10 Best 12 Person Tents of 2021
Photo: Core
A larger tent has many advantages for large groups over smaller tents. So, if you're considering camping with a large family or group, then a 12 person tent is often a great idea.
With a 12 person tent, you save money on buying smaller tents and on camping site fees. You will also have less work because there's only one tent to set up. And the best is experiencing a large shared tent.
In this 12 person tents review, you'll learn the important questions to ask when choosing. Plus, our list of the market's top offers will make it easier to choose.
10 Best 12 Person Tents – Review
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1. Core 12 Instant (Best Overall) |
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2. Tahoe Gear Prescott (Best Budget) |
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3. NTK Arizona (Best Full Coverage Rainfly Tent) |
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4. Core 12 Extra Large Straight Wall (Best Cabin-style) |
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5. Ozark Trail Instant Cabin (Best 3-Room Tent) |
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6. Teton Sports 1188 (Best Premium Canvas Tent) |
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7. Ozark Trail WMT-201776A (Affordable 3-Room Tent) |
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8. Eureka 2601311 (2 Room Cabin-style Tent) |
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9. Ozark Trail Cabin Tent (Has Screen Porch) |
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10. Tahoe Gear Gateway (Deluxe) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Core 12 Instant (Best Overall) |
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2. Tahoe Gear Prescott (Best Budget) |
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3. NTK Arizona (Best Full Coverage Rainfly Tent) |
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4. Core 12 Extra Large Straight Wall (Best Cabin-style) |
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5. Ozark Trail Instant Cabin (Best 3-Room Tent) |
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6. Teton Sports 1188 (Best Premium Canvas Tent) |
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7. Ozark Trail WMT-201776A (Affordable 3-Room Tent) |
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8. Eureka 2601311 (2 Room Cabin-style Tent) |
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9. Ozark Trail Cabin Tent (Has Screen Porch) |
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10. Tahoe Gear Gateway (Deluxe) |
1. Core 12 Instant – Best Overall
Photo: Core
- Center Height: 6.6 feet
- Floor Size: 18 x 10 feet
- Materials: 68D polyester, steel
- Pack Size: 49 x 16 x 11.5 inches
- Pack Weight: 50.8 pounds
Here's a well made and impressive 12 person tent with lots of helpful features. It's an instant tent with a 2-minute or less setup time, so there's little to no stress.
Then it's also a spacious cabin-style tent with an 18 x 10-feet floor size and a 6.6-foot height, plus two dividers to create up to three rooms, making it the overall best 12 person camping tent on this list.
The Core company makes this tent and rain-fly from polyester, while the floor is from durable polyethylene. The stakes and the tent poles are steel.
For cons, its color combination isn't impressive, although there's a choice between Light Gray and Stone Gray . Its spacious interior, however, combines with its many other features and 1-year warranty to make it a great offer.
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2. Tahoe Gear Prescott – Best Budget
Photo: Tahoe Gear
- Center Height: 6.5 feet
- Floor Size: 20 x 10 feet
- Materials: Polyester
- Pack Weight: 69.7 pounds
For those who want a top-quality and affordable 12 person tent, Tahoe Gear presents this large 200-sq ft tent at an attractive price.
It features a polyester construction with a 1200-mm coating for UV and water resistance. There's a 6.5-foot ceiling height and everything is held in place by fiberglass poles.
Besides being the cheapest 12 person tent here, you also get two doorways on either side, large windows and a large mesh roof with a removable rain-fly.
What it lacks is an instant setup system. Plus, there's only one divider to make only two rooms. It features a 120-gram polyethylene floor though and comes with a 2-year warranty.
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3. NTK Arizona – Best Full Coverage Rainfly
Photo: NTK
- Center Height: 6.9 feet
- Floor Size: 10.2 x 20.6 feet
- Materials: Polyester, fiberglass
- Pack Weight: 39.8 pounds
Most other rain-fly designs just cover the top. This NTK Arizona tent comes with a full-coverage rain-fly that covers everything from the roof to the floor.
It's made from a double-layer polyester material with a polyurethane lamination for UV and water protection. There are two doors, a room divider, and a silver-coated anti-fungus polyethylene floor.
The inside also features side mesh pockets for organizations, a top gear loft for more organization, and a lantern ring. The poles are fiberglass.
Its major disadvantage is price because it's one of the costliest tents on this list. Asides from that, it's one of the best 12 person family tents out there and the perfect tent for rainy terrains.
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4. Core 12 Extra Large Straight Wall – Best Cabin-style
Photo: Core
- Center Height: 7.1 feet
- Floor Size: 16 x 11 feet
- Materials: Polyester, polyethylene
- Pack Size: 30.5 x 13 x 15.5 inches
- Pack Weight: 41 pounds
Also featuring a polyester construction with cabin-style walls that stand nearly straight up, this tent measures 16 x 11 feet on the ground and has a 7.1-foot center height.
