Camping

Best 12-Person Camping Tent in 2023: Huge tents for large groups

Alex Buchnev

March 28, 2023

In a hurry? Our pick as the best overall 12-person camping tent is Bushnell Shield Series Cabin Tent

Whether you’re looking for a tent for a large group of friends or multiple families, a 12-person tent will give you plenty of room.

And as camping is better shared, you’re going to need a large tent for other guests if you have friends joining you or if your kids want to bring their friends.

A 12-person tent can be an expensive investment, and you don’t want to bring your new tent home only to have it collapse during the next big storm. Fret not! We’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

We are avid campers and outdoor people and love testing new gear. Here is a list of our favorite 12-person tents, based on the hundreds of reviews from others as well as our extensive testing and usage. 

As an affiliate of Amazon and other retailers, we may earn a small commission when you buy via our links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

At a Glance: Best 12-Person Camping Tents

Best Overall Tent: Bushnell Shield Series Cabin Tent
Best Value: Eureka Copper Canyon LX  
Best Instant Tent: CORE 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent
Best Budget Tent: Ozark Trail 16 feet x 16 feet
Best For Backpacking: Outbound Dome Tent
Best Cabin Tent: KTT Extra Large Family Tent
Best Weatherproofing: NTK Super Arizona GT
Best For Durability: Teton Sports Sierra Canvas Tent
Best Teepee: Omnicore Designs Teepee Tent
Coleman Skydome Tent
Core Extra Large Straight Wall Tent
Coleman Skylodge Tent
Campros CP Tent
Ozark Trail 12-Person With Screen Porch

Comparison table: Best 12-Person Camping Tents

Model	Specs	Where To Buy
Bushnell Shield Series Cabin Tent	Floor size: 216 x 132 in Peak height: 80 in Weight: 59.9 lbs	Amazon
Eureka Copper Canyon LX	Floor size: 168 x 144 in Peak height: 84 in Weight: 37 lb 14.1 oz	Amazon
CORE 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent	Floor size: 168 x 144 in Peak height: 80 in Weight: 52.55 lbs	Amazon
Ozark Trail 16 feet x 16 feet	Floor size: 192 x 192 in Peak height: 82 in Weight: 61 lbs	Amazon
Outbound Dome Tent	Floor size: 240 x 108 in’ Peak height: 79.2 in Weight: 21 lbs	Amazon
KTT Extra Large Family Tent	Floor size: 120 x 169 in Peak height: 84 in Weight: 34 lbs	Amazon
NTK Super Arizona GT	Floor size: 247.2 x 122.4 in Peak height: 82.8 in Weight: 39.77 lbs	Amazon
Teton Sports Sierra Canvas Tent	Floor size: 192 x 192 in Peak height: 113 in Weight:  79.6 lbs	Amazon
Omnicore Designs Teepee Tent	Floor size: 216 x 216 in Peak height: 117 in Weight: 26.7 lbs	Amazon
Coleman Skydome Tent	Floor size: 240 x 108 in Peak height: 84 in Weight: 40.11 lbs	Amazon
Core Extra Large Straight Wall Tent	Floor size: 192 x 132 in Peak height: 80 in Weight: 40 lbs	Amazon
Coleman Skylodge Tent	Floor size: 240 x 108 in Peak height: 84 in Weight: 40.11 lbs	Amazon
Campros CP Tent	Floor size: 240 x 108 in Peak height: 72 in Weight: 24.3 lbs	Amazon
Ozark Trail 12-Person With Screen Porch	Floor size: 147.6 x 222 in Peak height: 90 in Weight: 44 lbs	Amazon

Best 12-Person Camping Tent Reviews

Best Overall: Bushnell Shield Series Cabin Tent

Weight: 27.2 kg / 59.9 lbs
Packed size: 49.5 x 13.3 x 11.3 in (126 x 34 x 29 cm)
Floor size: 216 x 132 in (548 x 335 cm)
Peak height: 80 in (203 cm)
Rooms: 3

The Bushnell Shield Series 12, also available in 6 and 9-person sizes, has several groundbreaking features, including Instant Setup Technology, which allows you to set up your camp in minutes so you can spend more time having fun.

The Bushnell Shield Series is a spacious choice that can accommodate three queen air mattresses while still leaving room for equipment.

The steel frames are strong and will withstand high winds. In addition, the shell fabric is highly reliable and does not leak, rip, or wear even when exposed to harsh weather.

The tent employs heat shield technology, which is a unique reflective covering on the inside that keeps the tent substantially darker and cooler on hot summer days. 

The tent also has Weather Shield Technology, which includes a water-repellent material, tub flooring, and completely taped seams to keep rain and flowing water away.

