Chilling out on the beach with your family is a great way to make use of your spare time. But beach trips can expose your spouse, your kids, and yourself to direct sunlight for long periods of time, which is not good at all. That’s why you need the best beach tent for families.
Here are the best beach tents for family (Nov 2024 Update):
- Best Overall: Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent Sun Shelter
- Best for a Family of 5: Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL
- Best for a Family of 6: Coleman Beach Shade Shelter
- Best for Great Ventilation: iCorer Automatic Pop Up Beach Tent
- Best for Windy Days: Lightspeed Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter
- Best for Two Adults: Easthills Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter
| 6 Best Beach Tents For Family | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent Sun Shelter | |
Best for a Family of 5 | Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL | |
Best for a Family of 6 | Coleman Beach Shade Shelter | |
Best for Great Ventilation | iCorer Automatic Pop Up Beach Tent | |
Best for Windy Days | Lightspeed Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter | |
Best for Two Adults | Easthills Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter | |
Best Overall: Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent Sun Shelter
- Ease of assembly - automatic patented pop up mechanism
- Durable – made of breathable 210T polyester, thick 8.5mm fiberglass, and 150D PE
- Flexible – provide 8 steel stakes and 6 sand pockets
- Actually smaller than it looks on the images
- Not ideal for daily use – the stitching is weak
The Oileus X-Large 4 Person is the best beach tent we’ve ever come across.
It meets our three priorities when looking for a good overall performer – ease of assembly, actual structure, and durability.
The automatic patented pop up mechanism of this tent is wonderful. It allows us to set it up or take it down within 30 seconds, which is already fast for a tent with a size good for 4-6 people.
About the tent features, our most favorite is the two options between using some sandbag weighs and using a stake to hold the tent against wind.
Plus, there are some inner pockets to organize our valuables. Very thoughtful!
| Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent Sun Shelter Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 4 lbs. |
Tent Dimension | 32" x 5" |
Pop Up Size | 92" x 45" x 45" |
Set Up Time | under 30 seconds. |
Highlight Features | automatic patented pop up mechanism; made of breathable 210T polyester, thick 8.5mm fiberglass, and 150D PE; provide 8 steel stakes and 6 sand pockets |
Fast assembly, compact disassembled size, and durable construction, all of them make the Oileus X-Large 4 Person stand out and become the best overall option in our list.
Best for a Family of 5: Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL
- Easy for adults to walk in/out of the tent – extra height, 52 inches
- Not get hot under strong sunlight - UPF 50+ sun protection Fabric & 3 XL ventilation windows
- A bit awkward to set it up for the first time
Fed up of those umbrellas which are too small and frustrating to set up for your 5-person family? Then, this roomy beach tent is a nice replacement.
It makes life so much easier by providing 4 stakes and 5 sand pockets to choose from while the hub system can be easily propped in seconds.
What we like the most about this model is the extra height that an adult can walk in/out easily.
The fabric is UPF 50+ sun protection, which doesn’t get hot under the beach sun, while there are many big ventilation windows for cooling. So, sitting inside it is very comfortable and resting.
| Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | over 6 pounds |
Tent Dimension | 38 L x 6 W x 6 H. |
Pop Up Size | 95 L x 52 H x 51 D |
Set-Up Time | <5 minutes |
Highlight Features | extra height, 52 inches; UPF 50+ sun protection Fabric & 3 XL ventilation windows |
If your family has 5 members and the ordinary tent/umbrellas are too small for them, try this one.
Best for a Family of 6: Coleman Beach Shade Shelter
- Provide enough space for not just 6 people but also 2 beach chairs and a cooler - measured by 7’6” x 4’5” x 4’9” H
- Easy to transport – petite disassembled dimensions & lightweight
- More enjoyable under scorching hot beach sunlight - the back window unzips and 50+ UPF sun protection fabric
- No windows on the side
- Not true to color
- Stakes are slightly flimsy
The total inner area of Coleman Beach Shade Shelter exceeds our expectations as it’s too spacious – measured by 7’6” x 4’5” x 4’9” H, which is enough for a big family of 6.
That is completely contrasting to its petite disassembled dimensions, which can fit snugly inside a carrying bag for ease of transportation. The whole weight of this tent is very light as well, only around 6 pounds.
