4 Simple Steps On How to Fill Our Bean Bags

GETTING STARTED | Supplies Needed

• Bean bag filler (THREE 100L bags of regular polystyrene beans ) – a few options:  Big Joe -or-Posh Creations, local stores like Target or Walmart or upcycle from an old/used bean bag. We do not recommend memory foam products. 
• Bean bag inner cover: Your package from us will contain two covers: a thick durable handwoven outer cotton cover (outer cover), and a tough inner waterproof cover (inner cover). The INNER COVER is where the filler goes.
• Shake out the inner cover toensure it's not stuck together with static. Waving it through the air a couple of times helps.
• Large DIY cardboard cone.
• Vacuum cleaner (optional) You may want to fill your bean bag in a small, uncarpeted area (or even a bathtub) so if any spillage happens it is contained and easy to clean. Switch off any fans or air-conditioners to prevent beans from flying away!
• Download our printable How-To Guide if needed.

Step 1 | Make Large Cardboard Cone
Roll a sheet of firm paper or cardboard into a cone (about 3-4” in diameter at its narrower end) to act as a funnel to pour beans into the inner cover.

Step 2 | Locate Zipper + Insert Cone Into Cover.
Next locate the zipper in the INNER cover and unzip.
Insert the narrow end of the cone into the inner cover as far as it would go. Hold the cone vertically.

Step 3 | Pour Bean Bag Filler
Now gently pour the beans into the inner cover using the funnel.
Slow and steady is the key here - be watchful during this stage and the beans will move fast. 

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE!
We recommend you get a friend to help you. It works best if one person holds the bean bag and cone steadily in place, while the other pours the filler.

It helps if the person pouring the beans is positioned at a slightly higher elevation such as on a sturdy chair or stool. The person holding the inner cover and the cone should be at the ground level. This will make the process easier.

When you have used about 2 1/2 bags of the filling – STOP – remove the funnel and close the zipper. Try the beanbag out to see if it’s full enough and comfortable to sit in. 

Repeat the process until your bean bag is filled to your satisfaction. 

Note:  If an over-stuffed bean bag feels too stiff the beans will compact over time with use.

Step 4 | Finishing Up
Insert the outer cover over the filled inner cover. Make sure the zipper-side of the inner cover is facing up.
Zip up the outer cover and shake the beanbag a few times to ensure that the beans fill out fully. 

YOU DID IT! You are done – Time to enjoy your new bean bag!

Additional Helpful Information

Video | How To Fill A Bean Bag
The following is a home video of how to fill a bean bag chair. 

Filler Options | What Type of Bean Bag Filler Should I Use?
There are a couple of options - some of our customers use the regular polystyrene beans, others prefer more environmentally sustainable materials. 

Polystyrene beans ("regular beans") are the most widely used as well as the most inexpensive type of bean bag filler available in the market. It is also the most widely available option in the market.   

More environmentally sustainable options can be found in plant materials such as buckwheat hulls, Cedar shavings and dried corn, rice or peas.

Filler | How Much Filler Do I Need?
Your bean bag is at its ideal comfort level when filled to 250-275 L or about 9 cu. ft. If you are using polystyrene beans, we recommend getting three (3) 100L bags. You will use about two and a half bags to fill the bean bag, leaving about half unused.

All bean bag stuffing compresses over time with use, so you may want to keep the remainder of your filling to rejuvenate your bean bag when it comes time for a little pick me up.

Filler | How to Tell if the Bean Bag is Properly Filled

Underfilled

• Floppy with inadequate back support. 
• You would easily sink in andthere is not enough support in the sitting area.
• Most of the beans are concentrated at the base of the bean bag.

Overfilled

• The bean bag looks bloated and there's not enough room for the sitting area.
• The sitting area is too rigid and hard and not comfortable to sit in.

Perfect

• The right amount of filling to make for a perfectly shaped and comfortable sitting area.
• When you sit in it, your back and neck support feels comfortable.

Cleaning | How To Keep Your Bean Bag Clean
GREAT NEWS – IT’S EASY! Our dual-cover setup means that the inner cover holds all the bean bag filling. This enables you to easily keep the bean bag clean. All you have to do is take the outer cover off and pop it in the washing machine!

Bean Bag Cover | How To Use Different Color Combinations
Our bean bag covers come in two main colors/patterns and they can be configured 2 ways.

• The most common configuration is to set the solid color as the base with the patterned fabric for the sitting surface.
• You can also flip the bag 90 degrees so that the zipper on the outer cover is parallel to the floor; this makes both colors and patterns be visible on the sitting surface, with each color occupying one half of the surface.
  

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Bean Bag Filler

If you are interested in using natural and sustainable filler, there are several options to choose from: 

1. Organic Materials: Buckwheat hulls, millet hulls, cedar shavings and dried edible beans are all-natural options that could be used. These fillers offer a unique feel, with buckwheat hulls in particular providing a slightly firmer and more responsive experience that is comparable to polystyrene beads.
2. Recycled Materials: Recycled polystyrene beads offer a second life to plastic waste. While not a perfect solution, recycled polystyrene reduces reliance on virgin plastic and keeps waste out of landfills. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are both good sources to find recycled polystyrene beads, often for free.  
3. Biopolymer: Made from plant-based materials biopolymers offer a surprisingly similar experience to polystyrene beads. Biofoam is entirely organic and compostable, breaking down into organic materials at the end of its lifespan.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Bean Bag Filler: Some Things to Consider

1. Organic and biodegradable natural fillers are often significantly heavier so they may not be a good option if you prefer to move your bean bag regularly from place to place in your house.
2. Natural filler material tend to break down faster, requiring more frequent refilling.
3. Depending on the environment (dampness and humidity in particular), natural materials could attract insects and bugs.
4. While biopolymer is a great alternative to regular polystyrene, they are still not as easily available in the United States as regular polystyrene beads, and tend to be currently significantly more expensive than synthetic alternatives.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Bean Bag Filler: Where to Source From

As we mentioned above, natural materials are a bit harder to find reliably and at scale than regular polystyrene. But there are several viable sources that you could explore:

1. Recycled polystyrene beads: on online marketplaces such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace people often give their used beads for free. In addition Ebay and Etsy provide several affordable options.
2. Buckwheat hulls and cedar shavings: your local tractor supply store, wood mill, craigslist, Etsy and Facebook Marketplace are good sources to consider. There's a growing number of online vendors who ship Buckwheat hulls nationwide, including Fedco Seeds, Bean Products, Hullow Pillow and Herbco.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Bean Bag Filler: How Much to Use

Unlike industrially produced polystyrene filler, it's harder to provide a standardized measurement of how much filler to use for our bean bags since there is often a significant variation in size and weight of the material.

These materials are sold by weight; our bean bags require 250 liters or 9 cubic feet in volume. To ensure you obtain the necessary amount of material for filling, we recommend contacting the supplier directly to inquire about the weight equivalent for achieving a 9 cubic foot volume.

Still Have Questions Or Need Help? 
Contact Us – We want to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your bean bag purchase! We are available Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm PST. 
Download our How-To Guide on filling your bean bag chair.