In a hurry? Our top pick for the best 12-person tent is the CORE 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent. Not only is it an extremely affordable price, but it’s remarkably spacious, super quick to setup, and it’s extremely highly rated by all users.

We understand that this may not be everyone’s top pick, which is why we’ve assembled a list below of all the other great options when it comes to 12-person camping tents.

A twelve person tent is one of the largest camping tents on the market – they have lots of headroom, they’re quite spacious, and are big enough to fit up to four queen size air mattresses. Despite their size, they’re still easy to setup with only two people, and they would be a great option for group and family camping trips.

These large 12 person tents would be good for sleeping upwards of 8-12 people, but they would also be great for glamping. We’ve seen lots of people who use them with air mattresses, a couch, tables/chairs, and even with kids who bring along toys, cribs, and more. Whether you’re on a group camping trip or glamping with the family, these large tents will have everything you need to get outside.

• CORE 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent – Know Nothing Nomads Favorite
• Eureka! Copper Canyon 12 Person Tent
• Coleman Skylodge 12 Person Tent
• Bushnell Shield Series 12 Person Tent
• Coleman Skydome XL 12 Person Tent
• White Duck Outdoors Alpha Canvas Tent 14′ x 16′

This CORE Instant Cabin Tent is one of the most highly rated tents on Amazon – and for a good reason. It’s remarkably spacious, comfortable, super quick to setup, and has three separate rooms, all for an extremely affordable price.

This tent is an absolute standout in its category for a multitude of reasons, not least of which is its impressive space. With the ability to comfortably sleep up to 12 people or fit three queen air mattresses, it offers ample space without the hefty weight and price tag often associated with other larger tents. The 80-inch center height further enhances the overall spaciousness, ensuring that even the tallest of campers can stand upright without issue.

One of the distinguishing features of this CORE tent is its instantaneous setup. In under two minutes, we had the tent pitched and ready – a game-changer after a long day of outdoor adventure.

It also boasts an advanced venting system which draws in cool air from the ground while allowing hot air to escape, maintaining an ideal temperature inside the tent. Even on hot days, we were able to keep the inside of the tent cool with this ventilation and all the mesh windows.

Additionally, the tent comes with room dividers, creating a sense of privacy in what would otherwise be a shared space. Moreover, the durable water-resistant fabrics, active bead technology and the fully-taped rainfly (which can be removed in hotter weather) further add to the resilience and versatility of this tent.

Our chief complaint about this tent is that it’s considered water resistant, not waterproof. If you normally camp in ideal conditions, then this isn’t an issue. But if you are exposed to rain and wind, you may need to apply your own waterproofing in order to keep the tent’s insides dry.

The CORE 12-Person Instant Tent delivers the right balance of comfort, price, functionality, and durability. If you’re planning a trip that involves large groups or families, this tent should be at the top of your list. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just starting out, this tent will revolutionize the way you experience the great outdoors.

The Copper Canyon LX 12 Person is a cabin style tent with near vertical walls and a 7 foot peak height; combine this with the big windows and you have an airy and spacious tent that also made our best tents for tall people list.

There’s lots of standing room – with a peak height of seven feet even your tallest friends and family members can stand up straight throughout the entire tent. This is one of the tallest max heights on this list!

You can make this big interior space into two separate rooms using the included detachable room divider. This is great for families who want to separate kids and adults or even groups of friends who want some privacy while sleeping. There’s even a door for each side of the tent, so you don’t need to go around the divider to get in and out.

To make this tent more affordable, Eureka! does use fiberglass tent poles, but only on the upper poles across the mesh roof. The upright poles that provide all the support are made of steel, making this tent more sturdy and durable than one that uses all fiberglass poles. This was really an ingenious design feature on Eureka’s part.

Some other features include a zippered power port for cord access, plenty of stash pockets and a gear loft, and a simple and quick setup that only requires two people. Plus, it all comes with a lifetime warranty!

Even though this tent is quite large, it still meets the minimum requirements for weather resistance. It has a 1200mm waterhead rating and thick materials that make it waterproof and ready for all kinds of weather.

The only downside we could find with this tent is that the windows don’t use traditional zippers. Instead, they use hook and loop closures. This helps keep the price down and eliminates an obnoxious amount of zippers (because there’s so much mesh!), but it does take longer to open and close the windows.

About the Brand

Eureka! has been making tents for over 120 years, and their quality and craftsmanship shows in their car camping tents. They’ve been able to nicely balance price with features, so you are getting a fun 12 person camping tent that will take you on many adventures to come.

Coleman is easily one of the top brands when it comes to affordable tents, and their Skylodge 12 perfectly balances price with cool features. Our favorite feature is the extended screen room, which measures 5 x 10 feet. This extra space is weatherproof and has a floor, so it’s perfect for a storage space or even hanging out during a rainy day.

