Whether you are planning a camping trip in one of the colder months of the year, will need to replace the need for a traditional campfire, or simply want to have some extra heat inside your tent to keep you warm while camping, a tent heater is a wonderful means of meeting the task at hand. On this page, we will break down the best tent heaters and all the information that you need to know about this niche of products so that you can find the best tent heater for your personal needs and circumstances.
This page will serve as a resource for anybody that is considering to get one of the best tent heaters. Since there are many different types of heaters that you can use for camping, it’s important for you to first start by setting an absolute maximum that you are willing to spend. From there, you can consider other variables like the level of power, the weight, size, and amount of time that it is capable of running. For your reference, we will start by breaking the best tent heaters before going into more detail about the variables that you should consider before making a final decision.
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Propane Heater
This is one of the overall best tent heaters since it has such a nice array of features and a wonderful design which makes using and replacing your propane tanks a breeze. It also has a very efficient consumption rate of the propane, making this one of the best tent heaters for those who want the highest quality tent heater that is possible for a price that won’t completely empty their bank account.
Level of Affordability
Let’s be clear. This isn’t the most affordable tent heater that you will be able to find. In all reality, there are options which are both more affordable and sometimes even more powerful. As mentioned, what really makes this product stand out is the wonderful design which is capable of fitting propane tanks of all sizes with the proper attachments.
Amount of Power & Running Time
The total amount of power that this model can generate is anywhere between 4 – 9,000 BTUs, depending on how much heat you need in any given moment of time. Additionally, this product can accommodate propane tanks of many different sizes, the total amount of time that you can expect to run it depends on how much propane you have. Typically, it consumes 0.044 gallons each hour at 4,000 BTUs and 0.099 gallons an hour at maximum power levels.
Size & Portability
This is a rather portable tent heater when it comes to its overall size. Without the propane tank, this model is only 15 inches on its longest edge and clocking in at a total weight of 9.5 pounds. Although there are clearly smaller and lighter options to consider among this list of the best tent heaters, this is a great choice for those who value the versatility and overall quality of the model they purchase.
Overall
If you want a beautiful design for your tent heater which is capable of attaching to many different sizes of propane tanks, producing enough power for areas up to 200 square feet large, and an efficient consumption of propane, this is definitely one of the best tent heaters to look at. More than likely, this will be able to provide you with more than enough heat in your tent and camping area on the coldest of nights.
Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy Propane Heater
With one of the most portable designs that is possible, this is one of the best tent heaters to consider if you don’t need to heat up a large area and want to find a tent heater that isn’t overwhelmingly powerful. Of course, there is a fine line between enough heat and having too much heat in your tent. To decrease the fire risk in small areas, this is a wonderful tent heater to use in cold situations for areas up to 95 square feet large.
Level of Affordability
If you want the most portable design possible for your tent heater, you might consider making a bit more of an investment. This way, you don’t have to add another large object into your gear for each camping trip. Although this isn’t the most expensive and powerful tent heater you can find, it also isn’t the lowest performing and most affordable option either. There is a nice balance between the price and quality of this device.
Amount of Power & Running Time
With a reasonable maximum power setting reaching up to 3,800 BTUs, this product has plenty of power for the average tent, and will likely need to be turned off occasionally due to there being excessive levels of heat. Since this product can heat areas up to 95 square feet large for up to 7 hours using a one-pound propane tank.
Size & Portability
With each size measuring no more than 11 inches long, you will have a very simple and straightforward experience finding the room in your car to store this tent heater in between camping trips. Without an attached propane tank, this product only weighs 5.91 pounds, making it both one of the most lightweight and portable options available.
Overall
This is definitely one of the best tent heaters to consider if your primary concerns are having a tent heater which is small and lightweight. Since there are other products which may simply be too powerful for an average-sized tent, many people will consider this to be the best tent heater for their personal circumstances and needs.
Texsport Portable Outdoor Propane Heater
If having the most affordable and lightweight and portable tent heater is your primary concern, this will definitely be one of the best tent heaters for you to consider. As long as you have roughly one square foot of extra space and the ability to carry around a one-pound device, this reasonably priced option is still capable of producing plenty of heat.
Level of Affordability
If you want to find the most affordable tent heater that is possible, this may be the overall best option for you to consider. Although there are certainly options which are more powerful, this model comes at a price which will be great for those who don’t need their tent heater to be that heavy duty or capable of blasting powerful blizzard-defying heat waves throughout your tent.
Amount of Power & Running Time
This heater can adjust to temperatures up to 2,890 BTUs, making it very safe for use inside a tent with flammable materials since it is less powerful than what would be considered safe in a ventilated tent.
