Last Updated on June 15, 2023 by Georgie Smith
Don’t let bad weather or lack of yard space limit your garden this year. Get one of the best grow tents for indoor gardening and watch your plants thrive inside your home. You can raise almost any kind of herb, vegetable, or flower inside a grow tent. And you can place that tent inside your basement, your garage, your porch, or a spare bedroom, turning unused space into a green paradise.
See Also:
- Best Grow Room Humidifier, Best Humidifier for Grow Tent: 2023 Reviews & Guide
- Best Grow Room Controller: 2023 Reviews (Top Picks) and Guide
- Best Portable Air Conditioner (AC) for Grow Room, 2023 Grow Tent Air Conditioner Reviews & Guide
Features of the best grow tents
When you start shopping for a grow tent, you might notice that most of them look the same at first glance. The majority are black on the outside, reflective silver on the inside, with zippered doors. But look for these features that make the best grow tents stand out:
- The outer fabric should be at least 600D in thickness. This insures that the fabric will hold up well under daily use.
- The inner liner ought to reflect at least 90% of light unless you’re growing plants with low light requirements.
- Double or triple stitched seams, especially around the main zipper and on the roof, last longer without tearing.
- Few, if any, light leaks. Where light can get out, bugs can get in and harm your garden.
- Fabrics that are resistant to mildew and fire are preferable, as are materials that don’t off-gas toxic fumes.
- A sturdy frame that is rated for the combined weight of your lights and ventilation system, or anything else you may hang from it.
- Well-made zippers are a must on doors that are used every day.
- Adjustable ports with drawstrings that accommodate more than one size of duct for ventilation or electrical cords.
These features listed above are all found on the top grow tents that indoor gardeners use. But besides those guidelines, there are a few other things to consider. The next set of tips are designed to help you narrow down your choices to suit your own situation.
Selecting the best grow tent for your garden
There are many good tents to choose from, ranging from inexpensive to commercial-grade. To help you choose the exact tent for your needs, you’ll need to break out your measuring tape, among other things.
Size
How large of a grow tent will you need? Are you raising tomatoes on trellises and so you need more vertical space? Or are you planting rows of herbs? Remember to take into account the height so you have the grow light close enough, but not too close, to the leaves.
Generally, a 2’ by 2’ tent can take care of 4 small plants or 1 to 2 adult plants. You can pack 6 mature plants into a 5’ by 5’ space. A hydroponic setup can help you utilize the space better than a traditional soil bed or pots. Trellises can support vines and leave room for other plants.
Placement
Where will you place the tent? Look at the tent you’re thinking about buying. If you place it in a corner of a room, will you have easy access to the openings on the tent? Will the electrical cords reach to the nearest outlet?
Openings for access
You can manage a small herb garden with reach-in access, but orchids probably need walk-in access. Double-check that you won’t be placing a doorway against a wall, or positioning your tent with a ventilation port on the side opposite of where you need to connect it.
Handy features
Some grow tents have extras like spill trays on the floor, hanging pouches to hold tools, and view ports. Some have adjustable-height ceilings or interior dividers.
Take your time and find the perfect tent so you’ll enjoy your experience raising plants indoors.
The top grow tents for the money
Are you ready to pick the perfect grow tent for your indoor garden? Let’s take a look at the grow tent reviews now.
AC Infinity 48”x48”x80” Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent
Buy from Amazon
This Mylar-lined grow tent from AC Infinity is a top seller because it’s well-made and easy to use. Users say it leaks very little light, if any, and feels very sturdy. One person can assemble it alone.
The tent has a square shape that measures 4 feet per side and it’s just over 6-1/2-feet tall. There is one step-through main door and two reach-in windows, plus three ventilation ports with covers, and duct and power cord openings with drawstring closure socks.
The interior of the tent is covered with tear-proof Mylar that reflects up to 97% of light. As Apollo Horticulture points out, this keeps your electric bill down and your plants healthy.
The zipper pulls are a little on the small side, but the zipper tracks are double-stitched into the fabric so they are less likely to tear. The tent’s structure is supported by tubular metal bars that lock together without the use of tools.
There’s also a removable Mylar floor tray that catches spills. This addition makes this tent ready for housing a hydroponic grow setup.
AC Infinity offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 90-day warranty on this tent. Full instructions for assembly are included in the box.
If you like this tent, but it’s not the right size for your needs, check out their other tents:
- AC Infinity 36″x20″x62″
- AC Infinity 96″x48″x80″
- AC Infinity 60″x60″x80″
- AC Infinity 36″x36″x72″
VIVOSUN 48″x24″x60″ Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent with Observation Window
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VIVOSUN offers a no-hassle 2-year warranty on their 4’ by 2’ by 5’ grow tent. They say right up front that they are working to resolve the problem of a few tiny pinholes of light along the seams that some owners have reported.
The exterior of the VIVOSUN tent is made of 600D tear-proof material, while the interior is covered in Mylar which reflects 95% of the light. Everything is double-stitched for durability. The zippers come from SBS, the second-largest zipper manufacturer in the world. The pulls are all metal and a comfortable size to grip and use.
