How Many People Fit on a Car Rooftop Tent?

6 Feb, 2025

There is an industry standard that a room with 2 double beds can accommodate 4 guests. However, think about the infinite amount of room configurations that can accommodate 2 double beds. The comfort of those guests is going to depend on factors other than the number of beds such as room size, layout, view, and even the guests’ sleeping habits.
There is no standard for the sleeping capacity of car rooftop tents. Inspired by the true stories told by Tamara O’Rourke, in this blog, we’ll explore the various factors that make a great camping experience in the context of how many people can comfortably fit inside a rooftop tent.

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About Tamara

I am a 38-year-old world traveler living in Boston, MA. Me and my husband, Drake, worked with the military across the world until I became a mom in 2020 during the lockdowns. We believe in the importance of spending quality time together, being outside in nature and letting our children explore life as freely as possible.

While living and working in Germany, with the US Army, I was captivated by the sight of locals with rooftop tents. While working in Japan with the Marine Corps driving to Mount Fuji, I couldn’t help but notice the comfort of locals snoozing in their tents at various rest stops. Meanwhile, Drake 6’3’’ and I 5’7 remarkably uncomfortable snoozing in our tinny little island car determined to conquer Fuji and be back home for PT prior to work on Monday morning.

Now as a stay-at-home mom, I have wholeheartedly embraced my new role of nurturing my children and providing them with a loving and stimulating environment. With family and loved ones scattered across the globe, we live for travel and the great outdoors has become a central part of their lives. Having a roof top tent makes the task of a weekend excursion with toddlers seem manageable.

Tamara and kids spending quality time in their tent. Priceless.

What is the standard size of a bed?

To determine what is a comfortable size tent we can look at something most people can relate to, for instance, the sizes of mattresses outside of a camping setting, and compare it to available tent sizes. To provide a baseline, let’s start by looking at standard mattress sizes and the amount of space they offer:

Twin Mattress (38 inches by 75 inches):
Ideal for one person, particularly for average adults, children, or guests. While a twin mattress provides a compact sleeping area, plus size adults can feel cramped, especially if they tend to move around a lot during sleep.
Full Mattress (54 inches by 75 inches):
A full-size mattress offers 16 inches of extra width compared to a twin, making it more suitable for a single person who likes extra space or a couple who doesn’t mind being close together. However, it can feel tight for two plus-sized adults.
Queen Mattress (60 inches by 80 inches):
A queen mattress is often considered the sweet spot for couples in terms of comfort. At 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, it gives each person approximately 30 inches of space, which is slightly less than the width of a twin mattress, but it’s still a widely recommended option for two people who don’t mind some closeness.
King Mattress (76 inches by 80 inches):
The king mattress provides ample space for couples, offering each person 38 inches of width, comparable to a twin bed. This size is recommended for couples who want personal space while sleeping. It’s also ideal for people who tend to move a lot during sleep, or for those who sleep with children or pets.
California King Mattress (72 inches by 84 inches):
A California king mattress is longer but slightly narrower than a regular king. It’s particularly good for taller individuals (over 6 feet) who need more length for their legs, while still offering a spacious 36-inch width for each person.

Sleeping space for multiple people

For families or groups who sleep together, such as parents sharing a bed with a child, or even co-sleeping with multiple children, the sleeping arrangement often dictates how much space is needed.

Adults Sleeping Together:
Average size adults need 24-30 inches to sleep comfortably. A full-size bed would be a suitable minimum suitable bed size for 2 adults with a little room to spare.
Families with Children:
In some families, children sleep with their parents, especially when they are young. Children tend to sleep close to each other or adults requiring less space. A queen-size or bigger bed can comfortably accommodate two adults and one or two young children, depending on their size.
Pets and Animals:
Many people sleep with pets, particularly dogs. A larger bed may be necessary to accommodate both adults and their pets comfortably. Dogs, especially larger breeds, can take up significant space, so the more room available, the better the quality of sleep for all involved.

Sleeping space in rooftop tents

There are some key differences in the sleeping space in a regular room and a rooftop tent that change the expectation and perception of a good night’s sleep.

