Best Outdoor Bean Bags – The Buying Guide


Outdoor bean bags are exactly what they sound like: bean bag chairs designed for outsize and rough usage, but they’re a lot more than that. For instance, they’re a great way to personalize your deck or backyard. They’re also the ideal comfort chair on a camping trip. Essentially, you can get as creative as you want with outdoor bean bags because of their versatility and color options; they’re also super portable, so they’re easy to travel with.

Best Outdoor Bean Bags

Benefits of Outdoor Bean Bags

Bean bag chairs made exclusively for indoors aren’t weatherproof. If you were to leave them outside, they’d mold and rot due to rain and snow; the sun and heat would end up ruining the fabric as well. In other words, using indoor bean bags outside is not only a mess, it’s a health hazard.

Bean bags designed for outside use should be weatherproofed just like any outdoor furniture, so they can be left in the rain without having to worry about mold and other gross things happening to your awesome new furniture. And because the fabric is designed to stand up to sunlight, it won’t fade over time, so your chairs remain as vibrant as ever.

Another practical benefit for bean bags placed on outdoor, is the fact that they’re great to take on a camping trip. Think about it. Sitting on the ground on a blanket is hard on your back ( yeah! You know the feeling 😉 ) and a lot of the camping chairs out there aren’t much better. Bean bags, however, are one of the most comfort seating options in the world, so why wouldn’t you want one you could take camping with you? They also have lounging versions of outdoor bean bags as well, so you could even sleep on one for when sleeping bags just won’t do.

On the less practical side of things, bean bags designed for outdoor make a great statement for your backyard. Lawn chairs aren’t that comfortable and everyone has them. Bean bags, however, are young and fun and—most especially—comfortable. Kids and adults will love sitting in them and because of all of the color and pattern options available, you can really customize your outdoor furniture look and make it your own in a modern, hip way. The lounge versions look especially at-home and inviting by the pool.

One of the things I love doing with my outdoor bean bag is taking it on the road. We have a huge family extended family and seating is always a problem when we travel to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving. I take one for me, my husband and our kid and we don’t have to worry about eating Thanksgiving dinner on the floor in a sea of legs. Essentially, as long as you can fit it in your car, you can take it anywhere, and there are a lot of compact options when it comes to bean bags for outside.

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What to consider when Buying

The main thing to look for when shopping for a outdoor furniture is that it is truly made for the rough use. It should be made out of weatherproof materials like PU-coated nylon or polyester or canvas so that it can withstand being exposed to the elements without molding or fading.

Some brands may also have different grades of quality. Whether you go for any “deluxe” options will depend on your budget and needs. But as long as you choose a comfortable, weatherproof model your minimum needs will always be met.

Consider whether you want a traditionally-shaped outdoor bean bag like the indoor versions you’ve seen around for decades, or if you want specialty varieties like lounges or pillow style or ottoman style. You can always mix it up with a variety of outdoor bean bag chairs shapes to get a cool, Bohemian-modern look. In fact, from a design perspective, mixing up colors and shapes is considered ideal, because sameness is often dull.


Want to read our article on How to Choose a Bean Bag Chair?


Tips to choose the Best Outdoor Bean Bags

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the best outdoor bean bags for your needs:

  • The most important tip is to always make sure the outdoor bean bags you choose have the level of weatherproofing you need, because it can vary depending on material and quality.
  • Consider why you’re buying the chair: Is it just to have a comfortable outdoor seat or are you redesigning your outdoor furniture look? If you’re redoing your garden seating area, plan ahead so you can get the best results.
  • Keep the varying outdoor bean bag shapes and styles in mind. The classic bean bag shape everyone knows and loves still exists, but there are also options ranging from armchair-style bean bags to ottomans and poufs to lounges of varying designs. Which style(s) you choose is mainly determined by your needs; if you’re redoing your garden seating area, mixing and matching different styles might be a good design choice.

Spoiler Alert: BeanBagsExpert review on our most recommended Outdoor Bean Bag here.


Time for a Change

You cannot enjoy anymore in a wooden chair while watching your favorite game. It is time for a change and you have to start with your environment. The best outdoor bean bags are 100% waterproofed high-quality furniture. And it will give you a special feeling out in the open. Of course, you could leave your bean bag outside even if it’s raining or snowing. So your garden will look different with these kinds of chairs.

What better way to finish a workday than to lower yourself down into a soft puffy thing that specifically adjusts to your body?

Sarah Williams

I’m Sarah Williams. A true fan of Bean Bag Chairs. The story of Bean Bags Expert goes to beginning of 2016. At the mid of 2016, I have planned the web site and bought this domain. Slowly this grew up like a little kid.

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