Size & Portability
This tent heater can work great with either a 16.4 or 14.1 disposable propane tank. However, it’s important to note that a propane cylinder does not come included with this device and will need to be purchased separately before you can start using your new heater. However, anybody who wants a light and portable tent heater will love how lightweight and small this tent heater is.
Overall
Although there are larger tent heaters, ones that are more powerful, and so on, this model stands out as one of the best tent heaters if you need an affordable and portable model to take on the road with you. This is also one of the safest tent heaters to use with ventilation since it doesn’t typically generate levels of heat that can be unsafe.
Mr. Heater F242100 10-15K BTU Single Tank Propane Heater
This is another great tent heater if you want to find something which is geared more towards those on tight budgets. With a generous amount of power considering the price that it is sold for, this is one of the best tent heaters for those who want a heater to last as long as possible while still having a reasonable price.
Level of Affordability
Although this isn’t the most affordable tent heater that you can find, it is still a great option for anybody who is on a limited budget. Since it is more powerful than some of the more expensive models, though, many people searching through the best tent heaters will make this their top choice.
Amount of Power & Running Time
Since this product can attach 20-pound propane tanks up for the job, you should expect to have 30 hours or more of total running time before you need a tank replacement. Best of all, this product can put out up to 15,000 BTUs. Accordingly, this is one of the most powerful tent heaters that you will be able to find, and will likely find yourself operating it on the lowest possible settings while camping.
Size & Portability
Since this product works best with propane cylinders which are 20-pounds, you will need to reserve plenty of space in your tent or around your camping site for the heater. However, the product itself only weighs about 3 pounds, making it pretty lightweight without the attached propane tank.
Overall
If you want to have the most powerful tent heater for the lowest possible price, this will be one of the best tent heaters for your needs. Since it can produce more heat than many of the competition, and has a price which is slightly lower-than-average, this is clearly one of the best tent heaters for budget-minded campers.
Buyer’s Guide
After searching through the many different tent heaters reviewed above, you might find yourself a tad confused or unable to make an easy decision. If this is you, then this buyer’s guide will serve as a resource to help you quickly sift through the best tent heaters that are available and find the one that matches your needs perfectly. Keep the following questions and factors in mind while you select the best tent heater for your needs.
How to Use a Tent Heater?
Typically, using a tent heater is a rather simple and straightforward process. Any of the best tent heaters that you find will normally have a knob that allows you to easily adjust the level of heat. Accordingly, all that you would then need to do is simply plug in the proper size propane tank and then you will be set to go.
What Size Heater Do I Need?
To decide what size tent heater that you need, first start by considering how the device will be used. Since even a powerful tent heater can work well inside a tent as long as it’s used sparingly, those who want to have their heater be used both inside the tent and also outside when the sun goes down might consider just getting one that can output up to 15,000 BTUs. However, in all reality, those who have a simple 3 – 5-person tent would be fine using a heater which can reach around 4,000 BTUs.
What Heater is Safe to Use in a Tent?
As we started describing above, the type of heater that you use inside a tent isn’t quite as relevant as the manner in which you use it. You can feasibly use a powerful heater which would otherwise be able to heat up areas 200 square feet or larger as long as you don’t keep it powered on or unmonitored for extended periods of time. For best results, try to find a heater which reaches levels only up to 5,000 BTUs and you will be able to keep it powered on for longer periods of time.
What Type of Fuel Does a Tent Heater Use?
Although there are types of tent heaters which can be powered by electricity, your best bet for ensuring that you can take your tent heater out to the most remote locations is to simply use propane gas tanks for your tent heater. Propane is reasonably affordable and easy to replace, making it one of the best options for heating up your campsite unless you have electrical outlets or a power generator to spare.
How Do Tent Heaters Work?
With a propane tent heater, there is an inner chamber with an oil furnace which vaporizes the propane. When the oil is vaporized internally, it then collects in the plenum before being released out into the area which you want to heat. This process is very similar to a simple campfire, but much safer to use in areas which may otherwise be at an increased risk of fire if there was an open flame.
Tent Ventilation When Using a Heater
If you have one of the best tent heaters, you will probably also need to account for ventilation in your tent. Right off the bat, you need to understand that it’s not healthy to inhale the CO2 vapors that come out of a propane tank. Accordingly, it is crucial that your tent has plenty of ventilation to allow fresh air. Or, you can simply turn the heater off before you go to sleep and back on right around when you wake up.
Summary
On this page, we reviewed several of the best tent heaters on the market in order to help you hopefully find a wonderful heater to take with you on your next camping trip. In most cases, the best tent heater is Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Propane Heater the due to its beautiful design and sparing use of propane tanks. If you want an affordable option, check out the Texsport Portable Outdoor Propane Heater. In the end, what matters the most is that the means by which you heat your tent is affordable, safe, and capable of lasting you plenty of years.