Protect Your Investment and Your Cargo—The Best Tonneau Covers You Can Buy

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Pickup-truck drivers are a proud group. They can be fiercely brand loyal and extremely fastidious about the upkeep of their rigs, and they bolster a thriving aftermarket for options like lift kits, wheels, and bed accessories. One such accessory is a truck-bed cover, also known as a tonneau cover.

Despite popular belief, tonneau covers have their origin in open-top roadsters, as the word tonneau refers to the open area in either a car or truck. In pickup-truck applications, tonneau covers serve as a cover for your bed, protecting your valuables as well as the bed itself from the elements and debris. They've also been shown to increase fuel efficiency by reducing the vehicle's overall aerodynamic drag (although the jury's still out on this, as there's plenty of evidence out there to the contrary).

There are tons of tonneau covers out there and, depending on the model of your truck, there can be numerous distinct types of covers, brands, styles, and sizes to choose from. How you use your truck will be the biggest factor in choosing the appropriate cover to suit your needs. There are tons of other uses for tonneau covers, from rough and tough overlanding to simply showing off your nicely polished ride.

What To Consider When Buying A Tonneau Cover

Tonneau covers are not cheap, nor should they be. They're not just for looks; they're intended to be another line of protection for your truck bed and cargo, so choose wisely. Here are some thoughts to consider when shopping for a tonneau cover.

How will you be using your truck?

Is your truck primarily used for work? Commuting? Hauling the family? Off-roading? Knowing how you plan to use your truck is the first step in choosing the type of cover that best suits your needs.

What types of tonneau covers are there?

There are several different styles of tonneau covers, and within each style, you can often choose between a soft-style vinyl or leather tarp or a hard-style cover made of something like aluminum or plastic. Some of the different types are roll-up, folding, retractable, snap-on, hinged, and there's even a style with a built-in toolbox.

How much does a tonneau cover cost?

The price of tonneau covers varies widely from a couple hundred bucks up to several thousand. For this reason, it's important to keep in mind your specific needs. There's no need to spend more than is necessary to get the cover that will get the job done.

We've compiled a list of some of the best tonneau covers on the market, including several different types, in a range of price points. It's important to remember that tonneau covers are generally made for specific models. We've simply selected examples below, but if you're shopping online for a cover for your truck, be sure to enter your year, make, and model so that you get one that fits your truck as intended.

Here are the most popular types of tonneau covers and their benefits—and drawbacks.

Folding Tonneau Covers

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.

SFX Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover

Gator's SFX is a simple no-nonsense folding cover. It's one of the most affordable options on our list and made from a tear-resistant vinyl with weather seals, a Speed Klamp system for easy operation, and bows that help support weight in inclement weather.

EFX Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover

A step up from Gator's SFX, the EFX offers an added layer of security with its black powder-coated scratch- and UV- resistant rigid aluminum panels. Its panel arrangement allows you to carry your payload with the cover two-thirds of the way open, making it more flexible for tricky loads.

Stance Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover

What sets Lomax's folding cover apart from the competition is how flush it sits with the bed. The cover, which sits about half an inch over the height of the bed, is made from aluminum and coated in black urethane. It uses a cord system for releasing the latches, making it that much easier to fold away.

Roll-up Tonneau Covers

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.

Lo Pro Soft Roll Up Tonneau Cover

Truxedo's roll-up tonneau cover is made from tear-resistant, leather-grained vinyl and can be installed with no tools pretty easily. The LoPro model sits a bit lower than some of its competitors for a more seamless look, and it features a quick-release system that can give you access to the bed in just seconds.

Revolver X4s Hard Rolling Tonneau Cover

The Revolver X4s from BAK is, in essence, the best of both worlds. It provides the look of a soft leather or vinyl cover with the security of aluminum slats to keep your valuables safe. It also has rotational locking rails which allow access to the bed from any angle.

Hinged Hard Tonneau Covers

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.

Eagle SE Hard Tonneau Cover

If you're looking for an OEM look and feel from your tonneau cover, the Eagle SE from Patriot may fit the bill. This cover feels like a piece of factory equipment with its fiberglass construction, painted finish, push-button lock, and carpeted headliner. It also has lift-assist hinges, making it easy to access the bed of your truck.

SE Hard Tonneau Cover

The SE from UnderCover is durable thanks to its sturdy ABS composite structure and distinctive x-frame. It will integrate nicely with most truck models and colors, thanks to its straightforward matte-black finish.

Retractable Covers