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Oct 24, 2024

The Best Grow Tents Buying Guide

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Take your plant growth to new heights. In This Article Better Homes & Gardens /

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Take your plant growth to new heights.

In This Article

Better Homes & Gardens / Brian Kopinski

Grow tents can solve a lot of common problems for gardeners, including a lack of space or less-than-ideal plant hardiness zones. Whether used inside or outside, they act as the foundation of your perfect growing environment—all you have to do is build it with the right lights, vents, and more.

According to Rebecca Sears, the chief marketing officer of Ferry-Morse Home Gardening, a grow tent can be a great way to help suffering plants thrive. “When using a grow tent, you have much more control over the environment in which your plants are growing,” Sears says.

To put together a complete list of the best grow tents, we considered factors like the materials, durability, weight capacity, special features, and size.

It comes with extra durable steel poles and joints and is available in two colors and 10 sizes.

The instructions may be hard to understand.

Beginner and senior gardeners alike will appreciate all the features of the Vivosun Grow Tent because of its sturdy and well-constructed design. Each frame has 16 millimeter steel poles and steel joints to match, which hold it together securely, and it’s covered in a flexible, reflective tent.

The tent material is made from a polyester weave canvas with PVC backing and 100% reflective Mylar—a stretchy polyester film that heats, insulates, and reduces odors.

Depending on the size you choose to buy, it can hold 100, 150, or even 165 pounds and has either one or two doors that allow you to check in without interrupting the plants while they’re busy growing. It also comes with a removable floor tray to make cleaning a breeze and a tool bag to ensure all your supplies are always close by.

Heavy duty zippers help keep the light inside the grow tent and hanging straps allow you to install accessories like a carbon filter inside the tent.In addition to the wide range of sizes offered with the Vivosun Grow Tent we love that it comes in two different color options.

Once it’s fully assembled, it’s quite effective at helping your plants thrive, but beware that the instructions aren’t as clear as they could be. Plan to spend extra time putting this grow tent together. The good news is, no tools are needed for assembly.

Product Details: Height: 36 to 80 inches | Frame: 16 millimeter steel | Weight Capacity: 100 to 165 pounds | Material and Density: 600D canvas and 100% reflective Mylar | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: Not listed | Doors and Windows: One or two doors; one window

It has a sturdy steel construction that requires no tools to assemble.

These tents are relatively small, and you may experience stubborn zippers or minor light leaks.

Whether you’re just trying out indoor gardening or operating on a budget, the iPower Grow Tent is best affordablechoice to get you started. It has both steel poles and joints to provide extra stability to your tent, 98% reflective Mylar on the inside to reflect heat, and thick oxford canvas on the outside that adds to the solid construction.

Additionally, this grow tent has a removable floor tray for easy cleanup and an exterior side pocket for convenient storage. The tool-free assembly is another nice perk, allowing you to set up and lock the pieces into place with ease. It allows for easy transport and storage, too.

The grow tent has a substantial door that makes it simple to add and remove plants, and all sizes, except the 24 x 24 x 36-inch grow tent, have an observation window to check on your greenery.

Though solid, use extra caution when zipping and unzipping your tent. It also isn’t the largest option on our list, so you won’t be able to fit a ton of plants. However, if you only have a few plants and you don’t mind the flimsy zipper, we highly recommend this budget-friendly option.

Product Details: Height: 36 to 63 inches | Frame Material: Steel | Weight Capacity: 110 pounds | Material and Density: Oxford canvas and 98% reflective Mylar | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: Not listed | Doors and Windows: One door; one window

You can monitor and program the environment from your phone.

Experienced growers may already have a lot of the gear in the kit.

Tech-savvy gardeners will love this tent from Vivosun, which comes with an advanced system that makes environmental monitoring and programming from your phone simple. Slots for cable management are a surprisingly thoughtful detail that helps keep the wires plugged into the controller neat and tidy.

