How to Tie a Hammock to a Tree [Step By Step Guide]

A hammock can be an excellent addition to your garden or the perfect accessory to take with you camping as they are so portable and easy to travel with.

Packing a hammock to tie it anywhere to poles or trees is the perfect way to relax outdoors, especially throughout the warmer months in Spring leading up to Summer.

However, curious individuals that don’t yet know might be wondering: how do you tie a hammock to a tree, and how do you do it safely?

Tying a hammock up is easy enough once you have an easy knot at your disposal, as dozens upon dozens of knots exist that can be adapted or used for hammocks as they’re so versatile! 

In this article, we explore the different ways to tie a hammock to a tree.

Taking you through the steps you’ll need to take to tie the hammock safely right through to the variety of knots that you can use to tie your hammock, we’ve got you covered.

Check out our step-by-step guide below. 

Find sturdy trees

The first step of how to tie a hammock to a tree is simple: find two sturdy trees. When putting up a hammock in your garden, you’ll want to choose two sturdy trees ideally about 14 to 16-feet apart, although this might differ depending on the trees you have to choose from. 

Choosing sturdy trees is important to ensure your safety, as the sturdier the tree, the less likely it is that your hammock will fall down. 

When it comes to choosing a tree in the wilderness when you’re camping, you might find that you have more or less choice depending on the location, also.

Height 

Once you’ve chosen the right trees for the job, you’ll want to take into consideration the height that you want your hammock to be. This is particularly important if you have small children that will want to be in the hammock, as accidents can occur. 

You’ll want the hammock to be high enough that you’re not brushing the ground with your weight, but also low enough that it is easily accessible for the whole family!

That being said, it shouldn’t be so high that you struggle to get into it or so high that it would really hurt to fall out of it, as this is when accidents can happen.

You could even try measuring the height if you’re worried, but eyeballing it should be sufficient enough, especially if you’re camping.

Straps and/or rope

There are a variety of hammocks out there that will come with straps and/or rope to help you tie your hammock to a tree. Tie on the tree straps according to the instructions and attach the hammock's ends to the tree straps.

You can also wrap a sturdy rope twice around each tree at about 4 to 6-feet high on the tree trunks.

You can simply tuck the ends of the rope through the portable hammock's end loops, and secure the rope ends with a knot. There are multiple different ways to tie a hammock, and we go into some of our favorites below. 

Knots 

Although there aren’t really any set rules on which knot to use when tying a hammock, you’ll want to decide which knot you want to use when it comes to tying your hammock to a tree.

If you have plenty of knots in your memory, you might have a preference already on which knot to use. However, if you don’t, here are a few easy knots that you can use. 

Hammock Knot

This knot is one of the easiest ways to hang a hammock from a tree and is used with carabiners, rings, and tree straps/webbing.

• Pass the rope through the carabiner or ring from top to bottom.
• Flip the webbing over the top of the carabiner/ring from right to left.
• Make a loop with the tail end of the rope webbing from top to bottom of the carabiner/ring.
• Make sure to pull the knot tight.
• Relax and enjoy your new hammock!

Bowline Knot 

A bowline knot is used as an extension of carabiners, rings, or chain links of a hammock. Follow the instructions below to tie a bowline knot.

• Form a small loop at the center of the rope. Leave enough rope on the sides.
• Pass the tail of the rope through the loop.
• Pass the remaining tail through the inside loop.
• The rope tail must go inside the bottom loop.
• Pull through until the knot is secured. 
• Sit back and relax!

If you struggle with any of the knots we provide, there are multiple video tutorials out there that you can use in conjunction with our instructions.

Taught line Hitch

The taut-line hitch is a popular knot for hammock camping as it’s easy and convenient to take apart. Check out our instructions below to tie a taught line hitch knot.

• Bring the end of the rope around the back of the tree and make a turn around the tree trunk several feet from the free end.
• Coil the free end twice around the standing line working back toward the tree trunk.Make one additional coil around the standing line on the outside of the coils just made.
• Tighten the knot and slide it on the standing line to adjust the tension accordingly. 

Mooring Hitch

A mooring hitch is another option for tying your hammock to a tree. 

• Make a turn around a tree and then form a loop with the free end exiting the loop on the inside.
• Grasp the standing line and pull a section through your loop.
• Grasp a section of the free end and pull partway through the new loop.
• Tighten the knot by pulling down on the standing line. Release the knot by pulling the free end.

Whichever knot you choose to tie your hammock to a tree, we hope that these different methods and instructions will assist you. Once you’ve got the hang of a few knots, you’re bound to take your hammock camping and anywhere you go.

Sit back and enjoy your portable hammock wherever you are in the world!