# Do Tonneau Covers Improve Gas Mileage? The Evidence > Do tonneau covers improve gas mileage? What wind-tunnel, track and EPA evidence shows, why maker claims of 10% don't hold up, and what a small gain is worth. - Source: https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/do-tonneau-covers-improve-gas-mileage/ - Markdown version: https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/do-tonneau-covers-improve-gas-mileage.md - Last updated: 2026-11-12 --- - [Home](https://truckcoverguide.com/) - [Guides](https://truckcoverguide.com/guides/) - Do Tonneau Covers Improve Gas Mileage? What the Tests Actually Show Myth check # Do Tonneau Covers Improve Gas Mileage? What the Tests Actually Show Updated November 12, 2026 By [Truck Cover Guide Editorial Team](https://truckcoverguide.com/about/) [How we research](https://truckcoverguide.com/how-we-research/) Prices are approximate and change often, so check the current price before you buy. ## Key takeaways - A cover probably helps a little at highway speed, but the published evidence for aftermarket covers on gas trucks is thin. Car and Driver says it has yet to see solid empirical data. - The best controlled figure is for drag, not fuel: Texas Tech's wind-tunnel work (SAE 881874) found a partial bed cover cut drag 5–6%. The fuel saving is a fraction of that. - Car and Driver measured about 10% more range at 75 mph with a Tesla Cybertruck's factory cover closed, but that's an electric truck at sustained high speed with an integrated cover. - Maker claims of "up to 10%" (TruXedo) and "10–13%" (Tyger) aren't backed by any published test we found. Dropping the tailgate makes things slightly worse, not better. - Even a 3–5% highway gain is worth tens of dollars a year for typical driving, so a cover rarely pays for itself in fuel. ## Our top picks - 1![Gator ETX Soft Roll-Up Tonneau Cover](https://truckcoverguide.com/_astro/gator-etx-roll-up.Cm7pyct7_Z19vqXo.webp)If you're buying a cover anyway on a budget: Gator soft roll-up, about $220 for the F-150 5.5 ft[Gator ETX Soft Roll-Up Tonneau Cover](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/gator-etx-roll-up/)Soft roll-up · Vinyl · 100% bed access · Locks with tailgate7.0**$**$$$BudgetPrice tier: Budget[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WCHHYPB?tag=truckcoverguide.com-20) - 2![BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Tonneau Cover](https://truckcoverguide.com/_astro/bakflip-mx4.CoOqV3JL_1Hou5h.webp)Our best overall cover: BAKFlip MX4, about $1,200 for the F-150 5.5 ft[BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Tonneau Cover](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/bakflip-mx4/)Hard folding · Aluminum panels · 100% bed access · Locks with tailgate8.2**$$$**$PremiumPrice tier: Premium[Check price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L44X6NZ?tag=truckcoverguide.com-20) ### On this page 8 sections - [The short answer](#the-short-answer) - [What the evidence says](#what-the-evidence-says) - [Why speed matters so much](#why-speed-matters-so-much) - [What a small gain is worth](#what-a-small-gain-is-worth) - [If you want the best chance of a gain](#if-you-want-the-best-chance-of-a-gain) - [So why buy a cover?](#so-why-buy-a-cover) - [How we wrote this](#how-we-wrote-this) - [FAQ](#faq) ## Before you choose - [Soft vs Hard Tonneau Covers: Which Is Worth It for Your Truck?](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/soft-vs-hard-tonneau-covers/) - [The 8 Best Tonneau Covers of 2026: Ranked by Type, Truck and Budget](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/best-tonneau-covers-2026/) - [How Much Does a Tonneau Cover Cost? 2026 Prices by Type and Truck](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/how-much-does-a-tonneau-cover-cost/) “Pays for itself in gas” is one of the most repeated tonneau cover claims, and some makers put a number on it: TruXedo’s Lo Pro marketing (via etrailer) says “up to 10 percent,” and Tyger’s T5 page claims “10–13%.” We went looking for the evidence behind numbers like that. There’s some, it points in the right direction, and it’s much smaller and less certain than the marketing. We haven’t run fuel tests