Bean bag chairs in Australia

"Bag chair" usually means a bean bag chair: a fabric cover filled with polystyrene beads or shredded foam that shapes itself to the person sitting in it. They range from small kids' bags to gaming chairs, loungers and outdoor bags in water-resistant fabric. This page explains the types, fillings, covers, sizing and refilling, and the Australian mandatory safety standard for bean bags, with links to Australian retailers and Product Safety Australia.

This is a free, non-commercial reference page. It is not affiliated with any retailer, brand or government body listed, and listing is not an endorsement or recommendation. It sells nothing. Check current details with the official websites linked below before making decisions.

The guide

The main types of bean bag chair, what they are filled with, what the covers are made from, how to size and refill them, and what the Australian safety standard requires.

Types of bean bag chair

The classic bean bag is a round or teardrop shape that you sink into. Loungers are longer and lower, so you can recline or lie back. Gaming bean bags have a higher, firmer back and often add side pockets and a headphone strap; Kmart and Bunnings both list gaming bean bag chairs online, some sold by marketplace sellers. Kids' bean bags are smaller versions of the same shapes. Australian maker Bliss Bean Bags, for example, lists circular and low loungers, a classic teardrop, a gamer chair, a kids' chair, recliners, sofas, ottomans and footstools. Outdoor bean bags use water-resistant fabric and are covered separately below.

Fillings: EPS beads

Most bean bags are filled with expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads. They are very light and mould closely to the body. Bliss Bean Bags says EPS holds its shape for about five years before it needs replacing, and that it is noisy when you move. Loose beads are also the main safety hazard for small children, because they can be inhaled or swallowed (see the safety section below). Beads are usually sold separately from the cover because of their bulk.

Fillings: shredded foam and recycled fill

Shredded or crushed foam is the main alternative to beads. Bliss Bean Bags describes foam as quiet and moisture resistant, says it can last 10 years or more with regular fluffing rather than refilling, but notes it does not mould to the body the way EPS does. Some foam fill is recycled: a 120 litre shredded foam filling listed on the Bunnings website is described as recycled from furniture manufacturing offcuts, and can be mixed with polystyrene beads to reduce squeaking. The same listing notes that new foam can smell from off-gassing for a while, and that vacuum-packed foam cannot be returned once opened. Koskela recommends a plant-based bead for its covers, so bio-based fills are also available.

Covers: removable, washable and lined

Many bean bags are sold as a cover only, with the filling bought separately. Look for an inner liner that holds the filling, so the outer cover can be taken off for cleaning without spilling beads: Koskela's cover, for example, comes with a removable liner. Do not assume a cover is machine-washable; several listings checked describe fabric only as "easy to clean" and give no washing instructions, so check the care label. Fabrics range from polyester and vinyl to linen, cotton canvas and faux fur.

Outdoor and water-resistant bean bags

Outdoor bean bags use tougher, coated fabrics. Bliss Bean Bags describes its fabric as 650GSM commercial marine-grade; a cover listed on Kmart's site uses water-resistant 600D polyester; a gaming cover listed on Bunnings uses 420D Oxford fabric described as waterproof. "Water-resistant" is not the same as "leave it out in the rain": Koskela describes its water-resistant canvas bag as suitable for covered outdoor spaces. Check whether the fabric is described as UV-resistant if it will sit in sun, and store bags under cover when not in use. Pool or aqua bean bags exist too, and are covered by the mandatory standard.

Sizing and how much filling

Bean bag size is usually given as dimensions plus the volume of filling needed, in litres. Examples from listings checked: a gaming bean bag about 63 x 90 x 90 cm needs about 270 litres; a medium child's gaming chair about 85 cm high needs about 200 litres, plus another 50 litres for a firmer seat; a Koskela cover needs 250 litres of beads. Measure the space it will sit in, allow room for the bag to spread when someone sits in it, and check the litre figure before buying filling.

Refilling and topping up

EPS beads compress over time and the bag goes flat, so it will need topping up or a full refill every few years; foam mainly needs fluffing. Refill outdoors or in a garage, slowly, with children and pets out of the room, as beads spill easily and cling to surfaces. Product Safety Australia advises keeping beans, bag covers and bean bag refills out of reach of children. Lock the zip again as soon as you finish.

Safety: the mandatory standard

Bean bags sold in Australia must meet the Consumer Goods (Bean Bags) Safety Standard 2014. According to Product Safety Australia, it covers bean bags, bean bag covers and packaging containing bean bag filling, and similar items with an opening to the filling, such as chairs, cushions, futon mattresses, pet beds and aqua bean bags. Every opening that gives access to the filling must have a child-resistant fastener, usually a zip with its tag removed that locks in place, and the bag must not come with a tag, handle or other object that helps open it. Bean bags with openings, covers, linings and refill packs must carry the warning: "WARNING: Children can suffocate if bean bag filling is swallowed or inhaled", along with a warning that a bean bag is not a safe sleeping surface for an infant under 12 months of age.

Children and bean bags

Product Safety Australia warns that children, particularly those under 3, can choke by inhaling polystyrene beads, that a child who crawls inside a cover can suffocate, and that bean bags are not safe for babies to sleep on. It warns that children are at risk of serious injury or death if they use a damaged bean bag. When buying, it advises checking for the mandatory warning label, a zip that locks in place with no tab or handle a child could use, and sturdy seams that are hard to tear. Labelling failures do lead to recalls: IKEA recalled several beanbags in 2016 and 2017 because their labels did not comply with the standard. Report an unsafe or non-compliant bean bag to the ACCC.

Directory

Australian retailers and makers whose own website was checked and found to list bean bags or bean bag filling, and the national product-safety regulator.

What is listed. Only retailers whose own website could be fetched and checked are included. Some listings on large retail sites are sold by marketplace sellers rather than the retailer itself; this is noted where the site shows it. The list is not complete and is in no particular order.

Not an endorsement. Listing is not a recommendation. This page is not affiliated with any retailer, brand or regulator below, and does not compare prices.

Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement. Links are to official websites as published at the time of checking.

Questions to ask before buying a bean bag chair

Plain questions worth answering before you buy, whether in store or online.

Does the zip lock, with no tag or pull a child could use?

The mandatory standard requires a child-resistant fastener on every opening to the filling.

Does it carry the mandatory suffocation warning?

The warning should be on the bag, the cover, the lining and any refill pack. Its absence is a red flag.

Is filling included, and how many litres does it need?

Many bean bags are sold as a cover only. Check the litre figure before buying beads or foam.

Beads, foam or a mix?

EPS beads mould closely but flatten and need refilling; foam is quieter and lasts longer but is firmer.

Is there an inner liner, and can the cover be washed?

A liner lets you remove the cover without spilling filling. Check the care label rather than assuming it is machine-washable.

Who is the seller, and is it rated for outdoor use?

On large retail sites many bean bags are sold by marketplace sellers. Water-resistant fabric may still be for covered areas only.

About this page

bagchair.com.au is a free, non-commercial reference page published by Radiant Life Distributors Pty Ltd, Adelaide. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any retailer, brand or regulator listed, and listing is not an endorsement. Information was checked against official websites in October 2026; products, sellers and recalls change, so confirm current details with the organisations linked above.