10 Best Play Tents for Kids 2024

Product Overview

The Foxprint Princess Castle Play Tent is one of the best pop-up play tents you can find today. The tent looks adorable in its pretty pink color, but it has more going for it than just its adorable look.

The castle-style design touches include a flag-topped turret and a door designed like a drawbridge. The door and mesh windows are wide enough to allow adequate ventilation and natural lighting in the tent. We like that kids have the option of rolling down the door for privacy or pinning it open to communicate with people outside.

The tent is ornamented with an array of heart shapes and glowing stars, but we could barely see them in a darkened room though. Still, the tent can be set up outdoors too, and you can imagine the magic of popping it up in the backyard on a quiet starry night. The glow-in-the-dark feature paired with the peep-through mesh windows and fold-down doors promotes the tent’s ability to inspire role-play and spark children’s imaginations.

Size

Measuring 41.5 inches in length, 54 inches in width, and 41.5 inches tall, the Foxprint Princess Castle Play Tent is large enough to accommodate more than one child, including their toys. It weighs 2.4 pounds and is 17 inches in diameter when folded up in its portable zipper carry bag.

Assembly and Storage

This Foxprint play tent is delivered to the customer in a small pink bag and pops up when unfolded. It’s just not as easy to refold the tent into the carry bag, but we’re confident it gets easier with practice. Still, the play tent comes with printed instruction you can consult, and there are instructional YouTube videos available as well.

You can choose to set up the tent and leave it up for kids to play in anytime they want. This option is better for indoor use. It comes with fiberglass poles that support the tent’s fabric. Installation is as simple as inserting the poles into the pockets on the top and bottom and tieing them in the center with a pretty pink ribbon.

Safety and Durability

The poles are shock-corded, making them sturdy and safe for children.

You’d be amazed at how sturdy the supporting poles are with no wobbles or the shifting tale-tells of imminent collapse. Take note that the poles are visible from the inside of the tent, so it helps to warn kids not to grab them, or there’s a risk the tent will tip over. Even though the Foxprint Princess Castle Play Tent sports a castle-like design, it is one of the simplest play tents available at the market.

The fabric is made with nylon material that is easy to clean by wiping down with a damp cloth and soap. The Foxprint Princess Castle Play Tent is a beautiful and safe space for relaxation, privacy, or playdates for children. The pink color may seem like it is a play tent for girls only, but little boys won’t mind making this their private cave, at least not until they are about six to seven-years-old.

Product Overview

This Monobeach play tent stands out with its roomy size even though it comes with extra features like battery-powered star lights. This is a girl-themed play tent, just as the name implies, so it comes in an adorable design. The tent’s fabric is made of polyester taffeta materials.

The lighting inside the tent and the curtains tied to the supporting poles give off a royal ambiance that is as fitting for a queen as much as for a king. So, we think the Monobeach Princess Tent Girls Large Playhouse is good for boys too, notwithstanding the pink color. It’s left to the child’s imaginations to explore.

The tent can be used indoors and outdoors, so there’s no limit to how much pretend-play children can use it for. The battery-powered star lights twinkle within the tent and are hung all around the tent’s interior. The light-up feature requires three AA batteries, which aren’t included. The wonderful thing is that the batteries last a long time.

Size

The Monobeach Princess Tent Girls Large Playhouse is several inches larger in diameter than the Foxprint Princess Castle Play Tent. Measuring 55 inches deep and 53 inches high, this is one of the tallest play tents on the market today. When assembled, the tent weighs 3.76 pounds.

Assembly and Storage

You could set up the tent in your child’s room and leave it up without the need to dismantle it after each use. The tent is large enough to comfortably fit three or four toddlers. The tent comes with a carry bag, a set of supporting poles, a set of star lights, a set of connectors, and an instruction booklet.

The Monobeach Princess Tent Girls Large Playhouse does not pop up like the Foxprint Princess Castle Play Tent does, but the included instructions make it easy to assemble the tent.

Safety and Durability

Take note that you might find the supporting poles a bit difficult to bend into the proper position while installing the tent. This is an important consideration, especially if your child is rough with toys. The set of supporting poles are made from PVC, which is very stable but can bend and prevent the tent from standing properly. This does not at all mean that the supporting poles are flimsy. On the contrary, the poles are sturdy and durable. Even so, this tent set includes extra poles in the packaging, just in case they are needed.

