The very first bean bag chair, the Sacco chair, was designed in 1968, setting off a 50-year obsession with the casual lounger. While a lot has changed since its invention—the fillings and cover options have evolved significantly—the purpose of the bean bag chair has remained the same: to provide a comfortable, relaxed seating alternative with a hint of style. Today, the best bean bag chairs mold to the body, are highly portable and work well everywhere, from the playroom to the dorm room.

The best bean bag chairs are supportive, stylish and comfortable for kids and families.

For many kids and families, bean bag chairs are the perfect substitute for an overly-rigid rocker or a too-bouncy inflatable. They’re perfect for family move night, story time and sometimes even study time.

Nowadays most bean bag chairs are filled with EPS, or expanded polystyrene, but some are filled with memory foam. The highest quality lounge pads have higher density beads or foam that are less likely to compress and are more likely to hold their shape, be comfortable, and ultimately, look nice over time. We rounded up the best bean bag chairs that will become your family’s go-to for everything from doing homework to bingeing Netflix.

If you’re looking for more structured seating, check out our best reading chairs, these gliders for the nursery or the best desk chairs for kids.

Colors: Blue, charcoal, light grey, navy, rose | Weight: 12 pounds | Dimensions: 44 x 21 x 21 inches | Fill material: Polystyrene beads

Whether you’re working, napping or movie watching, the Moon Pod is engineered to mold to your shape. The combination of a stretchy spandex membrane and high-density EPS beads filling make it highly responsive, so you’ll be able to recline comfortably and with support—without sinking to the floor. Even better, it’s intended to mimic a floating sensation to ease stress, so you’ll reach peak Zen in no time, and it’s also extremely lightweight, so it’s easily repositioned within a room. For those who want additional support, add on the MoonPod Lunar Lift, a footrest intended to help circulation ($140), or the MoonPod Crescent Back Pillow ($140), a u-shaped backrest.

To keep little ones safe, the auto-locking zipper can only be disengaged by placing a paperclip inside the zipper hole. To comply with product safety regulations, the inner zipper does not have a pull tab.

Colors: Light grey, blush, forest green, lavender | Weight: 6 pounds | Dimensions: 26 x 30 x 29 inches | Fill material: Polystyrene beads

For those who don’t like bean bag chairs that are too amorphous, this structured, segmented version offers arm rests and back support, unlike many others—and it comes at a fraction of the price. Its size fits kids and adults alike, but it’s compact enough to work in small spaces, including a children’s room. In particular, reviewers like the sturdy feel and that the light grey color can be integrated into a variety of home décor schemes. The suggested age for this chair is 3 years and up.

Colors: Wide variety of fabric swatches | Weight: 75 pounds | Dimensions: 60 x 60 x 46 inches | Fill material: Shredded Durafoam

Think of this as the Rolls Royce of bean bag chairs—which comes at a price, but with good reason. This luxe lounger can fit up to three people, making it just right for family movie night. It comes in more than 200 cover options—which are machine washable—so you’re not limited with décor choices. It’s made of premium shredded Durafoam that doesn’t squish down over time, so you won’t be left with a flattened-out blob. LoveSac is also a standout for customer service: The company offers a lifetime guarantee on sac inserts, shipping is free and you get a 60-day home trial before you have to commit.

To note: The internal sac is locked with a safety zipper to keep curious hands from getting at the foam. Keep in mind that a bean bag chair can pose a safety risk for babies and toddlers, especially with a weight of 75 pounds. Nor is this a place for baby to sleep. Instead, the roomy LoveSac is a good choice for snuggle time with your big kids.

Colors: Navy, red, ivory, grey, sherpa, blush, pink polka dot, Star Wars R2-D2, kitty faux fur | Dimensions: 31 inches diameter when fluffed | Fill material: EPS beads (filled with up to 50% recycled polystyrene)

Little kids rarely sit still, and this spherical, toddler-sized, bean-filled chair can withstand non-stop flopping, rolling and jumping. The exterior cover is easy to remove and machine washable, so it’s perfect for when messy fingers leave stains or you need to scrub off the crusted on Goldfish crumbs and fruit snacks. The interior bean bag insert has a locking metal safety zipper to keep beads safely away from little ones. Bear in mind, though: “For safety reasons, young children should use bean bag chairs only as chairs and should be supervised around them at all times,” says pediatric and adult sleep consultant Kelly Murray.

