Nissan · Mid-size pickup
Nissan Frontier bed dimensions & sizes by year
Buying a tonneau cover and not sure it'll fit? Pick your model year to get the exact bed length of your Frontier in inches — plus the covers built for it. No guesswork, no wrong-size returns.
Find your bed size in 10 seconds
The Nissan Frontier has come in 2 bed lengths across 2005–2026:
Select your year above for the exact bed length that fits your truck.
Not sure which bed you have?
Two Frontiers from the same year can have different beds depending on cab. Don't trust the badge — measure it. It takes 30 seconds and saves a return.
- 1
Close the tailgate.
- 2
Put a tape measure on the bed floor against the bulkhead (the wall behind the cab).
- 3
Measure straight back to the inside of the closed tailgate.
- 4
Match that number to a bed length above — covers are sold by category (5.5 ft, 6.5 ft, 8 ft…), so round to the nearest one.
Frontier bed sizes & specs, year by year
Frontier · 3rd gen (D41)
- Cab styles
- King Cab, Crew Cab
- Drivetrain
- RWD, 4WD
- Max towing
- 7,150 lb
- Max payload
- 1,610 lb
- MSRP from
- $32,150 (launch)
Engines (1)
- 3.8L VQ38DD V6 310 hp · 281 lb-ft · Gas
Redesign on updated ladder frame; single 3.8L V6 / 9-speed auto. Bed dimensions carried over from D40. King Cab = 6 ft only; Crew Cab = 5 ft standard or optional 6 ft (Crew Cab Long Bed). Max tow 6,720 lb at 2022 launch, raised to 7,150 lb for MY2025.
Frontier · 2nd gen (D40)
- Cab styles
- King Cab, Crew Cab
- Drivetrain
- RWD, 4WD
- Max towing
- 6,500 lb
- Max payload
- 1,460 lb
Engines (2)
- 2.5L QR25DE I4 152 hp · 171 lb-ft · Gas
- 4.0L VQ40DE V6 261 hp · 281 lb-ft · Gas
Very long single US generation (2005-2021, 17 model years; 2009 facelift was cosmetic). King Cab = 6 ft bed only; Crew Cab = 5 ft standard or optional 6 ft. Bed sheet-metal carried over to D41, so most 5 ft/6 ft tonneau covers fit 2005-2026. Retailer floor measurements list short bed ~58.6" and long bed ~72.25".
What fits in a Frontier bed
Bed length in inches only means something once you know what it swallows. Here's how the loads people actually haul line up against every Frontier bed on record.
| Load | Needs | 5 ft · 59.5" | 6 ft · 73.3" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×8 ft sheet of plywood or drywall | 96" | Won't fit | Won't fit |
| 8 ft 2×4s and trim lumber | 96" | Won't fit | Won't fit |
| Full-size dirt bike | 85" | Won't fit | Tailgate down |
| Adult mountain bike, wheels on | 70" | Tailgate down | Fits, tailgate up |
| Two-person truck bed tent | 60" | Tailgate down | Fits, tailgate up |
| Standard 48×40 in shipping pallet | 48" | Fits, tailgate up | Fits, tailgate up |
"Tailgate down" assumes the roughly 18 inches a dropped tailgate adds on a typical pickup — measure yours before you count on it, and strap anything that overhangs. Width is the other half of the answer: a 48-inch sheet only lies flat on the bed floor when the wheel wells are more than 48 inches apart, otherwise it rides on top of the arches. For cubic feet of mulch, soil or gravel, run your dimensions through the bed volume calculator.
Volume is one limit, weight is the other. Check your Frontier's real payload → · what it can actually tow →
More Frontier specs
Bed size is one number among several. These carry the rest of the reference data for this truck specifically.
Other trucks with a Frontier-size bed
Cross-shopping, or checking whether a cover you already own could move to another truck? These pickups come in a bed within two inches of a Frontier bed.
- Chevrolet Colorado
- Ford Ranger
- GMC Canyon
- GMC Hummer EV Pickup
- Honda Ridgeline
- Jeep Gladiator
- Tesla Cybertruck
- Toyota Tacoma
Same length still isn't the same cover — rail height and bed-rail profile differ by truck. Confirm with the fitment checker before you buy or swap.
Tonneau covers that fit the Frontier
Not sure a cover will fit? Run the Frontier fitment checker → for your bed length, the cover types that fit, and any Frontier-specific gotchas.
Hands-on Frontier cover reviews are landing soon. In the meantime, browse vetted, correctly-sized options for your bed:
Frontier bed size — frequently asked
What bed sizes does the Nissan Frontier come in?
The Nissan Frontier has been offered with 2 bed lengths: 5 ft (59.5") and 6 ft (73.3"). The exact bed on your truck depends on its model year and cab — choose your year above to see which covers fit.
How do I measure my Frontier bed length?
Measure the inside floor of the bed, from the bulkhead (the wall behind the cab) to the inside of the closed tailgate. Round to the nearest standard size — tonneau covers are sold by bed-length category (e.g. 5.5 ft, 6.5 ft, 8 ft), not the exact inch.
What bed size is the newest Frontier?
The current Frontier (2022–present) comes with 5 ft (59.5") and 6 ft (73.3").
Will a tonneau cover from an older Frontier fit a newer one?
Not necessarily. Covers are matched to a specific generation and bed length, and both the bed length and the rail design can change between generations. Always match your exact model year and bed size before buying — the year-by-year table below shows where the Frontier changed.
Will a 4×8 sheet of plywood fit in a Frontier?
No. Even the longest Frontier bed (73.3") plus a dropped tailgate falls short of 96 inches, so an 8 ft sheet will overhang and needs a flag and proper tie-downs. Width matters too: a 48-inch sheet only lies flat on the floor if the gap between the wheel wells is wider than 48 inches — on mid-size trucks it rides on top of the wheel arches instead.
What's the difference between the short and long bed Frontier?
Across the model's history the beds run from 59.5" to 73.3" — a difference of 14 inches of usable floor. The longer bed hauls more and takes longer sheet goods, the shorter bed is easier to park and turn. They take different tonneau covers, so the bed you have decides which cover part number you order.
How much can a Frontier tow?
Properly equipped, the Frontier has been rated up to 7,150 lb across the generations on this page, with a maximum payload of about 1,610 lb. Those are best-case figures for a specific engine, cab and axle combination — your truck's door-jamb sticker and owner's manual are the numbers that count. Run them through the towing and payload calculators to see what's actually left for a trailer once passengers and gear are on board.
What cab configurations does the Frontier come in?
The Frontier has been offered as King Cab and Crew Cab. Cab choice is what usually decides bed length — a bigger cab on the same wheelbase means a shorter bed, which is why two trucks from the same year can need different covers.
Does a tonneau cover on a Frontier improve gas mileage?
A little, and only at highway speed. Independent testing puts the gain on a typical pickup at roughly 1–2%, which is real but small — on most Frontier trucks that's a few dollars a tank, not a payback plan. Buy a cover for the dry, locked, secure bed; treat the mileage as a bonus.
