While winter camping can be a fun outdoor adventure, it can also be difficult to stay warm. Don’t let the cold temperature hold you back from enjoying some fresh air, and instead implement all the different ways you can stay warm in a tent. During our research on the different methods of heating a tent, we found lots of questions about alternatives for propane tent heaters. We’ve already discussed solar heaters for camping (..do they even exist?), so let’s cover what it means to have a battery powered heater for camping.
To break down battery powered heater, you need a battery and a portable heater. For the battery, we highly recommend getting a high quality portable power bank like the BioLite below. It’s super highly rated, has a long warranty period, and provides plenty of power for all your electronics at camp. Pair that battery with a small electric heater, and you’ll have the perfect combination for a battery powered space heater for camping.
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Amazon’s Favorite
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Long Battery Life
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- Long warranty period
- Highly rated
- Options for higher watts
- Great brand with amazing customer service
- Slightly more expensive option in exchange for fast recharging
- Long warranty period
- Highly rated
- Options for higher watts
- Great brand with amazing customer service
- Slightly more expensive option in exchange for fast recharging
- Charges from 0% to 80% in one hour
- Large output lets it simultaneously power up to 13 devices
- Has 6 AC outlets
- Shorter warranty period (24 months)
Watts vs. Heaters
In order to understand a portable battery operated heater, we need to look at how watts work. Simply put, a watt is a unit of power and is the common standard analysis of power consumption in the USA. One watt is a small amount of power, but put them together and they can power more. For example, a standard wall outlet is 1800 watts and you can plug in multiple things or even a power strip.
When talking about a space heater, most of them use upwards of 1,500W, which is a significant amount when a lot of portable power stations have a similar amount. If a power station was rated 1500W, that’s how much power it can provide on one charge. So a 1500W power bank could provide enough power for 1 hour of use of a 1500W space heater. That’s not that much when it comes to camping in the cold. That being said, there’s smaller electric heaters that would be perfect for tent camping, and their smaller wattage requirements means a portable battery could run them for several hours at a time.
All that being said, if you are running a small electric space heater on a battery we’d recommend at least a 1000W power station coupled with a heater around 100W to make sure that you can run your heater all night. If you’d like to have a bigger heater or run it multiple nights without recharging, you might go with a 1500 or 2000W power station.
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Editor’s Picks for Best Battery Powered Heater for Camping
If you want to use a portable power station with an electric heater to create battery operated heaters, we’ve put together our favorite suggestions for power stations that would work perfectly for the situation. Simply pair your battery of choice with a small electric space heater and you have a battery powered space heater. Our top pick for a space heater is this one, or you can check out more options on our post best electric tent heaters.
BioLite is a great brand when it comes to off-grid gear. Their designs are easy to use, very intuitive, and high quality, so you know you can rely on the product you buy. We’ve selected their BaseCharge 600 as our Editor’s Choice because of its quality and affordable price.
- Long warranty period
- Highly rated
- Options for higher watts
- Great brand with amazing customer service
- Slightly more expensive option in exchange for fast recharging
Specifications
- Capacity: 622 Wh
- Cell Chemistry: Lithium-ion battery
- Recharge Time: 3.5-7+ hours depending on source
- Weight: 13 lbs.
For charging times, a wall outlet charges up to 80% in 7 hours, use the USB-C PD to charge to 80% in 5 hours, or combine the two for 80% power in only 3.5 hours. The portable battery has two AC adapters, three USB-C, one USB-C PD (fast charger), and 12V (for cars), and a wireless charging pad on top of the battery.
The unit uses BioLite’s 12 Checkpoint Safety System, which constantly monitors the system so you can share power to your devices safely. This process includes core checks and in the event the unit experiences an error, it will notify you on the screen and may cut off power to keep all the devices safe.
Keep in mind that this unit is only 600 watts, which is great for casual campers with a few devices. If you are looking to power a portable heater or several devices that require more than a 600W output, you may need more watts. We would recommend sizing up to the 1500W power station if that’s the case.