Mattress size is often customized to the design of the tent. Design considerations such as roof fitment limit the size of the tent. The dimensions of the mattress may not match the conventional non-tent mattress however it is optimized for the camping experience. For example, the James Baroud Odyssey L tent is 55” wide which would be slightly wider than a full-size mattress which we have established can accommodate 2 adults. However it is also 89” long which is 9 inches longer than a king-size mattress allowing extra room to accommodate children or pets.
Rooftop tents have walls that are adjacent to the mattress. One reason that a bigger space is needed in a regular mattress is to allow moving space without any limbs “falling off the bed”. Since the walls provide a barrier for falling off, the space is used more efficiently.
Often camping is more about the activity than the sleep. Anyone would prefer to have a larger sleeping area, however what is the trade off? It could be aerodynamics, ease of use, durability, or functionality and which ones are more important to enhance the camping experience. All these factors should weigh into the decision to choose the right tent.

Story: Focus on the experience

One of the most memorable moments with our James Baroud Vision rooftop tent was a spontaneous decision to camp as a family after leaving a friend’s house at 8 PM on a summer weekend. With our 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter in tow, we found a campground that accepted late entries, arrived after 9:00 PM, and had our car parked and the tent fully set up by 9:07 PM. Yes, we were all settled in our tent within seven minutes! As a large man well over 300 lbs, I was initially concerned about stability, but the Vision tent handled our collective 600 lbs without a hitch, providing a safe and secure sleeping environment for the entire family.

dog sleeping in a rooftop tent — Camping does not need to be complicated or perfect. A proper set up and a good attitude is all that is needed to incorporate spontaneous memorable times to your life.

Sleep quality factors on rooftop tents

While mattresses and bed sizes provide a good indication of how much space is needed for a restful night’s sleep, there are other factors to consider.

Purpose of the trip: Rooftop tents are used for a variety of reasons. Family camping is a typical example where you would fit more people comfortably. Couples and kids are more likely to enjoy cuddling together utilizing less space of the mattress per person. In those cases, it would be comfortable to have 2 adults and 2 kids or more in a queen-size mattress tent. Whereas on a mountain biking trip the tent serves as a place to rest and recharge for which spacing between people is required.

Story: Ease of use

One of the most impressive aspects of the Vision tent is how easy it is to use. Installing it on our 2021 Subaru Outback was a breeze, thanks to the user-friendly design. Setting it up takes just a few minutes, and we were amazed at how spacious and comfortable it is inside. The soft shell opens up quickly and provides ample room for our family of four to sleep comfortably or 8 of the neighborhood kids to play in with great joy and delight.

Frequency and Duration of stay: Experienced campers understand their personal preferences regarding the utilization of space in a tent. People who are new to camping must be open-minded and that the space needed to be comfortable is different from person to person. It is recommended to start with smaller trips to start understanding what you need to be comfortable with. On a 1-3 night stay you can get through the nights even if the setting is not perfect for your liking. When staying more than 3 nights, you want to make sure you have enough room and have figured out the most comfortable layout for your tent and the number of people in it.

Story: Fitting into everyday life

What really sold us on the Vision tent is how seamlessly it fits into our everyday life. Whether we’re planning a weekend getaway or just want to have a spontaneous camping trip, the tent is always ready to go and the kids are so excited. It’s perfect for our life with young kids, allowing us to explore the outdoors without the hassle of traditional camping gear. The kids absolutely love the idea of sleeping on the roof of the car—it turns every trip into an adventure.

Temperature and condensation control: If mostly camping in colder environments you can have the same tent with a higher sleeping capacity as body heat increases the comfort of the tent. When camping in warmer and humid environments requires more room for moving around freely and avoiding body heat concentration.
Feeling Safe: When camping in a rooftop tent you can lose sleep rapidly if you feel unsafe. This could be from weather factors such as rain, wind, snow or external factors such as animals around the campsite. Choosing a tent that gives you peace of mind will improve comfort even if the space is tighter with an additional person or pet in the tent.

So, how many people can you fit in a tent? As a rule, follow the sizing guidelines of the tent manufacturer. Here is the recommended capacity for James Baroud tents:

However, understand that your size, the closeness to your fellow tent roommates, the sleeping habits, frequency and lengths of stay are all factors that can allow you to fit people comfortably into the same tent. Consult with experienced campers and explain the desired camping experiences as they will be able to guide you on the intricacies of getting the best out of your rooftop tent experience.

Want to learn more? Read: 5 Tips for Overlanding with Family

Wondering what tent model is right for you?

We know that finding the perfect tent for your specific needs can be challenging. We are here to help you along the way, so contact us today!