We recommend zip ties to make it easier to hang up the star lights around the interior of the tent. If there are any actual issues with the Monobeach Princess Tent Girls Large Playhouse, we’d say it’s the polyester blend fabric that does not properly block sunlight. Still, kids can enjoy playing prince and princess in it on a sunny day outdoors, as long as the tent is set up in a shaded area away from direct sunlight.

The upside is that polyester taffeta is easy to clean as well as water-resistant and durable. Inspired by castles in fairy tales, this is a magical and sturdy girl-themed play tent that we believe is also great for boys.

Product Overview

Many boys and girls dream of becoming astronauts one day, traveling into outer space aboard a cool spacecraft. If you have such a kid or would like to nurture one, why not start with getting them this USA Toyz Rocket Ship Play Tent for Kids?

Kids can spend hours hanging out in this “rocket ship” while imagining how they will blast off on a mission to some unknown planet to meet with aliens. The tent is also a perfect space for reading, sleeping, etc.

The tent also comes with a projector toy as a bonus. The projector beams 24 space-themed images on the ceiling and walls of the tent. The space projector is a small plastic flashlight that is powered by three AG13/LR44 1.5 V cell batteries. The flashlight comes with three tiny discs with pictures of the planets, astronauts, and rockets.

Size

With a diameter of 41 X 41 X 53 inches, the tent is roomy enough to comfortably fit up to three kids.

Assembly and Storage

It is easy to set up the tent for play as it is an indoor pop-up style play tent. The tent pops up when you unfold it from the easy carry tote that comes with it, and then all that is left to do is insert the supporting poles in the designated pockets. This makes the USA Toyz Rocket Ship Play Tent for Kids one of the easiest to set-up play tents available on the market.

Safety and Durability

The mesh windows and large tie-back door ensure good ventilation within the tent. The fabric is made of polyester material, which is most suitable for indoor use and is easy to clean with a damp cloth and mild soap.

The polyester fabric is not the best for outdoor use, though; it can hardly block sunlight and may rip if kids play rough with it. There is also the possibility that the supporting poles might eventually rip through the fabric.

The tent itself is treated with flame-retardant and doesn’t have any PVC except for on the window of the convenient carry bag.

Product Overview

The play tents we’ve reviewed so far in this buyer’s guide are designed with a focus on privacy and relaxation. Those are the perfect tents and playhouses for kids who just want some privacy or a fun place to read their storybooks and hang out with friends. On the other hand, some play tents, such as the UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent with Tunnel, are designed with a focus on active play.

If you’re looking for that nice little play tent to induce your child to go hide and be quiet for a couple of hours, skip this item and keep reading. But if you’re looking for a fun play tent to encourage an active lifestyle for your child, then this play tent might be what you’re looking for. It comes with a tunnel and ball pit in which kids can have loads of fun.

Take note that UTEX did not include the balls with this tent, so you have to get colorful ball pit balls separately. We recommend the Click N’ Play Pack of 200 colorful phthalate-free, BPA-Free, crush-proof plastic ball pit balls. The Click N’ Play pit balls come in a reusable and durable storage mesh bag with a zipper.

However, the ball pit is just part of the fun of the UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent. Children can still have plenty of enjoyment with the playset without the ball pit feature and will enjoy crawling through the tunnel connecting the two playhouses.

Size

The tunnel is 19 inches in depth, so kids should have lots of room to crawl through, even as they get older.

The tunnel is 59 inches long but measures 119 inches when connected to the tents/playhouses. The play tents have different shapes. One is triangular, while the other is square-shaped. The square-shaped tent has dimensions measuring 28.5 inches long, 28.5 inches wide, and 28.5 inches tall, while the triangular-shaped tent is 31.5 inches long, 31.5 inches wide, and 34 inches tall. The entire set weighs 3 pounds.

The size of this set is perfect for babies and toddlers and will work great inside your house, although you can also set it up in the yard for outdoor fun.

Assembly and Storage

This tent can be quickly folded up and replaced in the carry bag that comes with it for easy storage and transport.

What we also think is beautiful about this UTEX play tent is its versatility. You can expand the set by attaching more tents and tunnels as the ends are open. Kids will be happy to share the extra space with the house pets such as dogs, cats, and mice. The items that come in the box include the tents, tunnel, instruction sheet, and a zippered carry bag.

