Camping with friends and family is undoubtedly an awesome experience…
If you’ve got the right tent.
The reality is that a tent can make a break your camping experience, which can definitely be a bit daunting, especially if you’ve never bought one before.
What makes matters even harder is that there’s no “one size fits all” tent out there. The right tent for you will depend on a variety of factors such as environment, the type of camping you’re doing and how much space is required.
Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to go through all of the best 4 person tents under $100 suitable for a variety of needs and environments.
Let’s get to it.
Before we Begin
I think before we start to look at specific tents, it’s worth prefacing this article by saying that 4 person tents can sometimes be somewhat heavy.
If you’re planning on hiking with these tents, it could add some unwanted weight to your gear. One way to combat this is by going for 2, 2 person tents. This way, you share out the weight a little bit, meaning one person won’t have the burden of carrying 3 other peoples tent.
We’ve got an article on the best 2 person tents under $100 if you’d like to check that out.
With that said, if you’re car camping, going to a festival or aren’t planning on walking too far with the tent, then it’s weight really doesn’t matter. Also, if you’re not too bothered about a few extra pounds, then a 4-person tent should be no issue.
Need something a little bigger? Then check out our article on the best 6 person tents.
Best 4 Person Tents Under $100
Now that’s out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the top tents you can get your hands on for less than a hunred bucks.
Coleman Sundome Tent
Specifications
- Dimensions (length X width): 9’ x 7’
- Height: 4’11”
- Weight: 9lb
- Doors: 1
- Capacity: 2, 3, 4 & 6 person
About
The Coleman Sundome tent can only be described as a classic. It’s an entry level tent that offers beginners a taste of a high quality tent, without an excessive price tag.
For a 3 season tent, this is as good as it gets. While more suited for warm weather such as late spring, summer and early fall, Coleman have implemented a number of features that allow the Sundome to endure some moderate weather.
For example, all the corners and seems of the tent have been welded together to prevent any liquid from entering. A tell tale sign of a poor quality tent is when moisture finds its’ way in these areas. Fortunately, this wont happen with the Sundome thanks to the welding.
Another reason why this is one of my favourite tents is its’ design. The tent essentially consists of two layers, the bottom ventilation layer and the rain fly (waterproof outer layer).
The bottom layer features a ton of ventilation, which is incredibly important as it will help to keep you cool, as well as prevent the build up of moisture when you’re asleep (from your breath).
The outer layer, known as a rain fly, protects the bottom layer from the elements, whether that’s wind or rain.
All in all, you really can’t go wrong with the Sundome, especially for this kind of price.
Coleman Cabin Tent
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 8’ X 7’
- Height: 4’11”
- Weight: Around 20lb
- Doors: 2
- Capacity: 4, 6 & 10 person
About
Up next we’ve got another option from Coleman, this time though, with a very different design altogether.
This cabin style tent comes in a variety of different sizes, such as 4, 6 and 10 person. If you’re fancying a bit more room, you can always opt for the 6 person tent, however it’ll cost you slightly more.
One thing worth mentioning before we discuss this tent further is that it’s big, and it’s heavy. As such, this is only really suitable for car camping, as you’re not going to want to hike very far with this monster on your back.
That said, this is by far one of, if not the easiest tent on our list to set up. It’s essentially a pop up cabin, and literally takes less than a minute to be up and habitable. This makes it a fantastic option for anyone going on their first camping trip and doesn’t want to spend hours figuring out how to set up a tent.
In terms of quality, the Coleman Cabin is generally very good.
It does come with a pretty small rain fly, however I would recommend purchasing their full rain fly as well. This is due to the fact that it’s always better to have too much protection that not enough. Unfortunately, this does add to the cost, however this will undoubtedly make your trip much more pleasant if it does rain.
As with most of Coleman’s models, the floor and all major seems are welded together, which as I mentioned before, prevents liquid from seeping into the tent.
In terms of size, you’re going to have plenty of space. The tent measures at 8’ long by 7” wide, which is massive, even for a four-person tent. That said, if you’ve got a ton of bags and a lot of gear, you’ve always got the option to go up a size.
If you fancy spending your next camping trip in a bit of luxury, then definitely consider giving this Coleman a go.
Cedar Ridge Rimrock 4 Tent
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 8’6” x 7’6”
- Height: 5’2”
- Weight: 10lb 15oz
- Doors: 2
- Capacity: 4
About
I’m a huge fan of tents that have 2-pole assemblies. They’re extremely stable and very easy to set up, which can most definitely be said of the Cedar Ridge Rimrock 4.
As with a lot of two pole tents, the Cesar Ridge features a lower layer with large ventilation windows and roof. In order to prevent rain from entering in through this mesh, the tent comes with a fly/ outer layer which can be places over the roof. This in turn prevents any liquid from entering, but still allows for a good air flow in and out for the tent.
