Do Tents Come With Stakes? (And How To Tell)

Okay, so you are buying a new tent and wondering if tents come with stakes. The short answer is yes, most tents do come with stakes. However, depending on the tent and type of stakes, it might not be a bad idea to place them.

Yes, most tents come with tent stakes. You can confirm this by looking at your tent description, looking at product images, reading the reviews, or contacting the manufacturer. If your tent does not come with stakes, you can purchase them separately. If you're camping in fair weather, you might not need them.

How to tell if tents come with stakes

Before you go off and buy extra stakes, make sure your tent doesn't already come with them. So, how can you tell?

Most big brands include stakes. Coleman's customer service has put it in writing:

Thank you for contacting Coleman, the Outdoor Company. Thank you for reaching us regarding this matter.

All of our tents have an included stakes in it.

But if you're still unsure, there are a few ways to check.

1. Read the product description. Sometimes the description will tell you everything the tent comes with. Unfortunately, this isn't the case all the time.

Here's an example of a tent description that tells you stakes are included:

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2. Another place you can look is the images. Sometimes you'll find an image of the tent with everything it comes with.

Here's an example of a Coleman tent that shows stakes are included:

3. If you still can't tell, you can read the reviews. If the tent has a lot of reviews, people will mention the stakes that come with the tent.

Here's an example with the Ozark Trail tent:

4. Lastly, if you still can't tell, you can email or call the manufacturer.

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What tent stakes are for, and when you need them

Tent stakes, also called tent pegs, are for holding the tent to the ground and help give the tent its shape. Tension on the corners and guy lines pulls the fabric taut, and the stakes are what keep that tension from simply dragging the whole tent across the ground.

Believe it or not, some campers have had their tent blown away by the wind! Stakes definitely help keep your tent anchored to the ground. It's always a good idea to place your tent stakes down early when setting up a tent to prevent it from shifting around and blowing away.

You don't always need tent stakes when setting up a tent. A freestanding tent pitched in calm, dry weather can sit happily without them for a short while.

However, if you are camping in windy or rainy conditions, you'll want to use tent stakes. A strong rigid tent will help prevent the tent from flapping and help shed rain (see article: Are tents waterproof?). If you have a 4 seasons tent (see article: Different between 3 and 4 season tents) or camping in harsher weather, definitely use them. Before a trip, it's worth checking the forecast at the National Weather Service so you know how much anchoring you'll want.

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Tent stake alternatives and what to do if you lose them

If you don't have tent stakes, you can get them fairly inexpensive from Amazon. Some of the best tent stakes are Eurmax tent stakes. These are a lot tougher than the normal stakes that come with most tents. The problem with those stakes is that they can be easily bent and don't have a flat top to hammer them into the ground with. The Eurmax solves both of these problems.

If you don't have tent stakes, what else can you use?

One alternative to tent stakes is to use sticks. This is not always convenient since you need the right length, durability, and thickness. Plus, they can break, especially when you are driving them into the ground.

Another option for tent stakes is to use long bolts or screws. These can be free if they are already hanging around your garage. While you can buy these from your local hardware store, they might just cost more than real tent stakes. Still, they might work in a pinch.

If you've simply lost or forgotten your stakes, it happens. Options in the field:

• Deadman anchors. Tie a rock, log or stick to your guy line and bury it 6 inches down, perpendicular to the tension.
• Wooden improvised stakes. Cut a 10-inch stick with a knife notch at the top for the guy loop. Not as clean as a real stake but functional.
• Weighted corners. Fill dry bags or tent bags with rocks and set them on the corner loops. Works for still weather.
• Car tie-downs. If you're car camping, anchor guy lines to door handles, roof rack, or the trailer hitch.
• Buy replacements locally. Walmart and gas stations in camping country carry cheap stake packs for $5–$10.

