The easy victiry lifted the Tractor Boys' hopes of getting back into the play-off zone.
Bent's goalscoring enabled Ipswich to record their ninth successive win over Walsall, who are now facing a survival battle,Walsall, who last beat Ipswich in 1963, were never in contention despite Paul Merson making his first start since returning from a clinic in America.
Following three successive defeats Ipswich took a long time to find their form but were assisted in no small way by some indifferent Walsall defending which was exploited in devastating style by Bent.
Ipswich were indebted to newcomer Matt Elliott early in the game when the Scot was on hand to head out a Paul Ritchie header following a Merson corner.
The on-loan defender set the tone for the rest of the game as Walsall were unable to make any impact.
But the Tractor Boys were generally ineffective in the first half and their only real threat came form a Tommy Miller effort which goalkeeper Jimmy Walker flicked around the post.
Walker, watched for the second successive match by Manchester City's Stuart Pearce, was in good form but was rarely tested by a below par Ipswich attack.
But two minutes into the second half Ipswich sealed Walsall's fate when Walker could only parry a Jermaine Wright shot and Bent had the simple task of tapping home from close range.
Ipswich then had a let-off when Fabian Wilnis handled in the area and they immediately capitalised upon the situation when Bent raced on to a Dean Bowditch pass and as Walker came out slipped a low shot past the Walsall keeper.
Miller hit the post and had another effort saved by Walker as Ipswich attempted to put the game out of Walsall's reach.
Three minutes from time on-loan Keith Andrews scored direct from a free-kick, but two minutes later Bent completed his hat-trick when Walsall's defence was again all at sea.