Some heaters, like the Honeywell HHF360V 360-Degree Surround Heater and the Honeywell UberHeat Plus are electric heaters and require an electricity source.
Other heaters use propane as fuel. The Mr. Heater Big Buddy and the Mr. Heater Little Buddy are all great heaters for camping and tents. They have many safety features to ensure an adequate amount of oxygen in the tent, and that the unit doesn’t cause a fire. The main difference between the two of them is their heating capacity.
Below are more of my top picks for the best tent heaters that use electricity and propane.
Best Tent Heaters (Top Picks)
Best Overall
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Best Value
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Best Electric Tent Heater
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Best Heater for Tent Camping
Here are some good tent heaters:
- Mr. Heater Portable Big Buddy Propane Heater - Best Overall
- Mr. Heater Little Buddy
- Honeywell 360-Degree Surround Heater - Best Electric
- Honeywell UberHeat Plus - Best Value
Read our complete buyers guide for tent heaters.
Best Camping Tent Heaters
1. Mr. Heater Portable Big Buddy Propane Heater
The Mr. Heater Portable Big Buddy is the big brother version of the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy. This product has all the same features, and then some.
The unit can heat bigger spaces, up to 300 square feet, and has a power rating of up to 18 000 BTU.
In addition, this product has three heating options for your preference. The unit is heavier, but comes with a fan, which is operated on 4D batteries or an AC adapter.
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2. Mr. Heater Little Buddy
4.5/5 Overall Rating
The Mr. Heater Little Buddy is a portable, indoor-safe heater. The unit is petite, light and is designed for use in small spaces up to 95 square feet.
It has two heat settings: high (9000 BTU) and low (4000 BTU). The unit connects to a 1 lb propane tank and is perfect for small tents.
Like other Mr. Heater products, this unit has an automatic shut-off feature for when low oxygen levels are detected, or for when the unit tips over.
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3. Honeywell 360-Degree Surround Heater
The Honeywell HHF360V 360-Degree Surround Heater is light, stylish and space-efficient. It provides 360-degree heat and is suitable for small to mid-sized rooms.
The heater is versatile with both a heat setting option and an adjustable thermostat. The heater also includes safety features like overheat protection, a cool-to-touch plastic cover and handle, and an automatic shut-off feature that will switch the heater off if it is knocked over.
It should be mentioned that, as a result of the automatic tip-over shutdown function, the unit tends to switch itself off if it’s not on a flat surface.
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4. Honeywell UberHeat Plus
4.6/5 Overall Rating
This small, compact heater is more of a personal unit. The Honeywell UberHeat Plus is electric and uses up to 900 watts of power.
The unit has two heat settings to suit your requirements and has a plastic shell which is cool to touch. You can also adjust the UberHeat's thermostat from 65-80 °F (18-27°C).
The heater also has safety features like overheat protection as well as tip-over protection up to 360°.
This unit may not be ideal for big tent camping as it requires electricity and won’t be able to heat up big spaces. However, it is under $50 and a great little personal heater to help warm you up if you have access to electricity at your campsite.
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The Bottom Line
The kind of heater you choose depends on your heating requirements and campsite facilities.
Some heaters, like the Honeywell HHF360V 360-Degree Surround Heater and the Honeywell UberHeat Plus are electric heaters and require an electricity source. If you know you’ll be camping near an electricity source, like an RV campsite, then electrical heaters are great.
The Honeywell 360-Degree Surround Heater provides surround heat, but tends to turn off on uneven surfaces, which is generally a feature of campsites. The Honeywell UberHeat Plus is compact, light and cheap, but is more of a personal desk heater than anything else.
The Mr. Heater Big Buddy has many safety features to ensure an adequate amount of oxygen in the tent but can be quite heavy and cumbersome to transport between campsites. The Mr. Heater Little Buddy is a lot more compact than the Big Buddy and has an automatic shut-off feature for when low oxygen levels are detected. That's what makes these two heaters great propane alternatives to electric heaters in your tent.
Best Tent Heater - Buyer's Guide
Are tent heaters safe?
Safety is really important to consider when choosing a heater for your tent. If you aren’t careful, and don’t follow the proper instructions, it’s possible to run out of oxygen in your tent.
Make sure that the tent is ventilated properly, and speak to a professional about how to adequately do this.
Certain heaters have oxygen detection systems which issue a warning, or automatically switch the unit off, when low oxygen levels are detected.
Another possible problem is if the heater gets knocked over – this could melt the tent or cause a fire.
Most heaters have a safety feature to ensure that the unit gets switched off when tipped over, but make sure that this is a feature of the heater before you buy it.
Heaters can also overheat, so heaters with a timer function or with an overheat protection feature are preferable.
Should you use an electric or a propane tent heater?
Heaters either use electricity or propane as fuel sources. You can use both of these in tents, but it depends on your campsite facilities – you’re not always going to find a tent site with access to electricity.
Propane heaters are more portable, but come with a different set of concerns when it comes to safety. While it is possible to use a space heater in a tent, one must ensure proper ventilation to avoid the release and accumulation of carbon in the tent.
Most propane heaters are catalytic heaters – which means there is no open flame – and this is more safe than having a flame heater, but you must still ensure that the heater is not covered by anything, as it will melt.
Portability
Most of the heaters you’d consider taking camping are pretty portable. The portability of your heater depends on its bulk and weight, but also on its fuel source.
Weight and Size
The weight and size of your heater affects how easy it is to move around, but is also important when considering how much space it will take up in your tent. Smaller, lighter heaters are preferable, although these may be less powerful. It depends on how much space you have in the tent, and how much heating you need.
Noisiness
Sleeping in a tent is uncomfortable enough without added constant noise. Space and wave heaters (propane heaters) are usually pretty quiet, but electrical ones might have a hum. Electric heaters also have fans which can be quite noisy.
Efficiency
Fuel-efficiency is pretty important for propane heaters, especially when camping. The last thing you want is to run out of fuel on a freezing cold trip.
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