Tent size for a family of four

[MummySharkDooDoo]

After a trip camping with our friends who own a large tent, my husband and I are considering buying a tent.
My husband likes the idea of more space so wants to buy a 8 person tent - would this be too big? What size tent would you recommend for a family of four who want extra space?

Yep-the larger the better (as long as you can put it up together-practise at home if you have the space!)

One with a compartment to put stuff in is a good idea too-then you haven't got everything under your feet!

I think it depends how long you’re going to be camping for. If it’s just a few nights at a time you might find a big 8 man tent too much. We recently went camping for 2 days and our 5 man Coleman Mosedale was fine for the 4 of us, but dc are only 6 and 3. We’re going to add on the porch for extra space. A bigger tent would have been a pain for just a couple of days. However, we have friends who have 3 dc and they have a large 8 man tent, but they go camping in France for a month every summer.

6 man minimum and separate living room to bedroom are essential to me. In addition to that I like to be able to stand in the living room and bedroom, not have tiny sloped areas.

Remember you’ll probably need space in your tent for living (eating or playing games if it’s pouring down with rain!!) not just for sleeping. Over the years we’ve found that four-berth tents often work really well for two adults, and larger tents can work well for families. Children will often be much happier if they’ve each got their own sleeping compartment and for general longer holiday camping being able to stand up and move around in comfort is a must!
But don’t go mad, the bigger the tent, generally the harder it is to put up and the more space it will take up in the car (and it might cost you more in pitch fees…).Some families have two tents, leaving their big tent for one or two weeks camping in the summer, and using a smaller tent to for quick overnight stays at weekends.

Be careful, try to see the tent erected before you buy it. Tent manufacturers have to conform to a standard that says how many a tent sleeps, when in reality it may be a bit cramped when you fill a tent to the maximum number of people it could take.
Some manufacturers, such asOutwell, reporta ‘Comfort’ level forthe number of people a tent sleeps. For example,a tent reported as a 6 person, may only have a comfort rating of 5 people.
Please double check the layout of some three-bedroom tents. The third bedroom can sometimes be smaller, or in some cases, not a permanent bedroom at all. We had one tent where the third bedroom covered the main entrance.

Thanks all, I will do some research but will look for a tent that sleeps a minimum of 6 people as like previous posters have said, room to store things would be great and we don't want to feel to cramped.
We have only just caught the camping bug so will start with long weekends but may need a bigger tent for long breaks away!

We have an 8 person (4 bedrooms plus living area) and are downsizing to a 6 person... Found we need less room now kids are a bit older. Will use the 'Mansion' for long trips, but have the smaller one for weekends or if we want to move around.

In the 8 person we have the 'kitchen', adult bedroom, kids bedroom, and the clothes/kit room. Plus the living area.

Family of four with with a dog and have an 8 person tent here. Lots of living space for rainy evenings in front of a film and a room each for the kids. DH and I collapse down two bedrooms into one big one.

Thanks all - we decided on a 8 man tent 😁

For perspective, my husband and I used an 8 man tent just for ourselves 😂 we have a bedroom and a living room!

Yes, I also agree an 8 man tent for a family of 4. They always underestimate anyway, a 2 man tent is kind of two small for two men!!!

Also, don't know if you have bought yet, but if you can definitely go for a tent with inflatable poles - absolute gamechanger!

We have a large polycotton tent that sleeps 6 with 2" bedrooms and large living area. We go camping 10-15 days at a time and it's comfortable.

If it's just holiday camping (as opposed to carrying everything on your back), going for a bigger tent makes sense. It's worth noting that you can always get an awning to extend the space or pup tents for the kids (over a certain age). We have a bell tent, sail awning and pop up gazebo that gets used in various combos. As you can't cook in the tent, having a safe area where you can light the stove and still remain dry is important.

A six person (2 bedroom tent) is fine unless you are setting up with equipment for an exhibition. The bigger the harder to fit in the car!

We have 3 kids and got a big 8 man tent last year. It was a game changer. Previously we had a 4 man tent (small middle area with a bedroom at each side) was fine for a quick over nighter and was ok when the kids were toddlers but now they are tweens we needed more space!

This one as a large living room, a massive bedroom at each end which cane be divided into 2 (making 4 bedrooms) and then we got the porch add on which was new this weekend which was amazing especially when it poured and we could still make a cup of tea in the dry!!

@Outofinspiration yes we have bought an inflatable tent, we've booked to go away next weekend and I'm very excited to try it out!

@BrieAndChilli yes I'm looking forward to having lots of space and will definitely invest in a porch if we find we're using the tent a lot. Mine are only 7 and 4 but growing bigger by the day 😂