Best 10 Person Tent in 2023

10 person tents hold a unique place in the outdoors market. They’re huge, but not ridiculously so. They’re feature-rich, but often still more affordable than a premium backpacking tent. They also all have a lot in common with one another, which can make finding the perfect one for your next trip a little confusing.

Lucky for you, we’ve already done the legwork there, and after testing and analyzing dozens of 10 person tents currently on the market from spacious cabin tents to traditional domes, we found the NTK Arizona GT to be the best 10 person camping tent overall. We love the NTK’s combination of outstanding quality and reliable weather protection, and the fact that it comes in a good bit cheaper than most of the competition is just icing on the cake. 

Of course the NTK Arizona won’t be the perfect camping tent for everyone, and that’s to be expected. Some folks prefer the ease of pitching an instant cabin tent, while others just want the largest shelter for the least money possible. The good news is, we’ve also rounded up all our favorite models at every price point, so there’s sure to be something in the list below to suit your needs. 

If you’re completely new to these massive family camping tents, make sure to check out our buyer’s guide at the bottom as well. There we break down the differences between cabin tents and dome tents, why some materials are better than others, and explain pretty much every other nuance out there that might help you make a decision. 

Alright, enough talk:  Break out the air beds, It’s time to talk tents!

NTK Arizona GT: Best Overall

Specs:
– Weight: 26.5 lbs (
– Packed size: 42” x 12” x 10” (107cm x 30cm x 25cm)
– Floor size: 204” x 96” (518cm x 243cm)
– Peak height: 80” (204 cm)
– Number of rooms: 2
– Shape: Tunnel
– Best for: Three season family camping
– Price: $$

Taking top honors as the best 10 person tent overall is the NTK Arizona GT, a rugged and reliable tent with all the space you could ever want in a large family camping shelter. 

The NTK tops our list for a few reasons, but the biggest draw overall is value. The Arizona GT isn’t the least expensive 10 person tent on the market, but it’s much cheaper than your typical “premium” tent from brands like Nemo or Big Agnes while delivering similar material quality and weather protection.

We’re particularly fond of NTK’s weatherproofing approach here, and the Arizona GT is one of the few 10 person tents on the market that comes with a full-length rainfly for uncompromising protection from the wet. The entire fly is fully seam sealed and polyurethane coated as well, delivering an outstanding 2500mm protection rating from floor to ceiling. 

In addition to its outright size (the Arizona GT’s tunnel shape design means you’re getting nearly 7-foot ceilings throughout the tent), we’re also fans of this tent’s smart interior layout. NTK put a full-sized door on either side of the Arizona, so each of its two rooms gets its own private entrance when desired. 

We don’t have any complaints to register considering the NTK Arizona GT’s price point, but it does have two main tradeoffs you’ll want to keep in mind that separate it from its more “premium” and more expensive competition. The first is that NTK  uses a proprietary fiberglass composite material in the Arizona’s poles called “Nano-fiber,” which is thicker and stronger than your typical fare, but still not quite as tough as aluminum. The other common complaint with this shelter is that although its bathtub style floor is 100% waterproof, the tarp-like material it’s made from is a bit loud underfoot, so you may want to pack a rug for the interior if you’re a light sleeper. 

White Duck Avalon: Highest Overall Quality

Specs:
– Weight: 143.3 lbs (65 kg)
– Packed size: 45 x 26” x 21” (114cm x 66cm x 53cm)
– Floor size: 240” x 240” (609cm x 609cm)
– Peak height: 134” (340cm)
– Number of rooms: 1
– Shape: Tunnel
– Best for: Three season family camping
– Price: $$

When it comes to durability, there’s nothing quite like a cotton canvas tent, and the White Duck Avalon is easily the most impressive canvas tent we’ve tested to date. 