We do appreciate that it can accommodate 2 beach chairs and a cooler, along with 2 adults and 4 kids inside with no uncomfortable feeling.
Last but not least, the back window unzips and 50+ UPF sun protection fabric definitely make 100°F days at the beach more enjoyable.
| Coleman Beach Shade Shelter Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 6.17 pounds |
Tent Dimension | 14.7 x 6.6 x 6.6 inches |
Pop Up Size | 7 feet 6 inches by 4 feet 5 inches with a 4-foot 9-inch center height |
Set-Up Time | 5 minutes; |
Highlight Features | measured by 7’6” x 4’5” x 4’9” H; petite disassembled dimensions & lightweight; the back window unzips and 50+ UPF sun protection fabric |
For those who hate having a huge umbrella pole in the middle of the tent just to provide enough shade for your 6-member family, then this is a great choice.
Best for Great Ventilation: iCorer Automatic Pop Up Beach Tent
Give very good ventilation & feel cool – a screen on the back and special silver UV-protection coating
- Simple to set up – no assembly required & pop-up design
- Easy to carry or transport – weigh only 2.2 pounds
- Not ideal for big families
- The paper instructions aren’t really helpful
With this option, we confidently assure you that your family will never feel hot when resting inside it.
Aside from the durable fabric with special silver UV-protection coating for literally optimal coverage and all-day shade, it highlights double type B dense interwoven mesh. This screen is in the back of the tent to let air pass through, so you don’t get got when sitting in it.
Besides, its effectiveness and ease of use really impressed us. It weighs only 2.2 pounds and requires no assembly at all.
It pops up to open and then down when not in uses, all is just within seconds. Very perfect for female users or low-tech people.
| iCorer Automatic Pop Up Beach Tent Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 2.2 pounds |
Tent Dimension | 18 x 18 x 1 inches |
Pop Up Size | 65 x 59 x 43.5 inches |
Set-Up Time | 5-15 minutes |
Highlight Features | double type B dense interwoven mesh, special silver UV-protection coating, pop-up design; weigh only 2.2 pounds |
Built with double type B dense interwoven mesh and effective UV-protection coating, the iCorer Automatic Pop Up Beach Tent is unrivaled in terms of ventilation.
Best for Windy Days: Lightspeed Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter
- Provide unparalleled stability - 8 heavy-duty plastic stakes, sand pockets, and thick 8. 5mm fiberglass
- Quick and easy to set up/take down - hub system
- Cool and well air-vented - three big windows
- The mat gets very hot in the sun
- The stitching needs to be of better quality in places
The Lightspeed Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter stands out during our test for its unparalleled stability in light to medium wind, all thanks to its sturdy structure.
It emphasizes 8 heavy-duty plastic stakes, sand pockets, and thick 8. 5mm fiberglass.
Regardless, the cabana is very lightweight and easy to carry. The best part is how quick and easy it is to set up and takedown.
A big compliment for three big windows that can be opened/closed if wanted. They help invite lots of air inside for better ventilation.
| Lightspeed Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 6.1 lbs. |
Tent Dimension | 94" x 5. 51" x 5. 51" |
Pop Up Size | 96" x 54" x 48" Plus a 40" porch of space |
Set-Up Time | 3 minutes |
Highlight Features | 8 heavy-duty plastic stakes, sand pockets, and thick 8. 5mm fiberglass; hub system; three big windows |
Designed with great improvement on the stakes and fiberglass materials, no doubt when the Lightspeed Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter is our top pick for windy days.
Best for Two Adults: Easthills Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter
- Enough for two people and personal essentials - Measured by 82
- The windows can’t be closed halfway
Measured by 82" W x 47" D x 50" H once fully assembled, the Easthills Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter is ideal for a couple or two people.
Easy to set up (even in strong wind), lightweight to carry, and compact to store, moreover, it gives you big windows on all sides for ventilation. We love the zip-up porch as it gives more privacy.
