Sometimes the weather doesn’t always cooperate with you while you’re planning a camping trip and it’s a bit cold.
Or maybe you want to go camping during the winter.
Either way, staying warm is very important.
This can be done through using a sufficient sleeping bag, staying dry, and packing the right clothes.
But, sometimes that isn’t enough.
And that’s when you’ll want to bring a tent heater.
These small devices generate heat to keep your tent and you warm.
When it comes to buying a tent heater, which one should you get?
In this post we’ll review some of the best tent heaters for camping and give you the information you need to pick the best one for you.
Let’s get started!
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In-The-Tent Heaters
Depending on your situation, you’ll likely want an in-the-tent heater.
These heaters are safe to use inside of your tent and do a great job of heating the entire tent.
Here’s my top picks for the best in-the-tent heaters.
Best Overall: Mr. Heater BIG Buddy
In my opinion, this is the best tent heater for camping.
It comes with all the bells and whistles you could ever need in a heater.
The BIG Buddy comes with low, medium, and high settings that heat at 4,000, 9,000, and 18,000 BTU per hour respectively.
You’ve also got the standard automatic shut off for low oxygen, and a safety shut off if your heater happens to tip over.
This heater is sufficient for up to 450 sq. feet, which will definitely be enough for your tent heating needs.
It comes standard with the 1 gallon propane hookup, but you can also purchase hose upgrades directly from Mr. Heater to upgrade the propane size (more on that below the comparisons).
If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line tent heater equipped with enough power to heat everyone in your tent, the BIG Buddy will meet and even exceed your needs.
The Runner Up: Mr. Heater Hunting Buddy
This list is full of Mr. Heater products, and there’s a good reason for it.
They make high quality tent heaters.
And the Hunting Buddy is no different.
With 2 modes at 6,000 and 12,000 BTUs, the Hunting Buddy is more than sufficient to heat up your tent and you.
When set to high it can heat up to 300 sq. feet.
It’s advertised for keeping duck blinds, small cabins, and tents warm, and it does just that.
It comes standard with the Mr. Heater safety features: a tip over safety shut off and low oxygen shut off sensor to keep you safe while in use.
If you’re looking for a great heater that’s cheaper than the Big Buddy but still highly capable, the Hunting Buddy is your best bet.
The Budget Friendly Heater: Mr. Heater Portable Buddy
When the phrase ‘budget-friendly’ is used, usually it means a sacrifice in quality.
But that’s not the case here.
The Mr. Heater Portable Buddy is an exceptional camping heater that is still big enough to heat medium-sized tents.
The two main differences between the Portable Buddy and the Big Buddy are:
- You don’t have the 18,000 BTU ‘High’ setting the Big Buddy has.
- The Portable Buddy is nearly half the weight of the Big Buddy (9 pounds vs 16 pounds).
So if you have a small to medium-sized tent (200 sq. feet or less), the Portable Buddy will be more than enough.
While it’s nice to have that option to crank things up to a high level, the trade-off comes with a lower profile and much lighter heater.
And, you guessed it, the Portable Buddy comes equipped with the same safety features as the other Mr. Heater products.
If you don’t have a large tent and don’t mind not having an 18,000 BTU setting, the Portable Buddy is perfect for you.
The Backpack Friendly Option: Mr. Heater Little Buddy
The Mr. Heater Little Buddy is an awesome tent heater option for those who are using small tents.
It heats at 3,800 BTUs and can last about 5.5 hours with one single tank.
Standard Mr. Heater safety equipment are equipped on the Little Buddy as well.
This particular model only weighs about 6 pounds and can be set up pretty much anywhere in the campsite.
Simply screw in the base and hold the on button to get it going.
If you have a smaller tent or want something smaller to bring on your camping trip, the Little Buddy is a great option.
Around The Camp Tank Top Heaters
Some heaters work amazing but cannot be used inside of a tent.
These heaters likely will hook up to a larger propane tank with no extra accessories needed, and also have the capability to heat much more space.
If you can’t have a fire or simply don’t want to light one, having these ‘around the camp’ heaters are an awesome option.
For Heating Everyone Up Outside: Mr. Heater MH540T
If you are looking for a tank top heater that is pretty much as warm as having a bonfire in your camp, check out the Mr. Heater MH540T.
This device gives off 29,000 to 45,000 BTUs and attaches to a standard 20 pound propane tank.
You still get the tip over safety shut off switch that comes standard with Mr. Heater products, but this device is not rated for use indoors.
With a 360 degree burner head, everyone can stand around the heat and stay warm.
Perfect for having a ton of warmth in your camp if fires aren’t permitted.