The LED grow light is designed with an optimized light mixture to support plant growth. Inside is an ultra-quiet, programmable circulatory fan that increases airflow, controlled by PWM (pulse width modulation) to save energy. A thickened reflective mylar interior and 600D oxford exterior are extra durable to ensure longevity.

This kit comes with everything you need to set up your tent (great for beginners, but potentially unnecessary for experienced growers), including a black carbon filter, a prefilter, ducting, clamps, a trellis net, vent covers, ducting tape, and a rope hanger.

You also get a range of useful accessories: grow bags, pruning shears, twist ties, sticky traps, plant tags, hook and loop cable ties, and garden gloves. The tent itself comes in five different sizes, from 24x24x48 inches to 48x48x80 inches, so you can pick exactly what you need for your space and number of plants.

Product Details: Height: 48 to 80 inches | Frame Material: Metal | Weight Capacity: Not listed | Material and Density: Mylar and 600D Oxford | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: Not listed | Doors and Windows: One door; one window

You can extend the height up to two feet to really maximize space.

Some users have noticed pinholes in the stitching.

With the Gorilla grow tent, not only can you choose the length and width (the largest is 5 x 9 feet), but you can also choose the height: It comes with a one-foot extension kit, and a 2-foot extension kit is available for even more space.

The bigger the tent, the more use it tends to get, which is why we appreciate the extra durable 1680D canvas and adjustable steel poles and corners.

There’s a lot more to love, like its 300-pound weight capacity (the highest of any on our list), deep spill tray for easy cleanup, and industrial-strength zippers that have velcro seam covers to minimize light leakage. With six doors, you have 360º access to your plants, which makes watering and pruning a breeze.

A diamond- grade reflective lining ensures the plants get all the light they need, while the oversized ports are double-cinched to ensure the perfect fit. There are two dual view windows in addition to a micro mesh vent screen, hanging straps, and even a tool pouch. The only con is that some users have noticed pinholes in the stitching.

Product Details: Height: 71-83 inches | Frame Material: Steel | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Material and Density: 1680D canvas | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: 16 ducting ports; 10 electrical ports | Doors and Windows: Six doors; two windows

The door doubles as a window that gives you a full view of your plant.

Some users have noticed the zipper stitching and/or placement is off.

This grow tent from Staygrow may be small, but that doesn’t mean it’s short on details. There’s one door that also functions as the window thanks to its two layers: oxford canvas and clear PVC. This prevents you from having to compromise the temperature, CO2, or humidity by opening the doors to check on your plants.

The 19mm (aka thicker than average) steel poles can hold up to 140 pounds and are held together with metal corners that have interlocking snap pieces. There’s also a 100% reflective interior, which helps you make the most of the grow lights inside the tent.

Included are three ducting ports, one electrical port, and two mesh vents. The ducting ports are dual-cinching to prevent light from leaking. Further helping with this are the extension cloths on the back of the industrial-grade zippers, the 2000D oxford canvas that also blocks smells and sounds, and the removable velcro covers on the vents.

Along with the grow tent you also get a flood tray to make cleaning simple, filter straps to hang gear, and a 1-year worry-free warranty. That said, the zipper stitching and/or placement can be off, according to some users.

Product Details: Height: 48 inches | Frame Material: 19mm steel | Weight Capacity: 140 pounds | Material and Density: 2000D oxford canvas | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: One electrical port; three ducting ports | Doors and Windows: One door

This growing kit comes with all the tools, parts, and accessories you need to get started.

The light doesn’t come with a dimmer.

The beginner-friendly Mars Hydro Grow Tent comes with everything a rookie could hope for, including a trio of grow bags, a humidity thermometer, a ventilation kit with an inline fan, a timer, and so much more. You don’t have to go down a rabbit hole of research or go overboard with fancy gadgets.

Durability is another one of its impressive qualities, with a metal frame, thick 1680D canvas tent, and a 99% reflective Mylar interior for superior light reflection. There’s three sizes to choose from—all appropriate for beginners—in order to prevent overwhelm and make growing your plants indoors more intuitive.