Safety and Durability

The fabric of this play tent is made with 190T hard-wearing polyester, so you can be sure this tent will be long-lasting.

The pit balls should first be washed with soapy water and then rinsed with clear water. Don’t wash the balls in the pit, though. Take them out of the pit before washing them. Then sanitize with a bleach solution in a large basin or the tub. With the pit clean and sanitary, you have nothing to worry about except the happy hoots and squeals of kids playing inside it.

The playhouses have large windows and flap doors that allow plenty of good ventilation and natural light. One of the playhouse/ball pits has small windows for peek-a-boo games and small holes to encourage pretend play. The tunnel is partly made with clear mesh material, allowing parents to always see their child crawling through the tunnel.

Product Overview

The ToyVelt Kids Camping Tent Set is a winner when it comes to inspiring pretend play. The developmental benefits of pretend play in children’s lives cannot be overemphasized. Kids can learn and develop an array of important life skills through role-playing.

Some benefits of pretend play include the learning of negotiation skills, communication skills, listening skills, empathy, perceptual perspective-taking, and so much more.

This camping kit includes a tent, a telescope, a pair of walkie talkies, a water bottle, a shovel, a multipurpose whistle, a compass, a flashlight, a fork & spoon set, pretend food & accessories, a watch, and a thermometer.

There are enough pieces here to excite any adventurous kid, so they can’t wait to get started with their exploration adventures. As a parent, you are your child’s greatest teacher and mentor, so, you can help your child develop a love of the outdoors by doing things together such as planting seeds, helping them identify different types of trees, plants, and flowers, and telling them stories of your own adventures.

Size

The toys all come in bright, child-friendly colors and sizes suitable for small hands and tiny fingers. There’s enough in this kit to help kids recreate the family camping trips in your back yard, garden, front porch, or even in your living room.

Assembly and Storage

The walkie talkie is powered by three 1.5V AA batteries, which aren’t included. The sets have a 50m range. The device is easy for kids to operate by just toggling the switch up and down. The telescope has an adjustable radian to fit the size of your child’s eyes, while the lenses can be swiveled in a semicircle at a fixed point. This allows the young explorer to view a wider angle without turning their heads.

Safety and Durability

The included whistle is a four-in-one device including a whistle, a thermometer, a compass, and a flashlight. The watch works, and so does the compass and thermometer.

Product Overview

This rainbow-colored play tent will get kids all excited to hang out inside, and the tent fabric is beautiful and super soft on the skin. We think the best part is the tunnel door at the back of the tent. This port is just the right size for kids to crawl through, and the tunnel door also comes with a fold-down curtain for when kids want total privacy.

Size

This play tent’s dimensions are 48 inches in length, 48 inches in width, and 42 inches in depth. It weighs 1.6 pounds, which is sturdy enough for indoor and outdoor play. The tent is roomy enough to fit three kids, although it’d be most comfortable for two.

With a height of 42 inches, adults can easily spot how kids are doing inside the tent through the strategically positioned mesh windows near the top of the play tent. The windows also allow great ventilation and natural lighting inside the tent, even with the curtains drawn.

Assembly and Storage

This play tent is designed with portability in mind. It can be greatly enjoyed indoors as a nursery or children’s playhouse, or for sleepovers, birthday parties, backyard parties, etc.

This play tent can be easily assembled in just minutes once you figure out the supporting poles are designed to bend, but only after they’re partially connected. Unfortunately, an installation manual is not included, but you can watch this YouTube video to see how it’s done.

The tent can also be folded down into a portable carry bag with a diameter of 3 X 18 inches. At 1.9 pounds, this play tent is not too heavy to carry around. We would have liked it if the door has a zipper, but that shouldn’t be a major problem since kids are unlikely to spend the night outdoors in this play tent.

Safety and Durability

The polyester material is free of the irritating plastic smell you might get from some other tent fabrics. It is also easy to clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. The tent’s fabric is not treated to be flame retardant, but it is made with materials that meet the ASTM963 and CPAI 75 standards.

The door can be parted like a curtain and tied to the tent poles to allow for easy communication between people inside and outside the tent. One more thing about the rear tunnel door is that compatible play tunnels such as the Pacific Play Tents Multi-Color 6 Foot Crawl Tunnel can be connected to it to increase the fun and playability.

