If you are the type of person who enjoys spending their long weekend camping in a large group, 6 person tents can be a wonderful way to provide accommodations for all.
While at the same time saving you money with the purchase of a single outdoor shelter. With this being one of the most sought after sizes and with so many models available, how can you be sure which one is the best 6 person tent?
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Each manufacturer provides a different style, size, and various bells and whistles in a range of prices.
6 Person pop up tents, instant tents, and traditional pole models, mixed with various top brands such as Kelty, Coleman, Ozark Trail and many more, it really is hard to pick. Nearly all of them are considered to be the best camping tent in its league.
It can get confusing for even the most veteran campers out there among us. Luckily for you, this article provides 6-person tent reviews, a buyer’s guide, and an FAQ, providing an all-encompassing overview of what’s currently on the market.
Let’s dive in.
Page Contents:
11 Best 6 Person Tents Reviewed for This Year
1. Eureka! Jade Canyon 6 Person Camping Tent
The Jade Canyon is a well-priced 6 person tent that delivers solid 3-season performance for campers of all experience levels. At 10 x 10 feet with slightly concave walls, the near-cube design has an 84-inch peak making it a spacious option for sleeping multiple persons of all shapes and sizes.
Unpacking from a relatively small 8 x 26-inch storage, and reasonably lightweight at 21 lbs, it uses an aluminum and steel frame to ensure excellent structural integrity, and the whole thing can be put together in about 10 minutes. Waterproof and outfitted with window shades and its own rainfly, the tub floor further provides a barrier against moisture that can sometimes seep into tents during wet weather.
The large front door helps you get in and out unimpeded, and equally large mesh windows work with the mesh roof to constantly move air through the tent. A small power plug pocket can be found in a low corner, allowing you to bring in electrical so you can keep your devices charged, or run an electric heater during cooler weather.
Dual storage pockets and an overhead gear hammock give plenty of storage space, and the ceiling is covered in two removable reflective panels to bounce light off, giving you greater interior illumination.
Key Features
- Lots of Space With 7-Foot-High Near-Cube Design
- Waterproof with Rainfly and Tub Floor
- Reflective Ceiling Panels Provide More Illumination Inside Tent
2. ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6-Person Tent
Available in an attractive charcoal/blue color scheme, this 6-person tent from ALPS has quality written all over it. Unpacking from its 8.5” x 28” storage dimensions, the 100 square foot interior gives you a ton of space for multiple people, mattresses, pets, and furniture.
A relatively painless setup uses fiberglass poles that connect to steel uprights via clips, giving you a sturdy frame for this 24 lb. shelter. With plenty of height at 7 feet tall, you can attach a ceiling light or lantern to keep things bright when the sun goes down, and the 5 x 4 foot wide door won’t hinder your comings and goings.
There will also be no need to worry about rainy days as the Camp Creek has fully taped seams, as well as a 1500mm waterproof coating on the tent fabric and rainfly, which doubles as an awning over the front door and rear window. Adding to that, the 150D polyester oxford floor bathtub design provides all around dryness protection.
Keeping the tent ventilated is easy with the mesh roof and 4 adjustable windows, and ALPS includes stakes, guy ropes, and storage shelves, providing you with everything you need for your outdoor shelter.
Key Features
- Fully Taped Seams and 360 Degree Waterproof Protection
- 100 Square Feet for Multiple People Plus Furniture
- High Quality Fiberglass Poles and Polyester Fabric Materials
3. CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent with Wall Organizer
The Core 6-person instant cabin tent mixes quality and convenience, delivering an affordable multi-person outdoor shelter. Unpacking it from its 47 x 9 x 9 inch carrying case, the tent is pre-assembled so all you have to do is extend the legs and stand them up for the easiest tent set-up ever.
The seam-taped rainfly clips onto the legs and work with the attached guy lines to keep you dry during downpours. At 11 x 9 foot dimensions, you get plenty of interior room to freely move and a center height of 6 feet will accommodate the majority of campers.
The quality of materials is excellent with the tent fashioned from a durable 68D polyester with water beading runoff technology, and paired with a fully waterproofed and sealed up 115gsm PE bath-tub designed floor. The large mesh D door, screen windows, and ceiling work with the adjustable ground positioned air intake vent to provide solid airflow at all times.
Inside the tent, you can have power by running it through the provided e-port, and an overhead gear loft and side wall organizer allow you to store your valuables so you have them close to you at all times.
Key Features
- Pre-Assembled 6-Person Tent for 1 Minute Setup
- Fully Taped Seams and Bathtub Floor for Excellent Waterproofing
- High Quality Materials for 3 Season Camping
4. Eureka! Desert Canyon 6 Person Camping Tent
This is a cabin-style 6-person tent with vestibules from Eureka that is a great option for camping in groups, or if you want lots of room to stretch out. The bathtub-designed floor keeps water out, while giving you 84 square feet of living space with a 6’4” height to comfortably move around in.
