Choosing the Right Tonneau Cover
A tonneau cover protects what you haul from rain, snow and theft, and gives your truck a cleaner look. Most buyers pick from four styles:
- Hard folding covers: rigid panels that fold toward the cab, with strong security and quick full-bed access.
- Soft folding covers: vinyl over a folding frame, lightweight and easy to remove.
- Soft roll-up covers: roll toward the cab for full bed access, usually the most affordable option.
- Retractable covers: slide into a canister behind the cab and can be opened partway.
Protect the bed floor too with bed liners and bed mats, or fully enclose the bed with a truck cap.
Fitment tips
Tonneau covers are built for a specific bed length, so confirm yours (for example 5.5 ft, 6.5 ft or 8 ft) along with your cab style and model year. Some covers don't work with bed rail systems, toolboxes or bed caps. Select your vehicle at the top of the page to see covers that fit.
Tonneau Cover FAQ
Which type of tonneau cover is best?
It depends on how you use the bed. Soft roll-up covers cost the least and roll fully out of the way for tall loads. Hard folding covers add security and can carry weight on top. Retractable covers slide into a canister at the cab and let you open any amount of the bed. If you need to lock tools in the bed, go hard folding or retractable.
How do I know a cover fits my truck?
Select your year, make, model and bed length at the top of the page. Every cover is sold by exact bed length, so a 5' 7" bed and a 6' 7" bed on the same truck take different covers. Not sure of your bed length? Measure from the inside of the bulkhead to the inside of the tailgate.
Can I use a tonneau cover with a bed liner or bed rail caps?
Most covers work with drop-in and spray-in liners. Factory bed rail caps that sit on top of the rail can interfere with clamp-style covers; check the fitment notes on the product page or contact us before ordering.
Will a tonneau cover work with a toolbox?
Standard covers run the full bed length and will not fit around a crossover toolbox. Toolbox-compatible covers are made shorter to sit behind the box. Look for the toolbox-compatible option in the cover's listing.
Are tonneau covers waterproof?
No cover is 100% waterproof. Hard folding and retractable covers with rail seals and drain tubes keep the bed driest; soft roll-up covers are water-resistant and shed most rain. Expect some moisture at the tailgate on any cover.
How hard is installation?
Most soft and hard folding covers clamp to the bed rails with no drilling and install in 30 to 60 minutes with basic hand tools. Retractable covers take longer and some need drain tube routing. Each product page lists what is included.
Do tonneau covers improve gas mileage?
Testing shows a small improvement, usually a few percent at highway speed, from smoother airflow over the bed. The bigger benefits are security and keeping cargo dry.
How does shipping work on bed covers?
Orders of $300 or more ship free to the lower 48; smaller orders pay shipping calculated at checkout. Larger one-piece and retractable covers ship by freight and get a discounted freight rate at checkout. Freight and oversize items are not included in free shipping. Inspect the box before signing for a freight delivery and report any damage within 48 hours.
Can I return a tonneau cover?
New, uninstalled covers in original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery with a return authorization. A 20% restocking fee applies and the customer pays return shipping. Damaged, defective or incorrect items are replaced at no cost when reported within 48 hours.