8 Best Beach Tents, Tested and Reviewed
Beach trip, here we come!
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When the hot summer sun's beating down, a fun beach day can get uncomfortable quickly. But a good beach tent will protect you from the sun, and the best ones are easy to set up, lightweight, and won't flip over in the wind.
Our top picks:
- Best value: Coleman Portable Beach Tent
- Best for families: WolfWise Easy Up Beach Tent
- Best beach sun shade: Neso Portable Beach Sun Shelter
- Best convertible beach tent: Sport-Brella XL Umbrella Shelter for Sun and Rain
To make our list of top picks, the GH Institute Textiles Lab sent beach tents to consumer testers to test themselves, and we also researched and reviewed tents from top-performing brands that received strong consumer feedback.
Some things to note when shopping for your beach tent: make sure to look for a 50 UPF rating (meaning it blocks 98% harmful rays), durable stakes or sandbags to anchor it against wind, and compact storage bags for easier carrying (some beach tents are pretty bulky and can weigh up to about nine pounds!). Also keep in mind the dimensions of each tent, especially if you plan on using it for a group of people, pets or kids.
Best Deal
Pros
- Zips up for privacy
- UPF 50+
- Mesh storage pockets
Cons
- Not as durable as some other picks
In the Textiles Lab, we love that this Coleman beach tent offers so many unique features at an affordable price. The tent is constructed with a front panel that zips open to become an extended floor, but the panel can also be zipped fully closed for total privacy if you need to change in or out of your swimsuit. A dry line is included to hang wet bathing suits and beach towels, and you can store your belongings in the interior pockets. For extra ventilation, the back panel can be unzipped, as well.
Pros
- Internal mesh storage
- Easy setup
- Built-in sand bags and stakes included
Cons
- Metal zippers erode in salt water over time
GH Institute Executive Director Lexie Sachs is a fan of WolfWise's beach tents and uses them with her kids. She says they're lightweight and easy to carry to the beach. "We love that this tent has built-in sandbags to weigh it down and prevent it from blowing away," she says. There are also mesh windows to provide ventilation on hot days in case you need a breeze, and it has a UPF 50+ rating. Just note that it can be tricky to take disassemble.
Pros
- Easy to assemble and take down
- Comes in a variety of patterns and colors
- UPF 50+
Cons
- Small canopy
If you prefer a more open-concept tent to enjoy all of the views at the beach, this Neso tent acts more like a sun-shade tarp with no side panels. It comes with four sandbags to weigh it down and two supportive poles. The tarp is also lightweight and made of a unique nylon and lycra stretch fiber blend.
One consumer tester mentioned that the tent performed well in the wind overall but experienced some difficulty when the wind shifted direction. Altogether, the tester was impressed by the tent and appreciated how easy it was to assemble and take down.
Pros
- Features foldable side panels and zippered windows
- Two ways to use
- UPF 50+
Cons
- Not compact
The Sport-Brella beach umbrella is convertible and can function as a beach tent as well. It can be assembled fully upright like a standard beach umbrella, but the pole can also be tilted down at an angle and anchored into the ground. This pick features side panels than can be folded up or down, and there are zippered mesh windows that can be opened for more ventilation. The canopy fabric covers a wide surface area, but as a tradeoff, it doesn't fold down very compactly and won't fit in smaller cars.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Provides up to 150 square feet of shade
Cons
- Only works when there's wind
- Lower UPF rating of 30+
What's unique about the Shibumi shade is it's meant to work with the wind instead of against it. To use it, you do need a breeze of at least 3 mph to keep the shade afloat, but that shouldn't be hard to come by at the beach.
One of our staffers loves the Shibumi shade and says it's nice and sturdy. She added, "This is one of the best beach shades I've tried, and as an added bonus, it looks pretty!" The tent is easy to pack up and transport, as well, weighing in at less than four pounds.