Overall, the quality of this tent is excellent and can last many years if cared for and maintained properly.

Best Value: Eureka Copper Canyon LX 

Weight: 17.2 kg / 37 lb 14.1 oz
Packed size: 29.53 x 11.42 x 11.42 in (75 x 29 x 29 cm)
Floor size: 168 x 144 in (426.72 cm x 365.76 cm)
Peak height: 84 in (213 cm)
Rooms: 2

The Eureka Copper Canyon LX Tent is a freestanding and simple-to-use cabin-style family camping tent with multiple windows and two doors. This tent is simple to set up with only two people and has plenty of airflow, storage side pockets, and a gear loft to keep small items organized and off the ground. 

Four wide mesh windows with waterproof curtains provide a spectacular view and enough ventilation. The tent includes a small brim over one of the openings enabling a dry entrance and bathtub-style flooring. 

The sturdy steel and fiberglass frame has pole sleeves, corner hubs, and snap clips for an easy two-person setup. There are two large doors at the front and back that allow everyone to easily come in and leave.

This is a cabin tent with steep and straight sides and a very tall height, so you can stand up practically everywhere within this tent.

Best Instant: CORE 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent

Weight: 23.84 kg / 52.55 lbs
Packed size: 29.53 x 11.42 x 11.42 in (75 x 29 x 29 cm)
Floor size: 168 x 144 in (426.72 cm x 365.76 cm)
Peak height: 80 in (203 cm)
Rooms: 3

The Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent is without a doubt one of the largest family camping tents available. This freestanding tent with 3 rooms can be pitched in less than 2 minutes. 

The steel poles are already fastened to the tent, so all you have to do is unpack, unfold, elevate legs into position, and expand legs so they lock into place. Bringing down the tent is likewise a breeze. 

Simply push the popup buttons to fasten the telescopic poles in place. The tent will collapse as a result of this. After that, you simply wrap it and return home.

This tent also has H20 Block Technology, which combines water-resistant fabric with active bead technology to improve waterproofing and provide the finest water run-off. Because the windows and doors are fully seam-sealed, this tent is more resistant to rain than any of its competitors. 

In addition, because the windows and ceiling are formed of mesh, you can entirely remove the rainfly in the hotter months to give you the greatest sights of the surrounding area.

There are two room dividers included with this tent that can be utilized to form three rooms. It is totally up to you whether you use the room dividers to create 3 sleeping areas or 2 sleeping areas and 1 living area.

This tent includes a sophisticated ventilation system. The adjustable air intake pulls cooler air from the ground and allows it to escape via the mesh ceiling. This allows you to maintain a suitable temperature throughout the season.

Best Budget: Ozark Trail 16 feet x 16 feet 

Weight: 28 kgs / 61 lbs
Packed size: 52 x 15 x 14 in (132 x 38 x 36 cm)
Floor size: 192 x 192 in (487 cm x 487 cm)
Peak height: 82 in (208 cm)
Rooms: 3

This Ozark Trail 12-Person Instant Cabin 16 feet × 16 feet is a large three-room tent with steel poles, seven windows, and two doors that is ideal for family camping trips in warm weather. 

This is an instant assembly, and two people can set it in less than two minutes. It may be surprising for a tent of this size, but the frames already come pre-attached to the tent. 

This is a cabin-style tent with steep, straight walls and a partial fly. Although the structure is freestanding, you should always stake it down correctly to set your mind at ease. The package includes stakes and guylines as well.

The tent has three distinct rooms with sewn-in dividers. There are two external doors and two internal doors. All of the rooms are connected, however, you may shut all of the doors for privacy, and there are panels provided that can be used throughout.

This is a tent for camping in warm weather. The ceiling is all mesh, which is excellent for ventilation but not ideal for a colder climate.

Best For Backpacking: Outbound Dome Tent

Weight: 9.52 kg / 21 lbs
Packed size: ‎25.5 x 9.5 x 9 in (64.77 x 24.13 x 22.86 cm).
Floor size: 240 x 108 in’ (609 x 274 cm)
Peak height: 79.2 in (201 cm)
Rooms: 1

The Outbound Dome Tent is well-praised as the best-value 12-person tent currently on the market. It is also the most lightweight, weighing in at a mere 9.5 kg / 21 lbs, which is surprising for a tent of this size. 

This tent is a fantastic choice for a family who likes camping on occasion in nice weather. The Outdoor Dome is light in comparison to many tents of similar size, and it is quick and simple to set up although not as quick as the instant tents. 

