Waterproof tents · The basics
What Is a Tent Bathtub Floor? (REAL Pictures!)
Flooring that runs up the tent walls instead of stopping at the ground — and why about half of my tents do fine without one.
- 5–15in typical height
- 40+ tents tested
- ~50% of mine have one
- $0 sponsored
- ~5 min read
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The short answer
Floor that climbs the walls
The flooring extends up the sides, usually 5 to 15 inches, so it looks like a bathtub.
What it is ↓It moves the seams off the ground
No stitching at ground level means nothing for pooling water to leak through.
How it works ↓No — if the seam taping is good
My Wawona has no tub floor and sat in 2 inches of water without leaking.
Is it essential ↓A tent has a bathtub floor when the floor material extends up the sides of the walls — 5 to 15 inches on most tents. It looks like a bathtub, hence the name. You will also see it called a tub floor.
Part 1 of 8
What one actually looks like
Part 2 of 8
How it works: fewer seams on the ground
Wherever two pieces of fabric meet there is a seam. With no tub floor, the seam joining floor to walls sits at the very bottom — right in the water.
With a tub floor the flooring climbs the walls first, so that seam ends up a few inches up, with nothing to leak through at ground level.
Part 3 of 8
The upside: water and dirt stay out
- FloodingAs long as the tub is taller than the water pooling around the tent, nothing gets through the floor stitching.
- Back-splashingA high enough tub also stops rain bouncing off the ground and in, which is what brings the sand and grime with it.
Part 4 of 8
The catch: a short tub still leaks
The shortest tub floor I have ever seen was on my Hyke and Byke Zion 2 — a mere 5 inches all the way round.
In my extremely heavy rain test the drops hit the ground hard enough to bounce back up, clear that 5-inch lip and land inside. Two hours in, the whole tent was peppered with water, dirt and dust.
The smaller downside is weight: floor fabric is heavier, so a tub adds a few ounces. I car camp, so it has never bothered me. An ultralight backpacker may feel differently.
Worth knowingA bathtub floor does not mean your tent will not leak. Here is how to tell whether a tent is actually waterproof.
Part 5 of 8
What bathtub floors are made of
Over 40 tents in 4 years, all polyester — no nylon, no canvas. Two tub materials between them:
| Material | Found on | Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester | My less budget-friendly tents — same fabric as the walls | 150D–300D, most commonly 150D |
| Polyethylene | Coleman, Core Equipment, some Decathlon tents | Budget material, same as a cheap tarp |
Floors are thicker because they take the weight of everyone inside and sit on whatever is sharp on the ground.
Part 6 of 8
Which tents have them
- Camping tentsRegular car camping tents — every tent I have tested in 4 years. The tub is part of the tent body.
- Tarp tentsUltralight backpacking shelters. Brands like OneTigris sell the bathtub floor as a separate piece that goes under the tarp — here is what a standalone one looks like.
Part 7 of 8
Do you still need a groundsheet?
Yes — they do different jobs. The tub keeps flooding and back-splash out. The groundsheet (ground tarp, footprint) protects the base of the tent, so a sharp twig punches through that instead of your floor.
My adviceI use one on every trip, tub floor or not — it also keeps mud and grime off the base so there is less to clean afterwards. Yes, I am lazy. A cheap tarp from Amazon does the job.
Part 8 of 8
Is a bathtub floor essential?
No. Only about half of my 40+ tents have one, and some of my most expensive do not:
- The North Face Wawona 6No tub floor.
- REI Wonderland 6No tub floor.
- REI Base Camp 6No tub floor.
All three held up to heavy rain and flooding without leaking — the seam taping made up for it.
My advicePitch on higher ground with drainage rather than in a dip, and a tent without a tub floor will still keep you dry. These expensive ones are some of the most waterproof tents I have tested; most of my Coleman tents do have waterproof bathtub floors and are still not that waterproof otherwise.
Quick questions
FAQ
What is a bathtub floor in a tent?
Flooring that runs up the tent walls, usually 5 to 15 inches, so the floor seams sit off the ground instead of in the water.
Do I need a tent with a bathtub floor?
No. About half my tents have one, and my Wawona, Wonderland and Base Camp all stayed dry without one, on seam taping alone.
Do I still need a groundsheet if my tent has a bathtub floor?
Yes — the tub floor keeps water out, the groundsheet protects the base from sharp rocks and twigs.
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Where to next
Every measurement and photo here is from tents I bought myself and tested in my own yard.
