If you’re heading out on a group camping trip anytime soon, you need to make sure you have a quality tent you can rely on to keep everyone comfortable and protected from the outdoor elements.
Not sure what to look for when choosing your 4 person tent?
Keep reading for a detailed guide to selecting the best 4 person tent for your group camping adventures, plus the top 5 tent options available that you’ll want to consider for your final choice.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
The top 5 4-person tent we recommend for 2024:
Our Review of the 5 Best 4 Person Tents
Check out our review of the top 5 four person tents to see which one you like best. Keep scrolling for our final verdict!
Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup
- 150-denier polyester
- Very thick material
- Tub-like floor design with plenty of space
- 2-window design
- Quality ventilation
- Tent design can sag when it’s set up
- Might be prone to some leakage in heavier rainstorms
Our first pick for the best 4 man tent is the Coleman Cabin Tent, designed from very durable 150-denier polyester that holds up well against wear, tear, and outdoor elements. We were really impressed by the thickness of the material, that is twice as thick as most traditional tent fabrics. The floor is designed to replicate a tub, with welded seams to keep water from coming through if showers hit.
We were pleased to see that this tent sports a vented rainfly that covers the entire exterior of the product. We love how quick and easy this tent is to set up, with an instant popup design that takes just around a minute to complete. The poles come already assembled which makes your job on the campsite even easier. The tent sports a single door with 2 windows featuring mesh screens for ventilation.
AmazonBasics Tent
- 3-season design
- 1000-denier polyethylene floor and coated polyester sides
- Rainfly with stakes and guylines included
- Excellent floor space and inner volume
- Takes longer to set up
- Poles can wear out with frequent use
Our next choice is the AmazonBasics Tent, an exceptional option for both traditional backpacking and camping adventures. We love the 3-season design that will serve you well throughout summer, spring, and, fall camping trips. The material is also excellent, designed from coated polyester with a 1000-denier polyethylene floor for heightened durability.
The dome configuration of the AmazonBasics Tent means it is very sturdy to hold up against rough winds and other weather conditions. The tent has an additional layer of protection from the full-length rainfly, plus stakes and guylines to ensure it stays secure. During warmer and clear weather camping trips, you can take off the rainfly for extra ventilation and enjoy the outside view.
The setup time isn’t as quick as some other products, but it is very easy and user-friendly. The floor space measure 9 x 7 feet with 59 total inches of inner tent volume.
Coleman Dome Tent for Camping
- Sports 9 x 7 feet of floor space
- Good 4 x 11 inner height
- Polyester material with an extra thickness
- Quick setup
- Includes a rainfly with featured guylines
- Not as waterproof as some
- Most campers won’t be able to stand up inside the tent
The Coleman Dome Tent for Camping made it to our list for its affordable price and quality 9 x 7 feet of floor space on the inside. The inner height extends to 4 feet and 11 inches, so you probably won’t be able to stand up, but you shouldn’t have any issues sitting up with ease. The tent’s body is manufactured from polyester that is twice as thick as the standard variety, with pole sleeves on the upper portion of the tent for quick installation.
It takes just about 10 minutes to set up from start to finish, with an easy breakdown as well, making this tent a fantastic choice for beginners and camping pros alike. We were really pleased with this tent’s integrated WeatherTec technology, sporting inverted seams and tub-like configurations. The tent includes a rainfly with integrated guylines and sports mesh features for added breathability.
We were very pleased by the storage space the Coleman Dome Tent has to offer, with mesh storage pockets and an e-port for an extension cord.
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent
- 75-denier polyester body
- The floor space and rainfly have an excellent waterproof rating
- Protects campers from UV rays
- Very lightweight design
- Sturdy but light aluminum poles
- Less floor space and headroom than some other products
- No inside window covers
Our next pick is the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx Tent with a 75-denier polyester body. The floor area and rainfly are coated for a quality waterproof rating. The rainfly is rated at 1,500 millimeters and the floor at 2,000 millimeters. The fabric also protects campers against damaging UV rays.
We love the lightweight design of this 4 person tent, that includes dual aluminum poles and clips for quick and easy setup. The tent also sports stakes and guylines, offering the tent incredible stability in rough winds.
The floor space of this tent is a bit smaller than some of our previous picks at 7.6 x 8.6 feet. The inner volume is 52 total inches. The good news is this tent weighs only 8 pounds and 10 ounces, so the easy portability of the product helps make up for the deficiency of space.
Coleman Carlsbad Tent with Screen Room
- Dark Room technology
- Separate screened in room
- Large floor space
- Welded floors with inverted seams
- Mesh storage pockets
- The front area isn’t waterproof
- May not be as comfortable for very tall campers
Our final selection is the Coleman Carlsbad Tent with Screen Room. Another exceptional product by Coleman, we were really impressed by the tent’s integrated Dark Room technology. The polyester fabric actually helps filter sunlight and ensure you get a better night’s sleep. Also, the fabric is designed to help regulate the temperature of the tent so it won’t overheat in very warm climates.
The tent also sports a second room in the front with a screen design and mesh walls for excellent circulation and a little extra space to relax in. The tent’s total floor space is 9 x 7 feet with a 9 x 4 foot screened in space. The inner volume of the tent is 4 feet and 11 inches, which is still not high enough to stand but offers plenty of space to sit up comfortably. The tent is even large enough to fit a queen-size bed!