We included the Avalon as part of our recent winter camping tent field test, and our testers all agreed that between this massive bell tent’s 10.1 oz UV-resistant canvas, insanely thick 16 oz. polyvinyl floor, and galvanized steel hardware, the White Duck is built to last for decades if not generations. Every inch of the tent simply oozes heirloom quality, from the waterproof zippers right down to the thick polypropylene guyline ropes. 

Of course the White Duck Avalon isn’t the only game in town for canvas bell tents (we also tested its budget-focused sibling this season, the White Duck Regatta), but what makes this tent stand out for us are all the extra features that add to the Avalon’s livability. With windows on every wall panel, a completely removable floor for easy cleaning, and a pre-installed silicone-coated stove jack, the Avalon is the epitome of a big luxurious glamping experience. 

Our biggest gripe with the Avalon is its price, and while all cotton canvas tents are expensive, you’ll pay a bit extra for all the Avalon’s extra bells and whistles. Our testers also noted that the Avalon’s extra durable (and therefore extra thick) materials made it heavier and bulkier than your typical canvas tent, so chances are you’ll want to bring a friend along to help you haul its 140+ pound bulk to and from the car. Read our full test and review of the White Duck Avalon…

Core 10 Person Cabin Tent

Specs:
– Weight:  35.5 lbs (16 kg)
– Packed size: 29” x 10” x 10” (74cm x 25cm x 25cm)
– Floor size: 14’ x 10’ (427cm x 305cm)
– Peak height: 86” (218cm)
– Number of rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Single families or groups of four
– Price: $$

Budget tents typically sacrifice something in terms of livability features in the name of cost savings, but we’re happy to report that the Core 10 Person Cabin tent is the exception to the rule. 

Inside the Core, you’ll find a two-room, two-door design, with each room getting its own private entrance. This cabin tent also gets a pair of nifty adjustable ground vents, which help pull cool air into the tent from below while still remaining shielded from the rain up top. We’re also big fans of this cabin tent’s unique room divider, which nearly spans the entirety of the Core’s epic 7-foot high ceilings. 

This cabin tent also gets a premium upgrade in the weatherproofing department, as every seam in the tent is thermally heat-sealed to provide longer-lasting protection against rain and weather. The walls themselves are made from durable 68D water-resistant polyester, which adds another layer of rain resistance.

Really our only gripes with the Core Cabin 10 person tent are that the bathtub-style floors don’t come up as high as we’d like, and it still relies on a classic collapsible pole construction rather than the latest-and-greatest instant tent architecture. Pound for pound there’s still no denying the Core is worth every penny, as it outclasses many department store brand tents by a health margin.

Columbia Mammoth Creek: Best 10 Person Tent Overall

Specs:
– Weight:  39 lbs (18kg)
– Packed size: 12” x 12” x 40” (367cm x 367cm x 102cm)
– Floor size: 14’ x 10’ (427cm x 305cm)
– Peak height: 78“ (198cm)
– Number of rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Three season camping for families/ four friends
– Price: $$

The Mammoth Creek 10 person tent from Columbia covers all the “big tent” essentials.

It’s got a nice roomy floorplan that can accommodate up to four air mattresses, a central divider to split the tent into two rooms,  and a 78” center height with nearly vertical walls.

What the Columbia does differently from other tents on our list, however, is what really sets it apart. For starters, it’s got unique “pop-out” style windows that extend beyond the rainfly, so you can keep your windows open when it’s raining without letting any water inside.

The Mammoth Creek also uses some premium fabrics to take its weatherproofing to the next level. The walls, for instance, are given the same Omni-Shade coating as Columbia’s popular line of outdoor clothing to add additional rain repellence to the body of the tent. The tub-style floor is also made from a super thick and “crunch-free” polyester, so walking through the tent doesn’t sound like opening a bag of chips.

Really the only downside we see to the Mammoth Creek is its traditional construction and breakdown design (rather than using pre-attached poles) as well as the use of fiberglass poles over steel or aluminum ones.

