The Best Tonneau Covers for Every Truck and Every Budget

Folding covers are perhaps the most common type of tonneau cover, whether they feature two, three, or even four panels. They are more expensive than their soft counterparts but not as expensive as retractable or paint-matched hard-shell coverings. The good ones are typically composed of hard-composite plastic with a metal frame and hinges, but they come in less expensive fabric or vinyl versions too.

Roll-up tonneau covers allow you to choose how much of the truck bed is exposed. They're excellent for carting objects of unusual shapes, and for providing quick access to only a portion of the bed for modest loads, such as bags of groceries. When you need the entire bed to pick up your annual Christmas tree or assist a friend with a move, look for roll-ups with removable crossbeam supports.

A hinged tonneau cover, which functions as a lid for your pickup truck's bed, is supported by hinges close to the cab and is secured in place by struts. They're excellent for protecting your bed finish and lowering aerodynamic drag. The quality ones are composed of hard-shell composite material. You might find them made of soft fabric with an internal frame, but from our point of view, you might as well step up to a hard-shell cover if you're going to spend for a hinged one.

Retractable covers are fantastic because you can expose as much or as little of the bed as you need by rolling the unused piece of the cover within itself toward the truck's cab. Retractable tonneau covers are often operated by hand, however many of today's models are electric, making them simple to use. The cover retracts with the simple push of a button, typically located on a key fob.

One of the most popular styles of bed covers available these days is the toolbox tonneau cover. They pair a retractable bed cover with a heavy-duty toolbox, usually made from galvanized sheet metals such as aluminum. Both the toolbox and cover resist water, dust, wear, and rust, keeping your gear protected season after season. A tonneau cover/toolbox combination is a great way to upgrade your truck because it offers lockable security.

The most affordable—and least durable—tonneau covers are snap-on style. Lightweight and easy to install, they offer quick, easy access to all or a portion of the truck bed. We can't faithfully recommend snap-ons because they don't offer any real security for your cargo or protection from the elements. That said, they are the most affordable type of truck bed cover you can buy.

Security

When shopping for tonneau covers, your main priorities should be quality and security. A good tonneau cover should provide peace of mind when leaving valuables like tools and camping gear unattended in the bed of your truck. The level of security you need will certainly vary, but check into what type of locking system your potential tonneau cover offers. You should also remember that hard-shell covers will always be more secure than soft covers.

Fitment

All truck beds are different, so different trucks will require different shapes and sizes of covers. When shopping, it's important to check the fitment for the specific year, make, model, and even trim level of your truck. Most companies offer tonneau covers for specific models and in varying lengths, so before you click that order button, be sure you're getting exactly what you need for your vehicle.

Ease of Use

If you need access to your truck bed frequently, choose a cover with easy opening, closing, and latching mechanisms. This becomes less important if you won't be going into the back of your truck very often—but no one wants to add something to their vehicle that's a pain to operate.

Weather Protection

Consider this another form of security. Tonneau covers serve to keep the elements out of the bed of your truck, so it's key to choose one that does it well. Depending on the climate you live in, the type of weather resistance you need may vary. In hot and sunny climates, you may want something with superior UV protection so as not to have your cover disintegrate in the sun. If you live in a place that sees lots of snow, you'll want a tonneau cover that can support the weight of snow buildup. If you're in a rainy climate, a weatherproof—not weather resistant—tonneau cover with quality seals will be the one for you.

Looks

Pickup trucks are generally function-first vehicles, but some owners may want a cover that simply enhances the look of their truck. For those folks, consider things such as the height of the cover from the bed, as low-profile covers maintain a streamlined OEM-like look. Hard-shell covers that can be color-matched to your truck are a great-looking tonneau cover option.

Accessories

There are lots of accessories out there for your truck bed cover. If you want to carry bikes, boats, or even mount a roof tent, it's important to make sure the cover you choose has the appropriate mechanism to receive cross bars or whatever other system you need to carry your most important gear.

Do tonneau covers improve gas mileage?

At speed, air flows over a truck's cab and down into the bed, creating drag when the wind hits the tailgate. Topping your truck's bed with a tonneau cover will force that wind to flow across the top of your truck bed rather than down into it, thereby eliminating the "sail" effect. That should improve your gas mileage, right?

Not so fast. There are plenty of studies both supporting and disproving this theory; our friends at Real Truck have a fine explainer on the issue. But one thing is certain: Adding a tonneau cover to your truck will add a certain amount of weight to the vehicle, potentially negating any fuel savings that tonneau cover might offer you. Until we see verifiable proof, we'll say this: Don't buy a tonneau cover thinking you're going to save a ton of money on gas. There are plenty of other reasons to buy one.

Should I get a hard-shell or soft-fabric tonneau cover?

Pony up the extra cash for a hard-shell tonneau cover if you want long-term, waterproof security and a locking mechanism. But be aware that a hard-shell cover will significantly increase your truck's weight (and possibly offset any improved fuel efficiency you may see). It'll also be more complicated to install and remove. A soft cover will be cheaper, lighter in weight, and easier to install. But it will also be far less durable—and far, far less secure.

How hard is it to install a tonneau cover?

Any relatively skilled do-it-yourselfer with the right tools—and the courage to experiment on their own vehicle—can install the majority of contemporary tonneau covers. In light of this, we strongly advise professional installation if you're hesitant.

Will a tonneau cover protect my valuables?

All tonneau covers provide some protection. And simply covering your bed will conceal your valuables from the eyes of passers-by. Still, a determined criminal only needs a knife to cut through the cloth or vinyl of a soft tonneau cover to gain entrance. Hard tonneau covers don't have this issue, but again, that same determined criminal could probably get a locking tonneau cover open with a modicum of effort. Invest in a retractable tonneau cover with an electromagnetic lock for the highest level of security.