While each size comes with a door, only the two larger sizes have a window so you can check on plants without disturbing them.

It’s also important to note that the included grow light doesn’t have a dimmer. This means your plants will be exposed to either full or zero light at all times. You should plan to get a voltage regulator to prevent a potential fire hazard (or, alternatively, pick up a new light with a dimmer).

Product Details: Height: 55 to 80 inches | Frame Material: Metal | Weight Capacity: Not listed | Material and Density: 1680D canvas and 99% reflective Mylar | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: Four vents | Doors and Windows: One door, one window

It’s designed to perfectly fit standard seedling trays.

It’s ideally sized for seedling trays, but may not be convenient once your plants become full-grown.

The early growth stages are some of the most crucial times to cultivate a healthy, thriving plant. To give your seedlings and clones every opportunity for success, we recommend considering the Gorilla Clone Tent. Designed to fit standard seedling trays, it’s shorter than other grow tents at 25 inches tall, making it easy to store in tight spaces.

With 16 millimeter steel poles and corners, plus industrial strength zippers, it’s impressively durable, true to the Gorilla excellence senior gardeners have come to expect. The 210D canvas exterior is more lightweight than other grow tents, but that’s not a concern for this size and it’s still very strong.

Inside, you’ll notice diamond reflective Mylar, which provides amazing light distribution. There’s also a built-in compartment for an optional fan and filter, which can optimize the environment for the healthiest and fastest growth. The door, window, micro-mesh pre-filter, and two 3-inch double-cinching ducts help accomplish this as well.

While Gorilla has developed a top notch reputation for creating some of the very best grow tents out there, it’s important to note that this grow tent is specifically made for seedlings. This one may not have the most convenient dimensions for growing your houseplants long-term.

Product Details: Height: 25 inches | Frame Material: 16 millimeter steel | Weight Capacity: Not listed | Material and Density: 210D canvas and diamond reflective Mylar | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: Two 3-inch double cinching ports; micro-mesh pre-filter | Doors and Windows: One door; one window

These grow tents have extra thick steel poles and canvas that make them more durable than others.

There’s a steel controller mounting plate, but the controller itself is sold separately.

The AC Infinity Cloudlab, available in seven sizes, is intentionally designed with durability in mind—a must when growing so many things. The 22mm steel poles and 2000D canvas are both thicker than average, with the former ensuring stability and the latter preventing light leaks.

Reinforced tent corners and heavy SBS zippers on the doors make it even stronger.The 150 pound weight capacity can handle your grow equipment, while the diamond mylar interior reflects all the light your plants need to thrive.

On the outside there are double cinched entry ports to allow for access without light leaking, zipper flaps to help maintain proper cycles, and a viewing window to check on your plants without opening a door.

The two accessories included are a reflective floor tray and a tool bag. Though you have to buy a controller separately, there is a steel controller mounting plate complete with a passthrough for cable management.

Product Details: Height: 48-80 inches | Frame Material: 22mm alloy steel | Weight Capacity: 150 pounds | Material and Density: 2000D canvas | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: Not listed | Doors and Windows: One or three doors; one window

This tent comes with two small interior chambers and one large chamber, and you can choose from four distinct tent sizes.

The shelves aren’t adjustable.

Multi-chamber grow tents can be a great way for the versatile gardener to make the most of their space, and the best option on the market is the Vivosun Two-in-One Grow Tent. It comes in four sizes and is made up of two interior chambers and one large chamber.

You can easily separate plants that are in different stages, since seedlings, propagated plants, and flowering plants all have different needs. The inside of the tent is 100% reflective Mylar, which ensures the very best light and heat distribution for your plants.

Six hundred D oxford canvas makes up the exterior—a thickness that perfectly balances durability with cost efficiency. A metal frame adds to this durability. Two doors allow you access to both sides, while windows allow you to do quick check-ins whenever you want.

