Description
Poly Beads for Bean Bag Refilling
These poly beads for beanbags provide a lightweight, free-moving loose filling for topping up tired beanbags or filling suitable new beanbag interiors.
Supplied as 10 cubic feet of loose filling, the beads are designed to create volume without the weight and dense feel of feather, fibre or shredded foam.
Poly beads move easily inside the casing as the user sits, allowing the beanbag to mould around the body and retain the relaxed feel associated with traditional loose-filled casual seating.
Product Specification
- Pack volume: 10 cubic feet
- Filling type: Loose poly beads
- Feel: Lightweight and free-moving
- Primary application: Bean bag filling and refilling
- Suitable for: Beanbags and compatible casual loose-filled seating
- Category: Loose filling
What Are Poly Beads Used For?
Poly beads are primarily used as bean bag filling beads where lightweight volume and easy movement are required.
Typical uses include:
- Refilling existing beanbags
- Topping up partially compressed beanbags
- Filling suitable new beanbag covers
- Casual floor seating
- Loose-filled seating projects
- Lightweight soft-furnishing applications designed for bead filling
Unlike conventional cushion fillings, poly beads are not intended to create a soft plumped feather-style cushion or the more supportive feel of foam.
Their main advantage is lightweight volume and movement.
Why Do Beanbags Need Refilling?
Bean bag filling gradually settles and compresses through normal use.
Over time, a beanbag may begin to:
- Sit lower to the floor
- Feel flatter
- Provide less body support
- Lose its original shape
- Need more frequent repositioning
Adding fresh bean bag refill beads can restore some of the lost volume without replacing the complete filling.
The amount required depends on the size of the beanbag, how much existing filling remains and how full you want the finished seat to feel.
Lightweight Bean Bag Filling
One of the main advantages of poly beads is their low weight.
A large beanbag requires considerable filling volume, so a lightweight material helps keep the finished item easier to move around the room.
The individual beads can also move freely within the casing, allowing the seat to change shape as the user sits or adjusts position.
This makes lightweight bean bag filling particularly well suited to informal floor seating and other casual seating styles.
Poly Beads for New Beanbag Projects
Poly beads can also be used when making a new beanbag, provided the cover or inner casing has been designed for loose bead filling.
The inner must be securely stitched and capable of containing the small loose filling particles.
Where a refill opening is incorporated, it should close securely so beads cannot escape during normal use.
For suitable workroom components, browse Upholstery Zips, Zip Chain & Sliders and Sewing Threads & Bobbins.
How Full Should a Beanbag Be?
There is no single correct filling level for every beanbag.
The amount of poly bead filling required depends on:
- Beanbag dimensions
- Beanbag shape
- Existing quantity of filling
- Desired firmness
- How deeply the seat should mould around the user
A more generously filled beanbag generally sits higher and feels firmer.
Using less filling gives a softer, more relaxed shape with greater movement.
When topping up an existing beanbag, add the beads gradually rather than filling it completely in one go. This makes it easier to judge the final feel before closing the cover.
Poly Beads vs Foam Crumb
Poly beads and Foam Crumb / Shredded Foam can both be used as loose fillings, but they produce very different results.
Choose poly beads when you want:
- Very lightweight filling
- Easy movement
- Traditional beanbag behaviour
- High filling volume without excessive weight
- A relaxed casual seat
Choose foam crumb when you want:
- More resilience
- Greater body
- More supportive loose filling
- A heavier, more substantial feel
- Foam-based cushioning
Foam crumb is generally the more supportive option, while poly beads are better where lightweight movement is the priority.
Poly Beads vs Carded Fibre
Carded Fibre provides a much softer and more cushioned feel than poly beads.
Choose poly beads primarily for beanbags and free-moving casual seating.
Choose carded fibre for:
- Back cushions
- Scatter cushions
- Soft furnishings
- Plump cushion interiors
- Feather-free soft filling
The two materials should not be treated as direct substitutes simply because both are loose fillings.
Poly Beads vs Feather Filling
Natural feather behaves very differently from poly bead filling.
White Duck Feather provides natural weight, softness and mouldability and is commonly used for sofa backs, scatter cushions and traditionally filled soft furnishings.
Poly beads are much lighter and are primarily intended for beanbags and similar casual seating.
For an even softer natural filling, Livedale also supplies 85% Feather / 15% Down Cushion Filling.
Poly Beads vs Other Loose Fillings
The Livedale Loose Cushion Filling range includes several materials, each designed to create a different finished feel.
As a simple guide:
Poly beads – lightweight volume and free movement for beanbags
Foam crumb – firmer, resilient loose support
Carded fibre – soft, lightweight cushion filling
Duck feather – natural weight and traditional mouldability
Feather/down mix – softer, loftier premium natural filling
Choosing by application rather than simply price will give a much better finished result.
How to Refill a Beanbag
Loose poly beads are extremely light and can move easily while being poured, so take a little care when refilling.
For best results:
- Check the beanbag and inner casing for damaged seams first
- Repair any weak stitching before opening the refill point
- Refill in a controlled indoor area away from draughts
- Use two people for larger bags where practical
- Add filling gradually
- Test the beanbag before adding more
- Secure the zip or refill opening fully when finished
Keep loose beads contained during the process and do not leave the filling accessible to children or pets.
Making or Repairing a Beanbag Inner
A sound inner casing is particularly important with small loose fillings.
If you are repairing or manufacturing a beanbag, the fabric, seams, thread and closure all need to be suitable for retaining the filling.
Livedale supplies Upholstery Zips, Zip Chain & Sliders for creating or replacing suitable refill openings and Sewing Threads & Bobbins for workroom sewing and upholstery applications.
You can also browse Calico, Interliner & Cambric when sourcing lining materials, although the fabric selected for a bead-filled inner should always be suitable for securely containing the filling.
Poly Beads for Upholsterers and Soft-Furnishing Workrooms
The 10 cubic foot pack is suitable for professional upholsterers, soft-furnishing makers, furniture repairers and domestic customers topping up beanbags at home.
Because poly beads are a specialist lightweight filling, this product should be chosen where beanbag filling and easy movement are the priority rather than conventional cushion softness or structured support.
Browse Loose Cushion Filling for alternative filling materials.
For the wider selection of upholstery filling products, visit Fillings.
For help choosing the correct loose filling for your project, contact Livedale.
