Protect Your Investment and Your Cargo—The Best Tonneau Covers You Can Buy (2024)

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.

The BAK MX4 offers both the sleek look of a low-profile design and the robust protection of aluminum slats to safeguard your valuables. This cover is finished with a black textured powder coating to resist scratches and UV harm. Additionally, its rotational locking system allows for bed access from various angles.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

The GatorTrax MX from Gator is a high-end tonneau cover, with premium features at a premium cost. It's made from heavy-duty aluminum with UV protection to prevent fading. But most importantly, it's electric, which means it can be powered using a remote key fob. Release the button anywhere along the rail and the cover automatically stops and locks into place, so you can ride with your bed partially covered.

Like some of its competitors, the PowertraxPRO XR from Retrax features remote-powered operation and durable aluminum construction. What separates it from the competition is Retrax's focus on accessorizing. It uses a T-slot track system that lets you fit crossbars across the top for hauling kayaks, bikes, and more.

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 Trifecta Toolbox 2.0 cover from Extang provides lots of bang for your buck. It features Extang's replaceable triple-fin seals, heavy-duty clamps, an updated locking system, and an L-Channel bracket that bonds the cover to your toolbox. Although it doesn't come with a toolbox, it works with most 18- to 20-inch truck-bed toolboxes.

The American Work cover from Truck Cover USA is built to edge out its competitors. It includes a black powder-coated galvanized aluminum toolbox, chrome handles, power actuators to lock and unlock your toolbox remotely, and the smallest canister (the part the cover retracts into) of any retractable cover in the industry. Plus, it can support up to 550 pounds of evenly distributed weight and offers lots of optional extras.

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.

R&L Racing's simple snap-on cover is perfect for those looking for the most basic tonneau cover. It's made from commercial-grade vinyl that has been coated on both sides to offer (at least some) weather resistance. The pre-assembled design makes it easy to install, and the price is unbeatable too.

Even though it is the least expensive choice on our list, the snap-on cover from TLAPS holds its ground among higher-priced models. Constructed using durable black vinyl and a robust frame that includes detachable crossbars for convenient access to the bed, this cover is straightforward in design. Installation is easy, the price is very appealing, and in appropriate conditions, it serves its purpose exceptionally well.