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How To Measure a Truck Bed [With Size Chart]

Andrew Cilio
By: 

Andrew Cilio

 / Feb 6 2023
How To Measure a Truck Bed [With Size Chart]

It sounds easy enough, but do you really know how to measure a truck bed the right way? Whether it's for buying a bed cover, liner, camper shell, toolbox, or for any other reason, getting the dimensions of your bed even just slightly wrong could result in wasted time and money. 

To save you that hassle and help you get it right the first time, we've outlined the proper measuring technique. We even included a handy sizing chart at the bottom of the post so you can get a quick estimate.

Ready to get started? You'll just need to gather these things:

  • Tape measure
  • Pencil and notepaper or note app on your phone
  • Calculator or phone app
Table of Contents
  1. Step 1: Measure the Length
  2. Step 2: Measure the Width
  3. Step 3: Calculate Feet, Square Footage, and Cubic Footage
  4. Step 4: Use the Measurement to Shop for Covers, Toppers, or Liners
  5. How To Measure a Truck Bed for a Bed Liner
  6. How To Measure a Truck Bed for a Cover
  7. How To Measure a Truck Bed for a Topper or Camper Shell
  8. How To Measure a Truck Bed for a Toolbox
  9. Truck Bed Size Chart
  10. Shopping by Truck Model
  11. How To Measure Your Truck Bed: In Summary
  12. FAQs

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Step 1: Measure the Length

Graphic of truck bed showing how to measure the length of a bed with a tape measure running from bulkhead to tailgate

Grab your tape measure and start measuring. Begin at the inside edge of the bulkhead (the wall of the bed separating it from the cab of the truck) and pull back toward the tailgate. It should help to use the bed rail as a guide to keep the tape measure straight. Stop at the interior edge of the tailgate.

Jot the measurement on your notepaper or type it into a note on your phone.

Step 2: Measure the Width

Graphic of pickup truck bed showing how to measure the width of the bed with a tape measure running from side to side along the tailgate

Starting at the interior edge where the tailgate meets the sidewall, run your tape measure along the tailgate and stop at the opposite sidewall's interior edge. If your bed has pronounced wheel wells, it can help to measure the distance between them as well in case you're looking to add an accessory that needs to lie flat across the bed.

Record the measurement on paper or on your phone.

Step 3: Calculate Feet, Square Footage, and Cubic Footage

If you've recorded your measurements in inches, then divide each by 12 to get the number of feet. This is usually how products like bed liners and tonneau covers are measured.

Square Feet

If you need to calculate square footage, just multiply the length (in inches) by the width, and then divide by 144.

Cubic Feet or Cubic Yards

To calculate the cubic feet, you'll also need to measure the depth/height (the distance from the surface of the bed to the top of the sidewalls/bulkhead/tailgate). Here's how:

  • Step 1: Measure the depth of the bed. 
  • Step 2: If you measure it in inches, divide by 12 to convert to feet to match your square footage number.
  • Step 3: Multiply the depth by the square footage calculated earlier. This is your bed's cubic footage.
  • Step 4: If you need to convert cubic footage to yardage, divide it by 27.

Step 4: Use the Measurement to Shop for Covers, Toppers, or Liners

There's a pretty good chance that the product listings for the cover, topper, or liner you're looking at don't perfectly match up with your measurements. If that's the case—no big deal. Just round up to the product that's closest in size. Anything within 1-3 inches of your measurement should fit just fine, but don't be surprised if you need to allow for up to 6 inches of difference.

How To Measure a Truck Bed for a Bed Liner

These days, most bed liners can be custom fit or preset according to your truck's model and year, but you could still find yourself DIY-ing it. Here's how to handle measurements for a liner yourself. It's a little complicated, so buckle up.

  • Step 1: It should help to lower your tailgate first. Then, make sure you've got your phone or a pen, paper, and calculator handy.
  • Step 2: Measure the length of your bed (in inches), starting at the bulkhead and running along the sidewall to the tailgate, accounting for the thickness of any liner on the tailgate. Write the number down or plug it right into your phone.
  • Step 3: Measure the width of your bed at its widest point (i.e., right before the tailgate), and then make a note of the number. It wouldn't hurt to measure the distance between the wheel wells as well, but that may not be necessary.
  • Step 4: Measure the depth of the truck. The easiest and most reliable place to do this is the bulkhead. Measure from the surface of the bed up along the bulkhead to the rail, then record the number.
  • Step 5: Now, multiply the length by the width (in inches) and note that number. This is the area of the bed.
  • Step 6: Next, add the length to the width and multiply that by 2. Then, multiply it by the depth. If you're planning to wrap the liner over the top rails, add 2 inches to the depth to account for the rails first.
  • Step 7: Take the number from the step above and add it to the area (step 5).
  • Step 8: To convert the measurement above from inches to feet, divide it by 144. This is the square footage of your bed.

How To Measure a Truck Bed for a Cover

Tonneau covers can be incredibly useful—and may even save on gas. Sizing for them tends to be pretty standardized, so it's likely you'll just need to get your bed length in feet.