Dyna-Glo TT360DG Model Tank Top Heaters
The Dyna-Glo TT models come in 15,000, 30,000, and 45,000 BTU options, but the 45,000 BTU (TT360DG model) is the best in my opinion.
Why?
The 45,000 BTU model is a 360 degree burner head, so if you are camping with a group this will allow everyone to stay warm.
The BTU range adjusts from 30,000 to 40,000 BTUs, and the device hooks up to standard size propane tanks.
Dyna-Glo has also equipped these heaters with tip over safety shut offs.
This particular model will need to be lit with a match.
If you’re looking to switch things up and go with a different but still reliable heater company, Dyna-Glo is a great option.
Texsport Portable Propane Heater
Texsport has made a great portable heater that is lightweight and low profile.
The regulator can be adjusted to burn up to 2,900 BTUs.
And this model comes with a fold-away paddle foot base for added stability.
There isn’t a tip over shut off feature, but there is a shroud protecting the main heating element for protection.
There is an automatic shut off if the flame goes out however.
If you are looking for a smaller outdoor camping heater that fits nicely on a picnic table, the Texsport Portable Propane Heater is the way to go.
Why Do You Need A Tent Heater?
In some situations, you may be wondering why you even need a tent heater in the first place.
And if you live in a warm climate or are camping in a warm climate, chances are you probably don’t.
But those warm days can change into cool nights pretty quick.
And you have to remember: a tent does little to insulate when compared to the walls of your house.
Keep that in mind when planning out what camping gear you’re going to bring.
Those extra couple hours of warmth that a tent heater will provide could make the difference between a comfortable and a freezing cold night.
Advantages & disadvantages of tent heaters
As with everything, there are good and bad aspects of tent heaters.
But what are they?
Take a look at what makes these little heaters so awesome as well as some downsides to having them around.
But first, the advantages!
They heat your campsite
Okay, this one is a little obvious.
But it goes back to the last point I made about needing a heater in the first place.
If it gets cold and you don’t have a means to get warm, it’s going to be a pretty rough camping trip.
Tent heaters are there to keep you warm and toasty when everything outside is freezing.
Lightweight & portable
What’s great about these tent heaters is they are less than 20 pounds (most are less than 10) and can be placed wherever you like without any trouble.
Just be sure to read the instructions for proper clearances (more on that later).
If you decide that you want it a little further away from you, just move it!
And if you want to bring it outside with you while you take in the views of the sunrise, go for it.
Fuel-efficient
You don’t need much fuel to use these things as intended.
If you turn it on for an hour or two before bed every night, you should get a couple nights out of 1 tank.
And you’ll get even more burning time if you hook it up to a larger propane tank.
Safe to use
The ‘in-the-tent’ tent heaters I mentioned in my comparison are tent-safe.
That means they are built to be operated inside a tent without any safety issues.
They come equipped with tip over safety shut off valves and have sensors that shut off the heater if there is low oxygen.
Even the outdoor heaters mentioned have the safety shut off valve for being tipped over just in case.
Can be used for more than just camping
When you buy a tent heater, you’re not just getting a tent heater.
You can use it to heat up your garage or workshop, stay warm on a hunting trip, and more.
All of the parents at my little brothers soccer game bring their tent heaters to stay warm in the bleachers during the game!
There are a ton of different uses for these heaters, which makes them a great value for the price.
Disadvantage: not ideal for backpacking and long-term hiking
While these heaters are lightweight and portable, they still aren’t lightweight enough to want to lug around all day while hiking.
If you don’t have an established basecamp that you will be returning to every night and have to keep all your gear in a pack, these heaters aren’t for you.
Disadvantage: not always necessary
You can argue that this is a disadvantage for almost any piece of camping gear.
Sometimes you just won’t need it.
Some camping trips are just too warm and you won’t want to crank on the heater.
Tent Heater Buying Guide
Knowing which heaters are the best is a great start.
But since you’re situation will always be somewhat different than mine, it’s now time to decide what heater is best for YOU.
Let’s break down what makes a good tent heater so you can decide on your ideal one.
Main features to look for
These features in my opinion are non-negotiable when it comes to in-the-tent heaters.
And they’re all safety features.
I’ve mentioned them quite a few times throughout the article, but they are:
- Tip over safety shut off valve: sometimes mistakes happen and you could trip on the heater, knocking it over. I don’t ever want that to be the cause of a fire in my tent.
- Low oxygen sensor with shut off: another one I’d never go without. When it comes down to it, I would rather not be breathing in toxic fumes, and the low oxygen sensor detects that.