Its user-friendly design includes a fiberglass frame and ‘easy-up’ technology which makes pitching it simple and quick. However, the dome-shaped design will sacrifice some space compared to tents with vertical walls like cabin tents.

The fiberglass frame structure delivers high levels of durability while being light. The increased durability makes it even more resistant to adverse weather conditions.

The D-shaped door includes two built-in zip windows as well as a mesh wall to enable enough ventilation on warm days. These may be opened to let in a soft breeze or closed to create a pleasant atmosphere.

Best Cabin: KTT Extra Large Family Tent

Weight: 34 lbs / 15.4 kg
Packed size: ‎27.07 x 12.96 x 11.43 in (69cm x 33cm x 29cm)
Floor size: 120 x 169 in (305 cm x 429 cm)
Peak height: 84 in (213cm)
Rooms: 2
Shape: Rectangular

The KTT Extra Large Family Tent is a large, spacious rectangular tent with two rooms that can fit up to a total of 12 people comfortably. One of the main benefits of this tent would be the space and all the features in the inner area of the tent.

The rectangular design comes with straight walls that maximize the sense of space, as does the top of the tent which is made of mesh. This also allows you to enjoy better airflow and good views of the sky. The two bay windows on either side are an excellent addition that also extends the space.  

The door of the tent is held up by two poles on either side, which conveniently enables the door to double as a built-in awning where you can enjoy the fresh air from the shade. This is a nice added benefit as you don’t need to buy a separate awning for your camping experience. 

Another nice feature is the three mesh storage pockets and side storage pockets by the bay windows to easily store and access your essentials. 

The tent does not automatically pop up and instead needs to be built by hand following the instructions carefully. It does take some time to assemble the tent but it is more stable than a lot of pop-up tents.  

Best Weatherproofing: NTK Super Arizona GT

Weight: 39.77 lbs / 18 kg
Packed size: 28 x 14 x 13 (71 х 36 x 33 cm)
Floor size: 247.2 x 122.4 in (628 x 311 cm) 
Peak height: 82.8 in (210 cm) 
Rooms: 2
Shape: Dome

The NTK Super Arizona GT is super spacious and can host up to 12 people. It has one large space that can be separated with a removable divider, splitting the tent into two smaller yet still very much spacious rooms – each room can still fit a queen bed effortlessly. 

There is a small gap around the room divider that helps with ventilation. The peak height of the tent is over 6 feet, which is relatively high for a dome-shaped tent. 

It has two doors and three windows, making the space feel even larger and aiding airflow. The windows come with screens to keep bugs out even when open, but the downside is that both the doors and windows need to be closed from the outside. 

Boasting exceptional weatherproofing capabilities, you can trust that you’ll stay dry even in the pouring rain. The tent comes with a very sturdy rainfly made with double-layered 190T polyester, a polyester known for its durable, water-repellent, and wind and rain-resistant properties. 

The full-coverage rainfly also offers UV protection, and the sturdy zippers ensure water does not seep in from the doors or windows. 

For the most part, the material is a good balance between durable and lightweight for good airflow. However, it can get a little hot when the tent is fully closed and the bottom of the tent is not as thick as it could be.  

Best For Durability: Teton Sports Sierra Canvas Tent 

Weight:  79.6 lbs / 36 kg
Packed size: ‎34.5 x 15 x 14.5 in (88 x 38 x 37 cm)
Floor size: 192 x 192 in (488 x 488 cm)
Peak height: 113 in (287 cm)
Rooms: 1
Shape: Bell

The Teton Sports Sierra Canvas Tent is a bell-shaped tent with a removable floor that cleverly enables it to double as a canopy. The Sierra Canvas Tent can fit 12 people but also comes in sizes better suited for 10 or 16 people. 

Whether you want a full tent or just the canopy, it’s the same effortless setup for both options. All you need to do is prop up your tent and assemble the doorposts and the single center pole. 

Once set up, you can open the door extra wide, making it easy to move in and out and letting you enjoy the breeze and amazing views around you.

The peak height of the tent stands at 113” or over 9 feet, but this is only at the very center where the pole stands. As the tent is a bell shape, the height decreases on the outer edges and goes as low as 3 feet, but most of the tent is high enough and gives plenty of space to walk around. 

This tent is made of all-weather canvas with reinforced seams so it’s breathable, especially with the large door, while also being very water-resistant and sturdy. 

It is also designed with a 19 oz. heavy-duty welded floor with a coated finish that’s leak-proof and thick enough to walk around barefoot for maximum comfort. 

Overall, the tent is extremely durable and weatherproof and will last you many years. 