The additional areas created by the vestibules can be used to store your gear and boots, affording you more room with less mess inside the tent. Packed down, the Desert Canyon can be carried on your back in a 10 x 25 inch duffle bag, and with a weight of 16 lbs. it is pretty lightweight.
Designed with wet weather in mind, a 1500+ mm coating waterproofs the rainfly and floor, with both being composed of 68D 185T polyester taffeta for a durable material. Massive openings on the front and back of the tent give you extremely large entrances, and Eureka employs its high/low adjustable vent system (top and bottom vents) to keep airflow constant.
A premium quality, lightweight aluminum frame stabilizes this rugged tent with assembly times of 5-10 minutes, and multiple storage pockets and gear lofts line the interior, allowing you to hang lights and store the essentials you want to keep close.
Key Features
- Large 84 Square Foot Tent for Up to 6 People
- Lightweight to Transport at 16 lbs.
- Fully Waterproofed Rainfly and Bathtub Floor
5. Coleman Elite WeatherMaster 6 Screened Tent
The Elite Weathermaster is a 6 person tent from Coleman that provides two separate rooms outfitted in 75D polyester taffeta. The main tent offers a spacious 99 square feet of livable area, while the attached screened room provides a bug-free additional 54 square feet of space that can be used to chill out or sleep in when the weather allows for it.
At almost 7 feet in height, anyone not named Shaq can easily fit inside, and the mesh roof provides excellent breathability and skylight views for stargazing. Coleman includes a built-in overhead light so you don’t have to pack a lantern, and a switch on the side of the tent allows you low/medium/high brightness control.
Their patented Weathertec system eliminates rain penetrating the tent with a waterproofed tub floor, welded corners and floor seams, taped seams on the rainfly, inverted seams for a superior seal, as well as waterproof coated fabric, a strong frame to withstand stormy conditions, and zipper cuffs to prevent moisture from seeping through the smallest of cracks.
You can keep your devices working by bringing in power through the e-port flap, and once you are ready to leave everything collapses down into a small suitcase on wheels that can be taken anywhere.
Note: We have a full review of all the Coleman Weathermaster Tents, plus the Elite model on our guide article.
Key Features
- Virtually Impenetrable Weatherproof 6-Man Tent
- High-Quality Poles and Fabric
- 99 Square Feet of Interior Space with Additional Screened Room
6. Big Agnes Tensleep Station Camping Tent
Lightweight at just over 16 lbs., this big tent from Big Agnes is packed to the gills in features, and can hold up to 6 people with its 90 square foot floor area and 75” inch interior peak height.
Intended for car or base camping during 3 of the 4 seasons, it has dual vestibules in the front and back, adding 10 square feet of space that can be used to store your gear and/or camping chairs.
The standout front vestibule also provides an awning style shaded entrance when staked down, has storm flaps for extra weather protection, and is used in conjunction with the 1500mm coated waterproof fly and floor.
Fully taped up seams also combat the rain, and the entire tent is fashioned out of a breathable polyester fabric with zippable mesh windows and doors, giving you excellent ventilation and sight lines.
Setup does take a few minutes, but with the tent connecting to the aluminum poles through a well-designed sleeve and clip system, you should have little trouble.
Reflective webbing and guy lines will help you avoid night time accidents, and inside you will find a mix of mesh, cargo, and media pockets so you have no shortage of storage space, as well as loops for gear lofts. When you are finished, it packs up neatly into a 27 x 15 x 5 inch briefcase-like carrying case that can be slung over your shoulder for easy transport.
Key Features
- Feature-Heavy Lightweight 6 Person 3 Season Tent
- 100 Square Feet of Space with Front Awning Vestibule
- Fully Waterproofed with Taped Seams and 1500mm Coating
7. Timber Ridge 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent with Rainfly
Timber Ridge designed this 6 person instant tent for those that want something that is ready to go right out of the box. Laying it flat out of its storage bag, all you need to do is bend each of the 4 poles out, and pull out the legs until they lock into place, ensuring you can have it up in a matter of seconds.
Included with the tent is a rain fly designed with a front door drip guard that is easy to attach, and works with the bathtub floor to keep you bone dry when the weather turns bad. There is excellent ventilation throughout this 10 x 10 tent, with 3 mesh windows as well as a mesh roof at the 78-inch peak, allowing for stargazing or suntanning.
Pockets on the inside provide you with storage spots, the zippers on the large door works smoothly with no catching, and most surprisingly, the tent goes back into its carrying case easily, which is a problem most tent companies struggle to solve.
