Are Ford F-150 And F-250 Beds The Same Size?
The Ford F-150 and F-250 are both powerful, efficient trucks. Though they share specific characteristics like cab options, several key differences, like bed size, distinguish these two vehicles.
Ford F-150 and F-250 beds aren’t the same sizes. The F-150 offers 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and 8-foot beds, and the F-250 offers 6.75-foot and 8-foot beds.
Ford F-150 Bed Sizes
The Ford F-150 has a broader range of bed sizes than the F-250, offering short, regular, and long box options.
All F-150 beds are 50.6 in (129 cm) wide and 21.4 in (54 cm) high. The length is the only measurement that changes, affecting the maximum cargo volume.
The short bed offers the least amount of space at 5.5 ft (1.7 m) long and with a total cargo box volume of 52.8 cubic feet (1.5 m3).
The regular bed is the standard option. At 6.5 ft (2 m) long, its cargo box comes in at 62.3 cubic feet (1.8 m3).
The long bed is for maxing out your F-150’s payload capacity. It’s 8 ft (2.4 m) long, with a cargo volume of 77.3 cubic feet (2.19 m3).
Choosing which bed size is right for you depends on how you use your truck.
The short bed is sufficient if you need a family vehicle for road trips or moving small objects. Opt for the long bed if you use your F-150 as a work truck and need space for larger objects or materials.
Ford F-250 Bed Sizes
The F-250 is for optimal heavy lifting. Bed size determines how much you can carry, so it’s no surprise that F-250 beds are longer than the F-150s.
F-250 beds are 66.9 in (170 cm) wide and 21.1 in (53.5 cm) high. The shortest bed you can get is 6.75 ft (2.05 m), with a cargo volume of 65.4 cubic feet (1.85 m3).
These figures are higher than the F-150 short and regular bed, highlighting the increased capacity of the F-250.
The F-250 is also available with an 8 ft (2.4 m) bed. At face value, it’s similar to the F-150 long bed.
However, the F-250 is wider, making the total cargo volume 78.5 cubic feet (2.22 m3), which is a difference of 1.2 cubic feet (0.03 m3).
How To Measure an F-150 or F-250 Bed?
Knowing your bed size is crucial if you want to invest in liners, rails, rugs, etc.
The measurement process is the same for all trucks – all you’ll need is a tape measure and an extra set of hands.
For length, position the tape measure on the inside of the front left corner of the bed. Run it along to the inside of the back left corner of the bed.
To get the width, position the end of the tape measure on the front left inside corner.
Ask your helper to stretch the tape measure to the front right inside corner.
For depth (or height), hold your tape measure on the inside of the top left corner of the bed and stretch it to the bottom left corner.
If you’ve measured everything in inches, divide the numbers by twelve to convert them into feet.
For more accurate measurements, keep your tape measure straight at all times.
Also, truck companies round up bed size measurements, so don’t be alarmed if your 6.75-foot bed is only slightly over 6 ft 6 in.
Are F-150 and F-250 Beds Interchangeable?
F-150 and F-250 beds aren’t interchangeable. However, you can interchange both F-Series beds with select models.
Ford F-250s are the most versatile, with models from 1999 to 2016 allowing for easy exchanges.
The boxes from this era have the exact dimensions, while the vehicles have similar bodies and designs.
Bed interchangeability is rarer in the F-150, with only models from 1987 to 1991 and 1992 to 1996 having similar bed dimensions.
Combining Bed Size and Cabin Configurations for the Ultimate Ford Truck
The cabin type is just as important as the bed size when buying an F-150 or F-250.
Both models have the same three cabin options:
- The Regular Cab
- The SuperCab
- The Crew Cab (or the SuperCrew in the F-150).
The Regular Cab allows up to three passengers, while the SuperCab and Crew Cab seat a maximum of six passengers.
Despite similar capacities, the SuperCab and Crew Cab are easy to tell apart.
Both have four doors, but only the Crew Cab has full-size doors.
The doors of the SuperCab are quite slim and open in the opposite direction of the front doors.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Crew Cab has more overall cabin space than the SuperCab and Regular Cab.
The Regular Cab has:
- 40.8 in (103.6 cm) of headroom
- 43.9 in (111.5 cm) of legroom.
The SuperCab has:
- 40.8 in (103.6 cm) of headroom
- 43.9 in (111.5 cm) of legroom
- 40.3 in (102.4) of rear headroom
- 33.5 in (85 cm) of rear legroom.
The Crew Cab has the exact interior dimensions as the SuperCab but has ten inches (25 cm) more legroom in the rear.
Ideal Cabin and Bed Configurations
Your bed and cabin configurations can make or break your F-150 or F-250 experience.
Get a Crew Cab with a short bed, and you can forget about carrying heavy loads.
Get a Regular Cab with a long bed, and hauling is probably all you do.
The most common cabin and bed configuration for the F-150 is the SuperCrew and the 5.5-foot bed.
It’s more geared to passengers than hauling. The short bed adds to this by allowing you to maneuver in tight spaces.
For the F-250, the right truck largely depends on cabin size, as both beds are similarly sized.
Go for the Crew Cab if rear seating is essential.
Get the Regular Cab and the 8 ft (2.4 m) bed if you plan on using the truck for heavy-duty hauling. It’s more than enough room to haul building materials, farm produce, motorbikes, etc.
You’ll also want the longer bed if you install a fifth-wheel trailer hitch.
Conclusion
When buying an F-150 or F-250, bed size can play a major role in the decision. Depending on your need, these F-Series trucks have a lot to offer.
When choosing between them and their various options, it’s important to understand what you’ll be using your vehicle for.
Do a little research, take a test drive (or two), and hopefully the decision will be an easy one!