Tent Heaters in 2021: 5 Reviews

Are you planning a camping trip but you know the weather is going to get cold? Are you interested in going winter camping but you don’t want to be freezing at night? Aside from having the best fire pit and best outdoor heaters, you may want to consider purchasing a tent heater. Tent heaters are compact, portable heaters that are capable of heating smaller spaces, perfect for the inside of tents. 

They come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, features, and functions. Most heaters for tents run off of a propane tank, so it’s important that you choose to use a tent heater that comes with high-quality safety features. You’ll want a heater that can sufficiently and safely keep you and others warm at night time while you’re sleeping in the tent. 

You will surely need the best patio heaters for your home. Outdoors though, you will need a tent heater. But which tent heaters are the best ones? And what features should you be looking for? Here is a guide that contains all of the information you need to know in regard to finding the best tent heater as well as what features to consider and other helpful information. When you’re done reviewing this article, you’ll know which tent heater is the best on the market in 2021 as well as the best place to purchase the heater. 

Top Tent Heaters of 2021

We’ve reviewed some of the best tent heaters on the market below. The chosen products vary in their top features, so we’ve included a list of the best specifications for each product. And then we’ve also chosen one of them as the best overall heater for your convenience. 

Mr. Heater Buddy Portable Propane Radiant Heater

Classified as one of the most highly-trustworthy and reliable brands on the market, Mr. Heater is affordable and offers an efficient heating source for a variety of different needs. Mr. Heater Buddy, in particular, features steel, nickel, and plastic construction that’s tested and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. 

It can heat areas measuring up to 225 square feet, and it operates for around three hours. The heater does weigh more than some others on the market at nine pounds, but this is still easy to carry especially with the fold-down handle presented on the top of the heater. 

As for safety, you can confidently use this Mr. Heater Buddy outside or inside because of its auto shut-off features for when the device tips over or if the pilot light goes out. Not only that, but this heater is designed to automatically shut off if you’re in areas that have low oxygen levels. 

Mr. Heater Little Buddy Propane Heater

For those of you wanting a more compact and portable heater for camping, you should consider the Mr. Heater Little Buddy. Similar to Mr. Heater Buddy, this Little Buddy features an auto shut-off function for when the device tips over or if you’re in low-oxygen areas. Its nickel, steel, and plastic design are as high-quality and durable as its larger Buddy version, but it’s more compact and easy to carry. 

In fact, this Little Buddy heater only weighs five pounds and offers a more simple construction. It only has one heat setting, but it’s able to conserve its energy consumption because the one heat setting operates at 3,800 BTUs. Also, it’s only capable of heating an area of to 95 square feet, but this is suitable for smaller tents or outdoor areas. 

Differently than most of the other tent heaters on the market, this Mr. Heater Little Buddy is capable of dispelling heat at a 45-degree angle. The upward movement of the heat is specifically beneficial for those of you with a sleeping bag since the heat can go up into the air and then down onto you while you’re sleeping. You’ll have to make sure there is a ventilation area of at least four square inches to ensure safety and proper operation. 

Texasport Portable Outdoor Propane Heater

The Texasport Outdoor Portable Propane Heater offers more safety features than the other designs on the market. Not only does it come with the auto shut-off function that turns the heater off if tipped over or if the flame’s out, but it also has a safety grid over the heating source to prevent any objects from burning or from you even burning yourself. 

Also accommodating for safety is the large paddle foot base that makes the tent heater from Texasport more stable, especially on slightly uneven surfaces. It acts as an energy saver with its low-BTU operation, using only 2,890 BTUs. Even though it uses limited energy, this Texasport Propane Heater is capable of giving off large amounts of heat with its aluminum reflector. 

The aluminum reflector helps to disperse the heat from the flame more efficiently and effectively. Aside from the aluminum material, the tent heater from Texasport features a stainless steel burner as well as a copper finish. It’s classified as the more lightweight, compact, and easy-to-carry heater because it only weighs 1.9 pounds and has the smallest design out of all the heaters on this list. 

PELONIS Portable Space Heater in Steel Cover

Named the best overall on this list, the PELONIS Portable Space Heater in Steel Cover has the safest, most convenient, and most versatile features on the market. Regarding a safe operation, this tent heater from PELONIS has an auto shut-off feature similar to the rest. It can automatically turn off if the device has been tipped over or if the heater is overheating. 