ourselves. Everything below comes from published sources we read on November 12, 2026, and each is linked. Where a result comes from a test, we name who ran it. ## The short answer A cover probably improves highway fuel economy slightly on many trucks. Nobody has published a solid, controlled figure for an aftermarket cover on a gas pickup. Car and Driver, after testing six covers, put it plainly: “we’ve yet to see any solid empirical data on the subject.” Don’t buy a cover to save fuel; buy it for security and weather, and treat any saving as a bonus. ## What the evidence says What tests have found about covers and fuel economy Published wind-tunnel, track and EPA evidence. Effects are small and vary by truck and speed. | Source | Finding | Caveat | | --- | --- | --- | | [Car and Driver: Tesla Cybertruck range tests (2024)](https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a60200909/2024-tesla-cybertruck-aerodynamics-affect-range-tests/)**Steady 75 mph on a 6.6-mile oval, factory tonneau open vs closed | 58.3 kWh/100 mi with the tonneau closed vs 64.2 kWh/100 mi open, which Car and Driver sums up as about 10% more range with the cover closed. Dropping the tailgate as well changed almost nothing (64.0). | One electric truck with an integrated factory cover, at a sustained 75 mph. Gas trucks lose a smaller share of their energy to drag, and slower or mixed driving shrinks the effect. | | [Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel EPA rating (2015), via Car and Driver](https://www.caranddriver.com/car-accessories/best-tonneau-covers-tested/)**EPA highway rating of the efficiency-trim Ram, which ships with a factory tonneau | Car and Driver notes the HFE was rated 29 mpg highway with its OEM tonneau, vs 28 mpg for the standard EcoDiesel: about a 3% better rating. | The HFE had other efficiency changes, so the cover's share of that 1 mpg isn't isolated. Car and Driver says it has yet to see solid empirical data on aftermarket covers. | | [Texas Tech University, SAE paper 881874 (1988)](https://doi.org/10.4271/881874)**Wind-tunnel tests of pickup drag-reduction devices, including a cover over part of the bed | A cover over the rear portion of the bed cut aerodynamic drag 5–6% and lift 30%. A cover plus a wing reduced drag about 17% on a scale model. | Drag, not fuel: at highway speed only part of a gas truck's fuel goes to overcoming drag, so the fuel saving is a fraction of the drag change. 1980s truck shapes. | | [K. R. Cooper, SAE paper 2004-01-1146](https://doi.org/10.4271/2004-01-1146)**"Pickup Truck Aerodynamics: Keep Your Tailgate Up" | Removing or lowering the tailgate increases drag, though only by small amounts, and raises lift by up to 60%. | Debunks tailgate-down driving rather than measuring covers directly. | | [MythBusters: tailgate up vs down](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfFYnvFJk9c)**Fuel-use comparison on the same truck (official channel upload, 2025) | Tailgate up was more fuel efficient than tailgate down, busting the myth that dropping it helps. | Entertainment test on one truck; it addresses tailgates, not covers. | | [Cover makers' marketing](https://www.tygerauto.com/tonneau-cover/tyger-t5/tyger-t5-alloy-hard-folding.html)**TruXedo (Lo Pro, via etrailer) and Tyger (T5) | Claims of "up to 10%" (TruXedo) and "10–13%" (Tyger) better gas mileage. | Maker claims with no published test method. We found no independent test of a gas truck showing savings that large. | Run the dollars for your own driving in the [fuel economy reality check](https://truckcoverguide.com/tools/fuel-economy-check/). ### Wind-tunnel work: drag drops a little The strongest controlled result is old and measures drag, not fuel. Texas Tech researchers (SAE paper 881874, 1988) tested pickup drag-reduction devices in a low-speed wind tunnel and at full scale in the Lockheed wind tunnel. A cover over the rear portion of the bed cut aerodynamic drag 5–6% and lift 30%; a cover combined with a wing reduced drag about 17% on a scale model. Drag and fuel aren’t the same thing. At highway speed, only part of a gas truck’s fuel goes to pushing air out of the way; the rest goes to rolling resistance, drivetrain losses and