The stakes are much better than expected and actually help secure the whole beach tent from flipping as well as hold the front flap down in gusts. The sandbag hold downs are also great because of the Velcro.
| Easthills Outdoors Beach Tent Sun Shelter Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 5 pounds |
Tent Dimension | 39" x 8.5" x 8.5" |
Pop Up Size | 82" W x 47" D x 50" H plus a 43" front porch of space |
Set-Up Time | <3 minutes |
Highlight Features | Measured by 82" W x 47" D x 50" H; big windows on all sides; zip-up porch |
All-in-all, the Easthills Sun Shelter works excellently and afford everything needed for a good 2-person beach tent.
How To Choose The Best Beach Tent For Family?
Size
When you choose a beach tent for your family, you have to make sure each and every member of your family has enough space inside the tent. The required space for a person is 30 square feet.
You also need to think about the number of people joining the camping trip, how long your family often camps for, and what everyone usually does in the tent.
But you shouldn’t choose a tent that’s too big either. For example, a tent larger than 10x10 feet is likely to look awkward, probably too heavy to carry over long distances, and harder to find a place large enough to set it on, though it may fit the whole family.
Materials
Material is a major factor that determines how durable your beach tent is. You should buy a beach tent made of polyester or nylon as they effectively protect your family from UV rays.
If you get a beach tent with material that cannot block sunlight, UV rays may contact your skin, increasing the risk of skin cancer. So, make sure you get reliable material.
Ventilation
This factor is especially important for families with small children. If your family stays in a tent without good ventilation, they will likely get heated up rather than cool down.
Therefore, you should go with a tent that has side windows, may two or three. They will let breezes in while you can shut them for privacy.
Most beach tents come with an open front for airflow and a view of the sea and some have an optional removable back wall that lets more airflow in. If you have small children, you should choose a beach tent like that.
Which Brands Make The Best Beach Tent For Family?
Oileus
This is a professional brand that promises the best outdoor experience. It offers a wide range of products including canopy tents.
All of its products must undergo multiple quality tests across extreme environments, so you can put your trust and choose a reliable beach tent for your family here.
Pacific
It’s committed to offering the highest quality and the most creative play environments. This brand is a must-try if there are small kids in your family as its products are designed for a fun time, safety, and durability.
Coleman
There is a lot of products you can choose here for your family’s outdoor activities, including tents, canopies, sleeping bags, etc. The brand focuses on innovation so you may find a beach tent with unique features.
iCorer
iCorer is specialized in both indoor and outdoor products, which include tents, kid playing house, sun shelter, pet care, travel necessities, as well as health and personal care. It’s a leading brand in the fields and commits to meeting all customers’ needs.
Lightspeed
Founded in 2009, this is a US brand specialized in camping and beach gear. It makes functional products with high durability that are easy to use. If you want a good beach tent that can last cold and warm weather, this is a go-to brand.
Easthills
Beach tents are the first product line of this brand and its reputation has been built and expended to other product lines for beach trips, camping, hiking, and backpacking. Especially, this brand is for family gear.
FAQs
How To Anchor A Beach Canopy?
First, use a shovel and dig down by 2 feet deep into the sand. Then, go near the water, take some wet sand, put it on the fabric.
Next, put the anchor in the sand, cover it, and hole back using sand.
The guy line must be attached to the anchor and you need to pull it tight.
How Much Are Beach Tents?
Beach tent prices depend on the brand, models, and especially sizes. Beach tent pricing can range for $50 to hundreds of dollars if the tent is bigger.
How To Keep A Beach Canopy From Blowing Away?
Using weight, you will be able to keep your canopy on the ground. You should attach tent weights to its legs so that the canopy cannot blow over.
How To Refold Beach Tents?
Step 1: Before folding the tent, shake out the debris from it.
Step 2: Grab the sides of your beach tent.
Step 3: Fold the sides together.
Step 4: Turn the beach tent on its side then press it flat.
Step 5: Fold it over.
Step 6: Pack it up.
How Well Do Tents Work On The Beach?
As long as you set up the tent properly, it will work well. It provides shade and shelter for your beach trip.
Conclusion
When choosing the best beach tent for your family, you have to think about how factors like material, size, and ventilation will affect your kids and spouse. That way, you will know exactly what a beach tent should be like to best serve your family.
We hope that the tips provided above as well as suggested brands will help you buy the best tent for your family’s beach trips.
