5m vs 6m Bell Tent: Which Size is Best for Families & Camping?

Choosing between a 5m and a 6m bell tent is one of the most common questions the Bell Tent Sussex team gets asked. Both sizes are built from the same SGS-certified 285gsm to 360gsm breathable cotton canvas. The 360gsm fireproof tent is the same as the 285gsm just of-course with the thicker and fireproof canvas and has a stove hole and flap, both with really thick groundsheets, and mosquito mesh on all openings. Both will give you the genuine luxury canvas camping experience that Bell Tent Sussex has been supplying to UK families, glamping operators, and outdoor enthusiasts.

The 5m and 6m makes a big difference and choosing the wrong size is a mistake that is expensive to correct.

This guide gives you a clear, honest comparison of the 5m and 6m bell tents so you can make the right decision first time.

Quick Answer: 5m vs 6m Bell Tent

• 5m bell tent : best for families of 4 to 5, most popular size overall, ideal for year-round camping and glamping, easier to pitch and transport

• 6m bell tent : best for larger groups of 6 to 7, commercial glamping sites, outdoor events, and anyone who wants the maximum interior space a bell tent offers

If you are a family buying your first bell tent for personal camping and glamping, the 5m is almost certainly the right choice. If you are running or starting a commercial glamping operation, the 5m is still a good option or a 6m is worth the step up if you want the extra room.

The Key Differences

The 5m Bell Tent — Everything You Need to Know

The 5m bell tent is Bell Tent Sussex's best-selling size and the one the team recommends most often for families and personal use. It has been the most popular size in the range for years and there is a very clear reason for that.

Space and layout

A 5m bell tent gives you approximately 19.6 square metres of usable circular floor space. To put that in real terms you can comfortably fit a king-size airbed or camp bed, a rug covering most of the floor, a wood burning stove positioned safely away from the sleeping area, and still have enough room to move around without feeling cramped. For a family of four, this is genuinely luxurious. For a couple using it as a glamping retreat, it feels palatial.

The height at the centre of a 5m bell tent is generous enough for most adults to stand upright near the sides with comfort. The canvas APEX wall angles down toward the 60cm walls then towards the groundsheet, which means the usable standing area is concentrated toward the middle but the full circular footprint is available for sleeping, furniture, and storage.

Who is the 5m bell tent best for?

The 5m works exceptionally well for families of four with children, for couples who want maximum comfort and space for gear and furnishings, for weekend and week-long camping trips at UK campsites, and for personal glamping setups where you want a proper interior experience without the scale of a commercial tent.

It is also the size most often recommended for first time bell tent buyers. The 5m is manageable enough to pitch without a large team, light enough to transport in a standard estate car or SUV, and spacious enough that you will never feel you should have gone bigger.

Pitching and transport

The 5m bell tent pitches in approximately 15 minutes once you are familiar with the process. The canvas, poles, and pegs pack into a carry bag that fits in the boot of most family cars alongside camping gear. For families doing regular UK camping trips weekends at Sussex campsites, a week in the Lakes, a festival or two through the summer the 5m is genuinely practical.

Bell Tent Sussex's detailed how to set up a bell tent guide walks through the pitching process step by step, making the first-time setup straightforward even for complete beginners.

Year-round versatility

Paired with a wood burning stove which the 5m's stove hole flap makes possible straight out of the box the 5m bell tent becomes a genuinely four-season camping structure. The 285gsm to 360gsm cotton canvas insulates well once the interior temperature is raised, and a correctly sized stove will maintain comfortable warmth through a UK autumn or winter evening without overheating the space. This year round usability is one of the most compelling reasons families choose the 5m over cheaper synthetic alternatives.

The 6m Bell Tent : Everything You Need to Know

The 6m bell tent is a significantly larger canvas structure and that extra metre of diameter makes a meaningful difference to the interior experience. The floor area increases from approximately 19.6 square metres to approximately 28.3 square metres. That is nearly 50% more usable space inside the tent.

