Talk to a Sales Tech
1-888-706-1096
M-F 8:30A-11P, Sat-Sun 8:30A-9P

What are the Best Truck Bed Tonneau Covers

American Trucks Staff
By: 

American Trucks Staff

 / Sep 17 2024
What are the Best Truck Bed Tonneau Covers

Trucks are the perfect intersection between style and practicality. A pickup truck is, at its heart, a work vehicle, but they can be fun to drive, fun to look at, and fun to customize, too. Most truck owners find themselves modifying their pickups, either for style or substance … or often both! One common addition is a tonneau cover, which can be a great modification whether you use your truck for construction or for hauling toys and luggage around on a family vacation.

What Are Tonneau Covers?

Tonneau covers are simply covers that go over your truck bed. Rather than leaving the truck bed open and exposed, a tonneau cover provides what is essentially a lid over the top.

What Are the Benefits of Tonneau Covers?

The most important benefit of truck bed covers is that they add tons of security for your cargo. A tonneau cover will keep items from flying out of your truck, and will shield whatever you’re hauling from wind, sun, and debris. Many tonneau covers are also water-resistant, adding an additional layer of rain and snow protection for whatever’s in your truck. Tonneau covers also keep your valuables out of sight and hard to access, which greatly reduces the chances of having anything stolen from your truck.

Proven Ground Aluminum Quad-Fold Hard Tonneau Cover (09-24 F-150 w/ 5-1/2-Foot Bed)

While security is most important, tonneau covers have lots of other benefits, too. They hold your cargo in place, so they help with organization. They increase the aerodynamics of your truck, improving performance and fuel efficiency. And they look pretty darn good, too!

How to Choose the Right Tonneau Cover

There are an endless amount of tonneau covers to choose from. When picking the right one for you and your truck, you’ll want to consider how much protection you want for your cargo, how much access you want to your truck bed when the tonneau cover is installed, and your budget. These factors will make it easy to find the right tonneau cover for you.

Proven Ground Low Profile Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover (15-24 F-150 w/ 5-1/2-Foot & 6-1/2-Foot Bed)

The Best Tonneau Truck Bed Covers

There are so many good tonneau covers on the market, but these are some of our favorites. If you buy one of these truck bed covers, you’re sure to be thrilled with what you get.

Best soft folding tonneau cover: Rough Country Soft Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover

Despite being one of the more affordable truck bed covers on the market, the Rough Country Soft Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover is fully weather-resistant, so it is sealed to keep water out of your truck bed. It’s durable and easy to fold up, and stores easily when you need to haul larger items.

Rough Country Soft Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover (19-24 Silverado 1500 w/ 5.80-Foot Short & 6.50-Foot Standard Box)

Best hard folding tonneau cover: BAK Industries BAKFlip G2 Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover

Unlike many hard folding truck bed covers, the BAKFlip G2 Tri-Fold allows you to drive your truck whether the tonneau cover is closed, flipped up, or folded, so you get a lot of versatility. It’s water-resistant, ultra-durable, and powder coated to fight off corrosion. It doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the best looking tonneau covers around, too!

BAK Industries BAKFlip G2 Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover (19-24 Silverado 1500)

Best roll-up tonneau cover: Truxedo Pro X15 Roll-Up Tonneau Cover

One of the best things about this easy-to-use Truxedo Pro X15 Tonneau Cover is that it adapts to what your truck needs. Thanks to a floating hooking lid and automatic tension control, the tonneau cover will expand or contract depending on the weather, ensuring a perfect fit at all times.

Truxedo Pro X15 Roll-Up Tonneau Cover (19-24 Silverado 1500 w/ 5.80-Foot Short Box & w/o CarbonPro Bed & MultiFlex Tailgate)

Best retractable tonneau cover: Rough Country Retractable Bed Cover

If you want only the best for your truck, then this Rough Country Retractable Tonneau Cover might be for you. It will perfectly protect your cargo and your truck bed, and is exceptionally durable. Yet despite providing maximum coverage, it retracts in just a few seconds, looks incredible, and is very easy to install and operate.

Rough Country Retractable Bed Cover (19-24 Silverado 1500 w/ 5.80-Foot Short Box)

Best hinged tonneau cover: UnderCover SE Hinged Tonneau Cover

This truck bed cover offers unparalleled protection from the elements. Even in the heaviest storm, you won’t have to worry about any water making its way into your truck bed. The UnderCover SE Hinged Tonneau Cover is also one of the best-looking truck bed covers on the market, but make no mistake: it’s all about security and protection.

UnderCover SE Hinged Tonneau Cover; Black Textured (19-24 Silverado 1500 w/ 5.80-Foot Short & 6.50-Foot Standard Box)

Best snap-on tonneau cover: Extang Blackmax Snap Tonneau Cover

The Extang Blackmax Snap truck bed cover offers a lot of protection, but the selling point is the ease at which you can use it. It’s super easy to install, and has a quick-release tail section, which makes it incredibly convenient when you need to access your truck bed. Plus, it offers all-weather protection!

Extang Blackmax Snap Tonneau Cover (19-24 Silverado 1500 w/ 5.80-Foot Short & 6.50-Foot Standard Box)

You can’t go wrong with any of these tonneau covers. And whether you’re looking for a truck bed cover or anything else for your pickup, you can find what you’re searching for at AmericanTrucks.

Best Tonneau Cover FAQs

How Do You Measure a Truck Bed for a Tonneau Cover?

To measure your truck bed for a tonneau cover, grab a measuring tape and pull back from the inside of the bulkhead to the interior edge of the tailgate. Then divide that number by 12 for your exact measurement. Keep in mind that most tonneau covers don't require an exact match, so choose the closest measurement within 1 to 3 inches. 

How Do You Install a Tonneau Cover?

Most tonneau covers clamp onto the truck bed, but exact installation steps will vary depending on what type of tonneau cover you have. Refer to the installation guide for your specific tonneau cover. 

Do Tonneau Covers Save Gas?

Tonneau covers could potentially save you an average of $53 per year in gas

What Is the Most Popular Tonneau Cover?

Our most popular tonneau cover is the Proven Ground Low Profile Hard Tri-Fold tonneau cover

What Is the Best Bed Cover for Winter?

If you live in a climate with harsh winter weather, we recommend opting for a hard tonneau cover for optimal protection. A few great hard cover options on our list include the BAK Industries Revolver X4S, the BAK Industries BAKFlip MX4, and the Proven Ground EZ Hard Fold.

Best Tonneau Cover Brands for Trucks

Based on our rankings, here are some of the best tonneau cover brands to consider: 

  • Truxedo
  • BAK Industries
  • Rough Country
  • Retrax 
  • Proven Ground
  • WeatherTech
  • RedRock 4x4
  • Armordillo
  • UnderCover

Once you decide on the right tonneau cover for your truck, be sure to clean and maintain it regularly to ensure it lasts for years to come. 

More Tonneau Cover Guides: