There are a number of items you consider when purchasing a custom pop-up tent, from footprint size to printing options, but one overlooked detail is head clearance.
Head clearance (also referred to as valance clearance) of a pop-up tent is the distance between the bottom of the valance to the ground. In other words, if you walk under the tent, the head clearance is how much space you have above you before bumping into the fabric valance. It’s the true walk-under height of hte tent, not to be confused with the peak height.
Our heavy-duty 10x10 MONARCHTENT comes standard with a head clearance of 6 feet 8 inches. Other companies start their head clearance slightly lower or higher, but 6’8” is close to the industry standard.
TentCraft takes custom pop-up tents seriously, though, and understands that one size doesn’t fit all. That’s why we manufacture our pop-up tents with a head clearance that best fits your business’ use-case. For instance, last year, we manufactured dozens of custom pop-up tents for State Farm’s “Bobblehead U” tour with an 8’2” head clearance.
In this post, we’ll break down what head clearance actually is, and how getting it right can save you from any setup mistakes or limitations at your event.
Head Clearance vs Peak Height: What’s the Difference?
Head clearance refers to the distance from the ground to the bottom of the tent’s valance. This is the REAL space you can comfortably walk under.
Peak height measures from the ground to the very top point of the tent’s canopy. Peak height is used to explain how tall and visible your tent actually is at an event. MONARCHTENT proudly boasts the tallest peak height in the industry at 11’10”, and actually increases to more than 17 feet with a peak flag installed (see graphic above).
It’s important to understand this difference when shopping for a custom pop-up tent because you don’t want to be in a position where a key person or a piece of equipment doesn’t fit under your tent.
“Often, people are putting displays or other items under the tent, and they need to make sure they’re going to fit,” said Nicole Falkiewicz, a sales representative with TentCraft.
What is the Standard Head Clearance for Pop-Up Tents?
The standard head clearance for most commercial pop-up tents falls between 6’4” and 6’11”.
At TentCraft, we start our heavy-duty MONARCHTENT and medium-duty mightyTENT models at a 6’8” head clearance. We’ve found that height strikes the best balance for most customers. It’s tall enough for comfortable movement and basic signage, while still optimizing for structural integrity and wind resistance.
Quick note: Many online listings tout tent heights of 10 feet or more, but that number usually refers to peak height — not usable head clearance. It’s an easy mistake to make, and one we help customers avoid all the time.
We feel that 6’8” covers the majority of event and activation needs, whether you’re using your tent for a festival booth, product demo, or hospitality lounge. But for clients with special requirements, like displaying tall branded signage, fitting existing structures, or even accommodating taller staff, a standard height may not cut it.
That’s why TentCraft offers the flexibility to increase head clearance depending on your setup. Our pop-up drone enclosures, for instance, need to be taller to better accommodate flying drones inside of the tent. Head clearance on those tents start at 9 feet 6 inches.
Whether you’re working with tight site restrictions or need extra clearance for a bold brand moment, we can work with you to find the right height.
Can You Customize Head Clearance on a Pop-Up Tent?
You can absolutely customize the head clearance of a pop-up tent, but you need to do your research when shopping for your tent.
Most online tent sellers that import their frames from overseas only offer a fixed head clearance option — what you see is what you get.
At TentCraft, your tent doesn’t exist today because we follow a build-to-order business model. That allows us to customize nearly all details of your tent, including the head clearance.
Now, our engineering and design teams can get creative when it comes to creating the perfect head clearance, but understand that complex design work adds to the overall cost and turnaround time of your project.
To that end, we do offer three additional “standard” head clearances, including 7 foot 1 inch; 8 foot 2 inches; and 10 feet. Our maximum head clearance tops out at 12 feet for a MONARCHTENT in a handful of footprint sizes.
Ryan Gemmell, a design engineer with TentCraft, said the custom head clearances can apply to all pop-up tents with four legs. It becomes trickier when you start adding height to larger footprint tents with six legs, like a 13x26.
“At that point, you’re hoisting a giant rectangle into the air that can become a parachute if not properly ballasted,” he said.
Still, if there’s a project that requires a tall head clearance on a large footprint, it’s worth a conversation with TentCraft to see if it’s feasible and safe.
So, yes, you can customize the head clearance of a pop-up tent. But it depends heavily on who you’re buying from.
Most tent companies — especially those importing pre-built frames from overseas — only offer fixed head clearance options. In those cases, what you see is what you get, and customization isn’t part of the equation.
At TentCraft, we operate with a build-to-order model, which means your tent doesn’t exist until we build it specifically for your needs. That gives us the flexibility to customize nearly every part of your setup — including head clearance.
So, how high can we go?
We offer three common head clearances:
- 7 feet 1 inch
- 8 feet 2 inches
- 10 feet
And for special builds, our engineering team can go as high as 12 feet of head clearance on select MONARCHTENT models in certain footprint sizes.
Example: We built dozens of pop-up tents for State Farm’s “Bobblehead U” tour at an 8’2” head clearance to fit oversized inflatable props and branded displays.
But here’s what to keep in mind:
Custom height clearances require more than just longer legs. As Ryan Gemmell, a design engineer at TentCraft, explains:
“Custom clearances are doable on most four-leg tents, but things get tricky with larger tents — especially six-leg setups like a 13x26. At that point, you’re hoisting a giant rectangle into the air that can become a parachute if it’s not properly ballasted.”
Translation: the taller the tent and the larger the footprint, the more important structural stability becomes. That can impact cost, lead time, and how you secure the tent on-site.
How to Choose the Right Head Clearance for Your Tent
Not sure what head clearance you actually need? Start by asking a few key questions:
- How tall are the people working or visiting under your tent?
- Will you be hanging banners, lighting, or monitors under the canopy?
- Do you have existing displays, racks, or structures that need to fit?
- Will your tent be used for product demos, food service, or auto display?
Every event is different, and our team helps customers align tent specs with real-world use cases every day.
Don’t Let Head Clearance Be an Afterthought
Head clearance is easy to overlook, until it’s not. Whether you’re setting up at a festival, track, or branded tour, making sure your tent has the right walk-in height can save you from (actual) headaches down the road.
And if you need something beyond “standard,” TentCraft has you covered.