The Best Tent Heaters

A portable tent heater can be a powerful and fast way to heat the spacious interior of a canvas tent. No noisy generator needed, a top-rated portable tent heater is your best friend for all-season glamping! Safety first though, folks. Please do not assume that all heaters are rated for safe use inside your canvas tent. Using an outdoor-specific heater indoors can be dangerous and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning! Indoor-safe heaters are generally either electric, propane, or butane, and should have an automatic shut-off feature just in case it gets tipped over.

Many portable heaters also have some kind of oxygen sensor, so that if the unit detects a very low level of oxygen, the sensor shuts off the heater. However, it is our recommendation to also keep a separate carbon monoxide (CO) alarm nearby. And make sure to always turn off the tent heater when you go to sleep, or when you leave the tent.

Never trap yourself inside a tent with a propane heater on without some form of ventilation.

Tent heaters will also lead to condensation, so in addition to the safety factor, ventilation is essential for minimizing condensation build-up. No matter which portable tent heater you choose, always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Now, onto our roundup of the best portable heaters for a canvas tent!

OUR TOP PICK FOR A PORTABLE CAMPING TENT HEATER

Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Tent Heater

Mr. Heater Portable Buddy is the LiT top pick for best portable tent heater. It puts out a lot of heat in a short amount of time, is super adjustable, and is a great price point for all that it delivers.  It even great inside an A-frame tent.

• 4,000-9,000 BTU
• Heats up to 225 sq. feet
• 2.5 - 5.4 hours run time
• Low and High settings
• Uses 1 lb. propane cylinders
• Dimensions: 7.7 x 13.4 x 15 inches

RUNNERS UP

Campy Gear 2 in 1 Portable Propane Heater & Stove

Any one of these portable heaters would be happily welcomed inside one of our canvas camping tent! Things you'll want to consider when choosing the right portable tent heater are size and weight, fuel type, heat output, runtime, noise level, and, of course, safety. For cold weather camping (20F or above), you'll want a portable heater with at least 2,500 to 5,000 BTUs. 

• 9,000 BTU
• 360 degree heat
• Fuel: Butane/isobutane/propane/propane & butane mix
• Dimensions: ‎7.64 x 7.52 x 6.65 inches

Texsport Portable Propane Heater

• 2,890 BTU Compact
• weighs 1 lb.
• Fuel: Propane
• Dimensions: ‎7.64 x 7.52 x 6.65 inches

Kovea Cupid Portable Heater

• 3,333 BTU
• Weighs 3 lbs.
• Fuel: Butane
• Dimensions: 10.5" x 7" x 5.5"

Sengoku HeatMate Omni-Heat Portable Tent Heater

• 10,000 BTU
• Fuel: Kerosene
• Dimensions: 10.5" x 7" x 5.5"