use, so requires regular fluffing.

The Details:

Great for a casual TV room, this large bean bag chair is a fun place to hang out, even for adults—though you’ll have to wait until the kids are done doing flips off it. It’s filled with super supportive foam blocks. The faux fur cover is super soft, and additional covers can be purchased separately. While we were unsuccessful in turning the chair into a dedicated reading/quiet zone, our kids loved it as a gymnastic area.

We loved that the cover is machine washable, and despite our concerns that we’d never get it back on after laundering, we’re pleased to report it was not a problem (though it did alter the overall shape of the chair a bit).

“The bean bag chair maintains its shape extremely well. I'm usually trying to push it down instead of fluffing it up.” —Julia, mom of a 3.5-year-old

This bean bag is huge, and taking the cover off/on is a workout. It takes a lot of trial and error to find your desired formation, and smaller kids may lack the weight to form the bag into a seat. It’s also not super comfy to lie on with your kids.

The Details:

From a kids’ room at home to a cozy mountain den, this Pottery Barn bean bag chair was a hit with everyone in the household: kids, pets, and adults alike. The cover is durable, spot-cleanable, and has the feel of a soft cowhide rug. We found the chair light enough to move around the house (though it did take up a lot of car space when we took it on a weekend retreat).

Everyone loved the minimalist yet inviting aesthetic, which beckons you in for a snuggle. Our 6-year-old tester loved that it looked like “real” polar bear fur. It comes in two sizes and is large enough for kids (and adults) of all ages to nestle into. Our recommendation is to go large: bigger is definitely better when it comes to this giant ball of coziness.

“We LOVE this bag and I think it'll be a fan favorite as my 6-year-old grows.” —Meredith, mom of a 6-year-old

It’s very tricky to get the filling into the cover, and after we did, it shed a lot of the faux hair—so keep a lint brush handy.

The Details:

For kiddos who love gaming, this bean bag chair is a comfortable yet sturdy option that's large enough to comfortably sit two pre-teens. Our testers found it more comfortable than a couch and gladly sat on it for hours at a time with no intention of moving. We loved that despite its hulking size (33 pounds!), the sewn-in handles make moving it around easy.

Setting it up was a fairly easy process, but you’ll need to fluff it and re-fluff it to allow for initial expansion. We like that it comes in several different colors and patterns so you can pick one that matches your decor. Through testing, the Big Joe Fuf has held up even with two preteen boys jumping and roughhousing on it daily for three months.

“It's big enough for two of my kids to sit on it or one child and our dog. They love that aspect and how it is comfy to sit in for hours.” —Emily, mom of a 9-year-old and 12-year-old

This is a large, heavy bean bag chair that doesn’t stow away easily and will be too bulky for some spaces.

The Details:

CordaRoy’s Chenille Bean Bag Chair pulls double duty as a bean bag chair that can convert into a full-size mattress that's perfect for sleepovers or out-of-town guests. Conversion to a 54 x 75 x 8-inch mattress is simple, and we found it a durable, high-quality space saver compared to a pull-out sleeper sofa.

As a bean bag chair, adult and kid testers found it incredibly comfortable and soft; like sitting on a huge cloud. The machine-washable chenille cover is thick and has strong stitching—giving us confidence that it won’t rip or tear, even with multiple kids (and the occasional adult) jumping on it. The mattress is just the ticket for rolling out when you extend that playdate into an overnighter.

“I think it's genius to have a bean bag that serves a double purpose. The fact that the CordaRoy can be used as a full-size mattress for sleepovers is incredibly useful and very smart.” —Hildara, mom of three

Assembling this bean bag chair is challenging. The large pieces of foam filling must be separated inside a fabric sleeve, which was a bit of a workout, and pulling the cover over the foam required a second pair of hands.

The Details:

Outdoor furniture doesn’t have to be uncomfortable! The Jaxx Juniper Outdoor Bean Bag Chair offers a soft place to lounge in your backyard or by the pool. It has a fade- and weather-resistant outer cover to protect it from the elements, while the inner liner keeps out moisture. It’s filled with polystyrene beads that conform to your shape.

You would expect an outdoor bean bag to be durable no matter what the elements throw at it, and that's true of the Jaxx Juniper. This bean bag kept its color and shape through many rainy days and storms. The outer cover is removable and can be tossed into the washing machine.

When you sit in this bean bag chair, you can expect to recline—a lot. This might take some getting used to or, it might be too much (opinions were mixed throughout testing).

