Bean bags have gone through a series of cultural changes over their history.
Once associated with ‘70s stoner parties, they’re often featured in luxurious outdoor seating areas in today’s market.
There’s no question that bean bags are more expensive than they used to be.
Here are 10 reasons bean bag chairs are so expensive.
Why Are Bean Bag Chairs So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)
1. Leather Cover
There are several different types of materials that makers of bean bag chairs use for their covers.
One of the most expensive covers is leather.
Like any other kind of furniture, if it includes leather, then it’s going to be expensive.
That’s because leather is luxurious.
It’s difficult to process correctly and difficult to manufacture.
Genuine leather comes from animals.
Since leather isn’t mass-produced, it costs more to obtain and use in one’s manufacturing process.
That’s the case with bean bag chairs.
Manufacturers need to import high-quality leather and in a large abundance.
Then they carefully stitch the leather together to form the chair.
Once the chair has its filler, they sew the rest of the leather together.
Leather has a reputation for being durable, comfortable, and for retaining its color and temperature.
Those who use leather bean bags will find that it’s heat-resistant or doesn’t trap heat as easily as other materials.
This is important because it ensures that you don’t become sweaty while using the bean bag chair.
However, besides the cost of a leather bean bag, you also need to maintain it.
That adds more costs down the road.
Leather needs regular maintenance to keep its shape.
Without this maintenance, the leather can crack and start to tear.
While buying the right oil to maintain the leather doesn’t seem expensive at first, those costs add up over the bean bag’s lifetime.
The advantage of using leather bean bags is that it’s durable.
You won’t have to worry about the bean bag tearing because the leather is dense.
The denser a material is, the harder it is for it to tear.
Since it’s durable, you’ll need to buy fewer bean bags of its kind over time.
Manufacturers need to ensure that they’re receiving enough of a profit from a one-time purchase.
As a result, the price of leather bean bags is high.
2. Silk Covers
The second most expensive bean bag is one made of silk.
Like leather, silk is another type of material that’s expensive to produce.
Depending on the type of silk that is used for the bag, it can take some time for the silk to be ready.
Those who use mulberry silk, for example, feed mulberry leaves to silkworms.
They need to wait for the silkworms to produce the silk.
Then, once they have enough, they can finally start the production of the silk bean bag.
Silk is a luxury material because it has several benefits.
The first is its overall silky and sleek nature.
It feels wonderful against the skin.
It also maintains a cool temperature which makes it comfortable to sit in it for long hours.
The overall appearance of silk is another great benefit.
People who see your silk bean bags know that they’re expensive.
That can make them enjoyable to show off.
The problem with silk is that it’s difficult to maintain.
If you spill a drink on a silk bean bag, then you’re going to need to wash it by hand with gentle soap.
Even then, the stain may persist.
It’s also possible for silk to tear if you drag it against a rough surface.
You can’t use silk outside either as it can become ruined.
If you want luxurious bean bags, then silk covers are the way to go.
You’ll need to pay the extra price for them.
3. Nylon Covers
Nylon is another type of cover that can increase the price of a bean bag.
That’s because nylon is ideal for the outdoors.
It has a waterproof nature which can protect the bean bag from rain, spills, and other liquids.
Because it can repel water, nylon is a coveted material for homeowners who want to use their bean bags outside.
The problem is that they’re more expensive.
That’s because manufacturers know how difficult it is to manufacture bean bags that are waterproof.
Since there are only a few on the market, and the demand is high, they increase the price.
Nylon is also produced in a factory.
Since it’s artificially made, it costs more to make.
The factory workers need payment, the machines need maintenance and all the other processes involved with its manufacture cost money.
The price of the bean bag chair increases as a result.
Nylon can also last a long time, but it isn’t as durable as leather.
However, it’s an ideal material if you want to use your bean bag outside or if you’re worried about spilling drinks on the seat.
4. Inner Covers
Not all bean bags have inner covers.
Those that do are more expensive.
That’s because inner covers are another material that needs processing and manufacturing.
Before the beads fill the interior of the cover, the inner cover is inserted first.
This is an extra step that costs the sellers time and money.
As a result, the bean bag is more expensive.
Inner covers do offer some benefits.
They add an extra layer of protection for the beads inside of the bag.
Some inner covers are waterproof and can prevent moisture from reaching the beads.
This can help prevent the beads from deteriorating or becoming damaged from exposure to water.
Others add an extra layer of comfort.
It can add some padding to the bean bag which can make using it more enjoyable.
If you want this added layer of protection and comfort, then you’re going to find that it costs you more.
5. Virgin Polystyrene Filler
The filler used to give bean bags their comfort can also influence the price of bean bag chairs.
One of the most expensive types of filler is virgin polystyrene filler.
This type of filler is artificially made.
As a result, it’s costly to make.
The advantage of this type of filler is that it lasts a lot longer than natural beads.
They’re durable and resist compression for a long time.
That’s ideal for those who want to get the most out of their bean bag chairs.
Since it doesn’t compress as easily, it helps the bag maintain its shape and comfort.
You’ll have to replace it far less often than you would if it contained natural beads.
The cost of manufacturing virgin polystyrene beads adds to the price of the bean bag.
The more labor and materials used in a bean bag, the pricier it becomes.
Since virgin polystyrene beads last longer, you’ll also need to buy fewer bean bags over your lifetime.
Sellers increase the price as a result of fewer purchases.
6. Waterproof Filler
Another type of filler that can be expensive is waterproof filler.
This type of filler uses materials that prevent the absorption of water.
This is a useful type of filler to have if you’re using the bean bag chair outside.
If the filler isn’t waterproof and does become wet, then it may ruin the beads.