This battery from Jackery comes with everything you need to power your electric tent heater. It’s small, light, durable, and portable, making it great for camping. It recharges in less than two hours in a wall outlet but provides hours of use and recharging for smaller devices like a car fridge, TV, coffee maker, phone, and your battery-powered heater
- Long warranty period
- Highly rated
- Options for higher watts
- Great brand with amazing customer service
- Slightly more expensive option in exchange for fast recharging
Specifications
- Capacity: 1002 Wh
- Cell Chemistry: Lithium-ion battery
- Recharge Time: 1.8 hours
- Weight: 25.4 lbs.
With this portable battery, you can run a small electric space heater for several hours, plus you can use it to recharge and run other electronics at your campsite. As a bonus, this unit comes with a 3 year warranty and has some of the best reviews of any portable battery on the market. When you buy direct from Jackery, you also get a free warranty extension of 2 years (for a total of 5 years).
If you want to take the plunge into clean energy and add on solar panels, you have the option on this Explorer 1000 and it will recharge no matter where you are. If you decide you want more watts, Jackery also offers this unit in 1500 and 2000 options, which would greatly increase the amount of runtime for an electric space heater.
EcoFlow is another high-quality brand when it comes to portable power stations and their DELTA would be a great option to pair with an electric tent heater. It has a 1250 Wh capacity, which is slightly higher than the Jackery above, but it does have a significantly shorter warranty period. That being said, one of the coolest features of this battery is that it can charge from 0% to 80% in only an hour, and can take on a full charge in only 1.6 hours. That’s a great recharge time, making it a good option for campers who aren’t spending a lot of time near an outlet.
- Charges from 0% to 80% in one hour
- Large output lets it simultaneously power up to 13 devices
- Has 6 AC outlets
- Shorter warranty period (24 months)
Specifications
- Capacity: 1250 Wh
- Cell Chemistry: Lithium-ion battery
- Recharge Time: 1.6 hours
- Weight: 30 lbs. 14oz.
- Highlight: Super quick recharge time
Just like any of the other portable batteries on this list, the DELTA is ready for a wide variety of electronics, including space heaters, and can power them for hours on end depending on their required wattage. It would be a great addition to your camping gear!
This Grecell 1000W power station is a similar wattage to the options above but is a more affordable price. The trade-off is that it charges much more slowly and it has only two AC outlets. However, one of the coolest parts of this battery is the wireless charging pad on the top surface, which allows you to wirelessly charge your smart phone and any other wireless-compatible devices.
- Wireless charging pad on top
- Most affordable option on this list
- Can power up to 10 devices at once
- Slow recharge time
Specifications
- Capacity: 999 Wh
- Cell Chemistry: Lithium-ion battery
- Recharge Time: 7-8 hours
- Highlight: Affordable and has a wireless charging pad on the top surface
It would be a great option for someone who wants to try having a power station while camping but doesn’t want to the oversized price tag.
Is an Electric Heater Safe for a Tent?
Of all the heater options for tent camping, the safest option is an electric heater because it does not produce any flame or carbon monoxide. That being said, you still should never sleep with a space heater on or leave it unattended. Instead, run it before bed, then turn it off when you go to bed. While it’s running, you can give it some ventilation by opening an upper flap or cracking a mesh window.
Because an electric heater isn’t necessarily the most efficient way to heat a tent, you could also consider using a propane heater. These will provide more warmth, and several are labeled safe for indoor use. Even if you are skeptical about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, you could opt to only run it while awake in a well ventilated space while using a carbon monoxide detector to decrease your changes of having any issues.
Related Post: Can You Safely Put a Mr. Buddy Heater in a Tent?
Best Battery Operated Heater Alternatives
If you want to go a different route, there are some options for a battery powered heater alternative. Overall, the safest method is using an electric heater with the portable battery from above, but there’s other options that are safe and effective as well.
As already mentioned above, one of the best alternatives for battery operated heaters is a propane tent heater. While they do run some additional risk, you can follow certain steps to minimize the chances of anything happening while still enjoying their hot air. There are also a few other options to consider for alternatives:
- Other Heating Methods: you could heat your tent with a candle, or use one of the other top portable heaters for a tent.
