How To Heat A Tent Without Electricity – Ultimate Guide

With the summer rolling in, many inexperienced campers underestimate how cold nights can get. Learning how to heat a tent without electricity is an essential skill you’ll need if you want to enjoy your camping trip year-round.

I’ve had more than one occasion where I needed a warm tent but had no access to power. It may have seemed impossible at first, but a little creativity goes a long way when you’re in a pinch. That’s why I’ve compiled this guide to help you explore all the options you have available if you ever need some warmth in your tent. 

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10 Camping Essentials – Camping Gear & Accessories

Camping essentials so you have fun camping so you go camping more!

  1. Matches, lighter or flint to get your campfire started so you are always prepared.
  2. Reusable water jerry can with tap. I love that this one is foldable yet still super strong. 
  3. Comfortable camping chair. This one has a cooler bag and cup holder to ensure you have a cool drink within arms reach so you can sit back and relax.
  4. Portable gas camp stove to cook or reheat your favorite camping meals and stay nourished.
  5.  Axe or tomahawk to cut wood for your camp fire. 
  6. Jaffle iron to make delicious pie’s, panini’s, toasted cheese sandwiches and more around your campfire
  7. Heavy-duty gloves for handling items on your BBQ, grill or firepit safely.
  8. A long-handled shovel has so many uses from digging your car out of it gets bogged to moving coals around in your camp fire.
  9. Waterproof, quick-pitch tent with plenty of space for your gear and to protect you from the rain.
  10. Dirty gear bag that fits over your spare wheel so you can take all your rubbish with you.

Why You Need To Heat A Tent Without Electricity

Before exploring the methods you can use to heat a tent without electricity, I’d like to elaborate specifically on why you need to acquire this knowledge. Here are several reasons to consider:

  • You may not always have access to a power source. Camping involves exploring nature, far from the conveniences of modern life. That means you’re likely to be far from an electrical outlet, even in emergencies.
  • Electricity might get cut off. Even with the best solar batteries or other backup power, there’s always the real possibility of running out of juice.
  • You might want to reduce your carbon footprint. With the climate crisis in the state it is in today, using less electricity is always a good thing. 
  • The experience. Many people start camping to get off the grid and experience a simpler life, albeit for a while. Heating your tent the powerless way is an experience all on its own.
how to heat up a tent without electricity

Warming Up Using Portable Heaters

The most obvious and effective method to heat your tent without access to electricity is to use a portable heater. There are many models available nowadays, but you can generally differentiate between them based on the energy source. Below are the three most common types of portable heaters suitable for camping.

Gas Heater

One of the oldest ways campers learned to stay warm inside their tents is to use a portable gas heater. While this method will give you a lot of warmth, there are safety hazards to consider:

  • Gas is flammable
  • Incomplete combustion can be dangerous while sleeping.

Also, it’s worth noting that a gas heater will eventually run out. You probably won’t get more than 4 to 6 hours out of it before you need to refill. 

Propane Heater

As propane canisters are significantly smaller and easier to carry, many people choose to use portable propane heaters when camping. An added advantage is that you can also use the propane heater as a small stovetop to cook on while camping. 

I recommend using a propane heater over other gas heaters because they tend to last longer but keep in mind that you’re still burning fuel and it’s a finite amount you’re carrying with you.

Battery-Operated Electric Heater

You can also find portable electric heaters that don’t need to be plugged in for them to work. That is, they are battery-operated. If you do choose this option, I prefer a solar-powered heater because you can recharge it while hiking and stay warm after sunset.

Choosing The Right Type Of Tent

So far, I’ve talked about ways you can heat up a tent by adding a portable heater. However, it would be pointless to use the heater if you aren’t using the correct tent. Some tents are designed with ventilation in mind (summer tents), which will effectively be more difficult to heat.

The following are two options for tents that I recommend using to ensure that you don’t need to work too hard to heat up your tent when you don’t have access to electricity.

Hot Tents

Friends of mine who live in colder areas like Canada are fond of using hot tents that are made of thicker materials such as heavy canvas or even leather. These tend typically also include a vent hole to provide ample ventilation so you can light a fire inside the tent (like the Native Americans).

Make sure to check that the materials used to make the tent are flame-retardant for your safety.

Year-round Tents

Consider buying a 4 season tent if you aren’t going to be exclusively camping during the colder months, or don’t have the budget required to buy another tent. This would be a tent suitable for use during any season, with features that are designed for colder climates.

