Which generation of the iconic Ford F-150 pickup will fit within your budget, pickup bed size, and cargo volume requirements?
The Ford F-150 is as American as a big slice of apple pie at a baseball game. The Ford F-series trucks have roots that run in American history all the way back to the first Ford truck ever built: the 1917 Ford Model TT truck.
Thanks to their rugged notoriety and place in American history, the Ford F-series has been the best-selling truck in America for over four decades now.
Over the years, there have been many generational changes to the F-150, but the idea has largely remained the same. Ford trucks have to be strong and durable for the most demanding tasks.
Furthermore, they need to be reliable so that you aren’t stranded on the side of the road with a full cargo load or pulling a trailer. They are built to get the job done.
However, the job required is not the same for everyone. Some people need more cargo space than others and vise versa.
Luckily, The F-150 is available with a few different bed and cab options to offer you the versatility you need when buying a truck. It is important to research what bed sizes are available and how much cargo they are capable of hauling.
So, we’re going to take a look at the last few generations of the F-150 and provide specs and details on their available bed dimensions and how much cargo volume each one has. It may come in handy when making an informed decision before your next new or used F-150 purchase.
Ford F-150 Ninth-generation (2021)
We’ll start with the latest and greatest. The 2021 Ford F-150 is the first model year of the newest generation of the F-150. With it came some pretty substantial upgrades to the truck overall and the bed specifically.
The ninth-gen models are available with Ford’s Pro Power Onboard system, which is a generator built into the bed. This allows you to power tools, battery chargers, lights, and appliances without an external generator. While that is an awesome feature, what do the bed sizes look like?
The 2021 F-150 is available with a 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, or eight-foot Styleside bed, depending on your cab choice.
The regular (single) cab has seating for up to three and is available only with the 6.5-foot Styleside bed or the eight-foot Styleside bed.
The Supercab offers seating for up to five or six people thanks to its extended size and rear seats. It has two half doors that can be opened when the front doors are open. It, too, is available only with the 6.5-foot Styleside bed and the eight-foot Styleside bed.
Finally, the Supercrew cab F-150 is a full four-door cab with seating for up to six people. It offers a much more comfortable experience for passengers relative to the Supercab.
However, it is available only with the 5.5-foot Styleside bed or the 6.5-foot Styleside bed. It can not be purchased with the eight-foot Styleside bed.
Ninth-generation Bed Dimensions
Knowing what cabs are available with what beds is an important first step. More important, though, is knowing whether the bed dimensions available with the desired cab will work for you. The dimensions of the beds available on the 2021 Ford F-150 are as follows:
5.5-foot Styleside:
- 67.1 inches long
- 51.1 inches wide
- 21.4 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 52.8 cu. ft.
6.5-foot Styleside:
- 78.9 inches long
- 51.1 inches wide
- 21.4 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 62.3 cu. ft.
Eight-foot Styleside:
- 97.6 inches long
- 51.1 inches wide
- 21.4 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 77.4 cu. ft.
Ford F-150 Eighth-generation (2015-2020)
The eighth-generation F-150 is stylistically very similar to the ninth-generation models. Like the ninth gen. models, it offers a host of different engine, cab, and pickup bed dimensions and options.
The best part about the span of the eighth generation F-150’s production run is that used examples are getting to be quite affordable.
Early eighth-generation models are now available for less than half the cost of buying a brand new F-150, opening ownership opportunities up to a massive range of used truck shoppers.
Looking at the 2019 Ford F-150 as an example, you’ll find that the eighth-generation bed and cab options are virtually identical to the ninth-generation models.
The Regular Cab variants are available with either the 6.5-foot or eight-foot Styleside beds. Supercab models are available with the 6.5-foot or eight-foot Styleside beds as well.
Lastly, the 5.5-foot Styleside bed once again makes an appearance on the Supercrew F-150.
However, it is also available on the Supercab F-150 Raptor. Alternatively, the Supercrew and Supercab Raptor were also available with the 6.5-foot Stylside bed.
Eighth-generation Bed Dimensions
The dimensions of the pickup truck beds on the eighth-generation F-150 are nearly identical to that of the ninth-generation examples as well.
The only dimension that differs from the ninth gen F-150 models is the width, which is slightly narrower than the ninth-generation models. The eighth-generation bed dimensions are as follows:
5.5-foot Styleside:
- 67.1 inches long
- 50.6 inches wide
- 21.4 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 52.8 cu. ft.
