Light weighted stuffed animal or 2 kg: what's the difference?

If you compare weighted plush toys, you'll soon notice two kinds: light weighted stuffed animals of roughly half a kilo to a full kilo, and heavier ones of around 2 kg. In a photo they often look alike. In your arms they feel very different.

In this article we put a light weighted stuffed animal and a 2 kg weighted stuffed animal side by side. You'll read how the difference feels, how to spot it in a product description, when a light plush toy is actually more practical and when 2 kg is the better fit. That way you don't choose by the photo, but by what you really want to feel.

Why are so many weighted stuffed animals light?

Once you start looking, you'll find that most weighted plush toys weigh between 0.4 and 1 kg. There are a few logical reasons for that. A light plush toy is cheaper to make and to ship. It's often designed as a toy for children, in a small size that fits in a backpack. And it's often filled with plastic pellets, which are lighter than glass.

That doesn't make a light plush toy bad. It's simply a different kind of plush toy. What matters is that you know what you're buying. A 600-gram plush toy and a 2 kg plush toy are both called a weighted stuffed animal, but they do something different in your arms.

How does a light weighted stuffed animal feel?

A light weighted stuffed animal feels like a plush toy that's just a little fuller and firmer than an ordinary one. You notice there's something inside, especially when you lift it. On your lap or in your arms the pressure is subtle. For some people that's exactly right, for example a young child who mainly wants a soft companion.

If you're hoping for the feeling of a firm hug, a light plush toy often feels a bit on the thin side. The weight is there, but it doesn't really settle against you.

How does a 2 kg weighted stuffed animal feel?

You feel a 2 kg weighted stuffed animal right away. Lay it on your lap and it stays calmly in place. Take it in your arms and it settles against your chest or tummy. Many people describe it as a warm, firm hug: the plush toy simply lies there, with its weight resting against you.

2 kg is about as heavy as two bags of sugar. Yet it doesn't feel like a burden, as long as the weight is spread across the whole body and the plush toy is big enough. You can easily lift it, move it and put it down yourself. Want to know how 1, 2, 3 and 5 kg compare? Then read how heavy a weighted stuffed animal should be.

A 600-gram plush toy and a 2 kg plush toy are both called a weighted stuffed animal, but they do something different in your arms.

Light weighted stuffed animal or 2 kg: the differences at a glance

• Feel. Light feels like a fuller plush toy, 2 kg like a calm, firm hug.
• Size. Light plush toys are often small, around 25 to 35 cm. A 2 kg plush toy needs more size to keep feeling soft.
• Filling. Light plush toys are often filled with plastic pellets. Heavier ones more often use fine glass beads, because glass gives more weight in less space.
• Use. Light is easy to take along. You'll mostly use 2 kg at home: on the sofa, in bed or at the table.
• Care. Some light plush toys have a removable weight pouch and can go in the washing machine. Heavier plush toys with beads throughout the body are usually cleaned by hand.
• Price. Light plush toys are usually cheaper. More weight means more filling, sturdier seams and more fabric.

Read more about the filling in what's inside a weighted stuffed animal, and more about prices in what a weighted stuffed animal costs.

Why size matters just as much as weight

Weight only tells you something in combination with size. Put 2 kg into a 25 cm plush toy and you get a small, hard plush toy that presses on one spot. Spread the same weight over a plush toy of about 45 cm and it feels soft and even. The other way round, a large plush toy of 500 grams can feel mostly airy.

So always look at both numbers together. And pay attention to how the weight is distributed: throughout the whole body, or only in a pouch in the tummy? An even distribution means the plush toy settles against you as one whole.

How to spot the difference in a product description

A photo won't show you how heavy a plush toy is. So read carefully what it says:

1. Is the weight clearly stated? If it's missing, the plush toy is often light.
2. Is it the total weight or just the filling? Sometimes only the weight of the pouch is listed.
3. Pounds or kilos? Some brands list the weight in pounds (lb). 1 lb is about 450 grams, so 2 lb is less than 1 kg.
4. How big is it? Check whether the size was measured lying down or sitting up. That can easily make a few centimetres of difference.
5. What is it filled with? And is the weight spread across the whole body?
6. Can you send it back? With a plush toy you want to feel, trying it at home is the fairest answer.

When is a light weighted stuffed animal the better fit?

• You're mainly looking for a soft companion, with a little extra weight.
• You want to take it along often, for example in a bag or when travelling.
• It's for a young child who still finds a heavy plush toy hard to lift.
• You want a plush toy that can go in the washing machine.

When is a 2 kg weighted stuffed animal the better fit?

• You want to really feel the weight and the gentle pressure, on your lap or in your arms.
• It's for an adult, a teenager or an older child.
• You'll mostly use it at home: on the sofa, while reading or in bed.
• You want a plush toy that stays where you put it.

For children: choose a weight your child can lift and put down on their own. A weighted plush toy is suitable from age 3, with an adult nearby. Read more in a weighted stuffed animal for your child. For adults, 2 kg is often a comfortable balance. See also a weighted stuffed animal for adults.

Don't choose by the photo, but by what you really want to feel.

Don't choose by the photo, but by what you really want to feel. A plush toy you reach for every day is worth more than one that mostly looks nice on a shelf.

Why Hugsback chose 2 kg

At Hugsback we deliberately chose one weight: 2 kg. Heavy enough to clearly feel the gentle pressure, light enough to pick up yourself. The weight comes from fine glass beads, spread throughout the whole body, so the plush toy settles against you as one whole. At about 45 cm it's big enough to let that weight feel soft. A Hugsback is suitable from age 3 and for adults.

To be honest: a Hugsback has no removable cover and can't go in the washing machine. You clean it with a slightly damp cloth. Read how to clean a weighted stuffed animal. Curious how 2 kg feels? The Hugsback Horse is a good place to start, and with 30 days of free returns you can try it at home at your own pace.

Frequently asked questions

What is a light weighted stuffed animal?

A weighted plush toy of about 0.4 to 1 kg. It feels fuller and firmer than an ordinary plush toy, but the pressure is subtle.

Isn't a 2 kg weighted stuffed animal too heavy?

For most children from age 3 and for adults, no, as long as the weight is well distributed and the plush toy is big enough. You do need to be able to lift it and put it down yourself.

Which is better: a light weighted stuffed animal or 2 kg?

That depends on what you're looking for. If you mainly want a soft companion to take everywhere, light is the right fit. If you want to really feel the weight, 2 kg suits you better.

How much is 2 lb in kilos?

About 0.9 kg. A plush toy of 4.5 lb weighs about 2 kg.

Can a 2 kg weighted stuffed animal go in the washing machine?

That varies per plush toy. A Hugsback can't: you clean it with a slightly damp cloth.

In conclusion

A light weighted stuffed animal and a 2 kg plush toy look alike, but they feel different. Light is handy and soft, 2 kg gives a firm, calm hug. Look at the weight, the size, the filling and whether you can try it at home. Browse our 2 kg weighted stuffed animals.