5 Minutes to Understand the Price of the Tent

If you search on Amazon: "camping tent", you will get over 20,000 results. It's hard to feel confident about your tent purchase when there are thousands of options!

So today let's talk about the price of tents and the factors that affect the price of tents.

How Much is the Tent?

The most common tents range in price from $35 to $600. You can spend more (or even less) if you get creative. Here's a range of tent prices you can expect to see:

Of course, this can only be used as a reference. There are many factors that affect the price of tents. Let's take a look at what factors affect the price of tents.

Factors Affecting Price

There are several different factors that affect the cost of a tent. The most important factor is the size of the tent. The bigger the tent, the more expensive it is. Other factors include the quality of the material, the brand and the characteristics of the tent, etc.

1. Tent size

When buying a tent, the most important aspect to consider is its size. The bigger the tent, the higher the cost.

For example, a three-person tent will cost more than a two-person tent. And four-person tents are more expensive than three-person tents. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Some high-end brands charge premium prices for tents of any size.

To give you an idea, let's look at the average cost based on tent size.

These are general price ranges only. The actual cost of a tent will vary based on brand, quality, materials and features.

2. Materials

The quality of the material will also affect the price of the tent. Generally speaking, higher quality materials result in a higher price tag.

Some tents are made from less expensive materials that are more likely to wear or tear. These tents are usually less expensive than tents made of high-quality materials.

On the other hand, some tents are made of high-quality materials that can withstand more wear and tear. These tents will be more expensive than tents made from cheaper materials.

That said, it can be more expensive if you want to buy a waterproof tent.

3. Brand

The brand of the tent will also affect the price. Some tent brands are known for their high quality and durability. These tents usually come with a higher price tag.

Other tent brands are known for their lower prices. These tents may not be as durable or high quality, but they are more affordable. So, if price is your top concern, you may want to look for an affordable brand.

To give you an idea, let's look at the average cost of different tent brands.

4. Function

The characteristics of the tent will also affect its price. For example, if you want a tent with a built-in rainfly, you'll likely pay more than you would for a tent without rainfly.

Other features that can affect a tent's price include windows, doors, storage pockets, and gear loops. The more features a tent has, the more expensive it will be.

Tents corresponding to different prices

Let's take a look at each individual price range and see what you get for your money.

1. Under $50

fr​ee

$0? Which tents are free? Well, almost nothing is free, really. However, you don't actually have to have a tent to go camping. You can spread a tarp on the ground to prevent condensation and a sleeping bag.

Also, you can use guy wires and tarps. Guys are strings used to hang things, or to pull rainflies, or to make tarps, etc. A very simple shelter can be built by tying a guy wire between two trees and hanging a tarp over it.

Pop up tent

There are several small pop-up tents that fit two people in the $35 or so range. Several of these pop-up tents don't require poles to set up and are surprisingly small when unfolded.

Also, even the 2-person pop-ups don't fold down very small, making them less suitable for backpacking. Backpackers want their gear to fold down as small as possible so they can fit everything they need in the backpack.

2 person tent

A range of about $40 to $50 is the basic price you want to spend on a tent. Anything under $50 is below the standard entry-level tent range. You can get a decent 2-person tent with the following standard features:

• waterproof seams
• rain fly
• Vents
• wind line

In the roughly $40-$50 range, you're more of a gamble on quality and longevity. If you only plan on camping with 1 or 2 people once or twice a year for one or two nights at a time, this may be fine for you.

2. $50 to $100

The main difference between the $50-$100 price range and the sub-$50 price range is tent quality. While you shouldn't expect any Cadillac-class tents, you can definitely get a quality tent that will allow you to take multiple camping trips.

4 person tent

There will be more options for 4 people in this price range. However, remember the tent rules!

The rule of the tent is: be generous! This means that a 4 person tent can hold 4 medium sized adults like sardines (very compact). When everyone is in the tent, there isn't much space to do anything other than sleep. Don't expect 4 people to be super comfortable. Especially if your campmates are restless.

Some extras to expect in this price range:

2-person tents are lighter

Tub floor (tent floor that runs up the sides to keep water from pooling)

Again, the WNS Yurt Tent dominates this category, but the WNS 4-Person Cabin Tent comes in a close second.

3. $100 to $150

There are only a few extra features in this price range, but for the most part, it's only the quality that really changes here, but there are definitely more size options here.

In this price range, you can expect your tent to be more durable and waterproof. I wouldn't say you can't find a similar tent in the $50 to $100 range, though. The difference in quality between $50-$100 and $100-$150 is not as great as the difference in quality between $0-50 and $50-$100. In short, for anything in the $100 to $150 range, you're getting tents that are worth your money.

2 person tent

2-person tents in this price range will start to include extra features such as:

• Include footprints (this is the ground cloth you usually need to buy separately)
• Specially treated seams are more waterproof than cheaper seams
• Forecourt (covered space outside the tent where you can store your gear or cook (if it rains)

6 person tent

In the $100 to $150 price range, you start to see entry into mid-level quality 6-person tents. You'll also see other tent designs beyond the standard yurt, such as:

• Screen room tent (eg Coleman)
• Cabin tents (these tents can actually allow some people to stand inside the tent)

4. ​$150 to $250

In this price range, you start to see 4 season tents. A 4-season tent is a thicker tent ideal for extremely cold conditions. These tents are much more expensive than 3 season tents.

Also, you'll see more ultralight tents in this price range, with an emphasis on extremely lightweight materials.

big tent

Finally, you will see the entrance to a medium quality tent for 12 people. Typically, you'll see tents for 8 to 10 people in this category. Tahoe Gear even has a decent-looking 14-person tent in this category.

5. $250 to $500

This is where luxury starts to happen. I have never used a tent of this quality but can dream. In addition to being higher quality, generally in this price range you'll see tents suitable for 10+ people. In addition to including all the features mentioned earlier, these tents will also have other features such as:

• Room dividers for a little more privacy
• hinged door
• Super fancy stuff like a dark room
• Many zippers and room customization allow for optional ventilation
• Higher quality utility poles
• 4-Season Tent Customized with Multiple Layers of Tent Fabric and Better Air Vents

6. $500+

This is where your tent will focus on special needs, such as:

• Extreme Lightweight Tent for Backpackers
• Stronger and more durable tent for large groups
• More permanent tents, such as huts or yurt-like tents with canvas walls

Conclusion

Now that you know more about the cost of a tent and the different factors that affect price, you can start shopping for the perfect tent for your needs. Just remember to keep your budget in mind so you don't end up spending more than you can afford.

The price of a tent depends on its size, quality, material, brand and features. The most important factor to consider is how you plan to use your tent.

If you only need something occasionally, the cheaper models will suffice. However, if you're an experienced camper and plan to use your tent a lot, you might want to invest in a higher-quality model.

Whatever your budget, there's a tent to suit you. Be sure to do your research to find the best option for your needs.

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