4 of the Best Camping Heaters for 2026: What to Look For and Where to Buy
Top camping heaters | Camping heater features | Alternatives for camping heaters
Why stop camping when the temperatures drop? Although we know many of you love camping in warm weather, our founding members of the Camping and Caravanning Club happily pitched their tents in the snow back in 1906, and they had a brrr-illiant time.
Winter camping can be a wonderful adventure. Keep yourself warm by packing extra layers of clothing, a few fluffy blankets and a winter tent. If you’re still a bit cold, consider investing in a camping heater that is suitable for your tent or camping unit. With a portable heater to hand, you can enjoy camping all year round.
How to safely purchase a tent heater?
There aren’t many purpose-built camping heaters on the market, so it’s important to check whether the camping heater you’re looking to buy is safe to use in a tent.
Wood, charcoal, petrol and gas heaters should not be used inside a tent unless the tent and heater are designed to work together safely, like a wood-burning stove with a flue in a tent with a stove hole. Fuel-burning heaters can be a fire risk and can produce invisible but deadly carbon monoxide.
Low-power electric heaters can be used in tents at night if you follow our advice on using electricity safely on the campsite here.
Our favourite camping heaters
Now you know what a camping heater is, why you need one and what to look for, check out some of our favourite camping heaters currently on the market. Keep your eyes peeled for our member-exclusive offers and discounts too!
- Kampa Diddy Portable Heater
- Outdoor Revolution Electric Eco Heater
- Quest Bali Dual Purpose Ceramic Heater
- Quest Oil Filled Radiator (800W)
Despite its compact size this low wattage heater is effective at heating up small spaces, as long as you have an electric hook-up. With two power settings, it can run on just 750W if that's all you need. It will turn off automatically if it tips over or overheats.
View this camping heater, prices from £29.95
This small fan heater also needs an electric hook-up, but then works on 600W or 1.2kW, for cooler days. Its integral timer means it will automatically turn off after a set time, once your camping unit has warmed up. It has an oscillating feature, allowing the warm or cool air to be moved around, and a small remote control, so you can turn it on on a chilly morning without leaving your cosy camping bed.
View this camping heater, prices from £39.99
This mains-powered, compact heater has a ceramic element that heats up quickly, allowing it to warm up your camping unit rapidly. With two power settings and thermostatic control, you have the flexibility to keep the temperature you need without wasting electricity. It can also turn on its base, distributing the warm (or cold) air around for added comfort.
View this camping heater, prices from £30
This small but sturdy oil-filled radiator is light enough to carry (with its in-built handles) and only consumes 800W. It will take longer to heat the space than a fan-style heater, but it will use less electricity and keep warm for a while when it’s switched off.
What to look for when buying a camping heater
We've collated a list of the things to look out for when choosing your new camping heater:
- Safety
- Size
- Adjustable
- Dual-purpose
- Heating output
The first question to ask is, is the camping heater safe to use in a tent? Look for camping heaters with bigger bases, which make them more stable, and for safety features such as a tip-over switch or cool outer housing.
Tents are damp places, especially in winter, so it’s important to keep your heater off the damp ground and make sure there are no exposed wires inside that could be damaged by humid air. Stand-alone heaters designed for bathrooms can meet this requirement.
Consider the size of your camping unit and the amount of space the heater would take up. A small, compact heater will also be easier to pack in the car and transport on your holiday.
Depending on how cold the weather is, you might want to adjust the temperature of your heater. Look for a heater with thermostatic control, so you can set the temperature you are comfortable with.
As well as heating the air in the winter, some electric fan heaters can help keep you cool in the warmer months too.
The last thing you want is your heater tripping the hook-up supply on your campsite, so make sure it’s rated at 2kW (2,000W) or less. Remember that the campsite’s electricity supply is not the same as at home—using the heater will restrict the amount of electricity you can use for other appliances at the same time.