How to Measure Your Truck Bed: A Canadian Guide for Tonneau Cover Fitting

how to measure the length of truck bed to choose the right tonneau cover

Properly measuring your truck bed length is essential for selecting the right tonneau cover or truck accessories. Follow these precise steps to ensure a perfect fit for your vehicle:


Step-by-Step Measurement Process:

  1. Lower the Tailgate – Fully extend the tailgate to provide an unobstructed measurement area.
  2. Position the Measuring Tape
    • Start from the inside edge of the bulkhead (the front wall of the truck bed, closest to the cab).
    • Extend the tape measure in a straight line to the inside edge of the tailgate.
  3. Record the Measurement in Inches – Ensure accuracy by noting the measurement in inches before any conversion.
  4. Convert to Feet (if applicable) – Divide the total inches by 12 to determine the length in feet (e.g., 68" is approx 5'8").


💡 Do You Really Need a Perfectly Precise Measurement?

Here's the good news: you don't. Once you know your truck's year, make, and model, the bed length is a fixed factory specification. For full-size trucks, the available sizes are spaced roughly a foot apart (e.g., 5.5', 6.5', and 8' on an F-150). For mid-size trucks, the gap is about 12–13 inches (e.g., 5' and 6' on a Tacoma). A quick measurement within an inch or two is enough to confirm which standard size your truck has — there's no in-between size you could accidentally land on. Just round to the nearest standard length in the table below and you have your answer.

Standard Truck Bed Length Reference:

  • Short Bed: Approximately 5'5" – 5'8"
  • Standard Bed: Approximately 6'4" – 6'7"
  • Long Bed: Approximately 8'


Full-Size Pickup Bed Lengths by Year

These are the most common full-size trucks sold in Canada. Bed dimensions are interior floor length — the measurement that matters for tonneau cover fitment.

Make & Model Years Short Bed Standard Bed Long Bed
FORD F-150
Ford F-150 (14th Gen) 2021–2026 5.5' (67.1") 6.5' (78.9") 8' (97.6")
Ford F-150 (13th Gen) 2015–2020 5.5' (67.1") 6.5' (78.9") 8' (97.6")
Ford F-150 (12th Gen) 2009–2014 5.5' (67.1") 6.5' (78.8") 8' (97.6")
FORD F-250 / F-350 SUPER DUTY
Ford F-250 / F-350 (4th Gen) 2017–2026 6.75' (81.9") 8' (98.1")
Ford F-250 / F-350 (3rd Gen) 2008–2016 6.75' (81.8") 8' (98.0")
RAM 1500
RAM 1500 (5th Gen "DT") 2019–2026 5'7" (67.4") 6'4" (76.3")
RAM 1500 Classic (4th Gen) 2009–2024* 5'7" (67.4") 6'4" (76.3") 8' (97.9")
RAM 2500 / 3500 HD
RAM 2500 / 3500 (5th Gen) 2019–2026 6'4" (76.3") 8' (97.9")
RAM 2500 / 3500 (4th Gen) 2010–2018 6'4" (76.3") 8' (97.9")
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 / GMC SIERRA 1500
Silverado 1500 / Sierra 1500 (T1XX) 2019–2026 5'8" (69.9") 6'6" (79.4")
Silverado 1500 / Sierra 1500 (K2XX) 2014–2018 5'8" (69.3") 6'6" (78.7") 8' (97.8")
Silverado 1500 / Sierra 1500 (GMT900) 2007–2013 5'8" (69.3") 6'6" (78.7") 8' (97.8")
CHEVROLET SILVERADO / GMC SIERRA 2500HD & 3500HD
Silverado HD / Sierra HD 2020–2026 6'10" (82.3") 8' (98.2")
Silverado HD / Sierra HD 2015–2019 6'6" (78.9") 8' (97.8")
TOYOTA TUNDRA
Toyota Tundra (3rd Gen) 2022–2026 5.5' (65.6") 6.5' (77.6") 8.1' (96.5")
Toyota Tundra (2nd Gen) 2007–2021 5.5' (66.0") 6.5' (78.0") 8.1' (97.0")
NISSAN TITAN
Nissan Titan (2nd Gen) 2016–2026 5.5' (66.5") 6.5' (78.7")
Nissan Titan (1st Gen) 2004–2015 5.5' (66.5") 7' (84.0")

* RAM continued selling the 4th-gen body style as "RAM 1500 Classic" alongside the 5th-gen through the 2024 model year.

