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Whether our truck owners enjoy exciting off-road adventures, go out on camping trips, or have jobs that require them to frequently transport items or keep tools and gear in their truck bed, a truck tonneau cover is essential. When you are ready to purchase a truck tonneau cover, the first step is to accurately measure your truck bed, an important step that cannot be skipped. This guide will walk you through the steps to properly measure your truck bed, and ensure that your measurements are accurate. Fortunately, measuring the bed of your pickup truck is quick and easy, allowing you to ultimately choose the perfect truck tonneau cover for your needs.

Why you need to accurately measure your truck bed length?

Before we get into the measuring steps, let’s understand why you need to accurately measure the length of your truck bed and what exactly it means. Truck beds come in a variety of sizes, and when you’re shopping for a truck bed cover, even small differences can have a big impact, such as leaks and other issues. Truck beds are designed to fit your truck snugly, and incorrect measurements can result in an ill-fitting cover, which can cause it to fail and reduce its aesthetics.

Truck beds are not a one-size-fits-all part. Depending on the make and model of your truck, bed lengths can vary greatly. For example, a Ford F-150 may come with a short bed, a standard bed, or a long bed, each with different dimensions. Typical truck bed length measurements in North America range from about 5.5 feet for a compact bed to over 8 feet for an extended bed. Even small differences in bed length can cause your truck bed cover to not fit properly, leading to issues such as a loose cover, gaps, or even complete incompatibility.

Properly measuring your truck bed length allows you to get the best fit while reducing the risk of needing to return the product.

How to measure your truck bed length?

Tools You’ll Need to Measure Your Truck Bed

Before you begin measuring, prepare the following tools to ensure accurate and reliable results:

• Tape measure: A standard tape measure (preferably 25 feet or longer) is essential for accurate measurements.
• Notepad or digital device: To record your measurements

Measuring the length of the truck bed

The length of a truck bed is usually measured from the inside of the tailgate to the rear of the cab, not including the tailgate itself. Here's how:

• Step 1: Lower the tailgate to accurately measure the bed itself. If the tailgate is raised, you may get an incorrect measurement.
• Step 2: Place one end of the tape measure against the inside edge of the tailgate. Make sure the tape is aligned properly along the edge.
• Step 3: Extend the tape measure toward the rear of the cab, stopping where the truck bed begins to curve upward near the cab.
• Step 4: Record the measurement. Most truck beds are between 5 and 8 feet long.

Bed lengths by make and model