Key Features
- 6 Person Instant Tent
- Waterproof Rainfly and Bathtub Floor Design
- Plenty of Room (100 sqft) and Ventilation Throughout
8. Coleman 6 Person Steel Creek
This 6 person dome tent from Coleman is a rugged outdoor shelter that provides a lot of room and comfort for 3 season camping. Using their famous Weathertec system, wet weather will no longer be an issue as the tent is decked out in an array of waterproofing features: a rain resistant fly and tent fabric, inverted seam stitching, zipper cuffs, a completely sealed up floor, and a sturdy frame built to withstand 35 mph+ winds.
The rainfly also provides a small awning over windows to allow for ventilation while protecting you from the rain. This tent has two compartments – the main tent with 90 square feet of space, and a secondary screened room measuring 50 square feet.
With 68 inches of height, you have enough room to move around and change, although anyone over 5’8” will have to bend down a bit. The screened room provides you with a place to enjoy nature in a bug-free environment, and doubles as additional sleeping space.
There is good airflow throughout the tent with the multiple mesh windows, and durable color-coded poles and clips make setting it up easy and fast, with your tent being fully pitched in 5-10 minutes. Reflective guy lines are an excellent late-night feature so you don’t trip over them, an e-port can be used to run power into the shelter, and an assortment of interior storage pockets round out the features on this excellent option from Coleman.
Key Features
- Extremely Affordable 6 Person Tent
- Great for Wet Weather with Superior Weatherproofing Design
- Includes Separate Screened Room for Bug-Free Camping
9. Kelty Outback Tent Grey
Designed for 3 season use, this well-built dome tent from Kelty offers 87 square feet of waterproofed sleeping space with an additional 22 square feet of vestibule space for gear storage and keeping nature outside.
The center height of 76 inches allows for easy maneuverability and at a weight of 13 lbs., the tent can be transported easily using the 27 x 8 inch carrying bag. Setup is relatively straight forward and color-coded to help guide the user, with a cross-pole dome structure that attaches via a series of clips for a taught and sturdy housing once staked down.
The accompanying rainfly is fully seam taped, Velcro hook loops attach it to the durable fiberglass poles, and corner buckles with optional guy lines fully secure the structure.
There is ventilation aplenty in this tent with an extra-large mesh D door for in and out privileges, and the upper two-thirds of the tent comprised of no-see-um mesh. With multiple interior pockets and a gear loft, you get storage spots for your essentials, making this one excellent outdoor option.
Key Features
- Large 87 Square Foot Tent for Up to 6 Campers
- Waterproofed with Bathtub Floor and Rainfly
- Mesh Walls for Increased Air Circulation
10. QOMOTOP 6 Person Instant Tent
With 90 square feet of livable interior and a center height of 66 inches, QOMOTOP’s 6-person tent gives you enough room to fit people, air mattresses, backpacks, and all your essentials when you are camping out in the bush.
Essentially a popup tent, 1 person can set it up in under a minute by extending out the telescopic legs and propping them upright before staking down the shelter.
This makes it an ideal option for people who leave for their vacation after work and arrive at their campsites after dark. A ground ventilation system takes in air, while the tent’s mesh windows, ceiling, and door expel it, making for ideal interior airflow.
Each window and door also come equipped with adjustable zip-up covers for privacy and keeping inclement weather out, as the rainfly pretty much only covers the roof with a small awning over the windows. At 600mm, the tent fabric and fly are waterproofed and work with the tub floor to prevent leaks.
Bonus features include an electrical cord access point, and interior pockets on the top and sides allow for phone and tablet storage that you can hang up to watch movies while laying down.
Key Features
- 6 Person Instant Popup Tent with 90 Square Feet of Space
- Premium Ventilation with Ground, Side and Roof Vents
- 600mm Waterproofing
11. Marmot Limestone 6p Tent
With nearly 84sqft of space, the 6 person model of the Limestone model from Marmot is exceptional. Off the bat they aren’t cheap, however, they are definitely not meant to be for first-timers or those looking for temporary use from their tent. This is for experienced campers, and those who know how to make the most out of a quality tent.
When you’re looking to invest a bit of money into something that will pay you back in longevity, this is ideal. With a 1500mm water rating on the rainfly and a 3000mm floor, it’ll keep you bone dry from top to bottom in nearly all weather, bar 4 season.
It comes in 4p and 8p respectively, not much difference in those apart from the dimensions, and the 8p has a slightly different layout design.
Both come with options to buy with or without the footprint, depending on your needs. But all come with full setup fear and carry bag so you have everything you need to pitch from the off. The poles are color-coded too, to aid in the assembly, not an instant pitch but not a demanding one either.
Weighing in at just 17 pounds for the 6 person model we consider it lightweight, and perfect for the trail in a reasonably sized group.
