Informational Guide

How To Measure Your Truck Bed For A Toolbox

Are you in the market for a new truck toolbox? If so, then you’ll need to know the size & dimensions of your truck’s bed. We show you how in this guide.

You want to keep all of your gear in a truck tool box, but how do you know what size you need?  

To help you get started, we will show you how to measure a truck tool box to ensure it fits your pickup bed.  

Standard Sizes Of Truck Beds 

  • Standard Short Bed Trucks  
    The standard size truck is a misleading term because this truck can include a short or long bed. With most manufacturers, the standard short bed is what is being referred to. The compact truck standard bed tends to be around six feet, while the full-size short bed might be around 6.5 feet. The Chevy Silverado 2500HD offers a standard short bed.  
  • Standard Long Bed Trucks  
    The standard long bed is about seven feet with compact trucks and eight feet when installed on a full-size truck. These are a good option if you use your truck for work or on a farm. Newer Ford F-150 XL models with four-wheel drive offer a longer truck bed that offers 77.4 cubic feet of space.  
  • Extra Short Bed Trucks  
    Many people get the extra-short truck bed confused with a standard short option. That’s because many automakers claim the truck has a short bed. However, the extra-short bed is going to be about 5.5 feet long. You can find this type of bed on some Nissan Titan S trucks, offering a sporty, easy to maneuver pickup.  
grey truck tool box

How To Measure Truck Bed For Toolbox Installation 

Learning how to measure for a truck tool box requires that you have a reliable tape measure. If you don’t get an accurate measurement, the toolbox might not fit correctly, leaving you with a mess on your hands. Here are some steps to follow if you want to know how to measure for a truck tool box. 

  1. 1
    Figure out what size truck bed you have. 
  2. 2
    Measure the truck bed rail height and the distance between them. 
  3. 3
    If you are getting a crossover box, you need to measure the distance from the outside of each rail.  
  4. 4
    Measure the space between the wheel well’s forward edge to the bulkhead.  

While these measurements are important, you also want to look at how the toolbox will attach to the truck. Some types require drilling into the truck for installation. If you don’t want to drill holes, make sure you have the box that accommodates your truck type.  

Standard Sizes Of A Truck Tool Box 

How are truck tool boxes measured? Aside from just asking, “What toolbox fits my truck,” you want to look at the sizes they are available in. Here are some of the most common truck tool box dimensions. 

  • 70-inch Truck Toolbox   
    The average truck owner will find the 70-inch toolbox to be a great option, which is why it is the most common one sold. While this is one of the larger toolboxes to choose from, it will have the space needed to hold all of your gear.  
  • 49-inch Truck Toolbox 
    If you have a smaller truck bed or you don’t need to carry a lot of tools, you might consider something on the lighter side, such as a 49-inch truck toolbox. While it is small, you can find many varieties that still hold a good amount of tools.  
  • 60-inch Truck Toolbox   
    In between the two other options is the 60-inch toolbox. This size will offer the perfect amount of storage space without going overboard if you still need     lots of bed space. 
  • 6.3 Cubic Feet Capacity All-purpose Toolbox   
    If you would rather have a typical toolbox design, you might choose something smaller and geared toward multi-purpose use. While these aren’t commonly used for pickups, they can still be easily mounted and hold enough tools to get a job done.  
silver truck tool box

How To Measure A Toolbox For Your Truck 

If you followed our directions above, then you know how to measure a truck bed for a tool box. However, there might be multiple tool boxes that would fit in the space, so how do you know which one to choose? While it’s important to know the full-size truck tool box dimensions, there are other considerations to keep in mind. 

You want to know the distance between the bed rails (inside and outside), the height of the bed wall, and the measurement from the bulkhead to the wheel wells. When a toolbox is installed properly, it won't overhang on the sides of the truck, and it should never block your vision of what’s in the rearview mirror.  

Truck Toolbox Sizes & Dimension Chart 

Our truck tool box size chart will give you an idea of what you can fit in your truck, but there are normally multiple options available for each size.  

Truck Bed Type 

Truck Bed Dimension 

Tool Box Dimension 

Standard Short Bed Trucks 

6’5” 

Mid-size boxes 

Standard Long Bed Trucks 

7’ 

Full-size boxes 

Standard Long Bed Trucks 

5’5” to 5’8” 

Compact boxes 

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Do truck toolboxes fit all trucks? 

No, truck toolboxes each have a unique fit and must be measured for your pickup bed. You can also check the compatibility with the manufacturer to see if it fits your vehicle. The Amazon Garage function is great for checking compatibility.  

What size toolbox fits F150? 

The Ford F-150 has been around for decades and comes in many truck bed sizes. For this reason, you could fit a multitude of toolboxes in an F-150. To be sure you have the right fit, it’s best to take measurements of your Ford truck before choosing a box to buy.  

What is the longest truck bed on the market? 

Some Chevy Silverado HD trucks are equipped with an 8’2” truck bed, making it one of the longest on the market. This size truck bed is ideal for anyone that uses their truck for work.  

What is the shortest truck bed on the market? 

Compact trucks can have 5’ bed lengths, which are among the smallest. However, some Nissan Frontier models have bed sizes slightly smaller than that. In the past, there was also a Ford Explorer Sport Trac with a 4’ truck bed, but it’s no longer in production.  

Conclusion

Now that you know how to measure a truck tool box, it’s time to equip your pickup with the gear you need. Whether you are hoping to make the jobs easier or you want all of your gear with you for an emergency, the right tool box can make it all possible.  

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