Best Teepee: Omnicore Designs Teepee Tent

Weight: 26.7 lbs / 12.13 kg
Packed size: ‎‎33.5 x 10 x 9.5 in (
Floor size: 216 x 216 in (549 x 549 cm)
Peak height: 117 in (297 cm)
Rooms: 1 
Shape: Teepee

The Omnicore Designs Teepee Tent comes in a cone shape with a lot of space. With an 18 feet by 18 feet floor area and a 9 feet center height, this teepee tent gives you plenty of space to move around in one large room. 

The tent features a unique vented roof that allows you to open and close the peak seamlessly with the pull of a cord. This is a useful feature that not only aids ventilation but lets in natural light during the day and gives you a clear view of the stars at night. 

The tent is also equipped with a wide mesh door and ground vents to help with airflow while still keeping insects out. 

While full of ventilation features, the tent is still great at keeping moisture out. Made of nylon and designed with a steep cone, the tent is very weatherproof, and snow or rain can slide right off. There’s additionally a built-in tub floor for another layer of protection from water and bugs. 

To assemble the tent, there are a lot of stakes involved so it may take some time to set up, although it is not hard. However, it requires a bit more effort to disassemble and put back in the tent so a tip would be mindful of how it’s arranged when you unpack it the first time to see where everything is placed. 

The nylon material also makes it a lot thinner and more lightweight so it’s easier to carry around, but the carrying bag itself is a bit heavy. 

Coleman Skydome Tent 

Weight: 40.11 lbs / 18.2kg 
Packed size: ‎27.5 x 12.5 x 12.5 in (70 x 32 x 32 cm)
Floor size: 240 x 108 in (610 x 274 cm) 
Peak height: 84 in (213 cm) 
Rooms: 2
Shape: Dome

The Coleman Tents Skydome is a domed shape tent that’s easy to set up. The tent comes with pre-attached poles, so it only takes 5 to 10 minutes to fully assemble and is easy to put together even for novice campers. It is also very easy to put back in the bag post-camping. 

The Skydome is available in several sizes, ranging from tents fit for 2 people all the way to 12 people. The 12-person Skydome tent is very spacious and fits up to four queen beds.

The tent comes with a room divider to be split into two rooms and has a door on either side to enter and exit, which is helpful, especially with a large group and many people going in and out. The doors are wide so you can move beds and other gear in and out with ease. 

The tent has two windows, floor vents, and a detachable rain fly for better airflow, the latter of which you can detach for an amazing view of the night sky. 

This tent is well-prepared to protect you and your group from harsher weather conditions. The tent features a tub-like floor, welded corners, and inverted and taped seams to keep water out, and the thick nylon material that makes up the tent can withstand up to 35mph winds. 

Considering small details, the tent comes equipped with an e-port to make it easy to manage cables and extension cords. Just run it through the port and plug it into your appliances. 

Core Extra Large Straight Wall Tent 

Weight: 18.14 kg / 40 lbs
Packed size: 30.5 x 15.5 x 13 in (77 x 39 x 33 cm)
Floor size: 192 x 132 in (487 x 335 cm)
Peak height: 80 in (203 cm)
Rooms: 2

CORE 12-Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent 16 x 11 is a 2-room tall freestanding tent with straight walls, 2 doors, and several windows. Because a removable divider is included, the tent can have two rooms. 

The tent has six separate windows and three windows on the doors. They are all two-layer structures with mesh and zippered panels.

This tent features a massive inverted T-shaped double door and another giant D-shaped door on the backside.

As a whole, this is a fantastic design for family camping. This is a warm-season camping tent, with a large box shape that creates a significant barrier to side winds, but it is recommended to avoid adverse weather conditions. 

The poles are made of fiberglass, and you have many of them. So you’ve got eight vertical and thick-legged poles, four roof poles, and one awning pole. 

On the opposing thin sides, there are two-floor vents. This should be sufficient to function with the mesh on the ceiling, which cannot be closed and is located under the fly.

Coleman Skylodge Tent

Weight: 24 kgs / 52.71 lbs
Packed size: ‎46 x 17.3 x 13.2 in (116.84 x 43.94 x 33.52 cm)
Floor size: 186 x 132 in (475.48 x 335.28 cm)
Peak height: 88.8 in (226 cm)
Rooms: 2

The Coleman Camping Tent Skylodge Instant 8-12 Person is an incredibly simple tall 2-room tent best suited for warm-weather family vehicle camping. The frame is already attached to the tent, and the telescopic poles expand swiftly and easily. 

The stated setup time is only one minute, which is extremely quick. This is a cabin-style tent, which means steep and straight walls, several windows, a limited covered fly for clear views, and a high ceiling. 

