Cargo fit · canoe, paddleboard
Will a kayak fit in a truck bed?
At 120 × 28 × 14 inches — the answer for every bed size and class of pickup, and what changes when the tailgate comes down.
Kayak
120" × 28"
14" tall as loaded
Longer than every pickup bed, so it always overhangs. Legal in most states with a flag on the end, but a bed extender is the sane way to carry one.
Every bed size, every class of truck
Length decides whether the tailgate closes. The gap between the wheel wells decides whether it lies on the floor or rides on top of them — which is also what decides whether a tonneau cover can close over it.
| Bed | Full-size pickup | Mid-size pickup | Compact / unibody pickup | Heavy-duty pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short / compact · 61" | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender |
| 5.5 ft bed · 67" | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender |
| 6.5 ft bed · 78.9" | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender |
| 8 ft bed · 97.6" | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender | Not without a bed extender |
Bed lengths shown are typical for each category. Wheel-well spacing is a class typical — measure your own truck before cutting or buying to size.
Other loads
Same checks, run for the other things people put in a bed.
Kayak in a truck bed — frequently asked
Will a Kayak fit in a truck bed?
Not with the tailgate closed — at 120 inches it is longer than an 8 ft bed, so it travels with the gate down and the overhang flagged. The table on this page works it out for every bed size and class.
What size truck bed do I need for a Kayak?
No pickup bed is long enough to close the tailgate, though an open tailgate adds roughly 20 inches to any of them. Width matters as much: at 28 inches wide it clears the wheel wells of a full-size truck.
How do I secure a Kayak in a truck bed?
Longer than every pickup bed, so it always overhangs. Legal in most states with a flag on the end, but a bed extender is the sane way to carry one. Strap it at both ends rather than only across the middle, use the factory tie-down points, and flag anything that hangs past the tailgate. If it sits above the bed rails, a tonneau cover will not close over it.
Are these measurements exact?
The Kayak dimensions are nominal for the standard version sold in the US, and bed lengths are per model and generation. Bed width and wheel-well spacing are typicals for the truck class, because they vary by a couple of inches between models. Measure your own bed before you rely on any of it.