Top 10 Best Truck Bed Mat (Review & Buying Guide)

Top 10 Best Truck Bed Mat (Review & Buying Guide)

best truck bed mat
Nobody wants to damage their truck bed, lowering the resale value of your ride and the quality of its looks. That’s why you need to find the best truck bed mat money can buy.

Picking Out the Right Truck Bed Mat for Your Ride

Truck accessories and modifications are a booming market right now, and the main reason is simply that pickup drivers love customizing their vehicles. We can hardly blame you. Here at Ultimate Rides, we do all that we can to help our customers and readers make the best decisions when it comes to their vehicles. Part of the reason why is that we too love customizing vehicles, and making sure they’re protected for the long haul. That’s why we’re here today to help you choose the best mat for your pickup bed you can buy.

There is pretty much an endless selection of choices available when you’re shopping for bed mats online, but not all of them are going to get the job done the right way. Plus, you’ll have to decide if you really want a mat or if you wish to instead opt for a truck bed liner. There are positives and negatives to both, and Ultimate Rides can help you decide which one is best for your situation.

That’s where this guide comes in. In this guide, we’ve put together a list of the 10 greatest truck bed mats to help you make the right decision. After that, you’ll find our helpful buying guide that tells you all you need to know about shopping for these items.

Before You Buy: What You Need to Know for Your Truck Bed

Before we begin, there is just one major thing we want to let our readers know about. First, it’s very important to make sure you buy the right size bed mat for your vehicle. That can be the most confusing aspect of shopping for these products, so pay special attention to that detail. Make sure you don’t just buy the first product you see that looks nice! There are so many different options out there, each one matching up with a different pickup size. Do some research before buying to make sure it’s the right fit for your pickup. If you don’t already know, make sure to find out the size of your bed.  That way, you’ll be able to pick out a bed mat that you know for sure will fit.

Along with that, you also want to make sure you buy a mat that’s heavy-duty enough for your needs. If you plan on doing a lot of off-road outdoor driving, or hauling heavy goods that can damage or get your bed dirty, you’re going to want something with a whole lot of volume and heft to it. Durability is incredibly important, which is why this research can and will pay off for you. With all that in mind, you’re ready to start shopping!


1. Dee Zee DZ85005 Universal Heavyweight Utility Bed Mat

In our opinion, the overall best pickup bed mats you can buy come from our favorite manufacturer, Dee Zee. You’ll see Dee Zee pop up on our list multiple times, and it’s because they’re the best name out there when it comes to these products. This mat in particular is universally sized, allowing you to trim it as you wish to fit your pickup bed. It measures out to eight feet in length and four feet wide, so it gives you plenty of room to work with, and it’s easy as can be to trim.

This mat is over 1/3 of an inch thick and is made from highly compressed rubber, making it resistant to tears and abrasions. The rubber cleats on the bottom of the mat help ensure that it stays firmly in place, and also allow for water to have room to drain out, preventing damage over time. We feel confident that this heavy-duty rubber bed mat will serve you well, and that’s why it’s number one on our list. You can find it for a fair price, and all you have to do is make sure the bed mat is the right fit for your vehicle.


2. Dee Zee DZ86973 Heavyweight Bed Mat

If you own a Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra with a 6.5 foot bed, this is the best bed mat for you. It is another product from Dee Zee, and the truck bed mat fits like a glove, with incredibly easy installation. Additionally, it is highly effective in protecting your vehicle’s most vulnerable spots. The edges conform to the wheel wells, and the UV-resistant material helps ensure it doesn’t fade too much over time. This mat will protect your bed from dirt, damage, liquids, and more, making it a fantastic purchase for any truck owner. Dee Zee is one of the most popular and effective manufacturers of truck bed mats, so get yours today!


3. Westin 50-6355 Black Rubber Truck Bed Mat

For drivers with a recent model year Ford F-series with a 5.5 foot bed, this is the mat we recommend for you. Westin is a brand that is just as trustworthy as Dee Zee, and we would feel comfortable outfitting our vehicle with their products in a heartbeat. The Westin mats are thick, stay put and help protect your vehicle from damage. It will also ensure all of your cargo avoids slipping and sliding around as you drive. If you want to maintain the best truck bed possible, a product such as this will help you get there. As long as you have the right truck for its size and shape, this is a truly great option for you.


4. BDK M330 Black Heavy-Duty Truck Utility Bed Mat

If you’d like another universally sized mat and don’t mind that it won’t cover every inch of your bed, check out this heavy-duty option courtesy of BDK. This mat is perfect if you need something you just want to lay out to protect your ride from cargo but don’t intend on using it on a daily basis. While it’s not our absolute favorite truck bed mat, it’s a strong option t consider nonetheless. It’s simple to install and you won’t have to measure everything out exactly as the mat just lays in the bed as is. It’s true that it might now be the most comprehensive option out there, we know there are people out there who would prefer something like this strictly due to the ease of use.


5. SMARTLINER Truck Bed Rubber Liner Mat for Toyota Tacoma 05-20 with 5 ft Long Bed

Next up we bring you a bed mat that resembles a bed liner! This truly heavy duty option requires a bit more installation, but it does offer even more protection. If you’ve got the right vehicle  for it, this product is one of the best bed mat options out there. It is raised up from the rest of the truck bed, is locked in place, and covers the whole bed. If you use your Tacoma as a work truck, or simply find yourself hauling stuff around more often than not, this is truly an excellent choice for you.


