How to Measure Your Truck Bed

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 21, 2021

Whether you’re fitting your truck for a new accessory or determining how much cargo you can haul, having accurate measurements of your truck bed can go a long way. Have a friend help you measure carefully, using the walls and rails of your truck bed to keep your measurements straight, and you’ll have the information you need to get the most out of your vehicle.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Finding the Dimensions of Your Truck Bed

1
Measure your truck bed’s length with the tailgate closed. Have a friend help you stretch a tape measure from the front left corner to the back left corner of your truck bed, on the inside. The tape measure should be running in a straight line that’s even with the top of the bed (make sure it isn’t sagging in the middle). Write this measurement down and label it “length.”
2
Find the width of your truck bed. Hold one end of your tape measure against the inside of your truck bed’s left front corner, and have someone pull the tape measure until it reaches the inside of the front right corner. Again, the tape measure should be in a straight, taut line even with the top of the bed. Record this measurement and label that number “width.”
- If your truck’s wheel wells are on the inside of the bed, measure the distance between them as well.^{[1]
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3
Determine the depth of your truck bed. Use your tape measure to find the distance from the bottom of the bed to the top, keeping the tape measure parallel with the side of the bed to ensure that it’s straight. Record that measurement as “depth.”
4
Convert the measurements into fractions if you are buying accessories. If you are fitting your truck bed for something like a bed rug or a Tonneau cover, you may need to know its dimensions in fractions (for instance, 6.2 feet). You can do this by simply dividing the number of inches (your tape measure will show total inches as well as feet) by 12.
- If you are measuring using the metric system, divide your total number of centimeters by 100.
- Keep in mind that many truck accessory suppliers round off measurements.^{[2]
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  Research source} If your truck bed is 5.4 feet (1.6 m), you will probably be safe buying a product for a 5.5-foot truck bed.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Determining Haul Capacity

1
Find your truck’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. This should be on a label on the driver’s side door jamb. The GVWR is the total weight your truck can safely carry, including the weight of passengers and the truck itself.^{[3]
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2
Determine the weight of your truck. Its weight may be listed in your user’s manual or title. If not, take it to a local garage or weigh station to have it professionally weighed.^{[4]
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3
Calculate your truck’s payload capacity. Subtract the weight of your truck from its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. That’s how much weight your truck can safely hold - including the passengers and any small cargo you might have in the cab.