In terms of space and storage, you may be a little bit snug fitting 4 people in here. However, the good news is that this tent it extremely light, especially given it’s 4-person capacity. As such, if you’re hiking with this tent, and aren’t too worried about having to cuddle up to the person next to you, then this is a fantastic option.
There’s also a good amount of storage located around the tent, with a roof loft as well as a number of mesh pockets placed around the side. Of course, you also get the essentials such as guy ropes and steel stakes to keep the tent in place should the wind start to pick up.
To summarise, this tent is ideal if you’re going to be on the move frequently. It’s easy to set up and put down, and is one of the lightest 4-person tents out there.
Moon Lence Waterproof
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 7’ X 7’
- Height: 4’4”
- Weight: 7.5lb
- Doors: 1
- Capacity: 2,4 & 6 person
About
Up next we’ve got another extremely lightweight 4-person tent, this time weighing in at around 7.5lb. To be honest, this isn’t too much heavier than some two person tents out there, so it’s definitely ideal for hiking and car camping alike.
That said, you’ve got a floor area of 7’ X 7’, which isn’t huge, but definitely big enough to fit 4 people and some bags inside.
I particular like the overall design of this tent, especially the overhang of the rain fly. This is an awesome addition as it will help to prevent any rain from getting into the tent at the front, either from the mesh on the door, or even from the door being open.
What’s more, the tent is constructed using 210D polyester that is waterproof, wind proof and UV proof. This is still a 3-season tent, but can definitely take mild weather. The value of this cannot be understated, as you just never know for sure what’s going to happen to the weather 30km into a trail.
When you’re stuffing 4 people into a relatively tight environment such as a tent, ventilation is incredibly important. 4 people breathing in and out through an entire night can put a lot of moisture into the air.
Without proper ventilation, that moisture is going to soak everything inside the tent, which is definitely not good. What’s more, in hot environments, without ventilation, your tent will soon turn into a sauna.
Fortunately, you’ll have none of these problems with the Moon Lence, as it features a ventilated door, floor ventilation and 2 large ventilation windows.
To this day, I’m still surprised at how affordable this tent is priced. I know a lot of 2-person tents that cost more than this, and this is by far one the best 4 person tents around (under 100 bucks).
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 7’6” X 8’6”
- Height: 4’4”
- Weight: 8lb 10oz
- Doors: 2
- Capacity: 4 person
About
I should start this mini review by saying that this only fits our budget if it’s on sale, which it regularly is. Having said that, it’s not too far out of the $100 mark, and is definitely worth that little bit extra.
One of my favourite aspects of a free standing tent is their simplicity, both in terms of setting them up and moving them around. The frame of the tent consists of two aluminium poles that cross over two form an “X” shape.
This means that setting up the tent doesn’t take long at all. This is particularly ideal if you’re new to camping, or are having to set up a tent after a long day hiking.
As with a lot of free standing options, the Lynx 4-person consists of two layers, the bottom ventilation layer and an outer fly. This fly is both water and UV resistant, making this particular tent ideal for a variety of different environments.
In terms of storage, there’s a number of pockets located around the inside of the tent, as well as a handy gear loft to keep things elevated off the ground.
For the quality, size and weight of this tent, it’s definitely worth that bit extra, especially if you’re going to be hiking. This is pretty much as lightweight as you’ll get for a 4-person tent. Plus, you’ll be thankful for its easy to construct design after walking god knows how many km in a day.
Kazoo Outdoors Family 4 Person Tent
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 7’11” X 7’2”
- Height: 4’9”
- Weight:10.7lb
- Doors: 2
- Capacity: 4 person
About
Up next is an awesome tent, perfect for enjoying the outdoors in a bit of comfort. Thanks to its’ large size and array of features, this option is particularly well suited for family camping trips.
For example, this is one of the largest tents on our list, featuring 2 doors for easy access in and out of the tent.
The Kazoo Outdoors itself is made from two layers. The bottom layer features 2 extremely large mesh windows, whilst the second layer acts a fly sheet, protecting the inside from adverse weather conditions. The external fly sheet can also be set up in a porch like design, providing additional shade and shelter at either entrance.
What’s more, this tent comes with a free footprint, which is designed to fit the outside fly layer. This large footprint is a massive help, as it provides a place to put your shoes or other gear out of the way, whilst still protected from the outside elements.
Plus, the tent comes with a 2-year warranty. This means that should any part not be up to scratch, you can get replacements sent out free of charge.
I would recommend this tent for camping trips where space is important, and you’re not going to have to carry it very far. Weighing in at over 10lb, you probably don’t want to hike long distances with this on your back, especially when there are much lighter options.
That said, if you’re car camping and are looking for a spacious and comfortable tent, then this undeniably fits the bill.
