In recent years, glamping tents have become extremely popular. More and more campers are seeking luxury and comfort in the great outdoors, and as an entrepreneur, you want to meet this demand. However, purchasing such a tent raises many questions.
At Sanders Glamping, we have been building glamping tents internationally for years and understand the challenges of purchasing. From tents with wood stoves on steep German slopes to air-conditioned tents in Southern Europe: we have extensive experience.
In this blog article, you will discover the true cost of a glamping tent, the factors to consider in your calculations, and how to avoid a cheap tent ultimately becoming too expensive. We will answer the most important questions, from pricing structure to lifespan and payback period, so you can invest in glamping with confidence.
When we talk about glamping tents (also known as safari tents), we generally refer to spacious, luxurious, and fully equipped tents. A basic tent (without furniture) costs around €8,000 to €10,000, depending on the size.
For a fully equipped tent (furniture, kitchen, bathroom, and decoration), the price can exceed €30,000, or even €40,000 for the most luxurious models. On average, the price per tent ranges between €10,000 and €30,000.
Why such a difference? A simple tent without an interior is obviously much cheaper than a turnkey glamping tent that you can rent to your guests. Therefore, it is important to carefully compare quotes: is the tent delivered complete, or do you need to add the furniture and equipment yourself? Most providers offer an entry-level price for the tent structure alone. For example: a compact safari tent for 4 people costs around €5,500 for the tent alone. This same fully equipped tent can cost around €10,000. Larger family tents with sanitary facilities can easily cost between €15,000 and €25,000 each, fully equipped. So pay attention to the proposed price.
In addition to the price of the tent itself, transportation costs often need to be added (especially if it has to be shipped from far away or even from abroad) and assembly costs if you outsource the installation.
The total price of a glamping tent depends on several factors. We have listed the most important ones below:
The quality and durability of the fabric and wood used for the structure play a major role in the price. A more UV-resistant fabric and more durable types of wood (such as Douglas fir) are more expensive to purchase, but also have a longer lifespan.
A tent without furniture is much cheaper than a fully furnished tent. If you opt for luxury amenities such as a bathroom, a kitchenette, furniture, beds, decorations, and tableware, the price increases accordingly. A fully furnished safari tent can easily cost €10,000 or more than an unfurnished tent. You can also purchase the tent as is and furnish it yourself to spread the costs or create your own style.
As glamping tents are often sold worldwide, transport costs can vary considerably. Delivering a tent to the Netherlands or Belgium is naturally cheaper than shipping it to the Antilles, for example. Remember that foreign transport and import costs increase the price. Always inquire about the transport included in the quote and its cost to your destination.
Assembling a glamping tent is specialized work. You can choose to do it yourself with a team, but many suppliers also offer an assembly service. Some competing suppliers reduce construction costs by using very cheap labor (e.g., teams from Eastern Europe). This can allow you to reduce the price but sometimes involves risks in terms of communication and assembly quality.
We favor reliable builders who offer fair wages. Our tent structures are designed to facilitate assembly, allowing us to keep assembly costs relatively low without compromising quality. When requesting a quote, it is wise to ask how the assembly is organized and what its potential cost is.
Finally, the activities and service of the supplier also indirectly determine the price. A large company with high fixed costs will have to charge a higher margin than a smaller, more efficient company. The included services (such as warranty, support, and personalized advice) can also slightly increase the price, but they also bring added value.
With us, you will find that our reduced overhead allows us to
The material of the tent, whether it's the canvas or the wooden frame, influences both the price and the lifespan. It is often thought that the canvas is the most important factor, but in reality, the wooden frame is just as important for the lifespan of your tent.
The cheapest glamping tents are often made with a spruce (pine) frame from countries like Scandinavia or Eastern Europe. This wood is cheaper but also softer and less durable. Our tents, on the other hand, are made of treated Douglas fir. This wood is harder, weather-resistant, and lasts much longer (treated Douglas fir can last up to 15 years, while untreated spruce often shows signs of wear more quickly).
The tent canvas itself also varies. There are different qualities of canvas and PVC. More expensive canvases can be more resistant to UV, tears, and sometimes fire retardant. This contributes to a longer lifespan (and may be required by insurance or regulations). Some materials may sometimes seem more expensive. In the end, you will benefit from reduced maintenance and replacement needs, as well as fewer hassles related to repairs.
The adage "cheap is expensive" unfortunately often applies to glamping tents. A cheap tent seems attractive when your starting capital is limited, but it can prove costly in the long run. Let's take an example:
Suppose you are hesitating between two tents:
Tent A is therefore €2,000 cheaper to purchase. But after 6 years, it is worn out and you need to reinvest, while Tent B will last at least another 3 to 4 years. Moreover, with Tent B, you will have generated income during those additional years, while with Tent A, you will already be incurring replacement costs. In the end, the more expensive tent turns out to be the more economical option: you will get a better return on investment before investing in a new tent.
Financially, here's how to consider the situation: with a glamping tent costing around €20,000 for rent, you will generate on average between €6,000 and €10,000 in income per season per tent (depending on the rental price and occupancy rate). The first few years are spent recouping your investment, often in less than three years. After that, the lifespan of the tent is pure profit. If your tent can last one or two more seasons due to better quality, these additional investment costs of €1,000 to €2,000 are a no-brainer. You will easily recover them by the end of the tent's lifespan.
Conversely, choosing a cheap tent can prove costly if the tent is disappointing. Think of higher maintenance costs, dissatisfied customers due to defects, or even dangerous situations during storms because the frame was neglected.
A good glamping tent lasts about 8 to 12 years before the main components need to be replaced. 10 years is often cited as a benchmark, and that's what we adhere to. Warning: not all tents promising "10 years" reach this goal. From our experience, it strongly depends on the materials and maintenance. We have tents that are still in full use after 12 years, which confirms to us that 10 years is entirely achievable with our quality.
Now let's move on to the return on investment (ROI). As mentioned earlier, a glamping tent costing between €15,000 and €20,000 should be paid off in two to three years with a good occupancy rate.
Example calculation: if you invest €20,000 in a tent, you will break even in two and a half years with an annual revenue of €8,000. Beyond that, you will be profitable. Over the entire lifespan, the return on investment is well above the costs.
A €20,000 tent can easily generate €100,000 in revenue in 10 years, provided you manage your rental business well and optimize the seasons. Even taking into account additional costs (maintenance, insurance, and depreciation of the canvas after about 10 years), the yield remains substantial.
So it's not just about how much the tent costs today, but especially about what its return will be in the next 10 years. If you consider the long term, you will find that investing in slightly higher quality is well worth it. Your tent will last longer, your customers will be more satisfied (allowing you to offer a higher occupancy rate or higher prices), and you will have fewer repair-related worries.
A glamping tent or a safari tent represents an investment, but it can be offset by an excellent return on investment. Prices range from around €10,000 for a basic tent to over €30,000 for a fully equipped luxury tent. This range depends on several factors: the quality of the wood and canvas, the level of furnishing, transport and assembly costs, and the supplier's service.
A good tent lasts a long time and, after a few seasons, you will already be profitable. We are happy to help you achieve this. In this article, we share our vision: it is better to invest now in sustainability and quality to avoid regretting it later.
Think carefully about the tent that best meets your needs. Establish a complete budget, from the tent to the spoon: price of the tent, transport, installation, furniture, water/electricity connections, and possible permits. Once you understand it well, you can compare prices. Would you like to discuss your situation or get a personalized quote?
Feel free to contact us. We will be delighted to discuss the possibilities with you