Heat output
Aside from safety, I’d say the most important feature is heat output.
Because what’s the point of bringing along a heater if it won’t even heat you?
Now most of the heaters on the list will heat every size tent with no issues.
The exception being the little buddy might not heat larger (10+ person) tents as well as you’d like.
I really like the Big Buddy because it has the 4,000 – 9,000 – 18,000 settings that can adjust to whatever BTU you need based on your tent size.
And if you aren’t bringing anything bigger than a 2 person tent, the Little Buddy or similar will be more than sufficient.
Size & portability
With respect to size, all of the heaters are roughly the same.
The two exceptions being the Texsport and the Little Buddy are smaller.
The ‘Around the Camp’ heaters I mentioned above all (except the Texsport) hook up to a standard propane tank, so keep that in mind when packing and setting up camp.
And the Big Buddy has two heating panels and weighs about twice as much as the standard Portable Buddy (still only 16 pounds).
All of these options are still very portable and won’t take up a ton of room.
Brand reputation
There’s a reason that Mr. Heater tops this list and pretty much every other list out there.
And it’s also the reason that they are the main brand being sold in big box stores.
They’ve perfected the art of building high-quality tent heaters.
If you were to pick something other than Mr. Heater, I would say try to keep it to big names like Dyna-Glo & Texsport for outdoor heaters and Coleman for in-the-tent heaters.
How To Safely Use A Tent Heater
There are a few safety tips to remember when using a tent heater.
While most of it will already come built in to the heater itself, it’s still good to know and use best practices to be extra safe.
Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate
You always want to ventilate your tent when using a tent heater.
That means leaving some upper flaps open inside so the heat can escape.
Ventilating your tent will ensure that no carbon monoxide builds up inside of the tent.
While the oxygen sensor should shut off the heater if too much builds up, it’s best to be on the safer side.
Ventilating your tent will also prevent all of that heat from building up inside and creating condensation inside of your tent.
It will release the extra heat and keep things dry.
Because being sweaty out in the freezing cold can be very dangerous, and sweaty = chilly!
Buy tent-safe if using inside of a tent
If a heater isn’t rated as ‘tent-safe’ then make sure you don’t use it inside of your tent.
Plain and simple.
They do not carry the same safety features (such as the oxygen sensor) and are often exposed in a way that could cause damage to your tent or you.
If you plan to use a heater inside of your tent, purchase a ‘tent-safe’ heater!
Positioning
These heaters obviously let off a lot of heat.
And because of that, proper positioning is key to make sure nothing gets in the way of that heat.
Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions for how and where to place your heater inside of your tent.
Turn off when you go to sleep
Leaving a heater on while you sleep can be dangerous (not likely, but you never know).
Using your heater to warm you up while getting ready for bed is usually sufficient.
Once you’re in your sleeping bag you should be warm enough to turn it off until the morning.
While there are safety measures built in, I don’t like to take those risks.
Avoiding carbon monoxide build up (a repeat of #1)
These heaters release co2 as they burn.
But when there isn’t enough oxygen, the propane doesn’t burn properly and instead lets off co, or carbon monoxide.
The oxygen sensor built into most tent heaters will catch this and shut off the heater before it gets to that point, but just to be sure I would always recommend going back to tip #1: ventilate.
Alternatives To Tent Heaters
Backpacking and hiking trips will often lead you to want to bring as little as possible.
And that means no tent heater and propane tanks.
You also might not be able to bring a tent heater for other reasons (space in car, broken heater, etc.).
If, for some reason, you can’t or don’t want to bring one, here are a few extra ways to stay warm.
Fire
This one is pretty obvious, but a fire can keep you super warm if you can’t bring a heater.
Afterall, it’s nature’s heater (or is that the Sun?)!
There are plenty of ways to start a fire (here’s a bunch that don’t even require matches), and as long as you have dry tinder you should be able to get one going in no time.
Chemical warmers
‘Chemical warmers’ doesn’t sound too good, but they’re those little hand and feet warmers you can buy in bulk at the store (here’s some hand warmers and foot warmers on Amazon).
They’ll provide you with some great temporary warmth in places where you need it the most.
Just place hold them in your hands, place them in your socks, or under your shirt; wherever you need to get warm!
I recently published a list of the coolest camping gadgets ever created and talked about an electric hand warmer that doubles as a power bank.
Use whatever works!
For canvas tents: wood burning stoves
Planning on going on a long hunting trip or making a homebase up in the mountains with a canvas tent?
You could use a wood burning stove instead of a tent heater to keep you warm.
There’s likely to be plenty of fuel all around you, so no need to pack any propane heaters!