Color: Ivory | Dimensions: 36-inch diameter (medium); 41-inch diameter (large) | Fill material: Polystyrene beads (up to 50% are recycled)

This bean bag—with fill that’s made up of partially recycled polystyrene beads—comes in two sizes, so it works for both smaller spaces and roomier layouts. Teenagers will love the snuggly coziness of the plush faux fur—the perfect mix of kid-friendly and grown-up vibes—for both hanging with friends or for study sessions. This product is also Greenguard Gold Certified, which means it meets strict health and safety standards and is low in chemical emissions.

Colors: Grey, pink, red, blue, green, black | Weight: 5 pounds | Dimensions: 29 x 32 x 26 inches | Fill material: Polystyrene beads

Whether kids are relaxing, doing homework or procrastinating by bingeing their favorite television series, this Big Joe chair is packed with convenient features. It has a built-in handle, side pocket and a drink holder for easy transport and to hold notebooks and snacks. The cover is double stitched for durability and it’s machine washable. Reviewers love that this dorm chair keeps its shape, although you can purchase bead refill packs if your chair gets too slouchy and needs a plumpness pick-me-up. Back support also makes this lounger ideal for both gaming or studying for exams.

Colors: Blue, taupe, navy, white, lime, flamingo, lime stripe, taupe stripe, navy stripe | Weight: 15 pounds | Dimensions: 36 x 30 x 28 inches | Fill material: EPS beads

“Outdoor” doesn’t necessarily mean your family has to use this chair outside, it just means it’s really, really durable. This low-profile lounger is made with a solution-dyed acrylic fabric that’s water-, fade-, UV- and mold-resistant so it can withstand snack spills whether your family is barbecuing outdoors under the stars or snacking on popcorn in front of the television. The more traditional chair-shaped construction holds its shape and is ideal for those who prefer an upright position. Other practical details include a back handle that makes it easy to change locations and a durable bottom that won’t be easily scuffed or scraped.

Colors: Black, grey, navy | Weight: 72 pounds | Size: 58 x 71 x 39 inches | Fill material: Shredded foam

This massive chair is so roomy it could give a family room sectional a run for the money. The Fuf XXL cradles your body, molds to your position, fluffs easily, and it can fit a few people comfortably. Admittedly, this thing is humongous, so you’ll want to be sure you’ve got ample space before buying it. It can take up to seven days for the foam to expand out of the box, so don’t worry if it looks deflated at first.

To keep the contents of Big Joe chairs inaccessible to curious children, there’s no zipper pull. Instead, in order to open a Big Joe chair or bag, you have to place a paper clip into the zipper head to pull it open.

“Bean bags are typically filled with expanded polystyrene beans (EPS) which is similar to styrofoam, though sometimes you may find them filled with PVC pellets, micro beads, foam filling or memory foam,” says Kelly Murray, certified pediatric and adult sleep consultant. These materials—and especially EPS beans, she says—mimic the feeling of sinking in quicksand, and the more you move around on the bean bag, the more you sink. “This is where the big problem comes in for children sleeping in bean bag chairs. If a child is in a position that is obstructing their airway (either face into the material or a position collapsing the trachea), they will sink further into the chair the more they try to break free from it.”

For this reason, bean bag chairs typically have an appropriate age range specified (it’s often 3 years and up), and bean bag chairs should never be used by infants due to the risk of suffocation.

One specific factor to pay careful attention to on bean bag chairs if you have young children are the zippers. “The little EPS beans that fill most bean bags often find their way out of the bag through holes that part in the seams,” says Murray. “These little styrofoam-like balls are a major choking hazard for children of all ages. Also, consider getting a bean bag with a double liner on the inside so there’s an added barrier between the filling and the outer material.”

No. According to the Safe Sleep Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (recently updated June 21, 2022), a baby should always sleep on a firm, flat surface free of blankets, bumpers and stuffed animals, ideally in a crib or their bassinet. “Most bean bag chairs are covered with polyester fabric and filled with EPS beads,” says Murray. “These are not breathable fabrics or materials, and they easily trap heat. Overheating is a big SIDS risk, so it’s best to avoid them for this reason too.”