10 Best Beach Tents and Canopies for All of Summer’s Enjoyments

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 86.6x49.2x47.2 inches; 4.45 pounds
• Material: Polyester, fiberglass
• UPF: 50+
• Colors: 1
• Extras: Carrying case, stakes, sand pockets

This beach tent from Pacific Breeze can pop up faster than your friends can say, “Where’s the best spot?”

With a rating of UPF 50+, the fabric helps to block out UV rays, while the built-in sidewall adds extra coverage — so you’re not totally screwed if you forget your sunblock.

We love this option for smaller groups. But if you roll deep to the beach, the XL option will have more space for your whole crew. Sit back and enjoy the breeze.

Satisfied customers say that this is “the best $70 I’ve ever spent on beach equipment,” with one praising it for being “an excellent product and an even better company”: “It took me less than a minute to unpack it, lay it out, and pop it up by myself,” they add, and that “It was the perfect tool to keep us out of the wind and sun for hours on the beach. The sandbags work perfectly to keep the tent in place, even in fairly strong winds.”

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Key Specs

• Dimensions: 14.73x6.62x6.62 inches; 5 pounds
• Material: Fiberglass
• UPF: 50+
• Colors: 2
• Extras: Ground stakes, pre-attached guy lines, sandbags

Coleman’s Beach Shade is a perfect affordable option for a beach-going couple. The front floor provides a nice barrier from the sand, and it can be zipped up to give you privacy inside if you need to change clothes.

It features internal pockets to keep your gear organized, a drying line to hang your wet swimsuits, and a rear window that can be unzipped to let the breeze pass through. Did we mention that setup is incredibly simple?

“The structure is made of tent material, but it is strong,” says a rave review. “The front panel zips closed all the way; there are other similar models that do not.”

Another user is happy about the little extras in this one, saying it “easily fits two backpack beach chairs with enough room for a cooler bag and other odds and ends” and that “There is a line to hang your towel from. I’ve also set my boogie board on the front awning.”

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 24x8x5 inches; 12.2 pounds
• Material: 68-denier polyester, fiberglass
• Colors: 1
• Extras: Movable wall, shark-mouth duffel with crossbody strap

When you’re lounging at a music festival, on the beach, at the park, or even in the backyard, being exposed to the sun for long periods can really take its toll. Set up Kelty’s Sunshade wherever you land for the day, and you'll be protected. That way, you can keep enjoying the vibes through the heat of the day.

This shade sits lower and has a smaller footprint than most options, which makes it easier to set up in tight spaces. But the lower profile design provides more shade than taller beach tents, totaling 78 square feet of covered floor space. It’s also more aerodynamic than bigger options, so it’s less likely to take off in a wind gust.

“The shade tent is very strong and well built,” confirms a happy customer.

We love the included carrying case, too, which makes packing up and heading out that much easier.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 61x4.4x2.8 inches (packed); 9 pounds
• Material: Steel, fabric, polypropylene, polyamide
• UPF: 50+
• Colors: 5
• Extras: Carrying case, guy lines, stakes

The Sport-Brella XL is essentially an oversized beach umbrella with two additional side flaps that increase coverage and protection from the sun. It’s made of a rugged polyester that will last you for years, and it boasts UPF 50+ protection from the sun’s harmful rays.

The main pole and support ribs in this Sport-Brella are made of steel for maximum strength and durability. Its side windows can be opened to increase airflow on the hottest days, and the top vents prevent the tent from inverting and ruining your picnic when wind gusts pick up.

Reviewers urge others to “just buy [this umbrella],” saying that they “would give this 10 stars” if they could. “I’ve gone through three beach umbrellas, a beach pop-up tent, and have seen everything under the sun on the beaches of Florida. By far, this was the easiest setup and [most] manageable size,” they add.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 10x10 feet; 46 pounds
• Material: Polyester, alloy steel
• Colors: 1
• Extras: Carrying case, ground stakes

Heavy-duty and commercial-grade, this beach canopy has powder-coated stainless steel poles adjustable to three different heights. While heftier than most tents, this will hold firm in most weather.

At 46 pounds, it’s definitely the heaviest tent in this review. But with weight comes stability. That’s why this commercial-grade tent comes with a wheeled carrying bag — so anyone can move it from the truck to the tailgate.