Also accounting for safety, the heater features an anti-scalding cover that can prevent you from getting burned if you happen to touch the outside cover of the device. It’s different than the other tent heaters on this list because it operates using an oil-filled container rather than using a propane tank. 

As for the user-friendly features, PELONIS constructed the heater with an easy-to-read LED display that can show the temperature of the room you’re in by using the built-in thermostat. You can also set the room to a specific temperature that you want since the heater features three different heating settings. And you can even alter the settings of the device by using the remote included. 

There’s even an ECO-setting that you can utilize in order to optimize the heat control while saving energy. And there’s a 24-hour timer that allows you to set the heater to be turned on or off as a specific time. Lastly, the PELONIS Portable Space Heater features a durable steel construction that has a double-layer cover to help optimize your heating conditions. 

Dura Heat Propane 360-Degree Tank Top Heater

Specifically designed for those of you who need to heat up a larger area either indoors or outdoors, this Dura Heat Propane Tank Top Heater is capable of heating up to 1,000 square feet of space. Not only is this a wider area than the other tent heaters are capable of warming, but the Dura Heat Tank Top Heater is also capable of emitting heat from a 360-degree angle. 

To operate this tent heater, you’ll need a 20-pound propane tank instead of the standard one-pound tanks that most other tent heaters require. But this allows the heater to run for longer periods and deliver heat more effectively. Even more, the larger propane tank makes the heater more stable when setting up in a tent or outdoors because of its wider base. 

Furthermore, you can easily set up this tent heater with the Quick Connect feature that has a personalized tank connection. The heater only emits heat quietly instead of giving off an annoying buzzing sound since it utilizes quiet infrared heat. And the heater is also constructed with a chrome emitter grid that can more effectively disperse a higher amount of heat. The emitter grid is rust-resistant as well. 

FAQs

What heaters are safe for tents?

All heaters that are available on the market are required to adhere to safety restrictions and guidelines. Many people are scared to even consider putting a heater inside of their tent at night, let alone leave it on while they’re sleeping. But this is why it’s important for you to do your research. 

Both electric tent heaters and gas tent heaters are capable of safely heating up your tent, but each come with their own pros and cons. Although they’re both safe, you’ll have to think about what features would be the most convenient for you and your camping situation. 

Ultimately, for a tent heater to be considered safe, you’ll want one that can automatically shut off if the device tips over. This will prevent one spot of the tent from getting too hot and potentially catching on fire. Not only that, but you’ll also want a safe tent heater to have an auto shut-off function if the device overheats or if there is too little oxygen in the area that you’re camping in.

What is the best tent heater?

The best tent heater is the PELONIS Portable Space Heater in Steel Cover. It offers the most user-friendly and easy-to-control settings. And it’s able to deliver optimal heating results while also saving energy. Furthermore, this PELONIS tent heater is named the best because of its widely-accommodating safety features and convenient oil operation. 

What is the best way to heat a tent?

The best way to heat a tent would be with a tent heater, but the specific types of heaters that you can use to heat up your tent differs. People tend to prefer propane tanks for heating their tents because they’re portable and easier to manage than electric ones. 

How you use your tent heater also affects how the tent will heat. You’re most recommended placing the heater in the middle of the tent. Not only is this the safest place, but it will also help to best distribute the heat into all areas of the tent. 

How do you keep a tent warm in the winter?

You can most effectively keep your tent warm in the winter by utilizing a tent heater that delivers constant heat while saving energy. But there are also a few other things that you can do as well, like insulating your tent and using a smaller tent.

To keep your tent the warmest, place the tent heater in the middle of the tent so that the heat can disperse evenly. Insulate your tent by placing rugs on the floor to help stop the cold from entering the tent below. And using a smaller tent can increase the temperature of the tent by only requiring the heater to disperse heat in a smaller amount of space. 

Conclusion

Whether you’re winter camping or simply want a heater to stay warm in the cold weather at night, having a tent heater can offer you the warmth you need to stay asleep and get a full night’s rest. But you should use tent heaters with caution, as they can be dangerous if used improperly. 

Not only must you follow safety regulations when using tent heaters, but you’ll have to choose the right one that’s best for your particular circumstances. After reviewing this guide, we hope that you’ve gained insight into what the best tent heaters are for certain instances. If you’re confident that you’ve found the right one, we recommend that you get it and then wait to use it until you’re fully aware of the safety precautions. Aside from that, you might want to check out other needs such as a good way to heat your garage or move the air. You can also keep an eye out for a good portable heating alternative.