Still, as we’ve said before, the pre-attached/hubbed pole designs of “quick setup” tents may be uber-convenient, but they’re also a common point of failure for large tents like these. Separate poles/hubs definitely take a bit longer to deploy, but we also think they’ll outlive the more modern setups, which makes this 10 person tent an attractive long-term investment.

Bushnell Shield Series 9 Person Instant Cabin: Highest Overall Quality

Specs:
– Weight:  44lbs (20kg)
– Packed size: 42” x 24” x 24” (106cm x 61cm x 61cm)
– Floor size: 15’ x 9’ (457cm x 274cm)
– Peak height: 78” (cm)
– Number of rooms:  2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: All-weather three-season family/group camping
– Price: $$$

We know what you’re thinking: This isn’t a 10 person tent. It doesn’t count. You’re right, but hear us out.

We’re including the Bushnell Shield on our list because as you’ll read in the buyer’s guide below, 99% of campers aren’t buying a 10 person tent to sleep 10 people: They’re buying it to give 6 or fewer campers a ton of extra room. And while this tent won’t technically fit a full 10 people, it will fit three queen-sized air mattresses, which can’t be said for every other “10 person” tent on our list.

The Bushnell Shield also has two large doors, making it well suited for large groups, as well as a TON of ventilation thanks to its giant windows (which can be zipped shut for extra privacy).

It’s also got all of the same perks of the larger twelve-person version that landed it on our list of best 12 person tents. That includes both the burly 150D polyester construction and best-in-class Weather Shield technology, as well as the instant-up pre-attached pole design that allows the Bushnell Shield to be deployed in under two minutes. Add in the two-room floor plan (with a privacy divider), tons of gear storage on both the interior and exterior, and even a built-in port for a standalone air conditioner, and you’ve got a 9 person tent that will outperform most 10 person models out there by a mile.

Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Tent

Specs:
– Weight:  31 lbs (14kg)
– Packed size: 30” x 10” x 10” (76cm x 25cm x 25cm)
– Floor size: 17’ x 9’ (518cm x 274cm)
– Peak height: 80” (203cm)
– Number of rooms: 2
– Shape: Extended dome
– Best for: Car camping in questionable weather
– Price: $$

With a name like “WeatherMaster” you’d be right to expect some serious rain and wind resistance from this Coleman 10 person tent.

The WeatherMaster 10-Person Tent largely delivers on those expectations with a welded tub-style floor, zippers protected by weather-resistant fabric, and the same inverted seam design we saw on the Coleman Instant Cabin further down our list. It’s also got what Coleman calls their “wind-strong” frame design, which uses a stronger frame and optimized guy-out angles to maximize stability.

You’ll also find angled windows on the WeatherMaster similar to the pop-out windows on the Columbia tent above which allow you to maintain good ventilation and see outside even while it’s raining.

Inside there’s a room divider that splits the WeatherMaster into a two-room setup, although if you want to take advantage of its three mattress capacity, you’ll have to leave it behind. We’ll also give this Coleman 10 person tent props for its hinged front door design, which is a lot easier to live with than your average saggy zip-only tent door. Shame they only used one!

Tahoe Gear Olympia 10 Person Family Tent

Specs:
– Weight:  23lbs (11kg)
– Packed size: 42” x 12” x 10” (107cm x 30cm x 25cm)
– Floor size: 18’ x 10.5’ (549cm x 320cm)
– Peak height: 84” (213cm)
– Number of rooms: 1
– Shape: Extended dome
– Best for: Families with young children
– Price: $

If you’re looking for a solid 10 person tent on a shoestring budget, the Tahoe Gear Olympia is about as inexpensive as you’ll find.

It still has all the bare necessities you’ll need like a well-made tub floor, a fully seam-taped rain fly, and good ventilation thanks to the floor-mounted vents and full mesh ceiling. We’ll also give the Tahoe Gear Olympia props for its 18-foot width, which will accommodate three queen mattresses with a little room to spare.