"—" means that bed length was not offered for that generation.


Mid-Size Pickup Bed Lengths by Year

Mid-size trucks typically offer only two bed sizes — 5' and 6' — with some models offering just a single fixed-length bed.

Make & Model Years Short Bed Long Bed
TOYOTA TACOMA
Toyota Tacoma (4th Gen) 2024–2026 5' (60.3") 6' (73.5")
Toyota Tacoma (3rd Gen) 2016–2023 5' (60.5") 6' (73.7")
Toyota Tacoma (2nd Gen) 2005–2015 5' (60.3") 6' (73.5")
FORD RANGER
Ford Ranger (Current) 2024–2026 5' (59.6") — only option
Ford Ranger (Prev. Gen) 2019–2023 5' (61.0") SuperCrew 6' (72.8") SuperCab
CHEVROLET COLORADO / GMC CANYON
Colorado / Canyon (3rd Gen) 2023–2026 5' (61.7") 6' (73.4")
Colorado / Canyon (2nd Gen) 2015–2022 5' (61.7") 6' (74.0")
NISSAN FRONTIER
Nissan Frontier (3rd Gen) 2022–2026 5' (59.5") 6' (73.3")
Nissan Frontier (2nd Gen) 2005–2021 5' (58.9") 6' (73.3")
FORD MAVERICK
Ford Maverick 2022–2026 4.5' (54.4") — only option
HONDA RIDGELINE
Honda Ridgeline (2nd Gen) 2017–2026 5' (64.0") — only option
Honda Ridgeline (1st Gen) 2006–2014 5' (60.0") — only option
JEEP GLADIATOR
Jeep Gladiator 2020–2026 5' (60.3") — only option

*Note: Manufacturers often round bed lengths in marketing materials. The inch measurements above are interior floor lengths from factory spec sheets — they may differ slightly from the "name" of the bed (e.g., a "5'8" bed" actually measures 69.9" ≈ 5'10" at the floor). For tonneau cover sizing, simply match your truck's year, make, and model to the table above and round to the nearest standard size.

Want more truck bed tips and guides?

← Back to TeamZ Tonneau Cover Blogs and News

Protecting your truck bed in Canada starts with the right knowledge. Check back often for more expert advice on tonneau covers, maintenance, and installations.

Next Step: Now that you have your precise measurements, find out which material is best suited for your truck and climate:
Hard vs. Soft Tonneau Covers: Material Comparison Guide →

2 comments

Hi Murray, thank you so much for pointing this out — you have a sharp eye! You’re absolutely right that the photo doesn’t match the instructions, and we sincerely apologize for the confusion. We’ll get the image updated.

The good news is this won’t lead to a wrong fit. For full-size trucks like the F-150 (5.5’, 6.5’, 8’) or Silverado (5’8", 6’6", 8’), the size tiers are roughly a foot apart. For mid-size trucks like the Tacoma or Ranger, it’s typically 5’ and 6’. So the 1–2" difference between measuring with the tailgate up or down will always land you in the correct bracket — just round to the nearest standard length and you’re good to go.

We truly appreciate feedback like yours — it helps us make better guides for everyone. Thank you, Murray!
– TeamZ

TeamZ

Instructions say to lower the tailgate to measure ⁷but the picture shows it is up- not lowered????

Murray Krantz

Leave a comment