the engine’s own inefficiency. So a 5–6% drag cut means a smaller percentage fuel saving, and less still at lower speeds. Truck shapes have also changed a lot since the 1980s. ### The EPA hint: Ram 1500 HFE Car and Driver points to the 2015 Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel, an efficiency-focused trim that was rated 29 mpg highway by the EPA with a factory-installed tonneau, against 28 mpg for the standard EcoDiesel. That’s about a 3% better rating. But the HFE had other efficiency changes too, so the cover’s share of that 1 mpg isn’t isolated. ### The big number: an electric truck at 75 mph Car and Driver’s range testing of the Tesla Cybertruck produced the most dramatic result: at a steady 75 mph on a 6.6-mile oval, the truck used 58.3 kWh per 100 miles with its factory roll-top closed and 64.2 with it open, about 10% more range closed. Lowering the tailgate as well barely mattered (64.0). It’s a real measurement, but not a forecast for your F-150. It’s one electric truck with an integrated cover designed with the body, at a sustained high speed. Electric trucks lose a larger share of their energy to drag than gas trucks do, because their drivetrains waste less elsewhere. Treat it as an upper bound. ### Tailgate down doesn’t help The old trick of driving with the tailgate down or swapping it for a net doesn’t work. K. R. Cooper’s SAE paper “Pickup Truck Aerodynamics: Keep Your Tailgate Up” (2004-01-1146) found that lowering or removing the tailgate increases drag, though only by small amounts, and raises lift by up to 60%. MythBusters reached the same verdict: tailgate up was more fuel efficient. The usual explanation is that air trapped in the bed behind a raised tailgate forms a slow-moving pocket that helps the airflow pass over the bed instead of dropping into it. ### Maker claims We found no published test method behind TruXedo’s “up to 10 percent” or Tyger’s “10–13%.” Given that the controlled drag figure is 5–6% and fuel savings are a fraction of drag savings, double-digit fuel gains for a gas truck aren’t plausible as a general claim. If a maker publishes a test protocol, we’ll read it. ## Why speed matters so much Aerodynamic drag grows with the square of speed: double the speed and the drag force roughly quadruples. Around town at 30 mph, drag is a minor part of a truck’s fuel use next to acceleration, idling and stop-and-go. On a 70–75 mph interstate it’s one of the largest. That’s why every credible result above is a highway result, and why our calculator applies any improvement only to highway miles. It also explains why results vary so much from truck to truck. Cab height, bed length, tailgate shape, ride height and tires all change how air flows over the bed, so a cover that helps one truck slightly may do nothing measurable on another. A lifted truck on all-terrain tires has bigger aerodynamic problems than an open bed. ## What a small gain is worth Small percentages translate into small dollars. Our [fuel economy reality check](https://truckcoverguide.com/tools/fuel-economy-check/) counts only highway miles, since that’s where aerodynamics matter, and shows the savings for several scenarios. With its defaults (12,000 miles a year, 55% at highway speed, 20 mpg on the highway, $3.50 a gallon), you burn about 330 gallons a year at highway speed, and: | Highway mpg improvement | Gallons saved per year | Saved per year | Payback on a $550 cover | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1% | ~3.3 | ~$11 | ~48 years | | 2% | ~6.5 | ~$23 | ~24 years | | 3% (about the Ram HFE difference) | ~9.6 | ~$34 | ~16 years | | 5% (optimistic) | ~15.7 | ~$55 | ~10 years | A high-mileage highway commuter does better, and a mostly-town truck does worse. Plug in your own numbers: [run the fuel economy reality check](https://truckcoverguide.com/tools/fuel-economy-check/#miles=12000&hwy=55&mpg=20&gas=3.50&cover=550). ## If you want the best chance of a gain The evidence says the effect is aerodynamic and mostly at highway speed, so a few things follow: - **Keep the bed covered and the cover flat.** A cover that flaps or bows in the wind is unlikely to help; Car and Driver noted the Revolver X4s doesn’t flap when closed. - **Pick a low profile.