Best 4 Person Tent for 2023

Thing to Consider When Choosing The Best 4 Person Tent

When trying to narrow down 4 person tents to the best choice for you, make sure you’re taking into consideration your typical camping trip and how it relates to the features below:

Capacity

All of these 4 person tents are rated to sleep four people, but that number is for campers who sleep in close quarters shoulder to shoulder. While it’s possible to sleep four people, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. There’s a lot that goes into calculating how much space you need in a tent, but as a general rule of thumb you should decrease the recommended capacity by at least two campers. This means that a four person tent would comfortably sleep two people or less, and we find this to be pretty accurate because it’s the best size for the two of us.

You could also look at the square feet of floor space in a tent, and use that to calculate a capacity. We’ve included the square feet measurement in the specifications in each tent above, and they range from about 57-64 square feet. This averages out to about 15-16 square feet per person, but we would recommend somewhere closer to 28-35 per person depending on your sleeping setup.

Max Height & Shape

Max height is the maximum height of the tent and it’s typically located in the center or apex of the tent. Because 4-person tents are typically smaller and shorter, there’s not usually much to talk about when it comes to head space. That being said, several of the tents on our list actually have a height that allows standing, especially the Caddis Rapid 4 that stands at 6 feet 8 inches. It’s a cabin tent, and that kind of shape typically allows for a taller max height, as well as more space overall because of the near vertical walls.

On the reverse side of a cabin tent is the dome style, like the Coleman Skydome (our Editor’s Choice), Eureka Space Camp, and several other tents above. They’re going to have more curved walls, which limits the amount of interior space. They’re also usually quite a bit shorter, so you’re more likely to have to stoop instead of stand upright.

If being able to stand in your tent is a big priority, then make sure you’re picking something at least an inch or two more than the tallest person in your party.

Weather Resistance

That being said, the max height involves more than just being able to stand up straight. You must also take into consideration that taller tents are harder to keep warm because warm air rises. If the tent is too tall, the warm air will rise and leave the cooler air on the bottom. This could be a benefit if you only camp in warm temperatures, but could be a major downfall if you enjoy winter, fall, and/or spring camping.

Taller options like the cabin tent above are also more likely to catch wind, whereas a smaller and dome-shaped tent would be contoured enough that most of the wind would fly over and around the tent body. In addition, shorter tents will usually have a more full coverage rainfly, which is essential if you are exposed to rain and wind. It will do a better job of keeping moisture out than a small rainfly paired with zippered windows.

If height isn’t a priority, or if you consistently camp in windy conditions, then perhaps consider purchasing a smaller, dome style tent that would be better equipped for adverse weather (like these tents for high winds).

Ventilation

Because the sun’s rays can go through the tent material but the resulting heat can’t escape, a warm sunny day will make your tent more of an oven than anything else. Ventilation allows the warm air to escape, keeping you more comfortable – this is especially important for getting your tent cool enough to sleep in at night. Ventilation is not as important for cold weather camping, and can actually hurt you by making your tent too cold. This is why a 4 season tent will have less ventilation and less mesh than a 3 season tent.

If you typically camp in spring, summer, and fall, you’ll want to make sure your tent has ventilation options like a mesh ceiling, mesh windows, mesh on the doors, and some even have vents in the rainfly.

Weather Protection

Some tent companies put a lot of effort into weatherproofing their tents, while others include it as an after thought. If you are someone who typically gets exposed to adverse conditions like wind and rain, you should put more emphasis on picking a tent that can withstand these conditions. This means a more robust rain fly and sturdier poles like aluminum instead of fiberglass. If you only camp on perfect sunny days, this will be less of a factor for you.

Ease of Setup

Some tents on this list take only a few minutes to set up, while others can take upwards of 10+ minutes depending on construction. Generally a quicker set up time is preferred, unless the tent takes longer to set up because of a desirable feature like being a larger, taller tent or having extra vestibules or multiple rooms.

Weight and Packed Size

Since people rarely carry 4 person tents for backpacking trips, the weight and packed size isn’t necessarily a factor. If you do see any ultralight backpacking tents for 4 people, you can pretty much guess that they will be quite expensive. The materials needed to make something so large so lightweight are high quality, so most backpacking tents will be smaller than a 4 person capacity to keep cost down. That being said, the MSR Trango above can be used as a backpacking tent, but it’s more intended for mountaineering expeditions where weight isn’t quite as much of a factor as it would be for a regular lightweight backpacking tent.

We have included the weight and packed size measurements for your reference, but we wouldn’t think of them a major consideration for many family car camping tents, especially since they’re all fairly similar and you don’t need to carry them long distances when you’re car camping.

Vestibules & Porches

Not all tents have a vestibule, which is a small area of space under the rain fly but outside the main tent, typically located outside a door. This area is mostly used for gear storage such as muddy shoes and backpacks, or anything else that doesn’t need to be in the main tent space. Some vestibules can be converted to awnings, as seen in the Slumberjack Daybreak and Snow Peak Alpha Breeze.

Another option is a screen porch, as seen in our Editor’s Choice Coleman tent. This allows for a bit more usable space since it’s bug free and large enough for a couple camping chairs. Think of it as a front porch versus a vestibule is more like shoe rack outside your door.

Price

The 4 person tents on this list were selected for their quality, and they’re all tents that we would personally consider buying. They have a decent waterhead rating, thick fabrics, cool features, and much more. If price is a main factor for your purchase decision, then we have some options for you. If price isn’t as much of a concern, then we have several tents that offer more features and durability in exchange for a little more money.

While there are some super cheap tents on the market, we would typically recommend avoiding them. There are options out there that balance affordability with quality, but purchasing something too cheap will just lead to broken poles, stuck zippers, torn fabric, and lots of frustration.

‘Cry Once’

We have a saying when it comes to camping gear, and that’s ‘cry once.’ If you’re shopping around for your next favorite piece of equipment, and you choose a cheap or low rated option, you’ll probably just end up circling around in the future to purchase the option you really wanted.

Skip the circle and just purchase a product that’s high quality – something that’s actually built to last. In a tent that means, aluminum or steel poles, high waterhead ratings, thick fabrics, and a full coverage rainfly.

That’s not to say you won’t be happy with something more affordable, especially if you are a budget outdoor enthusiast or a beginner, but there’s a balance that’s worth finding before picking out your perfect tent.

FAQ

Conclusion

There’s a lot of factors that go into picking the perfect tent for your situation, but it really comes down to your typical camping trip and what features you enjoy having. Our top pick of all the 4 person tents is the Coleman Skydome because of its screen porch, classic design, and affordable price, but all tents on this list could be a “top pick” for someone depending on their desires. That’s why we have included a large variety of shapes and prices, so you can pick what’s best for you!