- Insulate your Tent: we’ve put together a 7-step guide on how to properly insulate your tent for cold weather camping. Most of the options are lightweight and all of them are quite affordable, while a couple just require some good ol’ hard work (like insulating the ground under your tent with natural materials). Do them all to maximize insulation or only do a few to still make large improvements.
- Winter sleep system: purchase and carry sleeping bags that are comfort rated for at least 10°F below the expected temperatures, and pair them with a sleeping bag liner that insulate the bag even more. Pair this with a high R-value sleeping pad or cot, and you’ll be golden!
- Warm Clothes: pack heavy and warm clothes such as jackets, head covers/beanies, gloves, winter boots, and heavy winter pants like ski pants or waterproof fleece lined hiking pants. You should always bring along or wear thermals under these layers, as a simple extra layer of clothing can make a huge difference.
- Heated Gear: you can combine your warm clothes with the top pieces of heated camping gear, which includes clothing, heated camping chairs, and even a heated blanket.
- Hot Water Bottle: a classic trick and personal favorite is the hot water bottle in your sleeping bag. Simply use a heavy duty plastic water bottle like a Nalgene, boil water right before bed, and store it in the bottle. Then, put the water bottle in or around your sleeping bag while you are getting ready for bed, then cuddle it for warmth while you fall asleep.
Related Post: How to Keep Your Water Bottle From Freezing
- Hand and Foot Warmers: hand and foot warmers are relatively inexpensive packets that are perfect for your pockets, gloves, and shoes to keep your digits warmer. Though less commonly found in stores, there are companies that make larger heat packs that are meant for your back and larger body parts. You should have these on hand anyways (especially in case of emergency), and you should use them when you feel the need. You can also stick a foot warmer to the back of your phone to help keep the battery warmer so it doesn’t die as quickly.
Have you ever forgotten something
when you were camping?
NEVER again with our
Camping Essentials Cheat Sheet
FAQ
Is there such thing as a battery operated heater?
A battery operated heater does exist if you use a portable battery with a small electric heater, and they can work perfectly together to heat a smaller tent.
Is there a heater that runs on batteries?
In order to make a heater that runs on batteries, you have to pair a low watt electric heater (e.g., 200W or less) with a high quality portable power station that’s at least 1000W or more. This combination will let the heater run for several hours and the battery can also recharge your small electronic devices.
Can a portable battery power a heater?
A portable battery can power a heater quite easily if you have the right combination. You’ll need a low watt electric heater (200W or less) and pair it with a high watt power station that’s at least 1000W or more. Then, you could run the heater for several hours at a time on a single charge.
Conclusion
Using one of the battery powered heaters can provide warmth for a small tent for hours on end, plus it’s safer than other heater options. There’s no flame and no by-products (like carbon monoxide) to worry about, so you can heat your space worry free. Simply combine one of your favorite low watt space heaters with a portable power station and you can raise the temperature of your tent significantly.
Our #1 Recommendation: BioLite BaseCharge 600
BioLite is easily the top brand for portable power stations and batteries, so we love their BaseCharge series. It has a good recharge time, high quality materials, and a great brand with a one year warranty. Combine it with a standard electric space heater to make one of the best battery powered heaters you could have.
Ashley is an adventurous soul who loves all things nature, especially warm sunshine, wildflowers, scenic snacking, and mushrooms. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast who has spent years enjoying time outside doing things like hiking, camping, and rock climbing.
Her goal with Know Nothing Nomads is to make these hobbies easily accessible through knowledgeable content and how-to’s based on all the stuff she’s learned on her journey. If she isn’t writing an article, she’s probably in a forest looking at big mountain views and tiny pieces of moss on the side of the trail.
My goal with my writing and Know Nothing Nomads as a whole is to share my passions of hiking, camping, and a love of the outdoors with our readers. Making the difficult and uncertain feel more approachable to people that might not know enough to feel comfortable taking their first steps into the wilderness is a driving factor for me. When I’m not writing you can find me on a trail, in a forest, or next to a river with hiking shoes on my feet and a fly rod somewhere close by.