How To Heat A Summer Tent Without Electricity

The methods I’ve mentioned above are very effective at heating up your tent but are more suitable for winter camping. If you’re in a summer tent and the weather doesn’t warrant extreme measures, you can still heat it without electricity.

Note that the methods I mention below will only moderately heat your tent. 

Sleeping Pads

You can add sleeping pads under your sleeping bags as a way to insulate yourself from the cold seeping from the ground. Also, the warmth of your body will slightly increase the temperature in the temperature inside the room because the ground will not absorb the heat. 

Using A Groundsheet

Another way of adding a layer of insulation between the tent and the ground is to add a groundsheet under your tent. You may remember I’ve mentioned before that you can use it to prevent water from seeping into your bedding from underneath

Even if the weather isn’t rainy or the ground is dry, using a groundsheet is beneficial because it will help keep the inside of your tent warmer.

Hot Water Bottles

Although this trick won’t heat your tent when the weather is extremely cold, using a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag will significantly increase the temperature inside your tent. Make sure to pour water into the bottle when it’s boiling hot, and the water will stay hot for a long time. 

To keep the heat in the hot water bottle for even longer, make sure it is wrapped in an insulating material such as a blanket.

hot water bottle to heat a tent

More Ways To Heat Up Your Tent

Don’t worry if the common methods I’ve mentioned earlier aren’t feasible at the moment. There are still more ways you can heat up your tent:

DIY Candle Heater

You can use a candle heater (also known as a candle lantern) to warm up your hands or heat up small packages of food such as ready-to-eat meals. The same device will add a little bit of warmth on chilly summer nights.

To make one, all you need is a mason jar and a candle. Optionally, add a wire (coat hangers work as well) to hang the lantern. Melt a few drops of wax inside the bottom of the mason jar to fix the candle in place.

Leftover Coals

You’re probably already making a campfire if the weather is cold. The leftover coals from the fire can keep you warm hours later if you bring them into the tent. This trick was also used in homes before modern architecture introduced other heating methods. 

All you need is any type of metal container to put the coals in. I recommend using a pot or pan (cast iron works best). Be careful when picking it up, though, because the metal can get hot enough to burn you. 

Stove

If you have a hot tent, consider getting a small camping stove and placing it inside the tent. However, make sure to put out the flame before going to bed. If you keep the stove on for a while inside the tent, the temperature inside will be warm enough until the morning.

Campfire

For larger tents with sufficient ventilation, you may consider lighting a campfire. When I say sufficient ventilation, I mean you would need to have a large hole in the tent or even a tent with three sides. This wouldn’t work in a small tent.

A campfire will even heat your tent enough for you to forgo wearing jackets or any heavy winter wear.

how to heat up a tent with a campfire

Hot Stones

If you don’t want the mess of bringing in coal inside your tent, consider using hot stones. Look around for smooth cobblestones to heat up, making sure that they are dry. Once they are hot enough, carry them using heavy blankets and wrap them in towels before you put them in your bedding. 

Safety And Precautions

Here are a few safety precautions you should keep in mind regarding heating your tent without electricity:

  • Never sit in a closed tent with an ignited flame for long.
  • Be careful when handling hot coals and stones, as they can cause serious burns.
  • If you’re using a hot water bottle, ensure that it is properly closed to avoid scalding. 

How To Heat A Tent Without Electricity FAQs

How Do You Heat A Tent All Night?

The most important thing is to reduce airflow and increase insulation while adding a source of heat. 

What Can You Use To Heat Inside Of Tent?

Safe heating options include hot water bottles, leftover coals, and even hot stones. 

How Do You Heat A Tent With A Water Bottle?

Placing a hot water bottle inside your sleeping bag after pouring boiling water in it will help keep the tent warm for longer.

Is There A Safer Heater For A Tent?

Solar-powered electric heaters are the safest type of heater for a tent because they don’t include any flame. 

Does A Campfire Heat Up The Inside Of A Tent?

A campfire inside a well-ventilated tent will heat up the tent, but not if the campfire is outside of the tent. Do not light a campfire if your tent is not spacious enough and the tent material is flammable.

Final Thoughts On How To Heat A Tent Without Electricity

As you can see, there are plenty of methods to heat a tent without the need for electricity. Choose the option most suitable for your needs and circumstances, and you won’t need to worry about sleeping out in the cold anymore. 

For more camping articles check out this page.

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