6.5-foot Styleside:
- 78.9 inches long
- 50.6 inches wide
- 21.4 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 62.3 cu. ft.
Eight-foot Styleside:
- 97.6 inches long
- 50.6 inches wide
- 21.4 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 77.3 cu. ft.
Ultimately, used truck shoppers can expect to find virtually all the same capabilities and cargo capacities as the newest F-150 at a fraction of the price, thanks to the similarities of these two generations.
Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) models are available, and some even still carry a factory warranty. This makes a used eighth-gen F-150 a great option for those unable to purchase a brand new truck.
Ford F-150 Seventh-generation (2009-2014)
The seventh-generation F-150 was the last generation to use steel bodies before Ford’s transition to military-grade aluminum. It was also the first generation to offer an optional Ecoboost engine platform.
Furthermore, it was the generation that brought us the first F-150 Raptor for the 2010 model year.
Like the newer variants, the seventh generation F-150 came with three cab options by the same name. Regular Cab, Supercab, and Supercrew with the same door layouts.
Also, like the newer variants, there are three beds available. Also being 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and eight-foot lengths.
The Regular Cab variants of the seventh-gen F-150 are available with either the 6.5-footbed or the eight-foot bed.
The Supercab variants of the seventh-gen F-150 are available with all three bed length options.
The Supercrew variants of the seventh-gen F-150 are available only with the 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed lengths.
Seventh-generation Bed Dimensions
While the bed dimensions of the F-150 have remained very similar over the past few decades, there are minor differences in their interior dimensions. The dimensions of each available bed for the seventh generation F-150 models are as follows:
5.5-foot Extra Short Bed:
- 67.0 inches long
- 50.0 inches wide
- 22.3 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 52.8 cu. ft.
6.5-foot Short Bed:
- 78.8 inches long
- 50.0 inches wide
- 22.4 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 65.5 cu. ft.
Eight-foot Long Bed:
- 97.4 inches long
- 50.0 inches wide
- 22.4 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 81.3 cu. ft.
Ford F-150 Sixth-generation (2004-2008)
The sixth-generation F-150 is fairly old-school when it comes to technology. First introduced with the 2004 Ford F-150, no EcoBoost engines were available at the time of the release of the sixth-generation F-150.
There was, however, a V6 option. Most F-150s from this generation are likely to be found with the Triton 5.4-liter V8.
Like the generations we previously discussed, there are three variants available for the sixth-gen F-150 in terms of cab sizes.
However, even the regular cab offered a bit more space behind the driver seats than you’d see in most single cab trucks.
Additionally, the option of a flair side (known as step-side throughout the truck industry) adds a fourth set of bed dimensions.
Like the newer generations, the Supercrew cab variants are only available with the short and extra short bed lengths. The long bed is reserved only for regular and extended cab variants.
Sixth-generation Bed Dimensions
The addition of the fourth bed dimension set can get a bit confusing, as the Flareside bed does change the dimensions up just a bit. The Flareside bed is 6.5-feet in length.
However, the standard 6.5-foot bed is also still available. That being said, the dimensions of the sixth-gen F-150 bed options are as follows:
5.5-foot Extra Short Bed:
- 67.0 inches long
- 50.0 inches wide
- 22.3 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 52.8 cu. ft.
6.5-foot Short Bed:
- 78.8 inches long
- 50.0 inches wide
- 22.3 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 65.5 cu. ft.
6.5-foot Flareside Bed:
- 78.8 inches long
- 50.0 inches wide
- 22.2 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 59.1 cu. ft.
Eight-foot Long Bed:
- 97.4 inches long
- 50.0 inches wide
- 22.3 inches high
- Cargo box volume of 81.3 cu. ft.
Ford F-150 Bed Dimensions and What to Buy
Overall, no matter what F-150 falls into your budget, there is an option for you. Furthermore, despite many years falling between these four most recent F-150 generations, there aren’t any major differences in the cargo areas between them.
The newest generation does have a bit more space, but you certainly won’t be disappointed with the cargo volume of older generations either.
Which truck is right for you lands solely on your needs and your budget. Whether you want a standard cab, extended, or even a crew cab, you’ll likely have plenty of space to accomplish what you need.
As always, when shopping for a used car, don’t forget to use our free VIN tool to take a look at the ownership, accident, and maintenance history to make sure you’re buying a car that won’t let you down.
Photos: Ford
