# Tent

> A tent is a fabric grow enclosure with a reflective lining, zip doors and ports for ducting and cables, the standard home indoor grow space.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/tent.html
- Also written: grow tent, grow tents, tents, 4x4, 2x4, 5x5
- Glossary category: Grower slang and culture
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

A grow tent is a lightweight frame covered in light-proof fabric with a reflective inner lining, zip doors and sealable ports for ducting and power. Tents are sized by footprint, in feet (2x2, 2x4, 4x4, 5x5) or centimetres (60x60, 120x120).

## In practice

Size the light and fan to the footprint. A 4x4 ft (1.2x1.2 m) tent in flower typically runs about 600-1,000 [µmol/m²/s](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ppfd.md) at the canopy, and an [inline fan](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/exhaust-fan.md) exchanges the tent's air roughly once a minute through a [carbon filter](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/carbon-filter.md). Keep [negative pressure](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/negative-pressure.md) (fabric slightly sucked in) so smell exits through the filter, and check for [light leaks](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/light-leak.md) with the lights off inside the tent in a dark room, especially at zips and ports, because leaks during the dark period can stress [photoperiod plants](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/photoperiod.md) in flower.

## Don't confuse with

- **Grow room**: a room built or converted for growing; usually larger and harder to seal.
- **Grow cabinet**: a rigid box, often with built-in light and [fans](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fan-leaf.md).

## Related terms

[Airflow](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/airflow.md), [Light leak](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/light-leak.md), [PPFD](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ppfd.md), [VPD](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/vpd.md), [Exhaust fan](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/exhaust-fan.md)

## Read more

- [Airflow: air exchange, canopy air speed and fan placement](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/environment/airflow.md)
- [Photoperiod and light leaks: 18/6, 12/12 and the dark period](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/environment/photoperiod-light-leaks.md)
- [Your first grow: a plan from seed to jar](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/basics/first-grow-guide.md)