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A tent at a campsite on a cold evening
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Tent Heaters: What's Safe and What Isn't

Every year campers die from carbon monoxide trying to warm a tent. Which heaters are made for tents, the safety rules if you use one, and safer ways to stay warm without a heater.

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2 min
Updated
October 2, 2026

A heater can turn a frosty fall night in the tent into a comfortable one. Used wrong, it can kill you. Carbon monoxide (CO) from fuel-burning heaters, stoves and grills brought into tents causes deaths and injuries every year. Here's how to think about heating a tent.

01Never bring these into a tent

  • Charcoal grills, even "out" ones. Smoldering charcoal makes lots of CO.
  • Camp stoves used for heat
  • Gas or propane heaters not rated for indoor/tent use
  • Generators

02Heaters rated for indoor use

Some portable propane heaters are rated for indoor use. They typically have an oxygen depletion sensor and a tip-over shutoff. If you use one:

  • Read the manual and follow it exactly, including ventilation requirements.
  • Ventilate: keep tent vents open. Combustion uses oxygen and makes moisture.
  • Use a battery CO alarm in the tent. They're inexpensive and could save your life.
  • Never sleep with a fuel-burning heater running. Warm the tent, then turn it off before you sleep.
  • Keep it clear of tent walls, bedding and gear, on a stable, level surface.

03Electric heaters

At campsites with electric hookups, a small electric heater with tip-over and overheat protection is the safest heat. Use a properly rated outdoor extension cord. Portable power stations generally can't run a heater for long; heaters draw a lot of power. See portable power stations for camping.

04Warm without a heater

Most of the time, you don't need a heater at all:

  • A warm sleep system: the right bag and a good pad. See sleeping pad R-values.
  • Hot water bottle in your bag (a hard bottle rated for hot liquids, lid tight).
  • Dry base layers, a hat and wool socks.
  • Eat and move before bed.

05The bottom line

If you heat a tent, use only a heater made for it, ventilate, carry a CO alarm, and turn it off before you sleep. Better yet, build a sleep system warm enough that you don't need one. See fall camping below 40.

Photo: Arctic camping in the snow (52828156926).jpg) by USFWSAlaska, Public domain.

Related: Electric Blankets and Heated Pads on a Power Station: Real Run Times

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