Investing in one of the best camping tables can make all the difference to your camping trip. While it might seem like a bulky extra you could manage without, don't underestimate the usefulness of having a flat surface to put stuff on when you're pitched up, whether for cooking, eating or socialising. As with the best camping chairs, once you've got used to a good camping table there's no way back.
The best camping tables are lightweight and fold flat and as slim as possible, but remain robust enough to not collapse under the weight of a large dinner. An easy-clean surface is ideal, as well as being relatively weatherproof, and it's worth considering the height of your chairs and general use you'll need from it before parting with your hard earned cash. Some camping tables are slightly higher than others, designed to be a dedicated cooking area, where you can sit a camping stove and prepare food, while others are more coffee-table height and intended as mainly a relaxation aid, where you can balance your camping lantern and play cards.
We have been busy testing out the best best camping tables available today. Read on for our top picks for a range of party sizes and budgets.
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The best camping tables 2023, reviewed
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Our top pick for the best camping table to buy now is Decathlon’s Quechua Folding Camping Table. A great all-rounder, it's compact and unassuming when packed up, but open it up and it transforms into a large table, comfortably seating six. There are even four foldable camping stools packed in. The sturdy aluminium frame and steel legs will take up to 50kg of weight, and the height is adjustable, too. While the included stools aren't the most robust, they will take the weight of an adult, and are a handy extra. Head to our Decathlon Quechua Folding Camping Table review to find out more.
Super packable, relatively lightweight and very easy to transport, the impressive Helinox Table One Hard Top pops up in seconds to create a rigid side table that you can easily take wherever you need it. Quality, lightweight components and clever design combine into a winning formula that'll add a touch of luxury to the bleakest campsite. The Table One Hard Top is a member of the Helinox brand’s ‘Table One’ low table range, which starts with a soft, mesh version, then moves up to this, the Hard Top, which is available in two sizes, regular and large. The Helinox Table One Hard Top does a lot of things very well indeed, especially if you rate packability, weight and quality. The DAC poles are - as always - a pleasure to handle, and the Green anodising is a feel-good nod to environmental concerns. This is also a table that will last you well. Although it’s deliberately not a full-height table, it is surprisingly useful around camp. Read our full review of the Helinox Table One Hard Top.
If you only need to seat four people, take a look at this classic Coleman Square Camp Table. While the looks might be basic, it's higher quality and sturdier than many of its competitors. Nice and lightweight, the legs fold in when it comes time to pack up, and there's a carry handle to help you get it from place to place. The fact it doesn't fold in the middle mean this is still a bit bulky when collapsed, though. The 80x80cm surface provides plenty of place for four people to eat, and comes with an antimicrobial treatment designed to prevent mould from forming. Head to our Coleman Square Camp table review to find out more.
If you're prioritising compactness when packed, you often have to sacrifice table height, leaving you with something low to the ground. While low tables still have their uses – don't underestimate the value of having somewhere to put things that's not the cold, wet ground – they aren't hugely comfortable to eat from, or play cards on, for example. Enter: the Helinox Cafe table, which stands at 68cm from the ground, but packs down impressively flat. This is thanks to the tabletop being made from solid high-pressure laminate, which offers impressive strength despite being very thin. For storage, you just need to make room for this relatively flat surface, and the frame, which collapses down in a similar way to a lightweight camping chair. Paired with similarly light-but-strong aluminium alloy legs, the overall weight of the packed table is just 3.85kg. This camping table will support up to 50kg of weight, is wipe-clean and heat resistant to 180°C. It's a relatively pricey option, but it should last.
Sometimes, you don't need a full dining table. Sometimes, you just want something east to carry to keep your snacks off the floor when you hit the beach. And the best camping table for that is the Quechua Low Folding Camping Table MH100. This ingenious design folds cleverly into one compact, easily transportable package, with the tabletop wrapping around so you don't even need a separate carry bag. This is a strictly no-frills affair, but it does what it does very well, and all for an extremely low price, too.
The beauty of the Outwell Pemberton Picnic Set is that it comprises both a table and two benches, which are plenty sturdy enough for two people to sit on. It's easy to put up and down, and the benches attach to the table when dismantling, meaning you can haul both together in one compact, handled case (although the single handle is a little awkward if carrying over longer distances). It's well sized for four people, and promises longevity, too, with a steel frame and waterproof plastic surface built to survive many a tent-based adventure. The benches can be a little unstable on uneven ground, but it's a minor niggle.
The Vango Orchard 86 is a straightforward design that has everything you need from camping furniture. The set includes a square table, with steel frame, along with four seats that are moulded for comfort. Everything is waterproof, as you'd expect, and the table will support up for 80kg of weight. For carrying it can be folded in half – although we haven't been able to test this one out yet and there are no pictures that show how the chairs fit into the situation. It comes well reviewed on Amazon.
The Snow Peak Ozen Solo is a study in ultralight table goals. Weighing in at a zen-like 270g, yet expanding to create an 11 inch by 8 inch surface area, the Ozen is surely the most packable and portable table in existence. Admittedly, this is more of a tray on legs than a proper table, but it's also light and small enough to take anywhere you fancy a properly civilised cup of tea, whether that be the top of a mountain peak, or wild camping on the moors. In a typically ingenious Snow Peak manner, the wire legs conspire with the edge of the table to lock a gas canister into place, creating the perfect ultralight kitchen prep area for the safety conscious. Overall, this may be tiny, but it is mighty handy.
If you’re looking for a trusty camping table that will last for many camping trips to come, you can’t really go wrong with this one from Regatta. While it doesn’t come with any chairs, it features adjustable legs so you can ensure the table is at the right height for your existing camping furniture. It also folds into itself for easy transportation from the car to your pitch.
The ideal table for families of four or a group of friends, this sturdy picnic table and benches folds down into one compact carry case for easy transportation. If you’re looking for that extra touch of comfort, the benches feature removable padded seat covers, which are machine washable – great after coming back from a particularly muddy trip.