Kelty Outback Tent
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 8’ X 7’1”
- Height: 4’11”
- Weight: 9lb 6oz
- Doors: 1
- Capacity: 2, 4 & 6 person
About
While the Kelty Outback is definitely a 3 season tent, it does posses a few nifty features that allow it to handle some fairly moderate weather. For example, the tent comes with a fairly large rain fly that can stretch out beyond the large, D shaped door, creating a good sized vestibule.
This extended rain protection will help to prevent any liquid from finding it’s way into your tent as you come in and out. It also provides a good amount of storage area, allowing you to maximise the amount of sleeping space inside.
What’s more, the tent comes alongside a few guylines that you can attach to help stabilise the frame during windy conditions. Even if there’s not a ton of wind, I’d still recommend using the guylines just to be safe and secure.
In terms of weight, this is one of the lightest options on our list, weighing in at less than 10lb. This is awesome if you’re looking for a 4 person backpacking or hiking tent, as it’ll be fairly easy to carry around. Even the poles are made from lightweight fibreglass material, which shows how just about every aspect of this tents design revolves around being lightweight.
Plus, thanks to it’s “X” shaped free standing design, the tent itself is easy to set up and take down.
Although lightweight, the tent does have a decent amount of room, measuring in at 8’ X 7’1”. While this definitely isn’t the biggest tent on our list, it’s definitely big enough for 4 people, especially if you put your gear in the front storage area.
Toogh 3-4 Person Waterproof Dome
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 7’6” X 6’11”
- Height: 4’11”
- Weight: 11lbs
- Doors: 2
- Capacity: 3-4 person
About
Let’s start this off by stating that this option probably isn’t ideal for hiking or backpacking, as the tent itself pretty large when packed away. That said, due to the overall size and general stability of the Toogh, it’s incredibly well suited for car camping.
Toogh have also made use of 210D fabric with a silicone coating that possesses a water proof level of 3000m. This paired with thee waterproof 1000mm level flooring, makes a very water resistant tent, easily capable of handling mild to moderate weather conditions.
While on the subject of weather, it’s probably worth mentioning that the Toogh is particularly well suited for the summer months. This is due to the large ventilation windows on either side, as well as the two large T shaped doors. These allow for a good air flow in and out of the tent, keeping the inside temperature cool and comfortable.
Plus, the tent comes alongside a rain fly, 8 anti-wind ropes and a couple of door poles. This allows you to get a very solid structure set up that both stable and protective.
Although fairly tall, there’s not a ton of width to the Toogh. With that in mind, it’s probably best suited for a family with children, as opposed to 4 fully grown adults.
What’s particularly surprising about this design is how easy it is to set up. All you need to do is lift the tent upwards from the centre, and it self installs. You then fasten the structure to the ground with the various ropes and stakes included, and your shelter is ready to go.
Toogh offer a 15-day money back guarantee as well as a 12-month warranty on all of their gear. With that in mind, I’d suggest setting this tent up in your yard or garden shortly after it’s delivered. This way, you can see if there’s any issues and not have any nasty surprises once you’re set up at your site.
To summarise, I think it’s safe to say that you’ll struggle to find a better family tent perfect for weekend camping trips, especially at this sort of price.
Coleman 4 Person Pop Up
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 9’2” X 6’5”
- Height: 3’4”
- Weight: 7.07lb
- Doors: 2
- Capacity: 4 person
About
You’ve got to love pop up tents. I think it’s safe to say that most peoples first experiences with a tent was with a pop up design. Yes, they’re a bit bulky and a pain to carry, but they’re incredibly easy to set up and tend to be pretty spacious.
With that in mind, they’re definitely better suited to trips where you’re not going to be carrying the tent long distances, such as a festival or car camping.
When looking at the size of the Coleman 4 Person Pop Up, it’s clearly one of the largest on our list. Measuring at over 9-foot-long, this bad boy provides an absolute ton of space. The tent features two sleeping areas at either side, with a middle area used for storage/ chilling out area.
I actually took this tent to my first ever festival and it was absolutely perfect. The middle vestibule area was great for socialising out of the rain whilst we waited for our favourite artists to perform.
The Coleman also comes with a rain fly that you place over the main shell, which prevents any water from coming in through the various mesh areas located around the top. The floor also features tapered seems so that no water can enter through this area, which is pretty common amongst poor quality tent.
Unlike a lot of ‘4 person’ tents out there, the Coleman Pop Up can easily handle 4 people without it being cramped.
While the tent is definitely lightweight enough to be suitable for hiking and backpacking, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. This is much more suited for a relaxed camping environment in mild weather.
If you are looking for a backpacking tent, I’d recommend another of the more specialised options on our list.
Still though, for a relaxed weekend away or a festival, this tent is absolutely perfect.