There's a T-door in front and a D-door at the back, with an included room divided for customizing the inside.
Another feature is the removable rain-fly, which can give way to the enormous mesh ceiling for both ventilation and an amazing view of the skies.
Not so great, however, is that it's not an instant-setup tent. You can also find tents with more space inside. This one looks amazing though, and it comes with a 1-year warranty, making it one of the best 12 person tents on the market.
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5. Ozark Trail Instant Cabin – Best 3-Room
Photo: Ozark Trail
- Center Height: 6.3 feet
- Floor Size: 20 x 18 feet
- Materials: Polyester, steel
- Pack Weight: 56.6 pounds
Ozark Trail goes a step further than the rest here and combines a beautiful and stylish tent design with a 3-room option.
Measuring 20 x 18 feet, Ozark Trail uses steel for the poles and polyester for the cover. There are three doors and 10 fully closable windows for proper ventilation.
This tent's unique design lets you use the third space as either a separate room or a full-mesh front porch, making it one of the best 12 person cabin tents out there.
Its downsides include having one of the lowest ceilings on this list and its cabin-style walls not being able to withstand heavy storms. But if you love beauty and style, then you'll surely love this tent.
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6. Teton Sports 1188 – Best Premium
Photo: Teton Sports
- Center Height: 11.2 feet
- Floor Size: 20 x 20 feet
- Materials: Canvas
- Pack Size: 41 x 17 x 16 inches
- Pack Weight: 66 pounds
Here's an amazing tent for those who care little about price. Made from cotton canvas, you only expect the best. Plus, you can either use it as a tent or as a canopy.
This bell tent measures 20 feet in diameter, but offers 314 square feet of floor space because its floor isn't a full circle. It's also available in a smaller 12 feet version and a medium-sized 16 feet version .
The canvas is additionally waterproof and breathable, making this one of the best 12 person tents around.
Where issues come up are price and weight because it's the costliest on this list and very heavy too, at 66 pounds. Teton Sports backs it with a 1-year warranty and you'll agree that quality has a price.
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7. Ozark Trail WMT-201776A – Affordable 3-Room
Photo: Ozark Trail
- Center Height: 6.8 feet
- Floor Size: 16 x16 feet
- Materials: Polyester
- Pack Size: 52.5 x 14.5 x 12.5 inches
- Pack Weight: 61 pounds
Two features set this 12 person tent apart from the rest. First, it's a 3-room tent. Second, it's an affordable large family tent.
Also, it's an instant tent with a 2-minute or less setup time and this makes it a good option for anyone that needs the best 12 person instant tents.
The tent measures 16 x 16 feet and can handle up to three air beds. There are seven windows for ventilation and you can completely close them if you like.
For cons, this tent could have come in better colors, against its combination of red and gray. It's still a great offer though with its 256 sq ft of space.
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8. Eureka 2601311 – 2 Room Cabin-style
Photo: Eureka
- Center Height: 7 feet
- Floor Size: 14 x 12 feet
- Materials: Polyester taffeta
- Pack Size: 26 x 7 inches
- Pack Weight: 38.8 pounds
Here's another lovely cabin-style 12 person tent, and it's from Eureka. This tent offers near-vertical walls and you can split it into two rooms.
The tent measures 14 x 12 feet, with a 7-foot center height and 38.8 pounds in weight. There are six large windows, six storage pockets for keeping organized, and two gear lofts inside the tent.
Eureka also offers smaller versions of this best 12 person tent, such as the 8-person tent , the 6-person tent , and even the 4-person tent.
For disadvantages, keep in mind that cabin-style tents aren't the best in withstanding heavy winds, and you can only divide it into two rooms. In this tent's defense, however, it features an impressive 7-foot ceiling and comes with a lifetime warranty.
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9. Ozark Trail Cabin Tent – with Screen Porch
Photo: Ozark Trail
- Center Height: 7.5 feet
- Floor Size: 14 x 12 feet
- Materials: Polyester, polyethylene, steel
- Pack Size: 28.5 x 16 x 10.25 inches
- Pack Weight: 40.23 pounds
For smaller families that need 12 person tents because of the large space it provides, a lovely screen porch is often a great addition to the setup.
This Ozark Trail offer comes with a nicely added screen porch that gives the tent a nearly homely look. You can chill in the porch or use it for gear storage.
Inside, you get a room divider curtain to create two rooms if you wish. The tent measures 14 x 12 feet and is 7.5 feet high.
Setup, however, can take up to 20 minutes. But if you don't mind the time, then this remains a great tent. It weighs just 40.23 pounds, fits up to four queen-sized mattresses, and 54 sq ft of screen-room.