There is one door with a covered observation window embedded in it. There are no other windows, but there are entry points for electrical cables and ducting for ventilation. The duct entryways have drawstring double socks that cinch tight to keep out pests and keep in heat or moisture. At the bottom of the tent, there are two ventilation flaps with covered mesh windows. And on one wall is a mesh pocket for hanging tools like shears or a pH testing kit.
The metal tubular poles that make up the frame include two hanging bars for lights, fans, or ventilation. VIVOSUN suggests distributing weight as evenly as possible between the two bars. The bars together can support up to 110 pounds between them.
When you set up the VIVOSUN tent, you won’t need tools. In the box, there are instructions for quick and easy assembly that should take less than half an hour. This tent also comes with a removable floor tray to catch spills.
If you prefer a different size of VIVOSUN tent, perhaps one of these will suit your needs:
- VIVOSUN 36″x36″x72″ for Indoor Plant Growing 3’x3′
- VIVOSUN Horticulture 60″x60″x80″ for Indoor Plant Growing 5’x5′
- VIVOSUN 96″x48″x80″ for Indoor Plant Growing 4’x8′
- VIVOSUN 48″x48″x80″ for Indoor Plant Growing 4′ x4′
iPower Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent for Indoor Seedling Plant Growing, 96″x48″x80″
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If you want maximum access to the interior of your grow tent, you may love this one from iPower. It measures 8’ long by 4’ wide by 6.67’ tall. There are two large doors on the front and two large windows at the rear. You can access the entire interior of the tent with ease.
We weren’t able to get a close look at the zippers, but iPower says every zipper is double-stitched to prevent light leaks and make the tent strong. That may be the case, but some owners have commented there are a few pinhole light leaks anyway. The interior is lined with reflective Mylar, plus there is a removable Mylar tray floor. There are also covered vent openings at the bottom and duct openings with drawstring double enclosures at the top.
The tubular metal frame of the tent snaps together without tools. The bars for hanging lights at the top of the tent can hold up to 90 pounds together. Should there be a problem, the tent is covered by a 1-year warranty.
If you would prefer a smaller tent, take a look at the others sold by iPower that are listed on this page. They range from 32” x 32” x 63” up to 60” x 60” x 80”, then the one we reviewed, which is the largest.
JungleA 24″ x 24″ x 36″ 100% Reflective Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent with Window
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JungleA 3’ by 3’ by 73-inch tall grow tent is perfect for a small indoor garden. The interior is lined with super reflective Mylar to make sure your light gets to every leaf on every plant. It also helps to keep plants warm when the grow tent is placed in a garage or basement or on a porch. Even the removable waterproof floor tray is covered in reflective Mylar.
The exterior of the tent is sewn with Oxford fabric in both 300D and 600D weights. The door zippers are double-stitched and have double flaps to prevent light leaks and to keep moisture inside. To check on your plants, you can just roll up the flap over the 12-inch square window.
The frame of the tent is made from tubular metal supports that snap together without tools. There are two support bars with metal rings to allow you to hang lights, ballast, or ventilation equipment. To help you connect the inside equipment to the exterior, there are 5 ports total—two 4-inch and three 6-inch with drawstring closures. Be sure to check Milliard’s diagram to see if the ports are in convenient places for your setup.
There are other sizes to choose from, including one tabletop grow tent, as well as a couple that are larger than the one we reviewed:
- JungleA 48″ x 24″ x 60″
- JungleA 48″ x 48″ x 80″
Plant Grow Tent 60″x60″x120″Indoor Garden Grow Tent Non-Toxic Room
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If you’re on a tight budget, you may appreciate this grow tent from Volowoo. It’s a small one that could fit on a countertop or a table. It’s about the right size for sprouting seeds or raising small plants like mint or parsley because it’s only 4 feet tall. It’s not the most durable, but it’s not bad if you just want to give indoor growing a try.
The exterior is 600D Oxford fabric and the interior is lined with “metalized film.” It has a T-opening instead of a D-shaped door like most of the other tents we reviewed. Some owners prefer that because of the flaps over the zippers that cut down on light leaks.
The tent is easy to assemble in minutes without tools. The tubular metal bars have plastic corner supports that snap together. There are straps on the ceiling to help support ductwork, and drawstring closure ports at the top and bottom. Yaheetech says to contact them should you have any trouble with the tent.
Oshion 32″x 32″x 63″ Indoor Hydroponics Mylar Grow Tent Room
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The grow tent from Oshion has a unique feature: the viewing window on the door is green plastic. This has the interesting effect of compensating for the purplish tint of full-spectrum LED grow lights. When you look through the window, the light inside appears white and plants appear in their natural colors.
The other specifications are pretty standard for this type of tent. The exterior 600D material and the interior Mylar lining are double-stitched for strength. The zippers have a privacy flap to prevent light leaks. There is a removable Mylar water-resistant tray for the floor, and plenty of duct openings to hook up ventilation. The tent assembles in minutes without tools.
