Size is one of the most important considerations you’ll make when choosing a backpacking or camping tent. You’ll want a shelter that’s comfortably spacious but also one that balances other priorities like weight, bulk, convenience, and cost.
If you’re looking to buy a new backpacking tent and are on the fence about which size to get, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some tips we’ve drawn from our decades of experience in the outdoors that will help you choose one that’s appropriately sized for your adventures and gear needs.
For our top recommendations, check out our tent gear guides:
How Do I Choose the Right Size Backpacking Tent?
Backpacking and camping tents share many similar characteristics. However, backpacking tents come with a special and very important requirement: keeping weight to an absolute minimum.
For that reason, choosing an appropriate size for your backpacking tent is a bit trickier but arguably even more important than with a camping tent. The aim is to find a shelter that’s comfortably spacious but also as light and compact as possible.
How Well Do Capacity Ratings Reflect Livability?
Most backpacking tents are available in a variety of sizes. For example, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL – our favorite backpacking tent – is offered in seven capacities, from one person all the way up to five (with a couple of in-between XL sizes).
The capacity rating will give you a good idea of how many people will tightly fit into a given tent. Just keep in mind most users agree the capacity ratings are inflated. In other words, it’s very common for backpacking tents to feel smaller than their capacity rating suggests. Generally speaking, this is how most backpacking and camping tent sizes feel:
1P Tents
Usually comfortable for one person with gear stored in the vestibule
2P Tents
Luxurious for one person with interior gear storage space. A tight fit for two with gear stored in the vestibule(s). Will fit two regular-width (not wide) sleeping pads.
3P Tents
Luxurious for two people with interior gear storage space. Will fit two wide sleeping pads. Comfortable for two people plus a small child or dog. A very tight fit for three average adults.
4P Tents
Luxurious for two to three people with interior gear storage space. Tight but possible to fit three people and a child or dog. A very tight fit for four average adults.
6P Tents
Comfortable for four plus gear. Tight for five or six.
8P Tents
Luxurious for four plus gear. Comfortable for six if some are children or dogs.
10P Tents
Luxurious for four plus gear. Comfortable for six plus gear. Tight for eight or more people
Not all two-person backpacking tents are created equal when it comes to interior space and livability. Be sure to check the exact dimensions of the tent you’re eyeing and consider how it might feel with the gear you already own. If you’re buying a backpacking tent for two people, these general tips can help you anticipate how a specific model might feel:
- Two regular-width sleeping pads (20 inches) will fill most of the floor space of a lightweight two-person backpacking tent, leaving limited internal storage space.
- One wide pad (25 inches) and one regular pad (20 inches) will completely fill the floor width of most lightweight two-person backpacking tents.
- If you want space for two wide sleeping pads (25 inches), you usually need to bump up to a three-person lightweight backpacking tent. Two wide pads usually won’t fit in a two-person design.
Which Two-Person Tent Should I Choose?
Two-Person Tents We’d Only Recommend for Solo Hiking
Some two-person tents, like the NEMO Hornet OSMO 2P and Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2, are much tighter than others. Tents with slanted-wall designs like these only have headroom at their center peak, making them feel very tight for two people. In our opinion, these models are best for solo backpackers who want a bigger footprint to store gear and spread out.
Two-Person Tents That Are Tight but Still Livable for Two
Some two-person designs – like the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2, MRS Hubba Hubba LT 2, NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P, and SlingFin Portal 2 – have more interior space due to a wide top crossbar that makes the sidewalls more vertical. Tents like these offer more headroom for two people sitting side by side.
These tents are still pretty tight but are suitable for hiking partners who are willing to sacrifice elbow room for a tent that’s compact and lightweight. These tents are a great size for those who plan to do a mix of solo and duo backpacking – with regular-width (not wide) sleeping pads.
Two-Person Tents That Are True to Size
One of the only two-person backpacking tents we’re aware of that’s actually true to size is the REI Half Dome 2 Plus, which offers a generous width to accommodate two people and two wide sleeping pads. That said, the Half Dome is one of the heaviest and bulkiest tents on our best backpacking tents list, so it won’t work for everyone. Big Agnes also offers their Copper Spur UL2 in an XL version, which is much lighter than the comparably sized Half Dome 2 Plus but significantly pricier.
One thing both of these designs have in common is the “plus” / “XL” designation. If you’re looking for a lightweight two-person tent with standout livability, keep an eye out for terms like these that indicate extra room for gear or sleeping space. They aren’t common, but they can be a Goldilocks size for many backpackers.
Bumping Up to a Three-Person Tent
Most two-person backpacking tents are a tight fit for two average-sized adults, so many hikers choose to bump up to a three-person size for a little extra interior space. Just remember that keeping weight down is very important for backpacking, so we recommend choosing an ultralight backpacking tent if you’re bumping up in tent size.
Some ultralight three-person tents we highly recommend are the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 and Zpacks Triplex. Admittedly, the top-of-the-line Copper Spur and Triplex are very expensive, but we think they’re well worth the investment for their space-to-weight ratios. If those are out of reach due to price, some more budget-friendly (but heavier) options are the REI Half Dome 3, The North Face Stormbreak 3, and Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3.
When Should I Go Light & Tight vs. Upsize for Comfort?
The biggest deciding factors in determining whether to pack the lightest and tightest tent possible or to upsize a little for comfort are:
- Trip type – How strenuous? How long? How much elevation change?
- Expected conditions – Will there be rain? Bugs? Lots of wind ?
- Backpacker size & group dynamics – Who’s going and how big are they? How close do you want to sleep?
- Sleeping pad width – Do you use regular or wide sleeping pads?
Upsize for Comfort
When traveling in areas where you’re likely to contend with frequent storms or abundant mosquitos, it often makes sense to consider a slightly larger, more spacious tent. When conditions are less than ideal, you’ll be spending much more time hanging out in your tent, and a tight-fitting shelter can quickly feel claustrophobic.
Also take into account the size of the people sharing the tent, their sleeping pad widths, and the amount of personal space needed to be comfortable. For example, two tall male friends sharing a tent on a casual backpacking trip will probably want a bit more space.
If you prefer using wide sleeping pads, keep in mind that most two-person backpacking tents are too narrow to fit two wide pads. If one person uses a wide pad and one uses a regular pad, the two pads may barely fit, but the wide pad user will dominate the space. The most common solution for wide pad users is to bump up to a three-person tent or to find a model that has a little extra width.
Go Light & Tight
On strenuous trips with lots of elevation gain, the weight savings of packing a lightweight and compact backpacking tent may be worth sacrificing a little extra space. This is especially true on trips where weather is likely to be fair and you’ll really only be lying horizontally to sleep in your tent.
Additionally, if you and your partner are on the small side, you may be able to get away with a lighter and more streamlined tent. Two-person tents may also be fine for two hiking partners who are OK getting up close and personal (like a couple or siblings). Just remember: Long stints in a tight tent due to rain or ravenous mosquitoes can quickly feel claustrophobic.
How Do I Choose the Right Size Camping Tent?
For camping, weight is much less of an issue since you won’t be carrying your tent on your back for miles. Because of this, it usually makes sense to size up and get a tent that’s spacious and comfortable for the number of people sleeping in it.
Sadly, camping tent manufacturers also overestimate how many people can actually sleep comfortably in their tents, so it’s a good idea to size up here as well. A general rule of thumb is to subtract two people from the capacity rating of any given tent. For example, if you plan on sleeping a family of four in your tent, it’s probably a good choice to choose a six-person tent size.
Check out our best camping tents guide to see which tents we recommend and how the different sizes compare.
