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The Best Canopy Pop-Up Tents

Last updated on July 10, 2023

We looked at the top 16 Canopy Tents and dug through the reviews from 98 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Canopy Tents.

special events tent

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

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Our Picks For The Top Canopy Tents

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Key Takeaway
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

CLAM Fiberglass Water Resistant Canopy Pop-Up Tent, 11.5×11.5-Feet

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

CLAM

Fiberglass Water Resistant Canopy Pop-Up Tent, 11.5x11.5-Feet

Make your time in the great outdoors more comfortable with this six-sided canopy tent. It's easily portable, fits up to eight individuals and comes with mesh sides to protect against insects. You can even get the tent in a choice of green, brown, gray or tan.

Overall Take

Unique ShapeThis waterproof canopy tent sets up in just 45 seconds.

 We Also Like

ABC CANOPY Waterproof Folding Canopy Tent, 8×8-Feet

ABC CANOPY

Waterproof Folding Canopy Tent, 8x8-Feet

This canopy tent is a favorite for its entirely square design featuring straight legs and offering a 100 square foot coverage. The 100% waterproof fabric and thick canvas provides protection from the elements. You’ll also find excellent stability in the ABC Canopy.

Overall Take

Protection from the ElementsEnjoy 100 square feet of excellent coverage from the elements with this canopy (pop-up) tent.

Pros
" Straight leg design provides 100 square feet"
Cons
"Doesn’t provide any side protection"
 Strong Contender

Core Alloy Steel Pop-Up Canopy Tent, 10×10-Feet

Core

Alloy Steel Pop-Up Canopy Tent, 10x10-Feet

It takes just 2 minutes to set up this canopy tent in your backyard. The tent measures 10 feet by 10 feet and can be used to protect food for your picnic or provide shade for your guests. The allow steel frame is nice and sturdy while the polyester fabric is both waterproof and coated with UV protection.

Overall Take

Easy to TransportThe wheels on this canopy (pop-up) tent's carry bag make it one of the more portable options.

Pros
" CORE has taken the Coleman design and polished it up to bring it back to us at a great price."
 Also Great

OUTFINE Metal Easy Assemble Pop-Up Canopy Tent, 10×10-Feet

OUTFINE

Metal Easy Assemble Pop-Up Canopy Tent, 10x10-Feet

This canopy tent arrives neatly packaged in a carry bag that won't take up much space in your garage or attic. The tent itself is easy to assemble and made using a waterproof material that will protect your guests from the elements. Built into the tent are two windows for natural light and several tie backs to keep one or more of the tent's sides o...

Overall Take

Multiple Color OptionsYou'll find this canopy (pop-up) tent is available in six color choices: red, green, blue, white, black and khaki.

Buying Guide

Whether you are heading to the beach for the day or perhaps tailgating before a game, pop-up tents are the best to keep you protected from the elements.

“Canopy tents are great for offering protection from the wind and sun. They’re also very versatile,” says outdoor and camping expert Shawna Newman, editor-in-chief of Active Weekender. “You can take them camping, to the beach, tailgating at the big game, or even use one to set up a booth at your local farmer’s market.”

One factor you’ll want to consider is size. How many people will be using your tent? Do you need a lot of space at the top in addition to floor space?

“It’s important that you buy the proper size pop-up tent, otherwise tall people will have to crouch when standing inside,” Newman explains. “A model with a cathedral ceiling is ideal for headspace.”

Additionally, you’ll want to look for quality. Look at the materials the tents are made from and the features they offer.

“The best pop-up tents are made of a thicker water-resistant polyester,” says Newman. “The thickness should be labeled on the product for you to see. The thicker it is, the more durable it is and the more rain it can handle. If you want maximum UV protection on sunny days, then the best options for this are the models with a UV-protection vinyl coating. Sidewalls, which offer protection from sun and wind, are another hallmark of a higher quality canopy tent.”

If sun protrection is the main purpose of buying a canopy pop-up tent, perhaps consider one that offers UV ray protection. You’ll find tents on the market with excellent 99% UV protection and two height options with adjustable legs. In addition, some of these tents are sold with convenient, water-resistant carrying cases.

