8 Best Tent Heaters In 2020

The Buddy heaters by Mr Heater are the most popular propane heaters for outdoor use. They get glowing reviews for their portability, ease of use, heating performance, safety, and durability. If your tent encloses a surface area of up to 225 square feet, you cannot go wrong with this portable outdoor propane heater!

The 4,000 to 9,000 BTU heat output is the amount of heat your tent size needs and it is a top rated propane heater for camping for its tent heating performance. The Portable Buddy has a large heating surface which radiates comfortable warmth over a vast area. The compact design and fold-down handle make it easy to pack and transport.

With the integrated Piezo sparking mechanism and four-position control, starting it is easy even with cold hands. All you have to do is push the knob. Featuring a swivel regulator, you can connect it to standard 1 lb propane tanks or larger fuel cylinders with the purchase of a hose kit. With a fuel consumption rate of 0.044 Gal/Hr on low and 0.099 Gal/Hr on high, you can expect 3 hours of run time on high and up to 6 hours on low from a 1 lb propane canister.

It is safe to use in a small, enclosed area as it is approved for indoor use and burns clean. Safety features include a high-temperature wire guard and an oxygen depletion sensor. It will shut down automatically if tipped over as well as if it senses low oxygen levels.

If you have a small tent of up to 95 square feet, the Little Buddy portable propane heater by Mr. Heater is the best outdoor propane heater for camping. It is pretty lightweight, packable and easy to carry even secured to a backpack.

Though small, it packs a lot of power and produces some serious heat: 3,800 BTU! It will definitely get the inside of your tent, camper or hunting blind warm and cozy when the outside is freezing cold.

The Little Buddy works with 1-pound disposable propane cylinders. Starting it up requires pressing the ignition button for a couple of seconds. You get about 5.6 hours of heat on one, one pound bottle.

This portable outdoor propane heater is safe to use in enclosed spaces. Just make sure your tent has at least 4 square inches of ventilation. It doesn't produce a direct flame and has a wire guard on the front. Its base is wide and it stands up upright even with the propane tank attached. It goes off automatically if it is tipped over or it senses low oxygen levels.

Looking for an electric heater to use at campsites that provide electric hook-ups (EHU)? The heat output and dispersion of this Honeywell heater are impressive for such a small and affordable unit.

1500 wattage translates to about 5,100 BTU heat output, which is sufficient for small to medium size tents of up to 150 square feet. Fan forced technology disperses the heat in all directions warming the whole tent evenly.

It is the perfect heater for kids' tents because of the cool to the touch plastic exterior and handles. When tipped, it shuts down automatically and starts right up when setting upright again. It also turns itself off if it gets too hot. A well-designed carry handle that is cool to the touch makes it easy to handle and carry.

You will love how easily this electric heater will heat your tent and how easy it is to operate thanks to the intuitive digital controls. Just switch it on and turn it all the way on for a quick warm-up when it is freezing cold. Once the tent is toasty warm, you can maintain a comfortable warmth by setting it on low and adjusting the thermostat. You can also set it to run a pre-set duration with the auto-off timer.

A compact design and economical gas consumption make the Olympian Wave-3 catalytic heater an ideal portable heater for camping. It emits 1600 BTU on low and 3000 BTU on high, which is sufficient heat output for up to 100 square feet of tent space. The heat it radiates is comfortable and healthy. Just like the sun, it emits radiant heat that warms you up directly and quickly and gives you a warm comfortable feeling similar to how the sun's warmth feels.

Flameless catalytic combustion is safe to use in a tent as long as you follow the ventilation requirements specified in the user manual. The Olympian Wave-3 heater is also equipped with a safety shut-off valve that prevents accidental fuel discharge. Its operation is quiet, as it has no fan or blower.

It uses low-pressure HD-5 propane gas and has an energy efficiency of 99.9%. This is because it burns at lower temperatures and warms people and objects directly without first warming the surrounding air.

Lighting it up is easy. You just have to light the pilot light for the first minute and the built-in electric Piezo sparker will take over from there. It is very well built and a top-rated heater for camping for its durability. You can rest assured it will be warm you up for years. The Piezo sparker is good for 20,000 stars.

