One of the best perks of working from home is the ability to work outside on nice days.
However, working remotely in the backyard can be challenging.
If you ever tried working remotely outside or in the backyard, you probably realized the sun, glare, wind, and distractions made it difficult.
A backyard office tent is a great solution for creating a comfortable and productive backyard and outdoor remote work space.
Note: some links below are to other articles of mine, and some are affiliate links where I may earn a small amount if you purchase from the marketplace.
Read about the best chair for working remotely outdoors.
Types of Backyard Office Tents
There are several types of backyard office tents to choose from, including cheap pop-up tents, screen tents, canvas shade structures, and more.
From personal experience, most cheap pop-up tents won’t last an entire summer, so I’m not going to include them.
My favorite outdoor office tents for remote work are screen tents and canvas tents.
Screen tent offices are great in hot weather because the mesh is thin and allows for ample airflow.
Canvas tents make great office tents for those sunny 50-65F degree days in Spring and Fall. They also are more sturdy and can block distracting wind and add more privacy.
Lastly, there are some great hybrids between the two.
Best Backyard Office Tent for Working Remotely
The classic camping screen tent is the best mobile office tent. Many people may have something similar already in their garage. And if not, it’s a cheap way to work remotely in the backyard.
A simple, yet effective outdoor office tent.
By the way, read about the best outdoor desk for working outside.
Pros
- Great for backyards
- Can place over existing outdoor furniture
- Quick, easy setup
- Cheapest outdoor workspace
- Keeps bugs out
Cons
- No floor, can use a tarp or tent floor liner
- Lots of glare unless the sun is directly overhead – the mesh won’t be enough to block it
- Not great in poor weather or wind
Best Outdoor Office Tent with Flexible Uses
Springbar is well-known in the canvas tent camping world, but they also sell Lesiure Ports that are great for outdoor offices. In addition, they can be used at parties, camping, etc.
Resilience in high winds and a generous amount of shade.
Multiple setup options: sun shade, screen house, and even a storm shelter.
Pros
- Multiple uses from backyard offices to shade for sitting areas to camping
- Multiple setups depending on your need (shade vs tent)
- High quality
- Made in Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Cons
- Expensive
- Base model won’t keep bugs out
- Panels are sold separately here
Best Tent for Working Remotely Overlanding, Camping, and in the Backcountry
Nothing beats the Kodiak 10×10 VX canvas tent if you need a mobile office space.
They are great in the rain, snow, wind, and any other inclement weather. In addition, the 4-sided ventilation gives you a near-360 view while working in your outdoor office.
The Kodiak 10x10 is perfect for families and is considered a 6 person tent.
It also doubles as a 4-person family camping tent. I used their Deluxe version and wish I had the VX version.
The best canvas tents work as a camping office workspace because of the 3-season protection. Want to work while camping? This is the way to go and what I use in those situations.
However, they make poor backyard offices. They have a permanent floor. This will kill the grass if set up for multiple days. In addition, you can’t put it over a picnic table or other outdoor furniture.
Pros
- Best for a camping work office
- Will last a lifetime if taken care of
- Provides 3-Season outdoor backyard office
- Handles wind, rain, and even snow
Cons
- Not a great backyard office tent
- Heavy (60+lbs)
- 20 minute set up time
If you want a more permanent structure, you can look at wall tents. They are meant to be up for long periods of time. Learn about canvas tent maintenance to learn more.
Best Mobile Travel Tent for Working Remotely
The best mobile travel tents for working remotely are Gazelle tents. They can be set up in 90-seconds and can be taken down just as quickly.
A simple tent setup that anyone can use. Easy and fast setup.
These are great if you just need to get a few hours of work done. It won’t be the most robust office tent and it won’t do great in the wind without guy lines (adding an additional setup).
Pros
- Great for casual remote work for short period of time
- Typically cheaper than alternatives
Cons
- Okay quality, won’t last a lifetime
- Not great for glare or wind
Using a Yurt or Gazebo as a Backyard Office
A yurt can be used as a backyard office for working remotely. An office yurt will be a much larger commitment and more expensive than the other office tent suggestions.
In addition, Gazebo’s can make great and aesthetically pleasing backyard offices.
Conclusion: Backyard Office Tents for Working Remotely Outside
After working remotely outdoors for years, each of these office tents have their own uses. If you do a lot of working remotely outdoors, you’ll probably end up with at least 2 of the solutions at the end of a summer.
Starting with a screen tent the best way to get started. Even if you move on from it as a work tent, you’ll be able to use it camping and at local parks.
If you do lots of backcountry and camping remote working, consider an upgrade to a more heavy duty like a canvas tent.
Related Reading: The Best Outdoor Work Desk for working remotely outside.
