Leveling Kits

Leveling kits that raise the front of your truck 1 to 3 inches so it sits flat, from Belltech, Rough Country, ReadyLIFT, Tuff Country, MaxTrac, BDS and Bilstein. Spacer kits start at $29.95, leveling struts run about $150, and complete leveling coilovers cost $775 to $780. Find kits for the Ram 1500, F-150, Silverado, Colorado, Jeep and more.

What a leveling kit does

Most pickups leave the factory sitting lower at the front than the rear. That rake gives the rear room to squat when you load the bed or hitch a trailer and still end up roughly level. A leveling kit raises only the front, usually 1 to 2.5 inches, so the truck sits flat when empty. It also opens up room in the front wheel wells for a slightly bigger tire.

A leveling kit is not a lift kit. The rear stays at factory height, so ground clearance under the rear axle does not change. If you want more height at both ends, see our lift kits or read leveling kit vs lift kit.

How to choose a leveling kit

  1. Measure your rake. Park on flat ground and measure from the center of each wheel hub straight up to the fender lip, front and rear. The difference is roughly how much front lift you need to sit level. Leave a little rake if you tow or haul often.
  2. Match the truck exactly. Check the model years, 2WD or 4WD, cab, and trim. Off-road trims (TRX, ZR2, AT4X, Rubicon) and trucks with factory air suspension need their own kits.
  3. Pick the type. A spacer is the cheapest. A complete leveling strut or coilover costs more but replaces worn parts and is easier to install.
  4. Plan the tires. Use our tire size calculator to compare sizes, and the wheel offset calculator if new wheels are part of the plan.

Types of leveling kits compared

TypeHow it worksBest forPrice on our store
Strut or coil spacerAluminum, steel or poly spacer above the strut or coil springLowest cost, keeps factory struts$29.95 to $349.95 (Rough Country), $49 to $225 (Belltech), $119.99 to $146.99 (MaxTrac)
Branded leveling kitsMostly spacer based; some add shocks or rear parts, so check the listingMatching a kit to your exact truck$119.99 to $529.95 (MaxTrac, Tuff Country, BDS, ReadyLIFT)
Leveling strutComplete front strut with a raised spring seatTrucks with worn struts, easy installBelltech $149 to $155.40
Complete leveling kitBelltech SP leveling kits, listed by truckRam, Silverado, Colorado, Jeep and Titan$457 to $795.99
Leveling coiloverHeight-adjustable coilover, often 0 to 2 or 0 to 3 inchesDialing in exact height with better dampingBelltech $775 to $778.80, Bilstein 5100 Gladiator kit $756

Spacers keep the factory spring and shock, so ride quality stays close to stock but the shock works in a slightly different part of its travel. A leveling strut or coilover replaces the whole assembly, which is why it costs more. If your truck has high miles, the complete unit is often the better buy because the factory struts are due anyway.

Older Ram 1500, Silverado and Sierra trucks with torsion bar front suspension level with new torsion keys instead of spacers. Make sure the kit matches your front suspension type.

Leveling kits by truck

TruckWhat we listExample prices
Ram 1500Rough Country 1.5 to 2 in kits (including air suspension and TRX), Belltech leveling struts and kits$29.95 to $349.95 Rough Country, $149 to $155.40 struts, $457 to $462 kits
Ford F-150Spacer kit, Belltech 0 to 2 in leveling strut, Belltech leveling coilovers$114.99 spacer kit, $155.40 strut, $778.80 coilovers
Silverado and Sierra 1500Front spacers, Belltech struts, SP kits and 2 in leveling coiloversFrom $55 spacer, $646 to $773.99 kits, $775 to $778.80 coilovers
Colorado and Canyon1 to 2 in leveling kits for 2015-2022 and 2023+, including ZR2 and AT4X$89.99 to $189.99, Belltech 1022SP $632
F-250 and F-3502 in leveling kits, Belltech 2.5 in kit$86.99 to $134.99, Belltech 1028SP $508
Wrangler and GladiatorCoil spacers, BDS 2 in kit, Bilstein 5100 front leveling, Belltech Rubicon kits$239 to $756
Ford Ranger 2019+Spacer kits and Belltech 2 in leveling coilovers$217.99 to $775
Toyota TacomaBelltech 0 to 2 in leveling strut for 2016-2020 4WD$155.40

Ram 1500 owners should check the suspension type first. 2019 and newer trucks with factory air suspension need a kit made for air, like the Rough Country kit listed for them at $29.95, while coil-spring trucks use spacers or struts.

Tire size after leveling

How big you can go depends on the truck, the lift height, wheel offset and tire width, so there is no single answer. As one example, an F-150 guide we checked says a leveling kit usually allows 33 to 35 inch tires without major trimming. Wider tires and lower-offset wheels can still rub at full lock or on the upper control arm, so check your wheel specs before you buy. Our ride height and wheel fitment calculator helps you see how the pieces fit together.

What else you'll need

  • Alignment. Raising the front changes camber and toe. Get it aligned right after install.
  • Upper control arms (sometimes). On some IFS trucks, 2 inches or more of front lift can max out the alignment range or bind the upper ball joint. Aftermarket control arms fix that.
  • Shocks for spacer kits. A spacer keeps the factory strut, so worn struts stay worn. If yours are tired, a Bilstein 5100 or a complete leveling strut is worth the upgrade; see Bilstein 5100 shocks.
  • Headlight aim. A level front points the headlights higher, so re-aim them.

Install notes

Most leveling kits bolt in with hand tools and finish in an afternoon. Top-mount strut spacers mean removing the strut and, for some designs, compressing the spring, which needs a proper spring compressor. Complete leveling struts and coilovers skip that step because they arrive assembled. Torsion key kits are usually the quickest, but you need a torsion bar unloading tool. If you are not comfortable with spring compressors, have a shop do it.

Costs

On our store, the median leveling kit price is about $240. Basic spacer kits run $29.95 to about $220, complete leveling struts about $150, and leveling coilover kits $775 to $780. One guide puts professional install at roughly $100 to $300. Add an alignment, and wheels and tires if you are going bigger.

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Leveling Kits FAQ

What does a leveling kit do?
It raises the front of your truck, usually 1 to 2.5 inches, so it sits level with the rear instead of nose-down. It also gives a little more room for bigger front tires.
How much does a leveling kit cost?
On our store, spacer kits start at $29.95 and most cost under $350. Complete leveling struts run about $150 and leveling coilover kits $775 to $780, plus installation and an alignment.
Do I need an alignment after installing a leveling kit?
Yes. Raising the front changes camber and toe, so get the truck aligned right after the install.
Does a leveling kit affect towing?
It does not change your rated towing or payload. Because the factory rake is gone, the rear will sit lower than the front with a heavy load, so towing air bags or helper springs are a good pairing if you tow often.
Can I install a leveling kit myself?
Most kits bolt in with hand tools in an afternoon. Strut spacers can require compressing the spring, so use a proper spring compressor or have a shop do it.
Will a leveling kit ruin my ride quality?
Spacer kits keep your factory springs and shocks, so ride quality stays close to stock. Leveling struts and coilovers replace the shocks too, so they can ride better than worn factory parts.
What size leveling kit do I need?
Measure from each hub center to the fender lip, front and rear. The difference is about how much front lift you need, and many owners leave a little rake if they tow.