The tent is officially a two-room structure with a removable divider. You just have one door, which is insufficient for a tent of this size. However, you have large windows on all sides that seem to have meshed with zippered curtains for privacy and safety. 

The structure is entirely made of steel, however, there is a little brim over the entrance that is held up by a fiberglass pole. There is a complete set of J-shape steel stakes and guylines included. The tent comes with a well-designed stuff-and-roll travel bag that makes packing your tent a breeze.

Campros CP Tent

Weight: 11 kg / 24.3 lbs
Packed size: ‎25.2 x 11 x 11 in (64 x 28 x 28 cm)
Floor size: 240 x 108 in (609.6 x 274.32 cm)
Peak height: 72 in (183 cm)
Rooms: 2

The Campros CP Tent is a tunnel-style tent with two huge doors and six windows, fiberglass poles, and features that make it ideal for summer camping in good weather conditions. There are no special skills required to set up the tent, and two people could set it up in 10 minutes. 

The camping tent has a slick zipper and sturdy poles, and because this is a collapsible tent, it must be assembled, which may take some time. The tent is a two-room construction with a retractable partition in the middle that functions as a curtain. Each room has its own door! 

There are six different windows, all of which are double-layered with mesh and zippered panels. The rainfly is of the partial covering kind, so there should be plenty of fresh air inside.

When it rains, though, you must keep the windows and doors shut. This is a tent for summer camping in calm weather with little rain and wind.

Ozark Trail 12-Person With Screen Porch

Weight: 20 kg / 44 lbs
Packed size: ‎28.9 x 17.3 x 10.9 in (73 x 44 x 28 cm)
Floor size: 147.6 x 222 in (374.90 x 563.88 cm)
Peak height: 90 in (229 cm)
Rooms: 2

The Ozark Trail 12-Person Cabin Tent with Screen Porch is a well-designed summer camping tent that features two floored rooms, multiple huge windows, two entrances, and a low price. 

This massive tent takes around 20 minutes to set up and should be done with two people because of the height of the tent. 

This design may also be described as a freestanding tent, but because it is tall and hefty, you’ll definitely want to stake it down. 

The inner divider is stitched in and has a zipper in the center. Because the porch area is not floored, you may use your camping chairs without fear of damaging the floor. It gives shelter from flying insects and has a roof so you may relax in the shade while also cooking. 

Because there are two large doors, each of the interior rooms has its own door. The screen room features a massive inverted-T-shaped door. The tent features four different windows on each of its three sides. 

For privacy and rainfall protection, all the windows include mesh and zippered panels. The two specified inner doors also have mesh and panels, bringing the total to six windows. Because there are no panels in the screen room, you can view everything around you.

12-Person Tent Buying Guide 

We compared the smallest details and analyzed each of these tents countless times. We’ve created these tables so you can see how these tents stack up against each other to help you make up your mind. 

Comfort and Space 

Not all tents that claim they are 12-person tents can comfortably fit exactly 12 people. The key here is to look at the floor area, as well as the peak height. Here are all the tents and the floor space. 

Keep in mind that tents have different shapes and the floor area might not be the perfect square of those dimensions, which is why we have also given a rating to each tent based on how spacious and comfortable it feels. 

Breathability and Ventilation 

There are going to be a lot of people in these tents, so airflow is paramount. You’ll need large, generous doors and windows that have mesh nettings to keep the air circulating yet the bugs out. 

Here are all the tents ranked on a scale of 1 to 10 depending on how well-ventilated they are. 

Weather Resistance 

Not all tents are created equal, and some tents can be leaky especially when the weather turns real bad. Others might not be as aerodynamic, and be more prone to failing under powerful winds. 

Here are the tents ranked from 1 to 10 depending on how weatherproof they are when it comes to rain and wind. 

Durability

The durability of a tent doesn’t just depend on the materials the tent is made out of. It also depends on the type of poles being used, the size and thickness of the stakes, the hardiness of the lines, zippers, and all other accessories that might come with the tent.

Here’s a rating of all the tents based on how durable they felt to us.

Ease of Use

Some tents take longer to set up than others. Some need two people to set up, while some only need one. Here’s a ranking of all the tents based on how easy it is to set up and use. 

Packed Size and Weight 

A tent’s size and weight is crucial, especially for a large 12-person tent. The tent should be sturdily built yet still be convenient enough to handle for one person. While most 12-person tents are fairly heavy, there are still some lightweight options around.

Here’s the list of tents with their packed weight, and then rated according to how easy it would be to transport. 

Final Thoughts 

Buying a 12-person tent can be a large investment, but a well-built, solid tent will last you many years through many camping trips. We hope that you find something on this list you like! 

Good luck with your tent hunting, and happy camping!