This tent may or may not come with two tunnels included, so customers should inquire from the seller when ordering. You can also connect the tunnels to other tents, such as with the UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent with Tunnel. Expanding the tents and tunnels will increase the fun of the playsets as kids have more crawling space for games and pretend play.

You will be very surprised at how sturdy the Alvantor Kids Play Tent is. The multi-colored polyester cover is supported by a fiberglass tent pole frame that is capable of withstanding the impact of kids playing rough inside it. Fiberglass rods are made of the composite material fiberglass reinforced plastic, which is a non-homogenous mix of continuous fiberglass threading and a thermoplastic resin.

Product Overview

It would be nice to teach kids how to install a tepee by themselves, and the Wilwolfer Teepee Tent for Kids can help children learn to do just that. This is a roomy play tent made with premium natural materials, and that is easy to assemble and disassemble. This tepee is a gorgeous playhouse you won’t mind leaving standing in your sitting room.

A tepee is a conical tent widely known as the homes of the nomadic tribes of the North American Plains. The structure is built using long poles as the tent frame. In other words, the Wilwolfer Teepee Tent for Kids comes with a rich history, providing parents a fantastic opportunity to educate their kids about people, events, and centuries-old cultures.

Research evidence from archaeological findings has shown that teepees were used as homes as far back as 10,000BC – that’s when saber-toothed tigers and mammoths roamed the planet!

The kit comes with a set of 16 smooth pine tent poles, 12 connectors, as well as a convenient carry bag for easy storage and transportation.

This is a well-made tepee with a small view window to inspire pretend play and let in air and natural light. It also comes with pockets on the outside of the tent where kids can store personal items, such as books and toys.

The included fluffy carpet is a huge plus, and it makes the interior of the tepee more inviting and comfortable for kids.

Size

When fully assembled, the tent is 61.4 inches tall, 47.2 inches wide, 47.2 inches in length, and with a depth of 70.8 inches. That’s big enough to accommodate up to three children at a time.

Assembly and Storage

Don’t worry if you don’t know how to install a tepee. This set includes easy-to-understand instructions to make it simple for customers to quickly get set up.

Safety and Durability

The Wilwolfer Teepee Tent for Kids is made with 100% natural, non-toxic, unpainted cotton canvas. The supporting poles for this play tent are made of odorless, non-toxic, sturdy pine wood.

The unpainted fabric comes as a plain white canvas, allowing your child to personalize their Wilwolfer tepee by decorating it however they like. The downside, however, is that this white material will easily get dirty. But cheer up, mom – the 100% cotton canvas is fully washable.

Product Overview

What we have here is a playhouse in the very sense of the word. The TOYJOY Kids Play Tent is an indoor and outdoor clubhouse-style playhouse. It comes in a clubhouse design and is painted with chocolate and forest green colors.

Lots of imaginative fun can be had in this clubhouse play tent as it is just the right size and design to curl up in a blanket, read, and have playdates. It comes with a large fold-down door and windows. The rectangular window at the back and the round-shaped window on the side of the tent can be folded down for complete privacy while kids hang out inside the tent.

Size

It comes with dimensions measuring 39.4 inches long, 27.5 inches wide, and 39.4 inches tall when assembled. Compared to some play tents we’ve reviewed in this buyer’s guide, the TOYJOY Kids Play Tent is a bit smaller and therefore very snug. It’s the perfect play tent for kids to cozy up with a book or hang out with friends during playdates.

When packed down in the carry bag, the tent’s dimensions are 22 inches in length, 4.3 inches in width, 3.1 inches in depth, and a weight of 2.29. The tent alone weighs 2.04 pounds, which is compact enough to move from room to room even when fully assembled.

Assembly and Storage

The windows are also well positioned to allow kids to crawl in and out of the playhouse through them. The tent can be set up in just minutes, and it is easy to disassemble, too. The tent collapses down easily and can be stored in the green storage bag that comes with it. Plus, the storage bag has a handle that makes it convenient to take the tent with you while traveling.

Safety and Durability

The house even comes with its own floor, so kids don’t have to bother looking for a mat or blanket for the floor. It also makes it more convenient to use outdoors. However, the floor fails to properly attach to the pole frame, which makes it drag the tent poles a little.