Note: We have a full review unveiling every feature and trinket in our Marmot Limestone 6p Tent review guide.
Key Features:
- 1500mm Water Rating
- Lightweight 17lbs
- Option for Footprint Inclusion
Buyers Guide- How to Choose a 6 Person Tent?
Buying anything can be stressful when you are still in the stage of self-educating. Here is a quick guide to the important things you should look out for to ensure you are getting the best 6-person tent for your needs.
Style and Design
There are a few different designs of tents you will come across.
Instant Pop-Up Tents
Pop-up tents, or instant shelters, unpack from their carrying case/bag ready to go. They are pre-assembled and for the most part only require you to extend their telescoping legs, prop them up, and then stake it down for security. Very simple and can be done in under a minute. A lot of campers love this option, as many arrive at their campsites after work and it’s much easier to pitch a pop-up tent in the dark than one you have to assemble from scratch. They are also great for older campers, as the pop-up’s user-friendliness and lack of physical labor caters to those with mobility issues.
Cube Tents, Dome Tents, Assembled Tents
Cube tent are designed to maximize space, with 90-degree (or close to it) walls giving you full height throughout the interior. Dome tents are very common, and give you a lot of space, with a sturdy “X” fiberglass or aluminum frame supporting the tent. These tents need to be assembled from the ground up, which can be an unattractive option for some. However, they do not require a lot of work and can be fully pitched between 5 and 10 minutes. In some case, they can be more budget-friendly than pop-up shelters because they do require assembly.
Waterproofing
Keeping rain out of your tent is important if you want to use it for 3-season camping. Most manufacturers will waterproof their tents with 1500mm polyurethane coating, though some will do just the bare minimum at 600mm. Look for tents that have a bathtub floor, windows that can be zipped shut, as well as fully-taped seams on the rainfly and tent itself, as these all make a huge difference in keeping you dry. Some models will even have inverted stitching, zipper cuffs, as well as rainfly awnings to cover the windows when it downpours.
Bonus Features
With so many of us dependent on our devices these days, more and more tents are coming with an electrical port slot that can be used to run power into the tent for charging. It is also a nice feature to have if you want to use an electric heater while you are camping. Tents with vestibules are another attractive option, as you can use this extra space to store you gear and boots, keeping the inside of the tent clean and free of obstructions.
Some 6 person tents will come with a separate screened room, which provides a spot you can relax outdoors while remaining in a bug-free environment. These can also double as additional sleeping space when the weather permits. All tents will come with gear lofts for storage, and multiple pockets you can put your devices in, with some higher up in the tent allowing for Netflix streaming when you are laying down.
Price
6 person tents are not cheap, but there are deals to be found. Many are north of $200, with the price increasing as the quality and number of features go up. You can find budget 6-person tents at around $120, good quality at around $200-250, and high quality at $400+.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Big is a 6 Person Tent?
A 6-person tent doesn’t have one specific size that every manufacturer follows, but they generally provide between 90 and 100 square feet of space, and a height of 6 -7 feet, to accommodate a wide range of body sizes.
How Much is a 6 Person Tent?
Price will always depend on the quality of the materials used, as well as functionality and features. There are large 6 person tents that start as low as $120, and go as high as $400+, but expect to pay around $200-250 for a decent quality shelter.
Are They Waterproof?
You should always check the specs carefully before purchasing your tent, but for the most part, manufacturers will waterproof their tent fabric, floors, and rainfly with anywhere between 600 and 1500mm polyurethane coating, anything above that is a clear sign of quality and will last you well.
How to Set Up a 6 Person Tent?
If your 6-person tent is a pop-up pre-assembled tent, then all you have to do is take it out of its carrying case, extend the legs out, raise the tent, and then stake it down. If your tent does not come assembled, they aren’t too difficult to set up, they just require a bit of time.
Most will have aluminum or fiberglass poles that cross in an “X” shape for sturdy frame support, and then you will attach the tent to the poles with a series of clips and buckles. Once that is done, the tent should be staked down, and rainfly attached if needed. Not overly complicated, just time-consuming.
How Many People Should Fit in a 6 Person Tent?
This is a tricky question to answer because yes, you can fit 6 people into a 6 person tent as long as they are of average body type and are positioned like a can of sardines, but they won’t exactly be comfortable. Ideally, the maximum amount of people you should sleep in these tents is 3-4, as you still need to store gear, maybe an air mattress or two, and still have enough room to move around.
If you are a couple, or camping with a friend, this would be perfect as you would have a ton of space all to yourselves.
Conclusion
We hope this article has answered many of the questions you may have had about multi-person outdoor shelters. Purchasing the right 6 person tent for your situation doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
You can now use this newly gained information to provide memorable camping experiences for your family and friends, for years to come.
Resources and Sources
How to maintain your 6 person tent