If you are looking to “up” your tailgating game, you may want a pop-up that can withstand any wind or rain. Since you may not know the terrain on which you’ll be setting the tent on, it would be a good idea to find a canopy that offers a stronger steel frame or some sort of free-standing stabilizer.

The ABC Canopy Pop-up Canopy Tent has it all for tailgating. This 10 x 10-foot canopy features extremely durable material that offers UPF of 50 and UV protection. It not only comes with stakes for grassy or sandy areas but also four sandbags to attach to the legs for harder surfaces that the stakes won’t penetrate. Add the handy wheeled case that it easily slips back into, and you will have yourself an incredible asset for tailgating.

Now, if you are an event vendor and offer your services for outdoor events, you most certainly want to have a canopy tent that is not only beautiful in presentation but also protects your equipment from the rain, wind and sun.

For disc jockeys, bartenders and photo booth vendors, the best resolution for outdoor events is one with drop-down sides. This type of tent will surely keep you safe from rain and wind and give you the display you want. The added perk of sandbags for the legs provides stability through stormy weather, so you may wan to look for that feature. When it’s time to pack up, some models break down in a few easy steps and slip it into the rolling storage bag included.

When you want a simple tent that will give you coverage during your backyard cookout, look for a large pop-up tent that has a 13X13 foot spread. This tent allows for more mingling space underneath. A roof vent is also ideal, as it resists pooling when you have rainstorms. Some models even offer an unparalleled three-minute setup that will help prepare you for impending storm clouds in no time. Make sure the heavy-duty material is UV protective, and that the corner stakes are able to keep the canopy portion from flipping upwards in cases of wind gusts. In addition, look for a carrying bag that has wheels on the bottom for easy transportation.

Our Expert Consultant

Shawna Newman 
Camping And Outdoor Expert

Shawna Newman is the editor-in-chief of Active Weekender, a website that provides resources — from gear recommendations to beginner tips — to people looking to plan outdoor adventures. Her favorite outdoor activity is hiking, and she is on a quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

 

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
23

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the canopy tents available to purchase.
16

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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98

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Outside Pursuits, Wilderness Today, The Review Index, Bob Vila, The Patio Pro.

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User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 16 Canopy Tents and also dug through the reviews from 98 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Canopy Tents.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Core Alloy Steel Pop-Up Canopy Tent, 10×10-Feet

Key Takeawy

It takes just 2 minutes to set up this canopy tent in your backyard. The tent measures 10 feet by 10 feet and can be used to protect food for your picnic or provide shade for your guests. The allow steel frame is nice and sturdy while the polyester fabric is both waterproof and coated with UV protection.

What other experts liked

CORE has taken the Coleman design and polished it up to bring it back to us at a great price.
- Outside Pursuits
It also takes only two minutes to set up and take-down, as it has scissor joints making raising this canopy easy.
- Wilderness Today

What other experts didn't like

While I would have liked to see the canopy material being made from something more robust, the 150 denier polyester should be robust enough for most situations.
- Outside Pursuits

What to Look For

  • Aluminum frame tents are best if you are looking for a lightweight option that is easy to set up and break down. However, aluminum will bend easier if confronted with strong winds or rough use.
  • When using your tent, just remember to add the sandbags and anchor the legs properly, for safety reasons. “A swift gust of wind will have it airborne if you don’t have those legs securely anchored,” says Newman.
  • For an area that often sees tough winds and gusty weather, a steel frame canopy is the one to consider. The sturdy construction of steel will not allow for easy bending even in the toughest of weather.
  • Although a dark color may be your first choice for your canopy tent, remember that dark color fabrics will retain heat. So, if you live in an area that is usually hot, try to go for a lighter color.
  • Color will block UV rays better than a white canopy. So, if this is going to be primarily a beach tent, try for a light color to keep you protected from the sun but not sweltering in the heat.
  • To give you a general idea of what the size means, a 10- by 10-foot canopy allows for roughly 16-20 people to stand and mingle, 10-12 around a table, and roughly 3-4 beach chairs underneath.
  • Most canopies consist of polyester fabric. This comes in a variety of thicknesses. So when you see a rating for the fabric, it is referring to the thickness. The thicker the material, the better.

More to Explore

Here at Don’t Waste Your Money we have ranked and reviewed thousands of items that will make spending time in the outdoors more comfortable and enjoyable. Check out all of our top picks for tents!

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