The Details:

This stylish bean bag chair quickly became a favorite chill-out spot for family members big and small. We found the polystyrene filling very responsive, easily adjusting to all body shapes to create a comfy, supportive cradle. Over time, it molded to our contours so well that it retained its shape for optimal comfort—much like memory foam. Our tiny tester had no problem getting in or out of the chair.

We loved that the cover is machine washable and easily removable via the zipper. The quality materials showed zero signs of wear and tear over a month of testing, and we experienced no lumps or inconsistencies in comfort and support. An added bonus is that the lightweight design means it’s easy to move around.

“My child’s favorite thing about this bean bag chair was that you can drop back into it and it will catch you. I also love that you have the option to change the cover in case you want to change the color.” —Mike, dad of a 4-year-old

It’s built low to the ground, which may pose problems for people with bad knees or mobility issues.

The Details:

The Yogibo Max is a soft, supportive bed-sized bean bag chair that’s large enough to fit three or four kids at a time (though in our experience they’ll want to hog it for themselves). We loved that the removable cover is machine washable, and after weeks of rigorous testing—including jumping and body slams—the Yogibo is showing no signs of wear.

Given its hulking size, we’ve been pleased with how easy this bean bag is to move around. We love the super-stylish design, which is lucky because it’s too large to stash away. And it’s handy that we can add/subtract stuffing if we want to adjust the rigidity.

“I love that I'll be able to remove the cover to wash it, and love that after several jumps and body slams, the Yogibo seems to be winning.” —Amber

The bean filling can be a little noisy as you move around on this bean bag. Also, it can be very tricky to climb out of, so it’s not ideal for people with mobility issues. Due to its stiffness (at least when new), it can be difficult for smaller kids to mold it into a chair shape.

The Details:

For one month, 28 children ranging in age from 2 to 12 years old, along with their parents and caregivers, tested 24 bean bag chairs at home. They evaluated each bean bag chair on the following attributes:

Before and after testing bean bags for kids, we spoke with the following interior design experts about what to look for when shopping:

Cover Materials

Filling Materials

Style: Bean bag chairs come in a wide variety of colors, materials, and patterns. While brightly colored bean bags can be lively options for a playroom, some parents may prefer to find a bean bag chair that blends in with their home’s decor. “From an interior design standpoint, a good quality bean bag chair should seamlessly integrate with the rest of the room by not attracting too much novelty attention to it but still being a statement and comfort piece,” Bucur explains. We also highly recommend seeking the opinion of your child before making a purchase.

Cleaning: Let’s face it: Kids can be messy, and cleaning up spills probably isn’t at the top of their minds during playtime. Helpfully, many bean bag chairs come with removable covers you can spot clean or even toss in the washing machine. Pet parents will also want to seek out a bean bag chair that’s easy to clean since many popular cover materials gather pet hair.

Before purchasing a bean bag chair for your kiddo, make sure to read the manufacturer’s age recommendations to ensure that it’s safe for them to use. Many children like to jump around on bean bag chairs, so consider the durability and quality of the bean bag’s materials. Plus, some bean bag chairs use small beads as filling, which could pose a choking hazard if swallowed, so look for options with safety precautions such as a childproof zipper or an inner lining that contains the beads.

Younger children, such as toddlers and infants, should not sleep or nap on a bean bag chair due to the health risks it poses. The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommend that infants sleep only on flat surfaces that are not inclined and avoid soft bedding, which can cause overheating or pose a serious suffocation risk.

It’s natural for some bean bags to go flat over time, especially those that are filled with EPS beads. Certain bean bag chairs simply need to be tossed around or fluffed up a bit to restore their initial cushiness. However, some may require you to buy a replacement filling from the manufacturer, which is usually easy to swap with the original filling.

Bean bag chairs are a fun seating option for kids and adults alike. However, they shouldn’t be your kid’s primary source of seating, since “bean bag chairs can sometimes help develop unhealthy sitting patterns that can damage your kid's physical form over time,” Stefan Bucur says. This doesn’t mean that your kiddo shouldn’t own a bean bag chair; rather, it should just be used for shorter activities, like gaming, while structured chairs, sofas, and other sturdier options are best suited to longer undertakings such as homework.

Phoebe Sklansky is a commerce editor for Parents. As a stuffed animal lover herself, she recommends the Creative QT Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag Chair for its space-saving abilities. Prior to joining Parents, Phoebe was a freelance writer for multiple home and entertainment outlets. She holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University.

Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment. Pediatrics. 2022.