You also get a removable floor tray that helps contain water and runoff, an inner tool organizer to efficiently store your gardening supplies, and light blocking details such as large, heavy duty zippers, and a black lining.

The removable shelves are a great feature because you can take them out and use the tent as one big grow room instead of a divided one. That said, the shelves aren’t adjustable, so you’ll have to make sure that the shelf slots provide sufficient space for your plants when using it as a multi-chamber tent.

Product Details: Height: 53 to 80 inches | Frame and Weight Capacity: Metal; not listed | Material and Density: 600D oxford canvas and 100% reflective Mylar | Air, Electrical, and Irrigation Ports: Not listed | Doors and Windows: Two doors; not listed

When shopping for grow tents, you’ll want to ensure that you’re buying a durable and long-lasting option. One way to check on the quality of your grow tent before purchasing is to look at the frame material and its weight capacity.

“The framework of poles creates the structure of a tent and supports the weight of lights, the ventilation system, and any other hanging elements,” Sears says. She recommends opting for wood or steel frames, since they’re stronger and won’t warp under the heat of grow lights, which can happen with plastic frames.

The materials your grow tent is made from make a huge difference in its ability to insulate your plants. On the outside, you’ll want something durable like nylon or polyester that can stand up to wear and tear, and on the inside you want a reflective material.

“A reflective interior material, like Mylar, helps increase light efficiency so your plants are getting the necessary amount of ‘sunlight’ to grow,” Sears says.

When comparing grow tents, look for the ones with more ports for grow lights and ventilation systems. This allows you to tailor the amount of light, air, and water your plant gets without restricting you. Our list of the best grow tents includes a variety of options, with some models offering as many as 16 ports.

If you’re a fan of fresh produce and flowers year-round, you might enjoy a grow tent. So much of gardening is dependent on the ideal growing conditions, and with a grow tent, you’ll be able to better control the amount of air, light, and water your greenery receives.

“When properly maintained, plants can grow faster and stronger in a grow tent, allowing you to produce much more throughout the year,” Sears says. “Gardeners who live in apartments or don’t have sufficient yard space might also opt for a grow tent to create an indoor garden.”

Nearly any kind of plant can be grown in a grow tent: produce, flowers, herbs, etc. That doesn’t mean you can grow them all at the same time though, because how well a plant thrives is dependent on its environment, and those needs can vary. Light, temperature, and humidity all play a part in this.

“The size of your grow tent will ultimately depend on how much you’re looking to grow,” Sears says. “If you’re only planning on growing one or two potted plants, you can use a smaller tent that’s 2 feet by 2 feet or 2 feet by 4 feet. Large grow tents can be as big as 10 feet by 10 feet and can hold dozens of plants.”

As you’re shopping for the best grow tents, you’ll also want to consider how much space you have to work with. If you only have a few plants in your home, we recommend starting with a small grow tent to save space and money.

If you’re an experienced gardener with lots of greenery, you may benefit from a bigger grow tent—but be prepared to sacrifice a lot of square footage.

For the most part, because it’s an indoor growing system, you can set up and use your grow tent all year round. However, if you’re planning to transition your plants from the grow tent to outdoors, Sears recommends carefully planning out when you start using it.

“If you live in a growing zone with colder winters and want ‘long-season’ vegetables, I’d recommend timing the setup of your grow tent so that your seedlings are about halfway to maturity by the time the growing conditions improve,” Sears says.

Leeks and celery, Sears says, take more than four months to mature, “so consider setting up your grow tent earlier in the year so that your indoor seedlings are hardy enough to transplant to an outdoor garden by spring.”

Quincy Bulin is a writer who covers products and home, making this story the ideal intersection of her work. To make this list, she spent many hours researching the best grow tents with consideration to frame and weight capacity, materials, and ports. She also consulted with Rebecca Sears, chief marketing officer and resident green thumb of seed, plant, and gardening tool supplier Ferry-Morse.