An extra large play tent needs to earn that label with real square footage, not just a generous product name, and the Zooawa Extra Large Kids Play Tent is the biggest structure I have tested across this entire kids play tent guide so far. After covering the childrens outdoor play tent and the dinosaur play tent earlier in this series, this Zooawa model is a completely different category: a hexagonal, hydraulic pop up frame built specifically to hold multiple kids at once rather than one or two.
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Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Size alone does not make a tent good, so I ran this extra large play tent through the same checklist covered in my guide on what to look for in kids play tent safety, paying close attention to how a frame this large stays rigid, how much airflow it actually gets through its windows, and whether the included extras are genuinely useful or just box filler.
| Rating Criteria | Score (Out of 5) |
|---|---|
| Frame Stability | 4.7 |
| Size and Capacity | 5.0 |
| Ventilation and Airflow | 4.8 |
| Setup Ease | 4.6 |
| Included Accessories | 4.5 |
| Value for Money | 4.5 |
What Are the Primary Pros and Cons of This Extra Large Play Tent?
This extra large play tent wins on sheer size, airflow, and included extras, but its footprint demands a genuinely large room or yard and the LED light strip runs on non rechargeable batteries. I have compiled the most important points from testing below.
Pros
| 1. 80.71 inch wide hexagonal footprint is easily the largest tent in this hub |
| 2. Automatic hydraulic pop up mechanism sets up in seconds with no separate pole assembly |
| 3. 2 doors and 4 mesh windows keep airflow strong even with several kids inside |
| 4. Ships with a matching carry bag and an LED star light strip included in the box |
| 5. Built-in storage pocket keeps books and small toys off the floor |
| 6. Multi-purpose top hook adds a small but genuinely useful extra for hanging a light or a clip fan |
| 7. Works equally well as an indoor holiday centerpiece or an outdoor backyard fort |
Cons
| 1. At over 80 inches wide, this needs a genuinely large room or yard to make sense |
| 2. The included LED strip runs on a battery pack, not a rechargeable USB setup |
| 3. The hexagonal shape still tapers toward the roof, so peak height drops off near the edges |
| 4. Folding it back down and repacking takes more care and space than opening it |
| 5. Only one printed color option, blue, based on current listing photos |
| 6. Still fair weather only if used outdoors, not a genuine all-weather shelter |
| 7. No floor mat included despite the large footprint |
I go into more detail on keeping a tent this size clean in my guide on how to clean kids play tents, since more fabric surface area means more room for dust and spills to collect. For anyone weighing chemical safety on any fabric tent your kids will spend hours inside, it is worth checking it against the CPSC’s Children’s Product Certificate requirements first.
The Specs of the Zooawa Extra Large Play Tent
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Shape | Hexagonal, hydraulic pop up frame |
| Width | 80.71 in / 205 cm |
| Side Wall Height | 43.31 in / 110 cm |
| Peak Height | 50.79 in / 129 cm |
| Floor Depth | 38.98 in / 99 cm |
| Doors and Windows | 2 doors, 4 mesh windows |
| What’s Included | Carry bag, LED star light strip with battery pack |
| Recommended Use | Indoor and outdoor |
Compared to the tighter footprints found elsewhere in the kids play tent guide, this is the one to reach for specifically because it is oversized, and that changes what kind of play session it is actually built for.
How Big Is This Extra Large Play Tent, and Who Fits Inside?
This extra large play tent measures 80.71 inches wide, 43.31 inches at the side walls, and 50.79 inches at the peak, which is large enough for several kids to sit, crawl, and play together without feeling cramped. Here is what that means in practice: a family with more than one child, or a household that regularly hosts group playdates, will get real use out of the extra floor space that smaller single-kid tents in this category simply cannot offer.
The tradeoff is room. At nearly seven feet wide, this needs a dedicated corner of a playroom, a large bedroom, or backyard space, so measure before you commit if your floor plan is tight.
How Do You Set Up and Fold This Extra Large Play Tent?
Setup uses the same automatic hydraulic pop up mechanism found on similar hexagonal tents: you pop open the folded base frame flat on the ground, lift the whole structure upward as the poles extend, and press down on the center hub until it locks into place. No separate poles to thread and no tools needed, and the whole process realistically takes under a minute once you know the motion.
Folding it back down takes a little more care, since you need to squeeze the center hub to unlock it, press the frame flat, and fold the poles toward the center before it fits back into its carry bag. If you have used a similar mechanism on the pop up playhouse tent, the motion will feel familiar, though this Zooawa tent is noticeably larger to wrangle back into its bag. My general guide to folding a pop up play tent covers this twist-and-collapse method step by step if you want a visual walkthrough before your first attempt.
Does the LED Light Strip and Storage Pocket Actually Add Value?
Yes, both are genuinely useful rather than throwaway marketing extras. The included LED star light strip runs off a battery pack and adds a soft glow that makes the tent usable after dark for reading or quiet play, and the built-in storage pocket gives kids somewhere to stash a book or a couple of small toys instead of leaving them scattered on the floor. The multi-purpose top hook is a smaller detail, but it is the kind of thoughtful touch that lets you clip on your own light or a small fan if the included LED strip is not bright enough for your space.