  • Step 1: Measure your bed from the inside of the bulkhead to the inside of the tailgate, using the side rails as a guide to stay straight.
  • Step 2: If your tailgate has a liner of its own, measure past this if possible to account for its thickness.
  • Step 3: If needed, measure the width from the inside edge of one sidewall to the other, using the tailgate as a guide to keep it straight.
  • Step 4: If you measured the bed in inches, divide your number by 12 to convert to feet.

How To Measure a Truck Bed for a Topper or Camper Shell

For many toppers and camper shells, your truck bed length or even just your truck's model and year should be enough, but in some cases you may need extra measurements.

  • Step 1: Measure the length of your bed from the inside of the bulkhead to the inside of the tailgate.
  • Step 2: Instead of measuring along the inside of the bed between sidewalls, measure the width from the top of the rail on one side to the top of the rail on the other.
  • Step 3: If measuring in inches, divide the numbers by 12 to get the measurement in feet.

How To Measure a Truck Bed for a Toolbox

Since toolboxes have two widths—the box itself and the top surface that fits over the rails—measuring your bed for a toolbox is a little different than measuring it for a topper or liner. Plus, the overall length of your bed doesn't matter, but the distance between its bulkhead and wheel wells might, as does the depth of your bed. 

  • Step 1: Measure the distance between the interior edges of the rails of the bed. Run the tape measure along the bulkhead to keep it straight.
  • Step 2: Measure the distance between the outer edges of the rails of the bed.
  • Step 3: Measure the depth of the bed by pulling your tape measure up from the surface of the bed to the top of the bulkhead.
  • Step 4 (Optional): If your bed has protruding wheel wells, measure the distance between the bulkhead and the start of the wheel well.
  • Step 5: Keep all these figures labeled in your notes so that when you're shopping for toolboxes, you can be sure they'll not only fit between the rails, but also rest on top of the rails and not hit the bottom or run into the wheel wells.

Truck Bed Size Chart

Need a quick reference for your truck bed length? You can use our pickup truck bed dimensions chart to get the advertised length of just about any model based on trim level. 

Keep in mind that advertised lengths can vary from actual lengths, so if you need exact dimensions, see our full guide above to find them for yourself.

Truck Model

Trim Level

Bed Length

Ford F-150

5.5-ft. Styleside

67.1"
 

6.5-ft. Styleside

78.9"
 

8-ft. Styleside

98.1"

Ford F-250 & F-350

6 ¾-ft. Styleside

81.9"
 

8-ft. Styleside

98.1"

Ford Ranger

5-ft. Styleside

61"
 

6-ft. Styleside

72.8"

Chevy Silverado

Short Bed

69.9"
 

Standard Bed

79.4"
 

Long Bed

98.2"

Chevy Colorado

Crew Cab

61.7"

Dodge Ram 1500

5-ft. 7-in. bed

67.4"
 

6-ft. 4-in. bed

76.3"

Ram 2500 & 3500

6-ft. 4-in. bed

76.3"
 

8-foot bed

98.3"

GMC Sierra 1500

Crew Cab

69.9" or 79.4"
 

Double Cab

79.4"
 

Regular Cab

98.2"

GMC Sierra 2500 & 3500

Crew Cab

82.2" or 98.3"
 

Double Cab

82.2" or 98.3"
 

Regular Cab

82.2" or 98.3"

GMC Canyon

Short Box

61.7"

Toyota Tundra

CrewMax

65.6" or 77.6"
 

Double Cab

77.6" or 96.5"

Toyota Tacoma

Double Cab

60.5" or 73.7"
 

Access Cab

73.7"

Nissan Frontier

Crew Cab

58.9", 59.5", or 73.3"
 

King Cab

73.3"

Nissan Titan

Crew Cab

67"
 

King Cab

78.7"

*Note: These are advertised bed lengths for 2022-2023 models.

Shopping by Truck Model

All this measuring seem a little too complicated? The good news is that most products are designed to fit truck beds according to the truck's make, model, and year. That means you might not need to measure anything at all—just head to the product you're after and plug in your truck. It's the best way to ensure you're getting the product that's perfectly designed for your specific truck—no measuring tape required.

How To Measure Your Truck Bed: In Summary

Graphic summary showing how to measure a truck bed

Every pickup owner should know how to measure a truck bed properly. Whether you're calculating the dimensions of your bed for a product, load potential, or just plain curiosity, the process is pretty straightforward. The key is to keep your tape measure straight and get your calculations correct if you need to compute the total area or volume. 


And if all else fails, you can always look up your specific truck for your bed accessories of choice.

FAQs

How Long Is a Truck Bed?

Pickup truck beds can range from 60" for compact beds up to 98" for long bed options. In general, they range from about 6 to 8 feet.

How Do I Know What Size My Truck Bed Is?

To find the advertised length of your truck bed, you can check your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website. To measure it yourself, extend a tape measure from the bulkhead to the interior edge of the tailgate to find the length. 

How Can I Tell the Length of My Truck Bed by Its VIN?

To get exact measurements of your truck using its VIN, find the number (usually on a sticker in the driver door frame or corner of the windshield) and call your local dealership. They should be able to input the VIN and find specifications from the manufacturer.

What Is the Standard Size of a Truck Bed?

Most standard size pickup beds are around 72"-78". What's defined as a standard bed can vary by manufacturer and model, however, so a standard size bed for one model could be the same as a long bed for another. In general, beds run from about 60" to 98".

Word on the Trail

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