** Covers that sit at or near the rails, like the [BAKFlip MX4](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/bakflip-mx4/), [TruXedo Lo Pro](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/truxedo-lo-pro/) or [Gator soft roll-up](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/gator-etx-roll-up/), keep the shape closest to a covered bed. - **Keep the tailgate up.** Always. - **Don’t add drag back.** A loaded bed rack, crossbars or a rooftop tent will add far more drag than a cover removes. - **Watch the weight.** Hard covers that publish a weight run about 61–97 lb, which matters a little in town. Soft covers are about 24–35 lb. ## So why buy a cover? For the reasons that actually hold up: keeping cargo out of sight, keeping most rain and dust out, and (with a hard cover) keeping thieves out. Our [soft vs hard](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/soft-vs-hard-tonneau-covers/) guide covers those trade-offs, [are tonneau covers waterproof?](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/are-tonneau-covers-waterproof/) covers sealing, and the [best tonneau covers of 2026](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/best-tonneau-covers-2026/) ranks every line. If price is the deciding factor, the [Gator soft roll-up](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/gator-etx-roll-up/) is about $220 for the F-150 5.5 ft ([check the price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WCHHYPB?tag=truckcoverguide.com-20)), and [how much a tonneau cover costs](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/how-much-does-a-tonneau-cover-cost/) breaks down every price range. ## How we wrote this We searched for published tests and studies of pickup bed covers, tailgates and fuel use, read each source and summarized only what it measured. Where a source measured drag rather than fuel, or an electric truck rather than a gas one, we say so. We’ll update this page if a controlled test of aftermarket covers on gas trucks is published. More on our approach at [how we research](https://truckcoverguide.com/how-we-research/). ## Don't guess. Calculate. - [📏 Bed Size Finder](https://truckcoverguide.com/tools/bed-size-finder/): what bed length your truck has - [🎯 Cover Matcher](https://truckcoverguide.com/tools/cover-matcher/): which cover type suits you - [📐 Bed Access Calculator](https://truckcoverguide.com/tools/bed-access-calculator/): usable bed with the cover open - [📊 Compare every cover](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/): sortable spec table ## Frequently asked questions ### Do tonneau covers really save gas? Probably a little, mostly at highway speed. A Texas Tech wind-tunnel study (SAE 881874) found covering part of the bed cut drag about 5–6%, which means a smaller fuel saving. The Ram 1500 HFE was rated 29 mpg highway with a factory tonneau vs 28 for the standard EcoDiesel, but it had other changes. Car and Driver says it hasn't seen solid data for aftermarket covers. ### How much gas mileage does a tonneau cover add? Nobody has published a solid figure for aftermarket covers on gas trucks. A cautious reading of the evidence is about 1–3% at highway speed, with no measurable effect in town. Maker claims of 10% or more aren't supported by any test we found. ### Is it more fuel efficient to drive with the tailgate down? No. An SAE paper titled 'Pickup Truck Aerodynamics: Keep Your Tailgate Up' (2004-01-1146) found lowering or removing the tailgate increases drag, though by small amounts, and MythBusters found tailgate-up more fuel efficient. ### Will a tonneau cover pay for itself in fuel savings? Rarely. At 12,000 miles a year with 55% at highway speed, 20 mpg on the highway and $3.50 a gallon, a 2% highway improvement saves about $23 a year and even 5% only about $55, so a $550 cover would take about ten years to pay back on fuel alone. ### Does a hard or soft cover save more fuel? No published test compares them. What matters aerodynamically is that the bed is covered and the cover sits low and flat; a low-profile cover that doesn't flap is the most likely to help. Buy hard or soft for security and weather, not mpg. ## Sources - [Car and Driver: Best Pickup Truck Tonneau Covers of 2026, Tested](https://www.caranddriver.com/car-accessories/best-tonneau-covers-tested/) · checked 2026-11-12 — Says it has yet to see solid empirical data on fuel savings from tonneau covers, and notes the 2015 Ram HFE diesel's 29 mpg EPA highway rating came with an OEM tonneau, up from 28 on the standard model. - [Car and Driver: Tesla Cybertruck aerodynamics and range tests](https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a60200909/2024-tesla-cybertruck-aerodynamics-affect-range-tests/) · checked 2026-11-12 — At a steady 75 mph, the Cybertruck used 58.3 kWh/100 mi with its tonneau closed vs 64.2 open; lowering the tailgate as well changed little (64.0). - [SAE 881874: Pickup Truck Drag Reduction (Texas Tech University)](https://doi.org/10.4271/881874) · checked 2026-11-12 — A cover over the rear portion of the bed reduced drag 5–6% and lift 30%; a cover plus wing cut drag about 17% on a scale model. - [SAE 2004-01-1146: Pickup Truck Aerodynamics, Keep Your Tailgate Up](https://doi.org/10.4271/2004-01-1146) · checked 2026-11-12 — Removing or lowering the tailgate increases drag, though only by small amounts, and increases lift by up to 60%. - [MythBusters: Is a truck more efficient with the tailgate down?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfFYnvFJk9c) · checked 2026-11-12 — Tailgate up proved more fuel efficient, busting the myth. - [Tyger Auto: T5 alloy hard folding cover (maker page)](https://www.tygerauto.com/tonneau-cover/tyger-t5/tyger-t5-alloy-hard-folding.html) · checked 2026-11-12 — Claims gas savings of 10–13%, with no published test method. ## Get new guides by e-mail One short e-mail when Truck Cover Guide publishes a new guide. No spam, no sharing your address, and you can unsubscribe in one click. E-mail address New posts only · Unsubscribe anytime · [Privacy](https://truckcoverguide.com/privacy/) Our #1 pick If you're buying a cover anyway on a budget: Gator soft roll-up, about $220 for the F-150 5.5 ft ![Gator ETX Soft Roll-Up Tonneau Cover](https://truckcoverguide.com/_astro/gator-etx-roll-up.Cm7pyct7_19f8hC.webp) ### [Gator ETX Soft Roll-Up Tonneau Cover](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/gator-etx-roll-up/) 7.0 - Soft roll-up - Vinyl - 100% bed access Anyone who just wants the bed covered, out of sight and mostly dry for the least money. $$$$ Budget Price tier: Budget F-150 5.5 ft listing on Amazon [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WCHHYPB?tag=truckcoverguide.com-20)[Read the full review](https://truckcoverguide.com/tonneau-covers/gator-etx-roll-up/) [📏 Which bed do you have? Make, model, year and cab in; bed length out, from the maker's spec sheet.](https://truckcoverguide.com/tools/bed-size-finder/)[🎯 Roll-up, fold or retractable? Match a cover type to your security, access and budget in 30 seconds.](https://truckcoverguide.com/tools/cover-matcher/) ## Keep reading [Head-to-head ### Soft vs Hard Tonneau Covers: Which Is Worth It for Your Truck? Soft vs hard tonneau covers compared on security, weather sealing, bed access, load rating, weight and price, with the covers we'd buy on each side. Updated Nov 12, 2026](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/soft-vs-hard-tonneau-covers/)[Top picks ### The 8 Best Tonneau Covers of 2026: Ranked by Type, Truck and Budget The best tonneau covers of 2026, ranked: BAKFlip MX4, Gator EFX, Gator roll-up, BAK Revolver X4s, RetraxPRO MX and more, with fitment and price notes. Updated Nov 12, 2026](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/best-tonneau-covers-2026/)[Cost guide ### How Much Does a Tonneau Cover Cost? 2026 Prices by Type and Truck How much a tonneau cover costs in 2026: verified Amazon prices by type, why the same cover costs more for some trucks, extras to budget for, and value picks. Updated Nov 12, 2026](https://truckcoverguide.com/posts/how-much-does-a-tonneau-cover-cost/) If you're buying a cover anyway on a budget: Gator soft roll-up, about $220 for the F-150 5.5 ft Gator Soft Roll-Up $$$$ Budget Price tier: Budget [Check price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WCHHYPB?tag=truckcoverguide.com-20)