The Best Truck Bed Liner for 2020

Why Do I Need a Truck Bed Liner?

With the cost of trucks going up, it’s very important to prevent anything from decreasing its resale value. One of the most abused part of any pickup truck is the truck bed. Whether you use it commercially or as a daily driver, it’s difficult to avoid the dents or dings that occur – it seems – as soon as you drive it off the lot.

In this article, we will look at the options you have in 2020 for choosing the best truck bed liner. As you will see there are a number of choices you can make when selecting how to protect your truck bed. There are pros and cons to every type of truck bed liner. We break it down so you can make the most informed decision that fits your budget.

Types of Truck Bed Liners

 

DualLiner

Price range – $489.00 to $519.00

The DualLiner truck bed liner has 4 or 5 pieces that lock together to form a complete truck bed liner. It has complete coverage of the entire truck bed and the cargo stays in place because of the thick ZeroSkid® rubber bed mat. Installs easily, no drilling, no permanent coatings. It’s custom-designed to perfectly fit and match your truck and will not prevent the water from reaching your truck’s drain holes. The DualLiner comes with a lifetime warranty and is made in the USA.

PROS	CONS
Complete protection Lifetime warranty Free shipping Non-skid rubber mat Designed to fit your year, make and model of truck

 

Drop-in Bedliners (Pendaliner, Rugged Liner)

Price range – $140 to $390

Drop-in bed liners are just that, a plastic shell shaped like a truck bed that you “drop-in” your truck’s bed. It’s not permanent, it can be removed. However, over time the elements could warp and change the shape of the bed, dirt and debris will make their way between the bed liner and the bed. With the debris caught between the bed and the liner and the loose fit of the liner, the repetitive movement caused by wind and bumps will scrape off the factory paint. This long term friction will cause rust where the paint has been scraped down to the bare metal in your truck bed.

 

PROS	CONS
Good protection Not permanent	Cargo slides around Can warp and lose shape over time Loose fit can cause damage

 

Carpet (BedRug, DeWalt)

Price range – $107 – $198 (bed mat) to $410 (full coverage)

Carpet bed liners come in 2 types, you have the kind that just covers the bottom of the bed and you have the type that provides complete coverage. The full coverage type costs about 3 times more. Carpet bed liners use velcro to attach the liner to the truck bed. Debris and water can make their way underneath the carpet so taking it out and cleaning out the bed is something you should do a few times a year. Since they are easily removable there is a possibility of theft or vandalism. Another drawback is that they do stain when bird droppings, dirt, gas or oil get on the carpet. Smooth-surfaced cargo such as plastic will slide around in the bed if not secured.

 

PROS	CONS
Good protection Not permanent	Cargo slides around Debris gets under the carpet Can stain and discolor

 

Rubber Truck Bed Mats (Rough Country, Dee Zee, Westin, SmartLiner, Black Armour)

Price range – $81 to $199

Rubber bed liners cover the bottom of the truck bed and offer pretty good dent protection as well as keeping your cargo from sliding around. They don’t offer any protection for the sidewalls, liftgate or wheel wells but they are relatively easy to clean up. If you’re budget-conscious and you don’t haul anything that could damage the rest of your truck bed this may be the way to go.

PROS	CONS
Keeps cargo from sliding around Not permanent	Debris gets under the mat Not typically custom fit to your truck Not full coverage No tailgate protection

 

Spray in or Spray on (Professionally Applied) (Rhino Lining, Line-X, Z-Liner)

Price range – $355 to $600

There are many local franchises offering this service. Permanent textured paint is sprayed on your truck bed to prevent damage. Typically the application of around 5 gallons of bed liner material is applied with a spray gun. This is a permanent covering.

PROS	CONS
100% coverage Good protection Sound deadening	Permanent Commercial use not covered under warranty Prep work, application of spray and customer service only as good as your local franchise Prices can vary dramatically

Spray in or Spray on Bed Liner DIY Full Kit – (U-POL Raptor, LinerXtreeme, Custom Coat)

Price range – $119 to $276

You’ll find these in your local home improvement, hardware and auto parts stores. Marketed as a low-cost alternative to having a company apply spray-on bed liner professionally. The durability depends on how thick it is applied. Keep in mind that this is meant to be permanent. If you change your mind there’s no turning back.