6. Dee Zee DZ86917 Heavyweight Bed Mat

Here is another bed mat from Dee Zee, this time made for Ram trucks with the 6’4″ beds. It features that same Dee Zee quality you should expect, protecting your truck from the elements as well as any cargo you might need to carry. Like its counterparts, you’ll find that the DZ86917 is UV-resistant, capable of standing up to tears and abrasions, and is thick enough to truly protect your truck bed. If you’re a Ram driver, find the right fit and try this brand out today.


7. Toyota Accessories PT580-35050-SB Bed Mat for Short Bed Tacoma Models

If you drive a short bed Tacoma truck, this option should be right for you. Toyota Accessories is a company that we trust, as they offer many products that receive fantastic customer reviews, including this one. We’ve gone over all the ways that a truck bed mat can protect your vehicle, so you should know by now how important they are and what they can do for you. If this one is the right size for your needs, we say go ahead and feel confident going with this model.


8. Dee Zee DZ87015 Bed Mat

Here we have yet another differently-sized Dee Zee product, this time made for newer model Ram trucks with the 5’6″ truck bed. It should fit right into your truck if you have the right size, maintaining your resale value and the overall quality of your truck. Once again, the Dee Zee models offer water drainage, a non-stick surface, and protection from damage. There’s no reason not to go for this option if you have the right truck for its size.


9. Rough Country Rubber Bed Mat for 2003-2018 RAM Truck 6.4 FT Bed RCM600

With our number nine slot, we’ve elected to recommend a rubber bed mat made from manufacturers Rough Country. Rough Country offers a wide assortment of truck accessories, including bed mats like this. This specific mat will help keep your Ram truck protected and dry, making sure that it stays in great shape over time and doesn’t lose value. If you already own other RC products, you likely won’t have a problem sporting their logo in your truck bed. It can even offer another layer of continuity in your vehicle, helping show off your unique style.


10. Westin 50-6145 Black Rubber Truck Bed Mat

For our last selection, we recommend this Westin truck bed mat for drivers of Chevy trucks with a 6’6″ bed. It should fit in perfectly and offer the same level of protection found by the other products here on our list. This mat will keep items from moving around, and protect your bed from damage from a variety of sources. Westin makes great products, and we would have no problem using them in our own trucks. If you have any intention of selling the vehicle later on down the line, or simply want to keep it in great shape, you owe it to yourself to get the best truck bed mat for your ride.


Truck Bed Mats Buying Guide

Types of Truck Bed Mats

You may have noticed our list consists almost entirely of rubber truck bed mats. That’s because we believe they do the best job of protecting your ride from damage. However, there are other options out there in addition to rubber mats. Shop around and you can also find mats made from both carpet and plastic. Plastic can hold its own, but is more prone to damage over time. When it comes to carpets, unless you know your vehicle will be staying out of the rain and you don’t plan on hauling too many heavy items, we recommend staying far away. In our opinion, rubber is almost always the way to go.

Finding the Right Fit

Perhaps the most important thing to consider when shopping for the right mat is size. As we mentioned before, there are tons of different size configurations available, so you should measure out your truck bed to ensure you find the right one. If you’re shopping on Amazon, they also have a helpful tool that allows you to put in your vehicle, and they’ll tell you if a product is a correct fit. We strongly recommend taking advantage of this tool, as it can make shopping for these products much quicker and easier. It will also ensure you don’t have to waste a bunch of your time by returning a mat that doesn’t fit!

Truck Bed Mats vs. Truck Bed Liners

There are two types of accessories that will help protect truck beds – bed mats and bed liners. Each different style offers advantages and disadvantages, and it’s up to you to figure out which is best for your needs. Truck bed liners are more expensive and almost always more difficult to install. However, they’re locked in place, and a truck bed liner can often provide a better look and feel for your bed. While they can be a good choice for drivers, there are some people out there who will prefer a truck bed mat. These accessories aren’t permanent, are much more affordable, and will only take a few minutes of your time to install. Additionally, truck bed mats still provide excellent protection for your vehicle, making them one of the best options to consider when you’re planning on carrying lots of heavy cargo around in the back of your vehicle.

Closing Thoughts

Other considerations that may impact your decision include price and availability of warranties. These are both important, but preferences can differ more easily between individuals. Shop around and do your research to find the right truck bed mat that works for you. If you need assistance with installing vehicle accessories, or you have any questions you need answered, we can help you here at Ultimate Rides. Give us a call at 815-634-3900. We’re located just about one hour south of Chicago in Coal City, IL. If you’re in the area, we perform all sorts of maintenance, repairs and vehicle modifications, in addition to selling amazing vehicles. Check us out today!


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s the difference between a bed mat and a bed liner?

A: A bed liner is a material that covers your pickup’s bed. You can’t remove it, but it will protect the bed itself from harm. A truck bed mat is a material that lays over and covers the bed, and you have the ability to remove it whenever you wish. Each option has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s up to you to decide which is right for your needs. As we’ve pointed out, the best pickup bed mats will still work great at protecting your vehicle, so you shouldn’t have to worry about installing a truck bed liner unless you’re really sure that you want one.

Q: Are any tools required for the installation of these mats?

A: The only tool you may need is a utility knife or something similar to trim a mat if required. If you purchase an option that is a direct fit, then no tools should be required! The installation process for a truck bed mat is usually incredibly easy, and should only take up a little bit of your time. That’s yet another reason why a driver might want to consider one of these over a truck bed liner.