10-Man and Larger Tents

What a 10-man tent really fits

The number on a tent's label is the number of sleeping mats that fit side by side on the floor, with nothing else inside. A 10-man tent sleeps ten close together, which suits a big family, two families sharing, or a group at an event. Tents this size are nearly always split into bedrooms with a shared living room, and many are sold in several sizes with the person count given as a span, such as 8–12 or 4–10. Read the floor plan on each product to see where the beds go and how many bedrooms there are.

Cabin, two-room, inflatable or bell tent

• Cabin tents have upright walls, so the whole floor has headroom, not just the middle. See cabin tents.
• Two and three room tents give bedrooms off a living room, with room for chairs and a table. See two and three room tents.
• Inflatable tents stand on air beams. The largest here measures 420 by 513cm and 330cm high. See inflatable air tents.
• Canvas bell tents are round, with one centre pole. The large family bell tent here is 400 by 400cm and 240cm high, for 4 to 10 people. See bell tents.

Weight, pitch size and getting it there

These are the heaviest tents in the shop. The canvas bell tent weighs about 20kg and the large inflatable cabin tent 95kg, so plan on two people, a vehicle and a pitch you can drive close to. Check the campsite's pitch size before you book: a tent this big needs room for its guy lines all round. Each product page gives the size and weight where the maker states them.

What the waterproof rating means on a big tent

The rating in millimetres, the hydrostatic head, is the height of a column of water the fabric holds back before it leaks, tested to BS EN ISO 811. About 1,000mm is the lowest rating usually called waterproof, most lightweight flysheets are 1,500mm to 3,000mm, and more is worth having for long wet trips or a large tent left up for days. The groundsheet is often rated higher, because you kneel and lie on it. Taped seams matter as much as the number. Shop by rating: to 2,000mm, to 3,000mm and 5,000mm and over.

Questions people ask about 10-man tents

How many people really sleep in a 10-man tent?

Ten, close together. For a week, six to eight people will be far more comfortable, with room for bags and somewhere to sit.

How many people does it take to pitch one?

At least two, and four makes a cabin or canvas tent much easier. Inflatable tents go up quickest, because the pump does the lifting.

Is a tent this big any good in wind?

A big tent catches a lot of wind, so peg out every guy line, pitch with the narrow end into the wind, and use pegs made for the ground you are on. See tent pegs and guy lines.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• 8-man tents
• Family tents
• Cabin tents
• Bell tents
• Marquees
• Tent pegs
• Guide: Tent sizes explained
• Guide: Family tents: rooms, layouts and awnings