PROS	CONS
Less expensive than a professionally applied spray-on truck bed liner. 100% coverage	Can chip or wear off Messy to apply A lot of prep work required

 

Roll-on Bed Liners (Herculiner, Rust-Oleum, Dupli-Color Bed Armor, U-POL Raptor, Durabak)

Price range – $75 to $120 for full kit ($18 to $30 per gallon)

As implied by the name, this bed liner is “rolled on” the surface of your truck bed with a paint roller. Typically you will buy this as a kit and depending on the size of your truck bed, 1 to 3 gallons of the bed liner paint. A kit will come with rollers and a roller pan to hold the paint but it will probably be cheaper to buy your own supplies. The most important (and difficult) step when choosing to use a roll-on bed liner is the cleaning and prep work. You’ll need to use heavy-duty solvents and aggressive sanding to get the surface ready for applying the bed liner. The cleaning and application will take a weekend and you’ll need to wait about 3 days for the paint to dry so don’t plan on hauling anything for at least 5 days.

 

PROS	CONS
Less expensive than drop-in bed liners Good protection Sound deadening	Permanent Prep work is extensive for the best results Messy to apply Takes a long time to dry

 

Portable Truck Bed Liners (Moko, Wal-mart)

Price Range – $75 to $100

Portable truck bed liners offer a little more protection than the disposable bed liners but not much. The main difference is the portable bed liner will last for more than one use. How many uses depends on the material transported. These are good for occasional use when transporting non-abrasive cargo such as wood chips and mulch. Heavier, more abrasive cargo such as logs or rocks could tear the liner.

 

PROS	CONS
Cheap Not permanent	Not very durable Noisy at high speeds Minimal protection Unattractive

 

Disposable Truck Bed Liners (BedBag)

Price range – $15 to $20

Disposable truck bed liners are typically a cheap one-time solution used when you are transporting yard waste to the landfill or compost bin. They are temporary bed liners that offer very limited protection to your truck bed. You would use a disposable truck bed liner if your only concern was preventing your bed from getting dirty and for making it easier to clean up after the job. Highway use is NOT recommended as it does not adequately secure the contents from blowing out onto the road.

PROS	CONS
Cheap Not permanent	Bad for the environment Minimal protection Use only once or twice Noisy Could fly off Unattractive

 

Truck Bed Liner Comparison Chart

	=Yes		= Maybe		No
TRUCK BED PROTECTION	DualLiner®	Drop-in Bed Liner	Carpet Bed Liner	Rubber Mat Bed Liner	Spray-in Bed Liner	Roll on Bed Liner	Portable Bed Liner	Disposable Bed Liner
Does the liner help prevent bed floor dents?
Does the liner protect the tailgate from dents?
Does the truck bed liner protect the front wall by the cab?
CARGO PROTECTION
Is the floor of the truck bed liner rubber to help keep the cargo from sliding around?
Do you have complete access to the tie-downs?
Does the liner material prevent cargo damage or abrasion?
INSTALLATION
Is it easy to install by yourself?
Does the truck bed liner negate the factory paint warranty?
Can the liner be transferred to an identical truck?
Is the quality and consistency of the installation the same regardless of who installs it?
APPEARANCE/DURABILITY
Is the liner custom fit to your vehicle’s year make and model?
Is the liner resistant to chalking, color fading, or peeling?
Does the liner preserve the factory paint job?
WARRANTY
Does the truck bed liner have a 100% REAL lifetime warranty?
Is commercial use OK
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Is the liner free of hazardous chemicals?
Can the liner be installed without following OSHA regulations?
Can it be installed without the concern of inhaling hazardous chemicals?
EASY DELIVERY
Does it ship in a box to your door?