As for other weather-proofing, it uses Coleman’s normal WeatherTec system that keeps water out by using inverted and taped seams, welded corners, and a tub-like floor. The rain fly covers the uppermost part of the tent and mesh ceiling, while the lower windows zipper open for ventilation or closed for weather protection and privacy. This Skylodge has been tested in winds up to 35 mph, so it will be able to handle most weather conditions you encounter on warm weather camping trips.

Even not including the extended screen room, this tent measures 15.5′ x 11′, which is large enough for four queen air mattresses. It’s even more roomy because of the 7 ft. interior height and oversized front door that allows for easy access. Coleman calls this tent a ‘portable mansion’ that’s perfect for taking large group and family camping trips to the next level (and we completely agree), and it even has a room divider to separate the interior space into two rooms.

Despite its size, it’s still easy to setup in just a few minutes when two people work together. Overall, it’s a really good tent that comes with all the essentials you would need for a fun time outdoors. The main downside of this tent is the low waterhead rating on the floor, which is only 600mm. This means we would highly recommend purchasing either a matching footprint or a similarly sized tarp to better protect the floor.

Bushnell makes some really great outdoor gear, and our favorite part about their company is their lifetime warranty. There’s no hoops to jump through if you need their help because they don’t require a receipt and the warranty is fully transferrable.

Perhaps our favorite part of this tent is the instant setup, which takes less than 60 seconds even though this cabin style tent is a massive 11 x 18 feet. The pre-attached poles make it even easier, and that gives you more time to focus on the more important parts of camping and have more fun with less headache.

Besides the quick setup time, this tent also has some other cool features like heat shield technology that has an inner reflective coating on the tent material. It helps block the sun’s rays, which keeps the tent cooler and darker. The tent fabric is also weather-repellant with fully taped seams while the strong frame stands tough against the wind.

The main issue with this tent is that Bushnell doesn’t provide a waterhead rating. I did reach out via email asking about this, but they just responded with a third party number I would need to call. This tells me they aren’t proud of their water-proofing, so that’s the only feature of this tent we are skeptical about. That being said, we do really like the instant setup and large mesh windows, so this tent would still be a great option for anyone who doesn’t like camping in rainy conditions.

This tent also made our list for best tent with an AC port, so you could use a window air conditioning unit with it if desired.

Coleman has been around for a while, and their Skydome tent is one of the most popular tents on the market. The largest size is this 12-person, but it also comes in 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 person capacities. We like that this tent is great for beginner campers or budget-conscious adventures because it’s a simple tent with the basics features you need to get outside.

It’s a very generous size, and the dimensions allow for four queen size air mattresses. It uses Coleman’s traditional WeatherTec system to withstand winds up to 35 mph while keep out rain using welded corners and other design aspects. The main downside of this tent is that Coleman isn’t very transparent about their waterhead rating, so there’s no way to know how truly waterproof this tent is. That’s why it’s best for simple weekends away or casual campers who aren’t typically exposed to adverse weather conditions.

Otherwise, it has some great features like a quick and easy setup using color coded poles, a room divider to separate the interior space, a more full coverage rain fly than some of the other tents on this list, and vents at ground level to help circulate air more efficiently. The wide doors let you take gear in and out easily, especially if you camp with queen-sized air mattresses.

White Duck is one of our favorite tent brands, but their extensive line of canvas tents is a little outside-the-box from your normal family camping tent. Some people may call them a glamping tent, but these canvas tents are built to last a lifetime and withstand anything you may throw at it while camping. They are one of the best options for camping tents of all sizes, but their over-sized canvas tents are especially great for larger groups and families.

All the bells and whistles you normally see on a traditional camping tent aren’t as important in a canvas tent, as all the quality is put into the materials that are built to last. This will tent will withstand weather conditions much more effectively, and it also has the highest amount of headroom by a longshot (9’5″ peak height).

Their cotton canvas material is 10.10oz. cotton canvas that’s treated to be water repellant, as well as mold and UV resistant. Double-stitched seams and reinforced corners hold tight against the anodized aluminum poles that provide strength and stability. There’s bug mesh on the openings, plus both the doors and windows are storm proof with three-layer protection.

If you were ever interested in winter camping and learning how to hot tent, this would be a great option for something you could use for 4 season camping. It has a built-in stove jack, which is the fireproof hole in the ceiling for the chimney of a wood burning stove. For more information on hot tenting, read our full guide here.

If you consider yourself to be more of a three season camper, this tent would still be a great option. The windows allow for lots of air circulation, and the PVC floor is easy to clean. It can sleep up to 12 people in sleeping bags or 4-6 people on air mattress. You would be investing in a tent that you could use for many years to come.

Comparison Table

In order to help you visually compare each of the 12-person tents above, here’s a comprehensive table that compares each tent’s specifications

Thing to Consider When Choosing a 12 Person Tent

When shopping for the best 12 person tents for your next camping trip, you should take into consideration capacity, waterhead rating, pole materials, fabric, room count, and ease of setup.

