Buying guide for best truck bed covers
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If you own a pickup truck, your truck bed is probably one of the main reasons you bought it. An uncovered truck bed however, is one of the most vulnerable parts of your truck, susceptible to the elements, damage and even theft. A tonneau cover solves all of your issues at once.
Beyond just securing your cargo from the elements, a good cover can actually improve fuel efficiency, cutting down on your truck's drag. It also keeps whatever you're hauling out of sight and secured from any nefarious behavior, so you have peace of mind wherever your truck is stored. Beyond all of that, it helps your truck bed stay clean, requiring less upkeep. So whether you're hauling tools to work or furniture across town in a rain storm, you can be sure you're covered, literally.
After combing through what makes each great, we came away impressed with the Tutel Hard-Shell Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover. It's easy to install and ensures your Ford F-150's cargo stays protected from the elements every time you need to haul.
Editors' picks
Tutel Hard Shell Folding Tonneau Cover
Style: Hard tri-fold | Material: Aluminum, polymer | Exterior Finish: Polymer | Lock Type: Tailgate
The Tutel Hard Shell Folding Tonneau Cover brings a refreshing no-fuss approach to truck bed protection. It’s built like a tank with EnduraShield polymer panels that resist dents, scratches and UV damage, and the low-profile design gives it a sleek, factory-fitted vibe.
Installation is a breeze, and the whole thing pops off in seconds when you need full access. We especially like how the matte black finish doesn’t roast your fingers on sunny days. Most folks say it holds up great in downpours, though a couple of users noticed slight leaks. If you're after a cover that looks sharp, feels sturdy and won’t quit when the weather turns ugly, this one punches above its weight.
Mostplus Roll-Up Soft Vinyl Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Great Value
Style: Roll-Up Soft | Material: Vinyl | Exterior Finish: Aluminum | Lock Type: Tailgate
The Mostplus Roll-Up Soft Vinyl Truck Bed Tonneau Cover is specially designed for your truck and helps keep everything you’ve got in the back secure. It’s compatible with the 2009 to 2025 Ford F-150 models featuring a 5.5-foot bed, ensuring an exact fit.
It features a reinforced vinyl tarp and lightweight aluminum framing, giving it superb strength. The roll-up design allows for quick and easy securement or unlocking, and the clamp-on installation means no drilling or modifications are necessary, making setup straightforward. Plus, it features an LED light for improved visibility when loading or unloading in low-light conditions.
This cover features a weather-stripping system along its corners and edges, helping to prevent moisture. It’s highly durable, easy to install and gives your truck bed a sleek appearance.
RealTruck BAKFlip MX4
Style: BAKFlip MX4 | Material: Aluminum | Exterior Finish: Painted | Lock Type: Tailgate
The RealTruck BAKFlip MX4 is a standout hard folding tonneau cover that blends style, security and practicality. Its matte-finished aluminum panels aren’t just for show; they hold strong, shrug off scratches and look great while doing it. We liked how the automatic latching and dual-action tailgate seal keep things secure without the usual fuss.
The cover folds up neatly, stays out of the way when needed, and doesn’t block your third brake light. It’s solid enough to support up to 400 pounds and installs without drilling, which is always a win.
Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
Style: Folding | Material: Vinyl, aluminum, stainless steel | Exterior Finish: Vinyl | Lock Type: Tailgate
The Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover brings a smart mix of strength, weather protection and fuss-free design. Made with marine-grade vinyl and backed by an aluminum frame, it holds up well in everything from blazing sun to snow flurries. It's simple to install right out of the box, and the fold-up design makes bed access a breeze when you’re in a rush.
It clamps down snug and stays put, even at highway speeds. A few owners noted they got through spring storms without a drop sneaking in. Add in a sleek look and potential fuel savings, and this cover proves it's more than just good looks.
Key considerations
Type
Truck bed covers generally fall into two main categories: soft or hard, based on the materials used. Within those categories, there are several styles that vary in how they open, how they look and how much access they allow to your truck bed. Here's a look at the most common options:
- Roll-up Covers: These covers use a soft, flexible material stretched across a frame that clamps onto your truck bed. To access your cargo, just roll the cover toward the cab. When you’re done, roll it back down and secure it with snaps or hook-and-loop strips. Many of these covers come with tension adjusters to keep the material tight, which helps with wind resistance and overall appearance.
- Folding Covers: These are available in both soft and hard varieties. They typically feature three or four connected panels that fold back in sections. Some versions sit above the bed rails, while others are designed to sit nearly flush with them, giving your truck a cleaner, more streamlined look. Folding designs are a favorite for their ease of use and solid coverage.
- Retractable Covers: Made from slats or panels that slide along rails, retractable covers offer smooth, adjustable access to your bed. They’re often built with materials like vinyl-coated aluminum, combining flexibility with durability. When fully open, they give you more usable space than folding designs, and many can be locked at different positions along the track.
- Hinged Covers: These covers lift from the rear like a trunk lid and are often supported by struts to hold them open. Hinged covers come in both soft and hard styles, and typically allow access to a portion of the bed, depending on the design. They’re great for quick access and keeping things out of sight.