For a similar accessory comparison, the large play tent also ships with its own included lighting, which is worth a look if string lights are a priority for you regardless of overall tent shape.
Can This Extra Large Play Tent Handle Both Indoor and Outdoor Use?
Yes, and this is one of the more genuinely dual purpose tents I have tested. I have seen it set up as a living room holiday centerpiece with festive decor draped over the frame, and just as easily pitched on a backyard lawn at dusk for a group of kids to play in before dinner. As with every fabric tent I cover in this hub, I would not leave it outside unattended or through actual rain, but for supervised outdoor sessions it holds up well.
If your household is choosing between a neutral, oversized shelter like this one and a more themed indoor role play option, it is worth comparing this against the old post office playhouse or the farm play tent, both of which lean harder into pretend play themes rather than raw capacity.
How Does This Extra Large Play Tent Compare to Other Kids Play Tents?
It comes down to how many kids you are furnishing for, since this Zooawa tent is built around capacity in a way that most of the other spokes in this kids play tent hub are not. If a smaller, cozier space with more decorative styling appeals to you more than raw size, the pink play tent and the princess castle tent are worth comparing, and the tunnel tent play set is a different structure entirely if a ball pit and crawl tunnel matter more to your kids than open floor space.
The most useful direct comparison is against the two other tents in this hub that share the most overlap with this one, either in setup mechanism or in included lighting.
| Tent | Setup Mechanism | Capacity | Included Lighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zooawa Extra Large Play Tent | Automatic hydraulic pop up | 3 to 4 kids, 80.71 in wide | Yes, LED star light strip |
| Diorssen Pop Up Playhouse | Automatic hydraulic pop up | 1 to 2 kids, 47 in x 47 in | No |
| BSHAPPLUS Large Play Tent | Manual pole frame, letter coded poles | 2 kids, 51 in x 35 in | Yes, 6m LED string light |
The takeaway: if you specifically want the fastest setup mechanism and the most floor space, this Zooawa extra large play tent wins outright. If a hydraulic pop up matters to you but the Zooawa’s footprint is more than you need, the pop up playhouse tent is the same mechanism at a much smaller size.
Who Should Buy This Tent, and Who Should Skip It?
Buy this extra large play tent if you have more than one child, regularly host playdates, or simply want a play space big enough that nobody is fighting over floor room. The included LED lighting and storage pocket push the value further than a plain oversized fabric shell would.
Skip it if you are working with a small bedroom or apartment, since an 80 inch wide hexagon genuinely needs a dedicated space to make sense. It is also not the right pick if you want a themed pretend play experience, since this tent leans neutral and functional rather than decorative.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Zooawa Extra Large Play Tent
How many kids can fit inside this extra large play tent at once?
Comfortably three to four kids can sit and play together given the 80.71 inch hexagonal footprint, with room left over for a small pile of toys or cushions. This makes it one of the better choices in this hub specifically for households with multiple children or for families who regularly host group playdates, rather than a single-child reading nook.
Does the LED light strip need batteries, and are they included?
The LED star light strip runs on a battery pack rather than a rechargeable USB connection, and based on the box contents I reviewed, batteries are not included. I would treat this the same way you would a remote control or a battery powered toy: pick up a set of the correct batteries at checkout so the lights are ready to use the moment the tent is assembled.
How long does this extra large play tent take to set up and fold down?
Setup takes under a minute thanks to the automatic hydraulic pop up mechanism, which extends the frame as soon as you lift the folded base and press down to lock the center hub. Folding it back down takes a bit more patience since you need to unlock the hub, flatten the frame evenly, and fold the poles toward the center before it fits back into the included carry bag, especially given how large this tent is compared to smaller pop up styles.
Is this tent sturdy enough to leave set up for several days?
Yes, the hydraulic pop up frame is designed to stay locked in position once assembled, so leaving it set up in a playroom corner or a spare bedroom for extended stretches is well within what it is built for. I would still recommend folding it down if you need the floor space back temporarily or if you are moving it outdoors, since repeated indoor to outdoor transitions will wear on the fabric faster than leaving it in one spot.
Can this tent be used outdoors on grass or a patio?
Yes, this extra large play tent is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, and manufacturer lifestyle photos show it successfully set up on grass in a backyard setting. Just treat outdoor use as fair weather only. Bring it inside if rain is expected, and avoid leaving it out overnight, since prolonged exposure to dew and direct sun will shorten the life of the printed fabric faster than supervised daytime play sessions will.
Should You Buy This Extra Large Play Tent?
If floor space and capacity are your top priorities, this extra large play tent is the strongest pick in the entire kids play tent guide for that specific job. The included LED lighting and storage pocket add real value on top of the size, and the hydraulic pop up frame makes a structure this large surprisingly easy to set up solo. If you need something more compact or more thematically driven, the rest of the hub covers eight other tested options worth comparing before you buy.
Ready to give your kids the biggest play space in the house?