If you have a tiny one-person tent or just want a simple and inexpensive small heater that will warm you up without necessarily warming up the entire tent, the Honeywell Heat Bud personal heater is the camping buddy you're looking for.

It utilizes ceramic heating technology and emits a warm breeze into the area immediately surrounding it. Just turn it on and set it next to you and you will be toasty warm by the time you're ready to slip into your cozy sleeping bag. You can also use it to warm up your sleeping bag. 

Lightweight and tiny, about the size of a large coffee mug or computer speaker, packing and transporting it to your campsite won't be an issue. You can carry it in your backpack and it won't take up too much space in your tent.

This little guy will keep you warm without compromising your safety. It is cool to the touch, has to overheat protection and automatically shuts off if tipped over. Since it warms you directly without first warming the air in the room, it is very efficient. It uses only 250 watts and has a high and low heat setting.

If you're going camping with the family or a group of friends and have a spacious tent, you need a powerful heater such as the Big Buddy camp heater. Its heat output ranges from 4000 BTU to a whooping 18,000 BTU, which is enough heat to warm up tent spaces up to 450 square feet. It emits radiant heat and has a built-in fan that increases its heating capacity through convection.

It is safe to use in enclosed tent spaces and handle when wearing bulky clothing. It puts out clean and odor-free heat and is equipped with the essential safety features: oxygen depletion sensor and automatic shut-off. It shuts itself down if oxygen levels within the tent are low and if it is tipped over. A well-designed and positioned wire cage protect against accidental contact with the ceramic heating elements.

With two swivel regulators, you can fuel it with 1lb cylinders or 20-40lb cylinders and attach up to two fuel cylinders at the same time. Turning it on is easy even with numb hands. Just push and rotate the knob and the Piezo spark generator will do the rest. Turn it to high to warm up fast and then turn it down to medium or low settings. It consumes about one pound of fuel per hour on high.

This top-rated heater for camping is rugged and can hold up to frequent travel and outdoor use. Everything from the heater itself to the connections and user manual are well designed and solid. While this is a large heater when it comes to the heat output, it has a compact design for portability. It is also equipped with a sturdy handle for ease of handling.

Compact and lightweight, this Comfort Zone Fan-forced personal space heater is super portable and packs quite a punch! With 1,500 watts wattage, it puts out plenty of heat for its size. When you plug it up, you will be blown away by the force of the fan, the heat produced and how quickly it warms up your tent.

The powerful fan forces the air through ceramic PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient)heating elements at a high rate quickly dispersing warmth all around. It will definitely create a comfort zone inside your tent when the outside is chilling cold.

It has a low, high and air only fan setting that will also come in handy during the day. You use the knob on the right to select a high, low or fan setting and then use the thermostat to set the intensity of the heat or fan to your comfort.

It is safe to use in a tent as it doesn't produce an open flame. It also has a highly sensitive tip-over safety switch. It only produces heat when stable on a flat surface, goes off if it tips over or you pick it up and it comes back on when you set it down again. Quality is top-notch and this heater is designed according to UL, ETL, SAA, CE, CSA, and NOM quality standards.

The ease of packing up and carrying this lightweight and portable outdoor propane heater by Texsport and its tent warming performance make it the best tent heater for camping in the great outdoors. It gets glowing propane heater reviews for how quickly and effectively it warms tents and campers up.

With a heat output of up to 2,890 BTU's, it is ideal for heating up a small tent or a small space. It puts out infrared heat that warms up whatever it is pointed at. For quick and efficient warming, point it directly at you or the area you need to be warmed. Its propellants ensure heating accuracy and consistency. 

For the safety of use inside the small enclosed space that is a tent, it is equipped with a large plastic base with a paddle foot design to ensure it is stable and doesn't tip over easily. If the flame goes out, the fuel valve shuts off gas automatically to prevent wastage. The aluminum reflector has a safety grid to protect against accidental contact.

It works with 16.4 or 14.1-ounce disposable propane fuel cylinders and you need a lighter or match to ignite the burner and then use the regulator knobs to control the amount of heat emitted. On high, 1 lb. propane delivers 4-6 hours of runtime. On the low setting, you can get 7-8 hours of heating on a one-pound bottle. As for its ability to hold up out there, it is made in Canada and features a stainless steel burner and copper finish. It is a simple design and durable construction.