They might deteriorate, become moldy, or face other problems that make using the bean bag impossible.
If the filler is waterproof, then it will keep its shape and comfort level even when exposed to water.
The cost of making waterproof filler is also high.
It’s artificially made which means it requires more work, more processing, and more quality assurance checks to ensure it’s working properly.
Those costs add up.
This makes waterproof filler one of the more expensive types of filler for a bean bag chair.
That makes the bean bag chair more expensive as a whole.
7. Heat-Resistant Filler
If you want maximum comfort, then you may want to splurge and buy a bean bag chair with heat-resistant filler.
Instead of natural beads, some bean bag chairs use a heat-resistant filler to keep the bag from becoming hot.
Because a bean bag conforms around your body, it also traps your heat.
You warm up as a result and may even start to sweat.
Sitting in a chair that makes you sweaty isn’t ideal.
That’s where the heat-resistant filler can help.
It’s a type of filler that doesn’t absorb heat.
It keeps the outside material cool.
Since heat-resistant beads are specifically made in a factory, the cost of these types of bean bags is high.
It takes a few resources to make something heat-resistant that isn’t resistant already.
It also requires further quality control tests to ensure it works properly.
Since the cost of manufacturing heat-resistant beads is high, then the cost of the bean bag also has to be high.
It needs to cover the cost of making the product as well as generate enough profit to make its manufacture worth it.
If staying cool is important to you, then you may want to consider paying the extra price for a bean bag with heat-resistant beads.
8. Memory Foam Filler
The last type of filler that can make a bean bag expensive is memory foam.
This is the ultimate choice in comfort.
Memory foam conforms to your shape and “remembers” it.
It makes the bean bag take your specific shape to allow it to support your body.
It supports where you need support and cushions where you need a cushion.
The problem with memory foam is that it’s expensive to make.
It’s a dense material which means they need a lot of it to make it that dense.
Fitting memory foam inside of a bean bag chair also isn’t easy.
It requires a lot of patience and special tools.
Many consider memory foam bean bags to be top tier in the world of bean bags.
They’re extremely comfortable and are more akin to standard couches than actual bean bags.
There are a few problems with memory foam fillers, however.
They can become damaged if they’re exposed to water.
That makes them not ideal for outdoor use unless you plan on bringing the bean bag chairs inside after using them.
However, it has several more perks.
Because it’s dense, it’s able to maintain its shape for an extended time.
You’ll be able to get several years out of it before it starts to lose its padding.
This durability also adds to the price.
You’ll need fewer bean bags with memory foam filler over the years, so the manufacturers need to get their money’s worth with a single purchase.
The result is a high price.
9. Larger Sizes
Bean bags come in all sizes.
Some are small and meant for single users.
Others are extremely large and designed to fit the entire family.
The larger a bean bag chair is, the more expensive it’s going to become.
That’s because larger products require more materials.
A large bean bag is going to need more leather to cover its surface.
It’s going to need more filler to create the cushion.
It’s also going to need more time to process and manufacture.
Since it is larger, it’s also going to be heavier.
That can affect shipping weight and costs.
The heavier something is, the more costly it is to ship.
All these factors influence the price of the bean bag.
If you plan on buying a bean bag that’s the size of a regular couch, then you should expect to pay a high price.
10. Custom Shapes
The most expensive bean bag chairs are those that are custom-made.
These bean bags come with directions from the buyer and their designer.
It covers the length and width of the bean bag chair along with its general shape.
Many designers will also include a drawing of the shape that the buyer wants.
Then they’ll order it in the type of material that they want.
Many buyers who are ordering a custom bean bag chair typically want the best material possible.
In that case, they’ll choose leather.
Then they’ll use top-of-the-line filler to ensure it’s comfortable and lasts a long time.
They’ll submit their order to a bean bag chair manufacturer.
A custom-made bean bag chair is more expensive than a mass-produced one because it requires more consideration and care.
It can’t simply go through the assembly line because the line is set up for a specific process.
This is outside of that process.
The manufacturer has to set aside workers who can work solely on the project.
That can impact the efficiency of the rest of their line.
They’ll consider this when quoting their final price for the piece.
Since custom bean bag chairs are harder to make and take longer, the price is higher.
That goes double for large custom-made bean bag chairs.
The more materials it needs, the higher its price.
How To Save Money On Bean Bag Chairs
Buying bean bag chairs doesn’t have to be expensive.
Here are a few tips you can use to buy cheaper bean bags.
1. Choose Cotton Or Rayon
Instead of going with leather or faux leather, you should consider bean bags with cotton or rayon covers.
These covers are cheaper to produce.
They’re also less durable because they’re thinner and less dense.
Since they’re less dense, they’re easier to rip and tear.
Rayon, in particular, is easy to tear.
That said, they’re cheap to buy, so you can go through a few of them and still save a good amount of money.
2. No Inner Cover
If you want to save money on your bean bag chair, then choose one that doesn’t have an inner cover.
As long as you take care of your bean bag, an inner cover shouldn’t be necessary.
Leaving the inner cover out of the equation can save you a good amount of money overall.
3. Natural Beads
When it comes to filler, the best way to save money is to use natural beads.
These beads won’t do anything special, but they will give you support for some time.
The problem with natural beads is that they compress and become compost over time.
You’ll want to prepare to buy new ones in a few years after extended use.
Conclusion
Bean bag chairs are expensive because the materials that they’re made of are expensive.
Leather and silk are the most expensive materials.
Other special features like waterproof beads or heat-resistant beads can also increase the price.
Follow the tips above to save money when you buy your next bean bag chair.
NEXT: Why Are Knives So Expensive? (10 Reasons)