The poles are 0.43 inches of PVC plastic. Even so, we don’t think this play tent is suitable for kids who play rough or who may make a habit of pulling themselves up while holding onto the poles. Instead, this is the perfect play tent for kids who crave a quiet personal space.

The tent’s fabric is made from 190T polyester. This material is resistant to rips and tears and loosening seams. The polyester fabric is also easy to clean. This play tent may not be the cheapest on the market, but its high quality, inviting aesthetics, and sturdiness are worth the extra bucks you’ll spend to purchase it.

Product Overview

The design theme of a play tent can affect how children feel inside the tent and its overall ambiance. The USA Toyz Mermaid Kids Play Tent is made for boys and girls who are fascinated with marine creatures and the mythical stories that come with them.

This play tent reminds us once again that modern play tents for kids are primarily designed to spark their curiosity and imagination. With the sea life theme covering the inside and outside of this tent, kids are provided with the opportunity to imagine themselves having conversations with dolphins, lobsters, mermaids, etc.

We already have the USA Toyz Rocket Ship Play Tent for Kids, designed to inspire dreams of rockets and trips to space. But this USA Toyz mermaid play tent is an excellent choice for kids fascinated by ocean life. We think this playhouse is one of the best themed non-gender-specific play tents available today.

Kids will love to use this tent as a relaxing quiet space that feels like a personal aquarium – no wetsuit required.

We were also impressed with the high-quality illustrations all around the tent, including the floors, side panels, and tie-back doors. The illustrated sea creatures include a mermaid, starfish, sea turtle, rainbow narwhal, and many more marine animals.

Size

The tent is roomy enough to fit up to three children at a time. It has dimensions measuring 51 inches tall, 40.5 inches deep, and a weight of 2.7lbs.

Assembly and Storage

The tent is easy to assemble using the included user manual. The user manual contains detailed illustrations on how to put the tent together. It is a pop-up style tent, so there is minimal installation work involved. All that is left to do is to insert the poles into the tent pockets and secure them with the included safety ties.

The floor and roof securely anchor to the tent so that it does not affect the posture of the pole frame. The difficult bit is that you have to climb inside the tent to secure everything. A storage tote is included for easy storage, which also makes it convenient to make that trip to the beach. USA Toyz includes a mini kaleidoscope with each of their ocean-themed play tents. Kids can use the toy to have fun exploring the fascinating world of the deep blue sea.

Safety and Durability

The frame is covered with water-resistant polyester fabric that’s easy to clean with a damp cloth, mild soap, and water. Its wide tie-back door and mesh windows allow adequate ventilation inside the tent, as well as make it easy for parents to supervise the kids.

Product Overview

The fire truck theme of this play tent suggests active play. While the tent can be used as a private fort for kids to read, sleep, or have playdates, it can also be used for imaginative role-playing both indoors and outdoors.

From hide and seek games to firefighting pretend play, to quiet reading or sleeping, the possibilities are endless. The aesthetics of this play tent also make it perfect to be used for ball pit games. Just add the balls and let the fun begin.

Size

The Kiddie Play Fire Truck Pop Up Play Tent proves once again that play tents can come in all shapes and sizes. With dimensions measuring 45 inches long, 28 inches wide, and 28 inches tall, this fire engine style play tent is roomy enough to accommodate up to four children at a time.

Assembly and Storage

The door can be folded down for privacy, while the two windows at the top provide parents a vantage point to monitor the kids inside.

We think that the ease of assembly is this set’s best feature. This is the easiest to install play tent in this buyer’s guide. All you have to do is remove the tent from its polythene bag and safely twist it to pop it open. The procedure is intuitive and can be done in no time, with no need to insert poles into tent pockets and no installation tools required.

The tent is just as easy to fold down as it is to pop it up. It will fold flat and fit nicely into the tote bag that comes with it, so there is no need to worry about storage space. With a weight of just 1.92 pounds and the included carry tote, it is very convenient to move this tent around. You can watch this YouTube video to see how it’s done.

Safety and Durability

We love the two large openings on the top of the tent that can be passed off as the vehicle’s sunroof, or in this case, an open cab fire truck. The openings allow kids to stand in the tent, as well as providing the tent with ventilation and natural lighting.

While there are no tent poles needed to hold up the tent, it does come with an inbuilt steel frame. The frame is covered with 100% polyester fabric, which is easy to clean with a damp cloth, mild soap, and water.