6 Best 12 Person Tent
Carla Arbuckle
If you enjoy family camping trips or like to get away for trips with groups of friends, a large camping tent can provide enough space for everyone to share the same accommodation. Having everyone in the same tent is not only sociable, it saves bringing multiple smaller tents and you can use a single pitch at a campsite.
There are different tent styles available, from a multi-room tent with porch, to 12 man cabin tents, to cater to your needs, whether you’ll be taking a tent on your family summer holiday or to a festival with friends.
We’ve looked at some of the key points to consider when choosing a tent, as well as reviewing some of the 12 people tents on the market to find our recommended option.
Capacity
Most tents state the maximum capacity of people that the tent can sleep if you arrange people ‘backpacker style’. This means each occupant sleeping in an individual sleeping bag, rather than on a camp bed or air bed.
If you use the tent at the stated maximum capacity, you may find there’s not very much room left over for your belongings or any gear such as cooking equipment. This can be fine if you’re taking the tent on a trip where you don’t need to take much with you, for example to a festival or an outdoor event.
However, if you’re going on a longer camping trip or you need to take kit with you, then for your comfort and for ease it may be better to look at a tent that can accommodate more than the number of people you need it for. For example, choosing a 12 people tent for 8 people to camp in can give you more space to move around, making for a more relaxing experience. If you’re keen to camp in comfort, most large tents can accommodate multiple air beds. Checking the specifications for the tent will usually tell you how many air beds can fit into the space.
Many large tents offer the possibility to split the interior into smaller rooms, using dividers. This can give you the flexibility to adjust the set up for each trip. Creating separate rooms for sleeping within a tent can give some degree of privacy. You could also use dividers to split the interior into sleeping and living areas. Several of the 12-man cabin tents we reviewed can be split into several rooms.
Ceiling height is another point to consider when you’re looking at the capacity of a tent. A higher ceiling height can make a tent feel more spacious, and if you’re able to stand tall in the tent this makes moving around easier. Some domed-style tents have a peak ceiling height at their centre, but if you chose a straight wall style the ceiling height will be more consistent all over.
Consider Climate & Seasons
When you will use your tent is also an important consideration. Many people camp mainly in the summer months, and so long as you live in a temperate climate, you generally won’t need any extra insulation. Your key consideration in the summer is more likely to be how to keep the tent cool and comfortable enough to get a restful sleep.
Tents can have a variety of ways to help air flow circulate and keep the space cool. The most common method of ventilation are windows, which can be covered back up when it rains. Windows will usually have a mesh cover so air can still move freely but bugs are kept outside the tent. Some tents will also have a mesh ceiling, so that hot air does not become trapped inside the tent in the heat of a sunny day. A rainfly will cover the mesh so that hot air can escape but the tent stays dry. A few of the tents we reviewed also have a ground vent, which can provide useful ventilation if you have to close the windows in the rain.
Even in summer months there is no guarantee that it won’t rain. Look for a tent which is made with a water-resistant or water-repellant fabric to help protect you from the elements. Reinforced seams are another feature to look out for as seams can be a weak point where water can enter. A rainfly is a standard feature of most tents and again will help keep the tent watertight. Moisture could also come in at the ground level, so check the details of the groundsheet which is supplied with the tent.
If you plan to camp in cooler months of the year, you might want to steer away from mesh ceiling tents as these don’t provide much insulation. You could instead look for features such as an E-port for a power cable, so you are able to use a heater to warm the tent. A cabin tent with a porch can also give you a useful area to store outdoor gear and boots.
There can be stormy and windy weather at any time of year, so look out for a sturdy and durable tent that will withstand constant or gusty winds. Generally speaking, metal poles have good strength. Anchoring the tent with ropes and stakes is vital to keep it standing firm.
Ease of Use
Their size means that 12 person cabin tents typically require several people to put them up. Also bear in mind that the peak ceiling height may be taller than you, so you’ll need some way to reach it.
If you’re looking for a tent which is very quick and easy to put up, a pop-up tent may be the best choice. These often have poles which are pre-attached to the tent and simply click together meaning they can be ready in just a couple of minutes, rather than the twenty minutes or more needed for other tents.