Which tents come with stakes and which don't

The short answer: most mainstream tents from $80 up do include stakes, and most ultralight or specialty tents don't. Here's the rough breakdown:

• Coleman, Kelty, REI Co-op, Alps Mountaineering, Marmot, Eureka family tents: stakes included. Usually 6–10 basic aluminum or steel stakes.
• Big Agnes, MSR, Nemo backpacking tents: usually included, though some premium models sell stakes separately to shave weight.
• Ultralight trekking-pole tents (Zpacks, Durston X-Mid, Tarptent): most don't include stakes, or include minimal titanium ones.
• Hammock shelters (ENO, Dutchware): no stakes, since you're using tree straps instead.
• Beach and pop-up sun shelters: hit or miss. Cheaper ones often skip stakes.
• Any tent sold as "frame only" or "fly only": no stakes by design.

Check the product spec sheet or the box contents list before you rely on what comes in the bag. The number is usually the bare minimum needed to stake out the corners, and you often want 2–4 more for the guy lines. If pitching quickly matters to you, our list of the easiest tents to set up by yourself is a good next read.

Why the stakes that come with your tent probably aren't great

Stock stakes are almost always the cheapest option the manufacturer could include. They're:

• Bent aluminum (soft, bends if you hit a root).
• Plain steel (heavy, rusts, but strong).
• Short (4–6 inches, so poor holding power in soft soil).
• Tip profile: round or generic "hook" shape without a twist or v-groove, so they don't grip dirt well.

For backyard camping this is fine. For anything on open ground, in wind, or in anything but perfect dirt, you'll want to upgrade to MSR Groundhogs or Vargo titanium nails, about $15–30 for a full set. I'd argue the stakes are the cheapest upgrade that makes the biggest difference to how a tent holds up overnight.

How many stakes do you actually need?

The number printed on the box is the minimum. Here's the real-world count:

• 2-person dome tent: 4 for corners, 4 for guy-outs = 8 stakes.
• 4-person family tent: 6 for corners/vestibules, 4 for guy-outs = 10 stakes.
• Tarp or tarp-tent: 4 minimum, 8 for good weather performance.
• Backpacking non-freestanding (trekking pole) tent: at least 6, sometimes 8.

Buy a few spares on top of that. Stakes get bent, lost, or hammered into rocky ground and left behind. A spare pack of 6 in the car is always worth it.

Stake types by ground condition

The right stake depends on where you're pitching. Soft ground needs more surface area or length to resist pull-out, while hard or frozen ground needs a stake that can be driven in without bending.

• Y or V-stakes (MSR Groundhog, Vargo Ti Nail): best all-around for dirt, grass and forest duff. 3x holding power of round stakes.
• Nail stakes (titanium shepherd's hook): lightest option (6g each), fine in hard-packed dirt, useless in sand or snow.
• Snow/sand anchors (MSR Blizzard, flat aluminum plates): bury them horizontally and load the guy line perpendicular. Essential for winter or beach camping.
• Screw stakes (Orange Screw): for hard clay, frozen ground, and loose sand. Bulkier but unstoppable.
• Rock hooks: zero-stake pitching. Pass the guy line under a rock or loop it around a log. Always a good backup.

Tent stakes FAQ

Do Coleman tents come with stakes?

Yes. Coleman tents ship with a basic set of steel stakes. They're adequate for most campgrounds but bend easily on rocky soil.

Can I use a tent without stakes?

Only if it's freestanding (has its own pole structure) and the weather's dead calm. As soon as wind picks up above 10 mph, an unstaked tent will blow over. Non-freestanding tents (trekking pole tents) literally can't be pitched without stakes.

Are plastic tent stakes any good?

Only the wide plastic ones for soft sand and snow. The skinny plastic stakes that come with some cheap tents snap the first time you hit a root, so toss them and upgrade.

Can I hammer tent stakes with a rock?

Yes, but carefully, since most stakes have a plastic cap that'll shatter. Hit the metal part, not the top of the cap. Better: bring a lightweight tent mallet (~5 oz) or a stake-pulling tool that doubles as a hammer.

How do I pull out a stuck tent stake?

Pass a second stake or a tent guy line through the pullout loop and lever it up. Never yank straight up by the head, because you'll bend it permanently. MSR Groundhogs have a flared top that accepts a second stake as a lever, which is why serious campers love them.