You’ll have fewer windows than other 10 person tents on the list, lower ceilings toward the sides of the tent, and a fairly sparse interior space, but if you’re planning on spending the majority of your time outside anyway, this might be the perfect tent for the occasional camper. There’s no room divider option for the Olympia though, so for that reason we mainly recommend it for parents with their children rather than groups of friends.

Teton Sports Sierra Canvas Bell Tent: Best for Camping in Style

Specs:
– Weight:  55 lbs (25kg)
– Packed size: 38” x 25” x 25” (97cm x 64cm x 64cm)
– Floor size: 12’ x 12’ (367cm x 367cm)
– Peak height: 98” (249cm)
– Number of rooms: 1
– Shape: Bell
– Best for: Families, hunting, traveling to Middle Earth
– Price: $$$

While the White Duck Avalon may be the bell of the ball when it comes to canvas tents, there’s no beating the Teton Sports Sierra when it comes to outright value. 

Don’t get us wrong, this is still a much more expensive shelter than your typical synthetic camping tent, but as far as canvas goes, the Sierra is a downright steal. You won’t get all the extra windows or the factory-installed stove jack that make the Avalon such a strong contender, but if you really don’t need them to begin with, this 10 person shelter is just what the doctor ordered.

The Teton Sports Sierra is built from a heavy-duty treated canvas that is 100% waterproof and about as tough as it gets. The big circular floor plan still gets its fair share of windows (one on every-other panel), which provide great ventilation rain or shine. You’ll also get that same nifty removable floor design as the Avalon, essentially giving you a giant canopy for maximum shade and breathability whenever the weather is nice.

There’s really no downside to the Sierra as long as you know what you’re getting into: A big, heavy, single-room leviathan that looks like it came straight from the set of Game Of Thrones. But hey, if that doesn’t scream “good times” we don’t know what does.

Coleman Instant Setup 10 Person Cabin

Specs:
– Weight: 42 lbs (19kg)
– Packed size: 48” x 13” x 13” (122cm x 33cm x 33cm)
– Floor size: 14’ x 10’ (427cm x 304cm)
– Peak height: 79” (200 cm)
– Number of rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Two groups/Large families
– Price: $$

Late sleepers beware: The Coleman Cabin 10 person wants you to sleep in well after sunrise.

That’s because the Cabin comes with Coleman’s “Dark Room” technology, which they claim blocks 90% more light than their other models. Coleman also says their Dark Room tech reduces heat buildup from the sun inside the tent too, so mid-day naps can be dark and cozy if you’ve been burning the candle at both ends.

This 10 person tent also features a pre-attached hubbed pole design which makes for quick one-person friendly setup and takedown. Of course systems like this also have their drawbacks. They typically add weight to a tent, and this Coleman is no exception at over 40 pounds. They also add a significant amount of “heft” to a tent’s packed size, hence the Cabin’s four-foot-long carrying case.

Still, for the money this ten-person tent delivers some solid weatherproofing with Coleman’s fully-welded floor seams and a generous six-point rainfly. We’d prefer to see fully taped seams on the tent body rather than the “inverted seams” Coleman uses to keep rain at bay, as well as taller “tub-style” floors we’ve seen on other Coleman tents, but fall things considered this Coleman Cabin is a solid contender for most weather.

10 Person Tent Buying Guide

Somewhere in the list above we think you’ll find the perfect 10 person tent for your next adventure . If you’re still on the fence, or found a tent we didn’t list, these are the criteria we use to decide which tents will make the cut for our yearly roundup.

Floor Size

When it comes to 10 person tents, there are essentially two types: Those with enough floor space to fit three mattresses, and those without.

Depending on the sort of camping you’re planning to do, that may or may not impact your decision. Generally speaking, we recommend a ten-person tent for either two couples looking for plenty of space to hang out inside (imagine a card table and chairs in the center section), or for families who can take advantage of using one queen bed then wedging in a handful of smaller mattresses for young children.

