Mosquito Nets for Cots and Hammocks (2026)

A bed net is the one bug defense that keeps working after you fall asleep and your repellent wears off. Cot sleepers under a tarp, hammock campers and anyone bedding down on a screened porch or in a cabin need one of three shapes: a rectangular net that hangs from four points, a round net that hangs from one, or a hammock net that zips around the whole hammock.

How we chose: we did not test these nets; we compared the mesh count, size, hanging method and treatment each maker lists, and kept only listings sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store and in stock on September 29, 2026.

Six nets side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

All figures are from the Amazon listings.

Mosquito mesh is not midge mesh

The hole count decides what gets through. Sea to Summit, which publishes the most detail on this, says on its permethrin-treated head net page that no-see-ums "require a mesh with at least 1200 holes per square inch," and that its own 500-hole mesh "is not no-see-um proof."

By that measure, every bed and cot net here with a published count (170 to 240 holes) is a mosquito net only. On a still evening by a lake or a salt marsh, where biting midges come out, that is not enough.

Two ways around it: a net sold as no-see-um mesh, or a permethrin-treated net, which acts on insects that land on it. Our guide to mosquito head nets compares meshes that publish counts above 1,200.

Cots and camp beds: four corners or one hook

Rectangular nets such as the two Coghlan's hang from four corners, so they drape straight down and leave room to sit up. They need four tie points: the loops inside a large tent, a tarp's ridgeline and guy points, or rafters in a cabin. Coghlan's includes twine, screw hooks, anchors and nails.

Round nets such as Atwater Carey's hang from one point on a ring and hoop, then flare out over the bed. One hook is easier to find than four, but the net slopes in toward your face and feet, so size it generously.

Pop-up nets such as the Atwater Carey Sleep Screen stand up on their own spring frame. Nothing to hang from, but they sit on the ground, so they suit a pad or a sleeping bag rather than a raised cot.

Whichever you choose, tuck the hem under the mattress, pad or cot rail. A net that hangs loose at the bottom is a door.

Hammocks: a sleeve with a ridgeline

A hammock bug net is a long mesh tube. A ridgeline runs above the hammock between the same two trees, the net hangs from it, and a zipper lets you in. The Wise Owl net comes with a 30 ft ridgeline; Wecamture includes one too and says its net fits gathered-end and double hammocks.

The weak point is underneath, where only the hammock fabric lies between your back and the air. An underquilt or a pad inside the hammock adds a layer there. The same rule as a bed net applies: nothing should press against the mesh from inside.

Permethrin-treated nets

A treated net carries an insecticide in the fabric, so insects that land on it are repelled or killed rather than just blocked. The two Atwater Carey nets are treated with Insect Shield permethrin, per their listings; neither listing says how many washes the treatment lasts.

You can treat an untreated net yourself. The CDC's page on permethrin-treated clothing and gear says to follow the product label when treating items and never to use permethrin on skin. Our permethrin spray guide covers how much a spray bottle covers and the warning for cat owners.

When a net is worth the weight

The CDC's Yellow Book chapter on mosquitoes and ticks tells travelers to use an EPA-registered repellent and mosquito nets "in areas where vector-borne diseases are a risk or biting arthropods are noted." Sleeping in the open under a tarp or in a hammock anywhere mosquitoes are biting meets that description.

For a baby, a net is the whole plan: the CDC says no repellent under 2 months and to cover carriers and strollers with netting instead. Our guide to insect repellent for kids has the age rules for older children.

Which one we would buy

Buy the Coghlan's Rectangular net for a single cot under a tarp or in a cabin, and the Coghlan's Double for two.

Buy the Atwater Carey Double Circular if you have one hook and want permethrin built in.

Buy the Atwater Carey Sleep Screen for sleeping on the ground with nothing overhead.

Buy the Wise Owl net for most hammock camping, or the lighter Wecamture net if you carry everything on your back and camp where midges bite.

Related: area repellers for the campsite and DEET vs picaridin for the hours before bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a mosquito bite through a net?

Yes, if your skin is pressed against the mesh. Keep arms and feet away from the sides, and choose a net big enough that it hangs clear of you.

Do I need a net inside a tent?

Not if the tent has mesh doors and windows that close fully. A net matters under a tarp, in a hammock, on a cot in the open or in a cabin or shelter with gaps.

How do I hang a rectangular net under a tarp?

Tie the two top corners at the head end to the tarp's ridgeline and the two at the foot end to the same line or to trekking poles, then tuck the hem under the cot. Coghlan's includes four 78 in lengths of twine for this.

Can I wash a permethrin-treated net?

Check the label. The EPA's page on repellent-treated clothing says small amounts of permethrin come off in the wash and that labels tell you to wash treated items separately.