Big Joe offers fun, vibrant, and highly affordable casual seating designed for kids' rooms, dorms, and budget-conscious shoppers, with prices rarely exceeding $200. In contrast, Lovesac is a premium brand focused on high-quality, long-lasting modular furniture like Sactionals and Sacs, which use superior materials and come with a much higher price tag, starting around $600.
Let's find out which of these popular soft seating brands is the right fit for your home and budget.
Big Joe: The Affordable Casual Seating Choice
Big Joe is a go-to brand for anyone looking for comfortable, easy, and inexpensive soft seating solutions. Known for its classic bean bags and loungers, Big Joe creates fun and functional furniture well-suited for informal spaces like playrooms, game rooms, dorms, and family living areas. Their products prioritize accessibility and comfort over high-end design, making them a popular choice for families and students.
- Product mix: A wide array of bean bags, floor loungers, floating pool chairs, and pet beds in various shapes and sizes.
- Style/vibe: Playful, casual, and approachable. Designs often feature bright, bold colors and simple shapes perfect for a relaxed atmosphere.
- Price point: Extremely budget-friendly. Most products fall within the $50–$200 range, making them accessible for almost any budget.
- Quality: Filled with shredded foam or traditional lightweight beans (polystyrene beads). Covers are typically made from durable, often stain-resistant fabrics suitable for casual use, but the filling may compress over time with heavy use.
- Fit & Sizing: Products are available in multiple sizes, from small kids' chairs to larger loungers that can accommodate adults. They are lightweight and easy to move around any room.
- Shopping Experience: Widely available online through the Big Joe website, as well as major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
Big Joe is the undisputed choice for anyone who needs fun, practical, and low-cost seating without a long-term commitment.
Shop Big Joe: bigjoefurniture.com
Lovesac: The Premium Modular Furniture Brand
Lovesac positions itself as a luxury furniture brand that designs "furniture for life." The company is famous for its massive, comfortable Sacs (the original oversized bean bag) and its infinitely adaptable modular Sactionals. Lovesac focuses on premium materials, long-term durability, and sustainability, targeting homeowners who are willing to invest in high-quality pieces that can evolve with their needs.
- Product mix: Two main product lines: plush, foam-filled Sacs in six sizes and highly customizable, modular Sactionals that function as sofas, sectionals, and more.
- Style/vibe: Modern, sleek, and sophisticated. The aesthetic favors clean lines and premium fabrics, often in neutral and versatile color palettes that fit into contemporary home decor.
- Price point: Premium. Sacs begin around $600 and can cost over $1,200 depending on size and cover choice. Sactionals are a significant investment, often costing several thousand dollars.
- Quality: Sacs are filled with a proprietary blend of shredded Durafoam that doesn't compress or go flat like traditional beans. Sactionals are built with solid hardwood frames, and all products come with premium, machine-washable covers.
- Customization: Extensive customization is a key feature. Customers can choose from hundreds of fabric options for both Sacs and Sactionals, and Sactionals can be reconfigured into nearly endless setups.
- Sustainability: Strong emphasis on sustainable practices, using repurposed materials and designing products built to last a lifetime to reduce furniture waste. Their premium foam filling is CertiPUR-US certified.
- Shopping Experience: Sold directly to consumers through the Lovesac website and in physical showrooms, which offer a high-touch, personalized sales process.
Lovesac is for shoppers who want investment-grade comfort and quality with a modern design and a focus on sustainable, adaptable furniture.
Shop Lovesac: lovesac.com
Big Joe vs. Lovesac Comparison
Price Comparison
The price difference between Big Joe and Lovesac is the most significant factor for most shoppers. A classic Big Joe bean bag can be purchased for around $50 to $150. This price point makes it an impulse buy for a playroom or a practical choice for temporary seating.
In contrast, Lovesac Sacs are a considerable investment. Their smallest Sac starts at around $600, while "The Big One," which can seat multiple adults, is over $1,200. While the initial cost is high, Lovesac frames and inserts are warrantied for life, offering long-term value that Big Joe's products are not designed to match.
Quality & Materials
Big Joe bean bags are filled with small polystyrene beads or shredded foam, providing a classic, light bean bag feel. Their covers are typically made of durable nylon or polyester that is easy to spot-clean. Overall, the quality is good for the price and intended use, but the filling will eventually flatten, and the piece may appear a bit tired over time.
