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Reading Time: 7 minutesLast Updated on July 7, 2025 by Paul Clayton
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How To Choose the Best Family of 4 Camping Tent
Choosing a camping tent for family or group use differs from selecting a tent for individual use, as there are additional factors to consider beyond size and capacity.
Key Takeaways:
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- Size Up for Comfort: Always choose a family tent with a capacity rating that is significantly larger than your actual group size (e.g., a 10-person tent for a family of 4). Manufacturer ratings are often cramped, leaving no room for gear or comfortable movement.
- Prioritize Floor Space: Determine the actual floor dimensions needed by calculating space for sleeping pads (average 20″x72″ per person) and adding extra gear and walking space.
- Opt for Cabin-Style/Vertical Walls: Tents with vertical or near-vertical walls (cabin style) maximize livable space and peak height, allowing adults to stand upright comfortably, which is crucial for family comfort and relaxation inside the tent.
- Consider Privacy Needs: For groups or families with children, tents offering room dividers provide essential privacy and separation within the shared space.
- Evaluate Single Large vs. Multiple Smaller Tents: While a single large tent can be convenient, consider that campsite tent pads often have size limitations. Multiple smaller tents can offer greater flexibility, a more straightforward setup on varied terrain, and enhanced privacy, making them a more practical choice in certain situations.
- Invest in Quality (but be realistic): Avoid extremely cheap tents, as they often lack durability, waterproofing, and adequate features. However, spending excessively for occasional use might not be necessary. Look for a “decent” quality tent that balances price and performance.
- Essential Tent Features: Look for tents with:
- Excellent Ventilation: Ample mesh panels provide ample airflow, especially beneficial for summer camping and managing condensation.
- Full-Coverage Rainfly: Made of weatherproof material to keep the interior dry during rain and help retain warmth.
- Vestibules and storage pockets are crucial for organizing gear, keeping the main tent area tidy, and protecting items from the elements.
- Footprint: An additional ground cover that protects the tent floor from abrasion and extends its lifespan.
- Reputable Brands for Value and Quality: Brands like Kelty are recognized for offering a good balance of quality and affordability. REI (e.g., Kingdom Line) provides spacious, well-designed options, while The North Face caters to the luxury segment.
In this guide, I’ll detail everything you need to know about picking the right camping tent for your family. I’ll even provide some personal recommendations based on experience.
Size Matters: The Bigger the Better
When selecting a camping tent for a family or group, I recommend opting for a larger tent than you initially think you need. One that’s big enough to spend your evenings after it gets dark or during the daytime when it might be showering. So, it’s better to be bigger than smaller.
Regarding capacity, understand that the size rating of tents is often misleading and somewhat inconsistent. The idea of tent sizing by manufacturers is they assume people are packed like sardines, and it only works if everybody squeezes and there’s no space left for extra gear.
But the reality is each camper will have clothes and personal items with them and want to get out of bed without stepping on the next person. Therefore, when selecting a group camping tent, look for one that accommodates approximately twice the number of campers you want to host. For example, a 4-person tent is designed to accommodate up to 4 people. On the other hand, a 6-person tent can comfortably accommodate three campers.
However, like shoes, every tent and every manufacturer’s sizing rating differ. I’ve had 4-person tents that wouldn’t accommodate more than two adults and a 2-person tent that would fit an adult, a kid, and a small dog sufficiently.
Based on experience, the correct way to determine the proper sizing of your tent is first to identify your sleeping arrangements (consider the sleeping pads/mats you’ll use). And based on that, figure out the footprint you need for your tent. In short, consider the floor dimensions and determine how spacious you need your tent to be.
*Tip: The average sleeping pad is 20”x72”. This is the space you need for every person in a tent.
Of course, you’ll also want to account for extra space for storage, but the sleeping pad dimensions should be the bare minimum.
Consider the Tent Design
The most comfortable tents for families or groups are those that allow the tallest members to stand upright. Understand that family tents are more than just sleeping spaces; they are also shelters for spending time with family and relatives. They’re designed for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.
Therefore, it makes more sense to choose family tents with vertical walls, as they’re roomier inside. Choose a wall tent.
Camping tents with walls are popular with groups or family campers because they have got a vertical rather than sloping wall. There’s more room for walking about compared to a tent with a similar footprint but with sloping walls.
The cabin-style family tent is an excellent design for a wall tent. Compared to other designs, such as dome tents, the former has steeper walls (near-vertical). It helps to maximize the overall peak height and livable space.
While the cabin tents are generally tougher to set up, require more poles, and have a complex design, they’re usually adopted for family use because of their spaciousness.
Consider Privacy
In group camping, not everyone is comfortable sharing their living space. A personal living space is also essential for couples with children around.
Therefore, when picking a camping tent for a family, consider those with a room divider to offer some potential separation. Many group tents will allow you to separate the tent into “rooms” if needed.