Capacity

If you’re buying a tent based on capacity, you should typically size up by at least two campers. That means if you normally camp with ten people or less, these 12 person cabin-style tents would be a great option.

Even then, we don’t typically see ten people sleeping in an oversized tent like this, and we usually see more of a ‘glamping’ style setup. These large tents are spacious options for families who like having extra space for air beds, toys, and extra storage space. You could even have a table and chairs, and we’ve seen a couch before!

Essentially, these are some of the largest tents available on the market, so they are great for most applications, whether you’re trying to camp with lots of people or are looking for a luxurious setup.

The only exception we could think of is wind. If you are regularly exposed to high winds where a larger tent may not be as effective at staying upright, then you could consider sizing down to a 10-person or 8-person tent that may have a more contoured shape.

Waterhead Rating

Rain is usually part of camping, and it can show up even if it’s not in the forecast. We would prefer to always be prepared for moisture, which is why we recommend picking a tent with a waterhead rating that meets or exceeds 1200mm. While researching these tents, we found that a couple of them didn’t provide a waterhead rating, which makes us a bit suspicious. If they were proud of their rating, there wouldn’t be any reason to exclude it from the specifications. But the fact that they purposefully left it out tells us that they aren’t proud of it.

That’s why we would pick something like any White Duck tent, the Eureka! Copper Canyon, or the Coleman Skylodge over something that wasn’t transparent about the waterhead rating.

That being said, all the tents on this list have been thoroughly tested to withstand moisture, and they have features like taped seams that help keep rain out. They would still be great options for casual campers who aren’t typically camping in wind and rain.

Pole Materials

Tent poles are typically either aluminum or fiberglass, with fiberglass being the less preferred (but still viable) option. The main difference is that fiberglass poles aren’t as strong, and can easily splinter under stress and in colder temperatures. Aluminum poles offer more strength without sacrificing weight, but they do tend to be more expensive.

If you’re looking for just a casual family camping tent for fun weekends away, then you’ll probably be fine with fiberglass poles. If you plan on camping for week long trips in a variety of weather conditions, or if you want a tent that will last you a long time, then a product with more durable tent poles would be preferred.

Fabric

Tents should be built to withstand the rigors of camping, and therefore the fabric they’re made of should be strong and durable. Denier is a rating you’ll often see, and the higher the number the better.

For example, our Editor’s Choice CORE Instant Tent has 68-denier fabrics, and we wouldn’t recommend going any lower than this. Sixty-five and up is a great starting point for a fabric that’s going to last longer.

While a higher denier may seem like the more obvious option, the price difference between these two products is quite large, so it would also be based on what price range you’re in.

Room Dividers

As part of the specifications on each tent listed above, we’ve included the amount of rooms you could possibly have with that design. Most of these tents include removable room dividers, which provide some separation and personal space in the large interior space. They could also provide some privacy for changing and sleeping. These rooms are particularly great for families, where kids could find more adventure in having their ‘own room’ and the adults get a little privacy.

For example, the Editor’s Choice CORE Instant Tent has two room dividers, so the interior space can be separated into three separate rooms.

Ease of Setup

We’ve purposely only included tents that are easy to set up, and have even pointed out an awesome ‘instant tent’ that sets up in only 60 seconds. Instant tents are ideal for quick set ups with only one to two people. There’s also other options that only take a couple of minutes, but keep in mind that these numbers are with two people and not a lone camper.

The only tent on this list that would take longer to setup is the White Duck canvas tent, but that’s because the construction is stronger and there’s more pieces, so it just generally takes longer but isn’t necessarily complicated. This tent wouldn’t be ideal for moving around a lot or quick weekends away, but it would be perfect for week long trips where you need weather protection and durability on a longer camping trip.

Looking for the easiest tents to setup? Check out our Best Instant Tents for Quick & Easy Setup

How Many Square Feet Is A 12 Person Tent?

Usually, they range from 170 to 200 square feet. But this can be different, depending on the make and model. Some may have vestibules or screened areas. Others have a more compact design. Let’s check out the measured square footage of a 12 person tent.

Most 12-person tents fit with a range of about 170-200 square feet. This makes sense because the average calculation to determine the suggested capacity usually allots for about 15 square feet of space per person. 170/12=14.1 and 200/12=16.6. Those numbers fit nicely into that range.

That being said, that’s not much square feet per person, and that number is usually only used in backpacking. In order to sleep more comfortably, you should subtract at least two from the suggested capacity. That means a 12-person tent is ideal for up to 10 people who want more sleeping space.

Read more above about the capacity of a 12-person tent.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for an affordable tent for a quick weekend and occasional camping trip or a palace full of cool features, all the products on this best 12 person tent list would be great options. The tents we’ve selected range in price, features, materials, and quality, so it’s up to you to decide what would be the best selection for your typical camping conditions. Whether you go with our Editor’s Choice CORE 12 Person tent, or any of these other tents, we hope you have many great adventures in the future!