# Bean Bag Filling Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/everyday-life/bean-bag-filling/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The bean bag filling calculator works out how many litres (and bags) of polystyrene beads you need to fill a cube, cylinder or round bean bag, and their weight.

## Inputs

- Bean bag shape
- Length (or diameter) (m, ft, cm, in)
- Width (m, ft, cm, in)
- Height (m, ft, cm, in)
- Fill level (%)
- Bag of beads

## Results

- Bean bag volume
- Beads needed
- Weight of beads
- Bags to buy

## Formula

```
Volume: cube L × W × H; cylinder π/4 × D² × H; sphere π/6 × D³
Beads = volume × fill level
Weight ≈ beads × 20 kg/m³ (EPS beads)
```

## Explanation

Bean bags are filled with expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, which are very light – around 15–25 kg per cubic metre – and sold by volume, usually in 100 or 300 litre bags. Fill to about 70–80% so the bag shapes around you; beads compress over time, so top up every year or two.

### How to use the Bean Bag Filling Calculator

- **Bean bag shape**
- **Length (or diameter)**
- **Width**
- **Height**
- **Fill level**
- **Bag of beads**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Choose the shape, enter its dimensions, the fill level and the size of the bags you will buy.

### Tips

- Use the figures from your own bills and product labels – prices and appliance ratings vary widely.
- Look at yearly totals: small daily costs add up and make it easier to compare options.
- Round quantities up to whole packs, rolls or bulbs when you shop.
- Re-check the numbers when prices change; most results scale directly with the unit price.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Confusing watts (power) with watt-hours or kilowatt-hours (energy).
- Comparing prices without bringing them to the same unit first.
- Ignoring one-off costs such as installation, delivery or replacement parts.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterBean bag shapeChoose one: Cube / box, Cylinder, Round / sphereLength (or diameter)Units: m, ft, cm, inWidthUnits: m, ft, cm, inHeightUnits: m, ft, cm, inFill levelIn %Bag of beadsChoose one: 100 L, 150 L, 300 L, 5 ft³

### What each result means

- **Beads needed** = [Bean bag volume]×[Fill level]÷100
- **Weight of beads** = [Beads needed]×20
- **Bags to buy** = ceil([Beads needed]÷[Bag of beads] - 0.000001)

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Length** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Length (or diameter) (m)Beads needed (L)0.41790.62690.835814481.25381.6717

## Worked example

Inputs — Bean bag shape: Cube / box; Length (or diameter): 0.8 m; Width: 0.8 m; Height: 0.7 m; Fill level: 80 %; Bag of beads: 100 L.

Results — Bean bag volume = 448 L; **Beads needed = 358 L**; Weight of beads = 7.17 kg; Bags to buy = 4.

## FAQ

**How many beads for a bean bag?**
A typical adult bean bag holds 300–400 L of beads; a child's about 150–200 L.

**How full should a bean bag be?**
About 70–80% so it moulds to your body.

**Can I use other fillings?**
Shredded foam is heavier but doesn't flatten as quickly; recycled beads are an eco-friendlier option.

**What formula does the Bean Bag Filling Calculator use?**
Volume: cube L × W × H; cylinder π/4 × D² × H; sphere π/6 × D³.