Get Multiple Tents
Sometimes, investing in multiple smaller tents makes more sense than a single, larger group camping tent.
I advocate for a larger tent that accommodates everyone and everything, but it should also be compact enough to fit within the available space of a typical campsite. Unless you’re boondocking, most campsites typically have a designated spot for setting up a tent. Most spots have tent pads, which are fairly level but won’t accommodate the massive tents.
Chances are, even if you’re not in a regulated campsite or won’t go anywhere for crazy camping, you should know there are restrictions out there. A larger tent means you’ll need to find an even larger flat location for setup.
Plus, if you care more about privacy and get a single tent with fake wall dividers, and crappy curtains, your kids may blindly run through.
So, you might as well consider getting multiple smaller tents for everyone. Having a separate space for everyone is nice and is more fun than bunking together.
Buy a Quality Tent
As with any other outdoor gear purchase, you don’t want to have buyer’s remorse because you spent too little on your family tent. I understand family tents can be a bit more expensive than regular tents, but one of my favorite sayings is, “I’m too poor to buy a cheap pair of shoes.”
See, I’m always willing to dig deeper into my pockets when selecting a family tent to ensure I’m happy. The problem with cheap group tents is that most are flimsy, lack waterproofing, and the available mesh is subpar. The floor tent on the cheap family tents is less than substantial, and the rainfly usually doesn’t have enough coverage.
Even then, I would caution against spending a lot of money on a family tent, especially if you plan to camp only a few times a year. Get a decent tent and a worthy tent.
Tent features
Tent features are another aspect you shouldn’t overlook when picking a family tent. Some crucial features are:
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Ventilation
The ideal family tent should have enough aeration, especially if you’re summer camping. It should have more mesh panels to allow the free flow of air, enhance cross-ventilation, and manage condensation.
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Rainfly
If you plan to camp in rainy conditions, consider investing in a tent with a rainfly to protect you from the elements. A rainfly is made of weatherproof material and covers the tent’s body to keep everything dry during rain. It also helps to maintain warmth.
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Vestibule and storage pockets
These are handy, especially when you’re camping with the family. They make the organization of your gear effortless and make your tent tidier and less messy.
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Footprint
A footprint extends the longevity of your tent. It keeps the bottom scratch-free and damage-free.
Best Brand for Family Camping Tents
There are hundreds of options available in the market for the best family camping tents. The key thing to keep in mind when picking a brand is considering its purpose, determining the price, and assessing the quality.
As I mentioned, I prefer to invest in quality camping gear over cheaper alternatives. Based on my experience, I’ve come to realize that Kelty offers the best of both worlds: high-quality family camping gear that doesn’t break the bank.
Of course, it’s not the “best” brand for family tents, especially if money is a non-issue, but for the price and quality, it competes favorably with the more premium and super-expensive tents. It also exceeds, by miles, what the cheap, flimsy tents can offer.
I also appreciate that the brand offers tents in various shapes and sizes, which will accommodate your needs while keeping you comfortable.
Another brand that gets it right in the world of company tents is REI. Their designs are quality, spacious, and reasonably priced. The REI Kingdom tent line, in particular, is a popular choice among campers seeking large-sized tents.
It’s a luxury item with a vertical wall and a tunnel-shaped design that offers spaciousness and fantastic livability. While it’s a bit on the higher side, it’s reliable, durable, and worth
If money isn’t an issue, and you prefer something luxurious, consider North Face. The North Face family models are high-end tents and great if you need to make a statement while having something you can use multiple times.
FAQs
Q: What makes a good family tent?
A: Size and capacity are crucial in a family tent. The right tent for your family should be spacious and livable. Additionally, it should be reliable, easy to use, user-friendly, and withstand everyday use and inclement weather.
Q: What factors should you consider when selecting a tent?
A: Your camping needs should be the deciding factor when selecting a family camping tent. Consider the number of people you’ll be camping with, the weather conditions, the location, and any other special needs.
Q: What size tent is best for a family of 4?
A: The general rule for picking a tent is to choose a tent that is rated twice the number of people you need to accommodate. Therefore, the right tent size for a family of 4 should be rated as an 8-person tent if you want to stay comfortably. Alternatively, consider the footprint and choose a tent that can accommodate at least four sleeping pads.
Q: What are the four types of tents?
A: There are various tent designs, but most can be categorized mainly into A-frame, Pyramid, hoop, and Dome tents.
Final Thoughts
That’s a wrap for today’s topic and everything you need to know about selecting the best family tent.
One note is whatever the size of the family tent is rated for, remember it’s for kids, midgets, or emergencies. Always double the capacity when selecting the right-sized tent for your family. Of course, going with the exact size is doable and will keep you dry, but you won’t enjoy the experience.