The tent sports welded floors with inverted seams. The screened in area at the front of the tent isn’t waterproof, but the rest of the tent holds up well against inclement conditions. There are mesh pockets available to sport your belongings, and the tent comes in a carry bag for easy transportation.
The Camper’s Guide to Selecting Your 4 Person Tent
Here’s exactly what you need to know to pick out the right 4 person tent for all the campers in your group.
Space
It might seem like an obvious point that if you’re going to be traveling in a group of 4 people, you’ll want a 4 person tent. That said, not all tents with 4 person tent capacities are created equal, and if anyone in your group is taller than average, space could still be pretty tight.
For example, the vast majority of tent manufacturers configure 4 person tents to fit individuals less than 6 feet in height.
If you have a group of 4 people, with each of them being less than 6 feet tall, you’d probably have enough space for everyone to fit in for sleep, but there wouldn’t necessarily be enough room to store all your gear. Likewise, if 1 or more of your group are over 6 feet tall and want to still have enough space for gear or belongings, a group of 2 or 3 might also prefer a 4 person tent.
When examining a 4 person tent for your camping needs, consider the tent’s dimensions (i.e., interior volume, floor space) to see which choice is right for you. If you’re going to be bringing extra gear along, such as a camping cot, you’ll need to allow for the extra space that will take up.
Weight
The weight of the product is also a key factor to consider if you are in the market for a 4 person tent. Different tent products come in a wide range of weights, and the final weight is largely dependant on the design materials and poles. Some of the tents are made to be very lightweight and take up very little space in your gear.
Lightweight tents are a fantastic option if you’re going to be backpacking, particularly for long periods, but you want to make sure that you don’t compromise durability for weight. Many of the more lightweight tent options are less sturdy than the heavier varieties.
Now, if you’re going to be RV camping rather than backpacking with all your gear, the additional weight of a heavier, more durable tent won’t cause issues. The heavier tents weigh somewhere around 5 to 15 pounds.
Whichever type of camping you’re doing, you need to make sure that your tent will fit nicely with the rest of your gear and not add too much bulk to the mix. Decide how much space you’re willing to allocate for your tent and pick the tent for your needs accordingly.
The Season
You’ll also want to consider the season the tent is designed for when browsing various products. Many people like camping during warm weather, but plenty of campers enjoy year-round excursions. If you’re going to be camping in a range of seasons, you’ll need a tent that can withstand both warm and cold temperatures.
Warm weather tents for use in 1-2 seasons are always going to be more lightweight with fewer poles and plenty of integrated mesh to ensure proper airflow. Tents designed for 3-season use are going to be much more dependable for year-round camping, with waterproof exteriors, thicker fabric, and more durable frames. Most 3-season tents also include a rainfly that you can install or remove as needed.
There are 4-season tents, but they are mainly for very rough outdoor weather conditions with plenty of wind and snow. If you’re going to be out mountaineering, this type of tent will probably be for you. Otherwise, most campers will do just fine with 1-2 or 3 season tents.
Weatherproofing
You want to make sure that the tent you select is designed to protect you from any unexpected and inclement weather elements. A tent’s hydrostatic rating is measured in millimeters, indicating how waterproof the tent material is. The higher a tent’s hydrostatic rating, the more waterproof the fabric.
You also want to ensure that the best 4 man tent you purchase is durable enough to hold up against tough winds, particularly if you’re going to be setting up camp in an area with fewer trees that would otherwise act as a protective barrier.
Some tent products even feature material like polyester that offers campers protection from UV rays. Sealed seams are another valuable feature to keep an eye out for, as these ensure that rain won’t seep through your tent when showers hit.
The Material
Pay close attention to the material of the product when picking out your 4 person tent for your camping adventures. Most tent poles are manufactured with aluminum or fiberglass. Fiberglass is the most popular option because it is dependable and also quite affordable.
With that said, fiberglass isn’t as durable as aluminum and is prone to show signs of wear and tear more quickly. Aluminum is much lighter than fiberglass and more durable but comes at a steeper price.
When it comes to the tent fabric, most products feature a polyester, nylon, or canvas design. Canvas is durable and dependable but is also weighs significantly more than the other 2 options. Nylon and polyester are popular tent material choices because they are lightweight and offer fantastic waterproofing capabilities. Ripstop nylon holds up well against wear and tears, while polyester often features UV resistant components.
The material you pick is going to be a major determinant of the ventilation the product offers. Waterproof tent fabrics don’t offer the best ventilation, so if you select a tent with waterproof material it will need features like windows and mesh to promote proper air circulation.
Our Final Verdict
While all of the tents in our review are strong contenders for any camper’s shortlist, the Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup is the best 4 person tent available in the market. We loved the 150-denier polyester with double the thickness of ordinary tents, sporting welded seams and a comfortable tub-like design. The vented rainfly is impressive, plus the quick and easy set up is a must-have for any camper, newbie or expert.
We liked the preassembled poles that come with the tent, along with the dual windows sporting mesh screens for proper air circulation. The floor space and inner volume are sufficient for 4 people to rest comfortably and sit up as needed. For durability, weatherproofing, circulation, comfort, and setup ease, it’s hard to beat the Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup.