Lovesac uses a proprietary shredded Durafoam fill, which is a blend of recycled furniture-grade foam. It's much heavier, denser, and more supportive than traditional bean bag filling and is designed to maintain its loft and comfort for years. The covers are premium-grade fabrics - including velvets, suedes, and wovens - and are fully removable and machine washable, making them exceptionally durable and easy to care for.
Style & Aesthetic
Big Joe's aesthetic is all about fun and function. Their products come in a wide range of bright colors and playful designs that are perfect for adding a pop of personality to a casual space. The look is informal and cozy, not intended to be a central design piece in a sophisticated living room.
Lovesac adopts a more modern and minimalist style. Their available fabric choices, while extensive, often lean toward neutral tones and rich textures that seamlessly integrate into designer living spaces. A Lovesac Sac is designed to be a high-end statement piece of lounge furniture rather than just a simple bean bag.
Fit & Sizing
Big Joe offers a variety of sizes, with most of their bean bags being easily portable and ideal for smaller spaces or single-person use. Their lightweight nature means you can easily move them from room to room as needed.
Lovesac's Sacs are substantially larger and heavier, designed to be more stationary pieces of furniture. Options range from the GamerSac (3 feet wide) to The Big One (6 feet wide), which offers a massive lounging space for the whole family. Their scale makes them better suited for medium to large living rooms or media rooms.
Sustainability & Ethics
This is a clear win for Lovesac. The company was founded on the principle of sustainability, with a core mission to reduce the amount of furniture that ends up in landfills. Their lifetime warranty, washable and replaceable covers, and modular designs mean you can repair or adapt your furniture instead of replacing it. They also use recycled and responsibly sourced materials.
Big Joe does not make sustainability a central part of its brand identity. While functional and affordable, their products are more aligned with the budget furniture market's standard production and material practices.
Which One Should You Choose?
The best brand for you comes down to your primary needs: immediate affordability versus long-term investment.
Choose Big Joe if:
- Your budget is under $200.
- You're furnishing a child's bedroom, playroom, or a college dorm room.
- You need lightweight seating that is easy to move or store.
- You enjoy a fun, colorful, and highly casual aesthetic.
- The furniture is for occasional use or will likely be replaced in a few years.
Choose Lovesac if:
- You are looking for a permanent, primary piece of lounge furniture.
- Quality, durability, and long-term comfort are your top priorities.
- You prefer high-end materials and have a modern, minimalist home decor style.
- You value sustainability and are willing to invest in products designed to last a lifetime.
- You need an exceptionally comfortable and supportive seat for a media room or main living space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Big Joe or Lovesac cheaper?
Big Joe is dramatically cheaper than Lovesac. Most Big Joe products cost between $50 and $200, whereas the least expensive Lovesac Sac is around $600. The two brands operate in entirely different price brackets.
Which has better quality furniture?
Lovesac has objectively higher quality furniture. It uses premium, high-density Durafoam, durable hardwood frames for Sactionals, and superior, machine-washable fabrics. It backs its products with a lifetime warranty, reflecting its commitment to long-lasting construction.
Is a Lovesac worth the money?
For many owners, a Lovesac is worth the high price tag due to its exceptional comfort, durability, and sustainable design. If you're looking for an investment piece that will last for more than a decade and can be updated with new covers, it offers excellent long-term value.
What is inside a Big Joe bean bag?
Most Big Joe bean bags are filled with either expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, which are small, lightweight virgin pellets, or their patented shredded foam blend. This makes them lightweight and easy to conform to your body.
Which is better for families with kids?
This depends on the use case. A Big Joe is a great, low-stress option for a playroom where spills and rough use are expected - it's inexpensive to replace. Lovesac is better for a primary family living room thanks to its durable, fully machine-washable covers that can handle stains and maintain a high-end look.
Can you wash Big Joe and Lovesac covers?
Yes, but Lovesac is far superior in this regard. All Lovesac Sac and Sactional covers are designed to be removed and machine washed. Most Big Joe products feature removable covers that can be washed, but some are spot-clean only, so it's important to check the specific product details.
How long does a Lovesac last?
Lovesac furniture is designed to last a lifetime. The hard pieces on Sactionals and the inserts for Sacs are guaranteed for life against manufacturing defects, making them one of the most durable furniture options on the market.
Where can you buy a Big Joe?
Big Joe products are easily accessible and are sold on their official website, Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair, and other major online retailers.
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