6 Best 12 Person Tent
3. Tahoe Gear – Prescott 12 Person Family Cabin Tent
2. Core – 12 Person XL Cabin Tent
1. Core – Two Room 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent
4. Core – 12 Person XL Cabin Tent
5. Wenzel – Great Basin Tent
6. Tahoe Gear – Getaway Deluxe Cabin Tent
Tahoe Gear – Prescott 12 Person Family Cabin Tent
This is a large and comfortable tent, with an overall size of 20 foot by 10 foot and a centre height of 6.5 feet.
The tent can accommodate up to 12 people. It can be used either as one open space, or you can zip up the divider to create two separate rooms. Once closed, the divider leaves a third of the space on one side, ideal for creating a bedroom for parents or kids if you’re travelling as a family. The remaining two-thirds of the space is spacious enough for further beds and your gear.
The tent body and rain fly is made from a durable polyester fabric that has a waterproof coating and can resist UV light. There are plenty of windows around the tent to help circulate air, keeping you cool in warmer months. The windows have a mesh covering for privacy and to keep bugs out. There are also two doors for easy access.
The tent is easy for two people to assemble, with a fibreglass pole frame.
Pros
- Roomy tent with good central ceiling height.
- Can be divided into two rooms.
- Plenty of windows letting in light and providing air flow.
- Two entry doors.
- Easy for two people to assemble.
Cons
- Not recommended for camping in Winter.
Our Take
Core – 12 Person XL Cabin Tent
The straight walls of this 12 person cabin tent give a roomy and spacious feel.
The floor space measures 16 foot by 11 foot and the central ceiling height of over 7 foot means you can move around with ease. Inside, the space can be divided into two if you’re looking for extra flexibility, with an attachable room divider that can create separate living and sleeping areas. There’s a front T-door and back D-door for easy access.
This tent has multiple windows for air circulation, as well as a venting system that has an adjustable air intake vent which draws cool air from the ground. In warm weather the detachable rainfly can be removed allowing you to stargaze through the mesh ceiling, which also allows hot air to escape.
The tent is made with water repellant durable polyester, and sealed seams help keep it watertight. Two people should be able to assemble this tent in around 30 minutes.
Pros
- Straight walls give a roomy feel.
- High ceiling - over 7 foot.
- Space can be divided into two areas.
- Mesh ceiling allows for stargazing if the rainfly is off.
- Venting system and windows to keep the tent cool in warm weather.
Cons
- This tent is stated as water resistant rather than waterproof.
Our Take
Core – Two Room 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent
This is effectively a 12 person pop up tent, with a set up time of just two minutes. It has poles which are pre-attached to the tent, so you simply unfold it and extend the legs until they click.
The overall size of this tent is 18 foot by 10 foot, and it can accommodate 12 people in individual sleeping bags, or fit up to three queen size air mattresses. A detachable room divider can split the interior and provide a private sleeping area, or you can remove it and have one open space.
There’s a side D-door and a front T-door for easy access. At one end of the tent are windows that span the full height of the tent, so you can use this as a sleeping area or as a seating area that lets you see the outdoors whilst keeping bugs out.
This tent features a venting system with an adjustable air vent that draws in cool air from the ground. Hot air can escape through the mesh windows and also through the mesh ceiling. If the weather is fine, the water repellant rainfly can be removed so you can stargaze through the mesh ceiling.
Pros
- Extremely fast assembly.
- Detachable room divider to create two interior areas.
- Two entry doors for easy access.
- Full height windows giving the feeling of being outdoors, indoors.
- Venting system including a mesh ceiling.
Cons
- Most comfortable if not used at full 12 person capacity.
Our Take
If you are looking for a tent that is quick and easy to set up, this Core 12 person pop-up tent will do the trick. This large cabin-style family camping tent can fit three queen size air mattresses or accommodate 12 people in individual sleeping bags. It has two entrances with doors, so it's convenient if some of your party need to leave at night without waking everyone else inside. You'll have plenty of space for all your gear with room dividers included! Is this the perfect instant cabin tent for you? Check out our other tents too!