Space and layout

At 6m, a bell tent can accommodate a king-size bed in one zone and a proper seating and dining area in another simultaneously, without either feeling squeezed. This is the configuration that professional glamping site operators across the UK use to justify premium per night rates, because the interior genuinely resembles a boutique accommodation space rather than a camping setup.

For a large family or group, the 6m creates enough separation to have a sleeping area and a social area within the same canvas. Children can be settled in one part of the tent while adults sit around a wood burning stove in another. That level of interior flexibility is simply not achievable in a 5m.

Who is the 6m bell tent best for?

The 6m is the right choice for larger families of 6 or more, for groups of friends camping together who want genuine shared space, for glamping site operators who need a tent capable of delivering a premium guest experience, and for anyone running or starting a bell tent hire business across the UK.

Bell Tent Sussex's 6m and 5m models carry SGS certification for commercial use meaning they have been tested for the repeated pitching, use, and wear that a commercial glamping operation demands. For any operator looking at insurance, planning documentation, or health and safety compliance, this commercial grade SGS certification is a meaningful advantage over uncertified alternatives.

If your site is always prone to high winds then you might was to think about the 5m bell tent as this will perform better in the stronger winds. 

Pitching and transport

The 6m requires more effort to pitch than the 5m. It is heavier, takes longer to erect typically 20 minutes for a practised team and requires more physical space to lay out the canvas before pitching. For a commercial glamping site where the tent stays erected for an entire season, this is not a meaningful disadvantage. For a family doing regular weekend camping trips, the extra effort every time you pitch and strike the tent adds up.

The 6m also requires a larger vehicle or trailer to transport comfortably alongside camping gear, something worth considering if your family camping setup relies on a standard estate car.

Commercial applications

The 6m bell tent is the foundation of the UK's glamping industry. Bell Tent Sussex supplies 6m models to glamping operators, wedding venues, outdoor event companies, and farmers diversifying their land into glamping across the country. Their dedicated glamping site setup resource provides specific guidance on building a commercial glamping operation around the 6m bell tent including site planning, pricing strategy, planning considerations, and realistic return on investment figures.

5m vs 6m Bell Tent: Which Size is Best for Families?

For the majority of UK families, the 5m bell tent is the better choice.

Here is the thinking. A family of four two adults and two children will find the 5m spacious, comfortable, and genuinely luxurious. There is room for a proper sleeping setup, storage for gear and clothing, and enough floor space for the children to play inside during a rainy afternoon. The tent is manageable enough to pitch on a regular basis without it feeling like a significant undertaking.

The 6m starts to make sense for a family when the group size regularly reaches six or more, when you want a genuinely separate sleeping and living zone within the tent, or when the tent will be staying erected for a long period rather than being packed away between trips.

If you are genuinely unsure between the two, consider this: Bell Tent Sussex's team with over a decade of experience advising UK families on bell tent purchases recommend the 5m as the starting point for the vast majority of family buyers. The customers who move to 6m are typically those with larger families, those setting up glamping businesses, or those who have owned a 5m and want to step up the experience.

5m vs 6m Bell Tent: Which Size is Best for Camping?

For camping, specifically regular pitching and striking at UK campsites the 5m bell tent wins on practicality.

The reasons are straightforward. The 5m packs down smaller, weighs less, pitches faster, and fits more easily into a family car alongside the rest of your camping kit. For a family doing six to ten camping trips a year across different UK locations, these practical advantages compound significantly over time.

The 6m is the better camping choice only when your group is consistently seven or more people, when the campsite pitch is large enough to accommodate the full 6m footprint comfortably, and when you have the vehicle and team to manage the larger canvas.

For glamping where the tent stays erected for a longer period and the focus is on interior quality and guest experience rather than ease of transport the 6m becomes considerably more attractive.

5m vs 6m Bell Tent: Which Size is Best for Glamping?

For a personal glamping setup where the tent stays up for the full weekend or week and you want the maximum interior experience, the 6m bell tent is worth serious consideration.