Gorilla Grow Tent Tent, 5 by 5 by 6-Feet/11-Inch, Black
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You may have heard of Gorilla Grow Tents because they have a good reputation. Many times customers compare other brands of grow tents to Gorillas as their frame of reference. One very handy feature of many Gorilla tents is their adjustable height. In the case of this tent, it has a 12-inch extension included in the box.
Another nice feature is the heavy-duty 1680D material used on the exterior. That’s considerably thicker than what makes up any of the other tents we reviewed. The interior is lined with diamond-patterned reflective Mylar, but you can add in the infrared-blocking roof insertion. This is handy when you need to keep the exterior cool.
The doors unzip all the way around the sides so it’s very easy to access the interior. But you don’t have to open them this far for everyday use if you don’t want. There is one large window in the rear and two view ports in the front. All the zippers for opening the door and window are high quality metal, not easy-to-break plastic.
Inside the tent is a hanging tool pouch and ten-inch diameter ducting ports with double-cinch closures. The entry points have bug-resistant pre-filters to keep pests out. And the interlocking metal frames that support the fabric might be the strongest ones you can get in a grow tent—they hold up to 300 pounds of weight.
The last rugged feature of this Gorilla tent is the flood pool floor that actually holds water. You can easily use this tent for soil or hydroponic grows with no problem. Gorilla covers their tents with a one-year warranty.
If you want to see the wide variety of Gorilla Grow Tents available for sale, here are some of them now:
CoolGrows Hydro Hydroponics Grow Tent, 90 by 48 by 80-Inch
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CoolGrows tent is unique in that they make it from non-toxic materials that don’t off-gas fumes. It’s also built from 900D canvas on its exterior, placing it between the heavyweight Gorilla tents and the less expensive 600D ones we reviewed at the beginning of the article.
To ensure that there are no light leaks, the Mylar interior and heavy-duty exterior are double-stitched and the zippers have canvas overlays. All the 4” and 8” duct openings have double-sided socks with drawstring closures. The viewport has a Velcro closure, too.
The frame consists of ½-inch diameter powder-coated steel and comes with adjustable light hangers. Lighthouse Hydro recommends a 1000W HID lamp, or two 900W LED grow lights, or a 16-bulb T5 fixture for a tent of this size. You can fit two 3’ by 6’ flood tables inside.
ASTEROUTDOOR Shelf Portable Greenhouse, 57″ W x 28.5″ D x 76″ H Inches High Weight Capacity
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But what if you don’t need a grow tent with dark fabric and reflective Mylar lining? What if you want a way to protect your plants from pests and the weather? In that case, take a look at Ohuhu’s Portable Greenhouse.
It comes with a transparent plastic cover that lets natural sunlight in but keeps cold and wind out. Inside, it has a rust-resistant metal frame and 6 shelves on three tiers. Each shelf holds up to 75 pounds.
You don’t need any tools to put together the greenhouse. It comes with anchoring ropes to keep it safe on a windy day. Ohuhu offers a 3-dat money-back guarantee and a 12-month warranty.
Helpful accessories for growing indoors
Growing indoors means hanging lights. Depending on your setup, you may want to raise and lower them according to the growth phase of your plants. Here is one of the simplest ways to do that: ropes and pulleys.
HandyOne Bonus Edition- 3 pack 1/8″ Ratchet Hangers with Strong Metal Internals -Stainless Steel Carbine Hooks
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The ropes and pulleys from HandyOne can support up to 75 pounds, plenty for most LED lights that weigh half that or less.
ThermoPro TP50 Hygrometer Thermometer Indoor Humidity Monitor with Temperature Gauge Humidity Meter
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It’s very important to keep track of the temperature and humidity levels when you grow indoors. This digital device measures both and keeps track of highs and lows. (more about Hygrometer Thermometer)
Jellas Pocket Size PH Meter
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If you grow hydroponically, you’ll need a reliable pH tester. This one is very simple to use.
Mr Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Strawberry, Herb, Flower, and Vegetable Planter
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Assemble this 28-inch tall planter and you’ll have a fun way to grow vertically. You only need to water the top in order to water every pot underneath.
Deep Water Culture (DWC) Hydroponic Bubbler Bucket Kit by PowerGrow Systems (4) 5-Gallon – 10″ Buckets
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Someone commented that this hydroponic setup is “plug and play.” That’s the perfect description for PowerGrow System’s deep water culture kit. It’s an inexpensive way to start growing hydroponically if you don’t want to build your own setup. It doesn’t take up much space and the buckets can be arranged in a line, a rectangular, or a circular configuration.
ExHale – Homegrown CO2 for your indoor plants
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Not everyone thinks of carbon dioxide when they plan to raise plants indoors, but it’s essential. The ExHale bag uses mushroom power to create adequate CO2 levels for up to 6 months.
Conclusion
Growing your own fruits, vegetables, herbs, or flowers indoors is rewarding on many levels. We hope we helped you discover the perfect grow tent for your garden today. Visit us again soon to see new reviews of the best products that make life easier on and off the grid.