Pros
- Easy teardown
- 34 square-foot floor area
- Great sun and wind protection
Cons
- Difficult assembly
This pick from Helinox has a floor area of 34 square feet and stands at nearly 5 feet tall, which allows space for four people and is much larger than any other beach tents we tested. Although it's large, this tent only weighs five pounds and packs down into a compact carrying case for easy transport.
One consumer tester had some difficulties assembling the tent but found the teardown process to be "a breeze." The tent performed well in terms of sun protection (it has a UPF 50+ rating), wind resistance, and temperature regulation in our consumer tests.
Pros
- Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation
- Mesh panels for ventilation
- UPF 50+
Cons
- Assembly is tricky
This popup beach tent from Rio Brands gives kids a separate shelter to play with their favorite water toys at the beach. The sides of the tent and the front panel are designed with mesh panels for ventilation, and the front panel can be unzipped and rolled up for even better airflow.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends this beach tent for kids because of its strong UVA and UVB protection. One consumer tester noted that the tent was large enough for both of her children to fit inside with extra room and that the kids were excited to have their own space. This tester thought the tent was tricky to assemble but loved that the instructions are sewn into the carrying bag for a quick reminder.
Pros
- Water and windproof material
- Packs into a lightweight sack for car storage
- Convenient
Cons
- Difficult to assemble
- No UPF rating listed
Sometimes it’s easiest to load up your car and park it on the beach instead of trekking through the hot sand while carrying all of your things. Kelty offers a tent with an attachment system that buckles onto vehicles so you can set up your beach tent right where you park. The attachment system connects to SUVs, vans, and cars and allows for hookup off the side or from the trunk of your vehicle. Some reviewers say the tent can be tricky to assemble alone, so it’s best to put it together with a little help.
How we test beach tents
The Good Housekeeping Institute is located in the heart of New York City, which is not the most ideal place to put beach tents to the test. So instead of testing beach tents in Lab, we sent beach tents to some of our consumer testers who were able to try the tents in ideal beach conditions.
These consumer testers let us know how the tents performed against strong winds, sun and seawater. They described their experiences with assembling and taking down the beach tents, telling us how easy it was to read and follow the instructions and if they ran into any hiccups during the process. Our testers rated the overall quality and appearance of the tents, as well.
Our Textiles Lab analysts are experts when it comes to materials and fabrics, so although they didn't use the tents in Lab, they did analyze all fiber content and product claims to understand how each beach tent would perform against the elements. The combination of our in-Lab analysis and consumer testing reports allowed us to compile the best picks for you to choose from.
What to look for when shopping for the best beach tents
There are so many options for beach tents available on the market that it can be hard to decide which is best. Here are a couple of things you can consider when shopping for beach tents:
✔️UPF rating: Sunscreens aren't the only thing that can protect you from the sun's rays – fabrics can provide sun protection as well. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, and it refers to the amount of UV radiation that a fabric absorbs. A higher UPF rating means that less harmful UV light will hit your skin, so search for beach tents with a UPF rating of 50+, the highest rating available, for optimal sun protection.
✔️Material: Synthetic materials are usually more affordable and stronger than natural materials like cotton. This makes synthetic materials perfect for beach tents, which are subject to damage from high winds, rain and sun. Check the tent's fiber content for synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester before buying to ensure you're picking the most durable option.
✔️Ventilation: Synthetic materials are durable and affordable, but there is one caveat – they are not very breathable. To avoid overheating while you're at the beach, look for a tent with built-in ventilation. Beach tents with vents, zip-open flaps or mesh screens will keep you cooler by providing more airflow.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Amanda Constantine joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022 as a home and apparel reviews analyst. She has a Master of Science in Consumer Sciences from The Ohio State University, a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising and Product Development from Bowling Green State University and an Associate of Applied Science in Advertising and Marketing Communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping, she served as a lecturer at The Ohio State University, teaching fashion and textiles courses.
Shanon Maglente originally wrote this guide. She is the former products and reviews editor for the Good Housekeeping Institute and now a contributing editor, covering the best deals and products across home, appliances, health, beauty, and parenting.
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