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10. Tahoe Gear Gateway – Deluxe
Photo: Tahoe Gear
- Center Height: 7 feet
- Floor Size: 20 x 15 feet
- Materials: Polyester, polyethylene
- Pack Weight: 39.6 pounds
Tahoe Gear combines useful features with a practical tunnel design to create this high-quality tent. It uses 70D polyester for the cover and 120-gram polyethylene for the floor.
There are mesh ceilings and wall pockets to help in organization, with its generous 7-foot center height and windows you can zip shut when you want.
You also get floor vents and the entire tent measures 20 x 15 feet. The package includes a carry bag, a pole bag, stakes and instructions for assembly. Tahoe Gear backs this offer with a 2-year warranty.
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How to Buy the Best 12 Person Tent
Photo: NTK
The following paragraphs shed more light on the important issues to consider when choosing the best 12 person tent to buy.
1. Tent Sizing
Most 12 person tents offer a ground area between 200 ft² and 250 ft². Besides that, this space might contain adults entirely or a mix of adults and kids.
What you should keep in mind, however, is that there's hardly space left for your gear or other stuff. So, while 12 person tents will accommodate 12 persons, it won't do it comfortably.
If you want to comfortably enjoy camping in a 12 person tent, then you need about 5-6 people tops in the tent. But if comfort isn't an issue, then surely, 12 campers will always find sleeping space.
2. Tent Shape
A tent's shape is important because it determines the features or advantages you can expect from it. For instance, cabin-style tents are usually spacious with their straight and high sidewalls. Their disadvantage, however, is they don't withstand winds well.
Dome-shaped tents, however, handle heavy winds and storms better. But their good performance usually comes at the cost of less headroom inside the tent.
As you can see, it's left for you to know where you're headed and to get a tent that'll best serve you in that place.
3. Room Dividers
Although experiencing a large group camping in a large tent is awesome, there will always come times when one or more people need some privacy.
This is especially true with adults and couples, or to separate the kids. You'll find 12 person tents with two or three-room dividers such as the Ozark Trail , as well as rare 4-room tents. The choice is yours here.
4. Tent Seasonality
With tents, seasonality refers to how many seasons you can practically use it for. You'll mostly find 3-season tents, which are best for camping in spring, summer, and fall.
The other tent is the 4-season tent, which is good for camping all year. 4-season tents feature tougher materials and better insulation than 3-season tents. So they can better prevent cold and withstand snow.
They are, however, not the best for warm weather, such as in summer. This is where 3-season tents shine because they offer more ventilation through vents, doors, and windows, making them more comfortable.
5. Weatherproofing
Every tent should offer shelter from rain and storms. However, some tents are better built than others, so keep that in mind when choosing.
Some tent makers go the extra mile to weld the tent's seams, to prevent leaks. Others invert the seams to keep them inside the tent and away from the rain.
Also consider a tent that includes a removable rain-fly, as it can offer you shelter during rain and an amazing view of the night sky on beautiful evenings.
6. Ease of Setup & Use
You'll find two types of 12 person tents for setups. They are the standard tents that can take up to 20 or 30 minutes for setup and instant tents such as the Core Instant Tent that take just one or two minutes.
Therefore, those on the search for the best 12 person pop-up tents should forget it because pop-up tents aren't made in such large sizes.
Conclusion
We've reached the end of this 12 person tents review and you've seen all the interesting offers out there. Now, it's time for you to make your choice.
If you are in a hurry and just need the best overall 12 person tent, then our recommendation is the Core 12 Person Tent with a 6.6-foot center height, 18 x 10-ft size, and 2-minute instant setup.
Those on a budget will find this Tahoe Gear tent perfect. It's 6.5 feet high, measures 20 x 10 feet, and comes with a 2-year warranty.
Else, if the price isn't an issue, then we recommend the Teton Sports 1188 tent , with its 11.2-foot height, 314 sq ft space and elegant cotton canvas design.
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10 Best 12 Person Tents – Review
- 1. Core 12 Instant – Best Overall
- 2. Tahoe Gear Prescott – Best Budget
- 3. NTK Arizona – Best Full Coverage Rainfly
- 4. Core 12 Extra Large Straight Wall – Best Cabin-style
- 5. Ozark Trail Instant Cabin – Best 3-Room
- 6. Teton Sports 1188 – Best Premium
- 7. Ozark Trail WMT-201776A – Affordable 3-Room
- 8. Eureka 2601311 – 2 Room Cabin-style
- 9. Ozark Trail Cabin Tent – with Screen Porch
- 10. Tahoe Gear Gateway – Deluxe
- How to Buy the Best 12 Person Tent
- Conclusion