- Solid Impact Covers: If you’re after maximum strength and protection, solid impact covers are the top-tier option. Usually built from fiberglass or high-impact plastic, these one-piece designs swing open to reveal the entire bed. Many can be color-matched to your truck for a polished, factory-style finish. They're ideal for anyone who wants a blend of security, durability, and style.
Truck bed cover features
Construction
Truck covers can be either hard or soft, and constructed from a wide range of materials, including canvas, vinyl, aluminum, and fiberglass. Whichever type of cover you buy, it should be durable, and the material itself should be water resistant.
Installation
Truck bed covers are considerably lighter than truck caps or shells, and as such are generally easier for one person to install. When shopping for a cover, verify that it also ships with all the hardware needed for installation. Most covers attach using some form of clamping system that secures the cover to the bed. Some may require a minimal amount of drilling, particularly if you have a truck bed liner. Installation time and specifics vary by brand and cover type, but most of them should install easily in less than an hour. Be sure to read the included manual carefully to know what’s involved, what tools you’ll need, and whether you’ll need help.
Fit
Most truck bed covers are available in a variety of sizes to fit a wide range of trucks. So long as you carefully measure your truck bed and match it with the correct size cover, you should receive a cover that fits. Some covers are constructed with specific makes, models, or years of truck in mind, so be aware of this when you’re comparing covers.
Security
Truck bed covers offer differing degrees of security, but they all have the benefit of covering what is in your truck and keeping it from prying eyes. If you want a bit more in the way of security, you’ll need to shop accordingly.
Simple snap covers like soft roll-ups offer the least amount of security. With these, you’re basically buying the simple out-of-sight security already mentioned. The next step up would be something like a soft folding cover, although you’d probably need a locking tailgate to realize adequate protection here.
Hard covers like hard folding or retractable covers that lock offer an even more secure solution, particularly if coupled with a locking tailgate. The securest covers are one-piece solid-impact covers, which can extend over the end of the tailgate to keep the whole bed as secure as the cab.
Truck bed cover prices
While not as expensive as a truck cap or shell (which can run $2,000 or more), a truck bed cover can still set you back a bit. Soft covers tend to be less expensive than hard covers. You can find a simple cover for under $100.
Pay more and you will find better quality and more advanced features like increased security. Most high-quality covers run into the hundreds of dollars. Several of the ones we recommend are priced in the $800 to $900 range.
Tips
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Lubricate the rails of a roll-up cover periodically. This helps make sure that the cover can roll open and closed easily.
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Check all clamps or other hardware for fastening the cover to your truck. Do this periodically to verify that they’re secure.
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Check the owner’s manual before placing any weight on the cover. Most tonneau covers aren’t constructed to be weight bearing.
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Apply a UV protectant to a vinyl cover. Do this occasionally to protect the cover from sun damage.
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Consider a truck bed cover with a built-in rack system. You can use it to carry items like kayaks or ladders.
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Choose hook-and-loop fasteners for a soft cover if you live in a cold climate. Cold soft covers have little give, and trying to stretch it taut and secure snaps can be difficult in the winter.
- Consider a special toolbox tonneau cover if you have a toolbox in your truck bed. These are shorter than traditional covers to accommodate a toolbox while giving you the full security and protection of a traditional cover.
Other products we considered
Given the wide variety of truck bed covers available, we weren’t able to include all of our favorites in the matrix. Several more that we like include the Tyger Auto T3 Tri-Fold Truck Bed Cover. This best-selling option is rugged, easy to install, and offers a lifetime warranty. The Extang Trifecta Toolbox 2.0 Soft Truck Bed Cover is a great soft option if you already have an existing 18- to 20-inch tool box in your truck. And the UnderCover Flex Hard Folding Truck Bed Cover is a hard cover option that stands out for its sleek appearance and ultra-low profile.
FAQ
Q. Will my truck be more fuel efficient with a bed cover?
A. That depends largely on who you ask. Some studies (usually touted by those selling covers) suggest that it will. Others say that a cover will actually make your truck less fuel efficient. Our take on it is that yes, it will help to cut down on drag, but not in any significant way. Any change in fuel efficiency will be negligible.
Q. Is one type of cover more waterproof than others?
A. Based on the materials they’re made of, all truck bed covers are waterproof to some extent. It’s the areas around the edge of the cover – where it attaches to the bed – where waterproofing starts to fail. The design of retractable covers provides them with the best waterproofing capabilities, while snap-based roll-up covers are the least waterproof.
Q. Will I have problems installing a truck bed cover over my bed liner?
A. The majority of covers clamp on, so it really depends on what kind of bed liner you have. Under-the-rail liners generally don’t interfere with where the cover clamps go, so you shouldn’t have a problem with these (one exception may be retractable covers in the bulkhead area).
Over-the-rail liners may present you with some installation challenges, however. Because these may cover over some clamping areas, you might need to do some drilling or cutting to securely attach the cover to the bed with this type of liner.