SEMOO Dome Tent
Specifications:
- Dimensions (length X width): 7’8” X 8’
- Height: 4’7”
- Weight: 8.1lbs
- Doors: 1
- Capacity: 3, 4 & 5 person
About
Last up on our list we’ve got the SEMOO Dome Tent, a fairly large option perfect for families spending the weekend car camping out in the countryside.
One of the best aspects of a dome tent is the height, with this particular option allowing 4’7” of vertical room inside. For a tent, this is very impressive and is perfect for anyone with a bad back or in need of a bit of extra height.
For such a large tent, it’s overall weight is surprisingly low, clocking in at just over 8lb. While the pack dimensions are still somewhat bulky, it’s definitely possible to carry this tent on your back, should you need to walk a good distance to your site.
SEMOO have also incorporated a tear proof and waterproof floor alongside lightweight and durable fibreglass poles. This creates a structurally sound tent capable or keeping out any unwanted liquid from the rain or floor.
Plus, you won’t need to bring a footprint with you, as you’ve essentially got one built into the floor material of the tent itself.
Towards the top of the SEMOO are large mesh windows that allow air to move in and out of the tent freely. This both helps to regulate the inside temperature, and prevent the build up of any moisture inside.
4 person tents in particular are notorious for moisture build up, as 4 mouths breathing in and out over night releases a good amount of moisture. Without ventilation, this will eventually dampen everything inside, which is never, ever good whilst camping.
You’ve also got the option to go up a size to the 5-person option, which will make things a little bit more spacious inside, without adding too much to the cost.
If you don’t fancy a slightly larger tent, the 4-pereson still provides a ton of space and even more value when you take into account its’ price.
How to Pick the Right Tent?
Unfortunately, when it comes to finding a tent, there isn’t really one that ticks every box and is suitable to every kind of situation. This is especially true when looking at tents under $100, which may not have some of the more advanced features and specifications of more expensive models.
With that in mind, it’s important to take a few things into consideration, which I’ll discuss below.
Weather & Environment
First and foremost, is the type of environment and weather you’re going to be in. This will largely dictate the type of tent that you’ll need.
At this sort of price range you’ll pretty much be limited to a 3-season tent. While these are still good and definitely usable, they’re often limited to specific types of weather.
I’ll quickly discuss the difference between 3 and 4 season tents, so that you can decide which is better suited to your trip.
3 Season
3 season tents tend to be suited for cool to hot weather, typically used in late spring, summer and early fall. They also tend to be a lot cheaper than their 4 season counterparts, however are often less durable. Typically, three season tents are cooler than 4 season tents, with better airflow.
4 Season
While suitable for all 4 seasons, 4 season tents are built to endure more extreme weather conditions. As such, they’re much more durable, and often tend to be slightly heavier. For example, high altitude hiking, heavy winds or snow are all environments and situations where a 4 season tent would be needed.
Pack Weight & Size
How important a tents weight is dependent on the type of camping you’re going to be doing. For example, if you’re car camping and not going to be carrying a tent very far, then it really doesn’t matter how much it weighs.
Compare this to a 5-day hike, where you’re going to be carrying your tent a long way on your back each day, then have to sleep in it that night. For these types of camping trips, a lightweight, easy to carry tend is going to be far more suitable.
Capacity & Space
While it may sound like an amazing idea for all 4 people to hunker down under one tent, it’s worth noting that the higher capacity, the more the tent will weigh.
When ever considering which tent to buy, there’s always a trade off between space and weight. While there’s plenty of 4 person tents that are lightweight out there, it’s definitely something to be aware of.
Protection
At the end of the day, the whole point of using a tent and not sleeping on the floor outside is for protection and shelter. With that in mind, it’s absolutely pointless (and dangerous) buying a tent that can’t protect you from the environment around you.
Some key aspects to keep an eye out for is waterproof rating, pole martial, type of guy ropes, stake material, floor material and seem welding.
Design
Let’s be real here. There’s probably thousands of different tents out three, all with their own little quirks and designs.
Some may be perfect for your trip and some may be absolutely terrible.
Again, it’s important to consider the environment and what designs and features you’re likely to require. For example, you may want a tent with two doors, extra ventilation, a storage loft, storage vestibules or even electricity ports.
When ever choosing a tent, consider what you’ll be needing ahead of time, and find a tent suited to delivering on these requirements.
Price
At this sort of price range, you’ll be somewhat limited in terms of features, size and season rating.
If you’re wanting a 4 season tent, you’ll need to up your budget a little bit. Having said that, if you’re expecting relatively mild conditions, a decent 3 season tent will definitely do the trick.
Final Thoughts
Well, there we have it.
I hope that you’ve been able to find your tent of choice and if not, are equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision.
Let me know if you found our list of the best 4 person tents under $100 useful in the section below.
Happy camping!