If you’re looking to push your 10 person tent beyond four people, we definitely recommend aiming for the largest floorplan you can afford. You’ll definitely appreciate the extra breathing room (or walking room, or room for luggage and gear) that the 150 square foot or larger floor plans have to offer.

Center Height

Shape

Aside from the unique bell tent design of the Teton Sports tent above, pretty much all 10 person camping tents fall into one of two categories: Dome-shaped or cabin-shaped.

Full disclosure, most campers will absolutely prefer the cabin-shaped tents on this list because of the extra headspace they provide from corner to corner. There’s something about those vertical walls that just makes a cabin-style design feel more like a little house than a tent.

With that being said, there are definitely a few perks to consider that only a dome-style tent will offer.

There are no three-room, ten-person cabin-style tents, for instance. Sure, you can wedge three mattresses into one side by side, but dome-style tents tend to have longer floorplans, which makes separating individual rooms easier.

Wind resistance is another strong suit of the dome-style tent. Ideally you won’t be taking a tent this large out into any serious storms, but the curved walls of a dome-style tent will catch a lot less wind than their vertical-walled cousins.

Seasonality/Weather Protection

With the exception of the canvas models, every tent on this list is what we would consider a “three-season” tent, meaning they’re ideal for Spring-Summer-Fall use, assuming the temps don’t drop below freezing.

Weather-wise, 10 person tents have a lot more surface area than your typical car camping tent, which means they’ve got a lot more seams to protect. For this reason, we highly recommend a tent with fully-taped seams throughout its construction, not just in the rainfly.

Some tents like the Coleman Instant Cabin above use “inverted seams” which are sewn inside the tent body so no needle holes are made on exposed exterior surfaces. This approach is better than nothing, and will handle light rains just fine, but we recommend taking extra care to treat these tents with a quality seam sealer before taking them out in the wild.

Weight And Packed Size

Since we’re talking 10 person tents here, we all know you won’t exactly be hiking any of the shelters above into the backcountry. That means weight and packed size are typically an afterthought in this category, but depending on your situation, that may be an afterthought worth having.

Some of these tents (like the Bushnell and Teton Sports above) are awfully bulky, both in size and weight, even when they’re in their designated carry cases.

If you’ve got a smaller car, limited storage space at home, or don’t feel like lifting 40-50 pounds any time you can avoid it, size and weight may make a difference.

Rooms And Dividers

Durability

Although we typically plan group camping around fair weather, a 10 person tent is a piece of outdoor equipment just like any other. Ultimately it will be exposed to the same wind, rain, and sun that a heavy-use backpacking tent will, and even if you’ll only use it a few times a year, you should be able to rely on it keeping you dry and protected from the elements.

Another major consideration of larger tents like these is the quality of the floor. While a small two-person backpacking tent can get away with thinner materials, ten-person tents will see a lot of foot traffic. Whether that’s children running in and out with muddy feet or adults making multiple trips carrying gear in and out to get set up, these floors can lead tough lives.

Heavy-duty floors like those found on the Columbia Mammoth or Teton Sport above make for a smart investment. You can always replace broken poles or even torn rainflys, but once the floor is gone, it’s gone.

Ease Of Setup

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many people does a 10 person tent really sleep comfortably?

How long does it really take to set up a 10 person tent?

How do 10 person tents hold up to strong wind and rains?

Conclusion

For all the reasons above, we decided on the NTK Arizona GT as our best tent overall. Its tall ceilings, quality materials, and reliable weatherproofing all make for a truly stand-out 10 person tent, and yet it’s still less expensive than other premium models on our list.

If you’ve got no need for multiple rooms and want to be the envy of everyone else in your group, look no further than the White Duck Avalon canvas bell tent. Old school cotton canvas and heavy steel hardware will outlast anything else currently on the market, making this shelter an investment worth every penny.

Of course if you’re trying to keep the spend to a minimum, both the Core Cabin and Tahoe Gear tents above are smart picks for under $200. Cabin or dome… The choice is yours…