“Very durable — can be put up in 6 minutes (seriously, we timed it) and withstood breezy conditions for 4 hours during a beach wedding,” says a convincing review. “Plus, we had to hide under it for 40 minutes the morning of the wedding due to an unexpected storm. The frame easily withstood the storm,” they confirm.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 47.2x47.2x86.6 inches; 10.47 pounds
• Material: 210T waterproof, anti-light silver coating; B3 high density insect-proof breathable mesh screen
• Colors: 1
• Extras: 2 mesh pockets, 2 storage bags, 2 clotheslines, ground nails, ropes, carrying case

Bring your own private portable toilet to the next festival or tailgate so you don’t have to worry about waiting in long lines or whatever other fears you may have.

This tent stands 6 feet tall, and it can also be used as a private changing room or shower stall on your next weeklong camping trip. Either way, prepare to tell the neighboring party, “Sorry, not sorry,” because this one will be a hot commodity when times are dire.

Customers love the practicality this privacy tent offers, especially during beach camping trips. “Of all the things I was glad we had for this trip, this was at the top of the list,” says one. “Coming back sandy from the beach every day but then met with lots of mosquitoes back at our site, we were able to jump inside this shower tent, zip it up, and enjoy a nice, cold, bug-free shower after a long, hot day at the beach.”

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Key Specs

• Dimensions: 21.3x8.46x6.22 inches; 5.15 pounds
• Material: Aluminum, fabric
• UPF: 50+
• Colors: 4
• Extras: Carrying case, sand shovel, ground pegs, stability poles

The Sun Ninja fights off the sun’s harmful rays, thanks to the UPF 50+ fabric. It touts an average of 4.5 stars from over 3,600 reviews on Amazon, with users raving about its overall value, ease of setup, and sturdy yet lightweight design.

This tent is offered in three sizes, depending on the size of your family or friend group. Setup is a breeze — simply unpack the tent, assemble the poles, pop it up, and stake it out. The corner anchors can be filled with sand at the beach, which is much more stable than similar tents that use ground stakes.

Users say this “great” tent has a “brilliant concept.” Another confirms that it is “Very easily set up and taken down. I will never have another beach umbrella.”

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 81.89x79.92x66.14 inches; 4 pounds
• Material: Aluminum, nylon/Lycra-blend fabric
• UPF: 50+
• Colors: 25
• Extras: Carrying case, sand anchors

This multi-terrain beach tent is a fave due to its efficiency and ample shade. It’s made of water-resistant fabric that also blocks 98% of the sun’s rays. It's even recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and folds neatly into its own carrying case for easy portability.

The main draw of this beach tent (which comes in a ton of fun colors and prints, BTW) is its set of sand anchors, which are easy to use (just fill till overflowing with sand or rocks) and provide all-day stability.

Our very own Erica Murphy bought this last summer and used it on a successful NYC beach trip. "This tent was light enough to carry for an hour on the ferry, and filling up the sand bags was super easy," she says. "The only thing that took a bit was figuring out the best place to position the poles, and it did require some adjusting. But overall the tent stayed up in the wind and provided the shade I needed."

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 6x6 feet; 2.13 pounds
• Material: Plastic, metal, fiberglass, iron, polyester
• UPF: 50+
• Colors: 7
• Extras: Carrying case, metal pole, plastic stakes, sand drill

As far as cabana-style tents go, this one by Qipi offers the most value and specs in a well-thought-out design. Easy to set up and dismantle, this beach and sports cabana provides a lot of shade yet rolls up neatly into its carrying case when not in use.

Interior pockets for small essentials, as well as a detachable wall and integrated sandbags, make it a practical choice for holing up for hours on end at the beach without worry, and its UPF 50+ fabric ensures you’re kept shielded from harmful rays, too.

“Best umbrellas I’ve ever owned,” enthuses one user. “I can’t count how many people stopped to ask us where we bought our cabanas from. They’re easy to set up. Our last day on the beach was quite windy, and while others had their umbrellas blowing down the beach or had to take them down, ours stood strong and didn’t move.”

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 86x59 inches; 2.5 pounds
• Material: Cotton, aluminum
• UPF: 25-39
• Colors: 6
• Extras: Carrying case, stakes

This fun beach tent from Fatboy is perfect for those who don’t have much storage at home, since it folds neatly into its own pouch.

Aside from the 96% UV protection it offers, our art production manager, Bridget Clegg, is also a fan of its portability: “At the weight and dimensions of a picnic blanket, the Miasun fits into a beach bag or a bike basket,” she says in her review, “and just as easily tucks away into storage at home.”

It has enough space for two adults plus two kids, and has one of the most stylish colors and prints of all on our list. You can also configure it three ways depending on your shade preference, all the while enjoying a breezier, more open type of shade versus an actual tent.