The additional 8.7 square metres of floor space that a 6m provides over a 5m makes a genuine difference to how a glamping interior can be configured. A 6m allows for zoning a proper sleeping area with a real bed, and a separate social area with seating, a rug, and a wood burning stove that creates the boutique glamping experience most buyers are aspiring to when they make the decision to invest in a quality bell tent.

For commercial glamping where the tent is priced per night as premium accommodation the 6m and 5m is the industry standard for good reason. Guests expect space, comfort, and a genuine alternative to a hotel room. The 6m delivers that expectation in a way that the 5m, while excellent, cannot fully match at the premium end with more space, of the market.

Bell Tent Sussex's full range of glamping accessories furniture, furnishings, lighting, cooking equipment, and sleeping options are all available alongside their bell tent range, meaning a complete glamping setup for either size can be sourced from a single supplier.

Bell Tent Sussex Canvas Quality — The Same Standard Across Both Sizes

One thing that does not change between the 5m and 6m is the quality of the canvas itself. Bell Tent Sussex uses 285gsm to 360gsm breathable cotton canvas across their range itested and SGS-certified on every model. Both sizes include a zipped-in groundsheet, mosquito mesh on all openings, a steel centre pole, and a purpose-built stove hole flap with heat-resistant collar if fireproof. Although we do sell fireproof 5m bell tent with the option of no stove hole. 

The canvas is the single most important specification of any bell tent. Cheaper alternatives use 200gsm or lower canvas weights that will not survive a UK season without waterproofing breaking down or even 300 to 320gsm for fireproof tents. Bell Tent Sussex's heavier-weight canvas at 360gsm once properly seasoned, becomes naturally waterproof and handles UK weather reliably, a meaningful difference for a tent that you expect to use throughout spring, summer, and autumn.

Both the 5m and 6m are available with 0% finance on qualifying purchases. If you need advice on which option is right for your specific situation, the Bell Tent Sussex team is available on 01323 401400, a direct line to people who know these products inside out and will give you an honest recommendation.

The Verdict

• Choose the 5m bell tent if you are a family of up to 5 doing regular camping and glamping trips, pitching and striking the tent frequently, and want the best balance of space, practicality, and value. Browse the 5m bell tent collection at Bell Tent Sussex.

• Choose the 6m bell tent if your group regularly reaches 6 or more, or if you want the maximum interior space and zoning that a bell tent can offer. Browse the 6m bell tent collection at Bell Tent Sussex.

Not sure yet? Browse the full Bell Tent Sussex tent collection or call 01323 401400 for a direct conversation with the team. Bell Tent Sussex is based in Newhaven, East Sussex and offers next-day UK delivery on all models.

FAQs

Is a 5m bell tent big enough for a family of 4?

Yes comfortably. A 5m bell tent gives approximately 19.6 square metres of circular floor space, which is more than enough for two adults and two children with a proper sleeping setup, storage, and a wood burning stove. It is Bell Tent Sussex's most popular size for exactly this reason.

Can a family of 6 fit in a 5m bell tent?

Yes, though it becomes more snug. Six adults in a 5m is manageable but leaves less room for furniture and gear. If your group regularly reaches six adults, the 6m gives a noticeably more comfortable experience.

What is the difference in floor space between a 5m and 6m bell tent?

A 5m bell tent has approximately 19.6 square metres of floor space. A 6m has approximately 28.3 square metres, nearly 50% more usable space.

Which bell tent size is best for a glamping site?

The 5m & 6m is the standard choice for commercial glamping operators across the UK. It provides enough interior space to zone sleeping and living areas separately, which is what premium glamping guests expect. Bell Tent Sussex's models carry commercial grade SGS certification. For guidance on setting up a glamping site, visit the Bell Tent Sussex glamping site page.

Do both the 5m and 6m bell tents come with a stove hole flap?

Yes. Both sizes include a purpose-built stove hole flap with heat-resistant collar as standard. This means both can be used with a wood burning stove from the Bell Tent Sussex stove range without any modification to the canvas.

Does Bell Tent Sussex offer finance on bell tents?

Yes. Bell Tent Sussex offers 0% finance on qualifying purchases across both the 5m and 6m collections. Contact the team on 01323 401400 for details