After considering the benefits of each of these models, we’ve concluded that the Core Two Room 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent is our winner, for these reasons:
- Super-quick and easy assembly, which takes two minutes or less.
- Great overall space with generous dimensions.
- Option to split the interior into two areas with a detachable divider.
- Venting system to keep the tent cool in warmer weather.
- Two access doors for easy access, and large windows to enjoy the outdoors.
Core – 12 Person XL Cabin Tent
The straight walls of this 12 person cabin tent give a roomy and spacious feel.
The floor space measures 16 foot by 11 foot and the central ceiling height of over 7 foot means you can move around with ease. Inside, the space can be divided into two if you’re looking for extra flexibility, with an attachable room divider that can create separate living and sleeping areas. There’s a front T-door and back D-door for easy access.
This tent has multiple windows for air circulation, as well as a venting system that has an adjustable air intake vent which draws cool air from the ground. In warm weather the detachable rainfly can be removed allowing you to stargaze through the mesh ceiling, which also allows hot air to escape.
The tent is made with water repellant durable polyester, and sealed seams help keep it watertight. Two people should be able to assemble this tent in around 30 minutes.
Pros
- Straight walls give a roomy feel.
- High ceiling - over 7 foot.
- Space can be divided into two areas.
- Mesh ceiling allows for stargazing if the rainfly is off.
- Venting system and windows to keep the tent cool in warm weather.
Cons
- This tent is stated as water resistant rather than waterproof.
Our Take
Wenzel – Great Basin Tent
This is a 10 person dome style tent with a floor area of 18 foot by 10 foot. The interior can be split up using removable dividers to create three separate rooms, ideal for creating more private sleeping areas if you’re camping with friends.
The tent is large enough to fit up to three queen size air beds, or 10 people sleeping in individual sleeping bags. The tent is made with fibreglass poles and a polyester material with water repellant finish. There is one central access door, and several windows for ventilation, with mesh to keep bugs out. The mesh ceiling also helps keep you cool in summer months, and if the weather is good enough, you can leave the rainfly off to stargaze through the ceiling.
This tent has a unique system to reflect light around the interior. You can place a flashlight, head torch or lantern into a pouch in the mesh gear loft, facing up towards a reflective panel. The panel distributes the light evenly around the space. There are a couple of other mesh pockets for storage, and an E port for a power cable.
Pros
- Removable dividers can create three separate areas.
- Light reflective system to illuminate the tent interior.
- Gear loft for storage.
- Mesh ceiling for ventilation.
- E port for a power cable.
Cons
- Mesh ceiling means it’s less suitable for camping in colder months.
Our Take
Tahoe Gear – Getaway Deluxe Cabin Tent
This large L-shaped tent is one of our highly rated 12 man tents. It has a central ceiling height of 7 foot and high walls so it’s easy to move around the generous space.
The short part of the L-shape has a built-in divider separating it from the rest of the tent, with its own entry door. This is an ideal space to use as a living area, for storage or as a more private sleeping space. The larger part of the L-shape has another entry door and can be used as one large space, or divided into two rooms using the provided detachable divider. Three room cabin tents such as this one are highly versatile as the space can be set up in various ways according to your needs on each trip.
The durable polyester tent body and fly help this tent withstand a variety of weather conditions and offers water resistance. The shock-corded fibreglass poles are sturdy and there are hook and loop fixtures so you can quickly add or remove the rainfly depending on the weather conditions.
The windows and two doors all have mesh for ventilation and to keep bugs out. The ceiling is also mesh, and in summer months you could leave the rainfly off to help keep you cool and to give a great view of the night sky. There’s a small floor vent to help ventilation if you have to zip up the window panels because of rain.
Pros
- Generous amount of space.
- High ceiling allows you to move around easily.
- Versatile space which can be divided into three separate rooms.
- Two entry doors.
- Rainfly can be quickly added or removed as needed.
Cons
- Best for camping in warmer weather given the mesh ceiling.
Our Take
