Best Leveling and Lift Kits for the Ford F-150

Why Install a Lift Kit?

Lift and leveling kits are some of the most popular pickup accessories, but why? 

First, lifts and leveling kits provide one of the most drastic aesthetic changes. Nothing sets your pickup apart from the millions of other F-Series pickups on the road, like standing several inches taller! These suspension modifications give your F-150 a dominant, aggressive presence on the road, making everyone stop and stare. 

Aside from aesthetics, lift kits improve off-road performance. When increasing a pickup’s ride height, you also increase ground and fender clearances, allowing your vehicle to clear more challenging obstacles without rubbing or high-centering. Additionally, the added fender well clearance makes room for oversized tires and improves articulation, bolstering off-road performance.

Lift Kit Types

No two lift kits are the same. There are several popular styles, each offering different aesthetics and characteristics. Let’s dig into each lift kit type and their key differences.

Body Lifts

Body lifts are a unique lift type, being the only style that doesn’t modify your F-150’s suspension! Instead, body lifts raise your F-150’s body over the frame, thus resulting in a lifted appearance. 

This lift is accomplished using several high-density composite or aluminum spacers installed between the factory rubber frame mounts and body. Then, vehicle-specific brackets are employed to raise the bumpers and other frame-mounted accessories to compensate for the one to three-inch lift. 

Pros:

• Cost-effective

• Maintains factory ride quality

• Retains payload and towing capacities

• Increases tire clearance

Cons:

• Typically requires cutting and trimming of frame horns for bumper relocation brackets

• Minimal lift; approximately 1–3 inches 

• Time-consuming installation

Leveling Kits

From the factory, your F-150 has a sizable rake. In Layman’s terms, a rake refers to a height differential between your vehicle's front and rear end. In the case of pickup trucks, most are manufactured with a considerably taller ride height in the rear than the front, producing an unattractive ‘stink bug’ stance. To counteract the factory rake, consider installing a leveling kit! 

Leveling kits even out your F-150’s suspension, elevating the front end to sit level with the rear. These kits produce a balanced, uniform aesthetic and provide clearance for larger tires, significantly improving aesthetics from a simple, bolt-on modification! 

Pros:

• Balances stance

• Increases front ride height, ground clearance, and tire clearance 

• Retains factory towing characteristics

• Cost-effective

• Bolt-on installation

Cons:

• May cause a reverse rake while towing/hauling

• Minimal lift; approximately 1–3 inches

Basic Suspension Lifts

Basic suspension lifts are a cost-effective means of lifting your F-150 while maintaining solid on-road ride quality. Rather than including costly high-end lift struts or coilovers, most basic lift kits attain lift using drop brackets, strut spacers, coil spacers, and lift blocks. 

While these basic lift kits are affordable and ride nicely on the street, they aren’t intended for heavy off-road use. However, the added ride height, ground clearance, and tire clearance will marginally improve off-road performance.  

Pros:

• Offered in various lift heights

• Improves ground and tire clearances

• Improves aesthetics

• Most affordable suspension lift style

Cons: 

• May alter on-road performance

• May require modifications (cutting, drilling, etc.)

Coilover Suspension Lifts

For superior on and off-road performance, consider splurging for a premium coilover suspension lift! These kits ditch the cost-effective strut spacers and lift blocks of basic lift kits for high-end coilovers and premium off-road dampers, significantly enhancing ride quality on and off the road! 

Pros: 

• Offered in various lift heights

• Improved ground and tire clearances

• Improved aesthetic

• (Typically) bolt-on installation

• Improved on and off-road performance

Cons: 

• The priciest of conventional suspension lifts

Top Lift Kits

With a general understanding of lift kit types, let’s get into our expert’s top product picks! Each of the following lift kits has been carefully selected by our knowledgeable staff, ensuring the ideal blend of build quality, on and off-road performance, and overall best value.

Best Body Lift: Rough Country 1" Body Lift Kit

If you’re looking for a mild lift that won’t deteriorate your F-150’s plush factory ride quality or break the budget, consider the Rough Country 1” Body Lift! This product includes heavy-duty 1-inch glass-reinforced-nylon body lift pucks, bumper relocation brackets, and all necessary hardware. 

Rough Country backs the 1” Body Lift Kit with a limited lifetime warranty.

Features: 

• Lifts front and rear of body 1" 

• Includes front bumper relocation brackets 

• Relocates rear bumper with factory hardware 

• Fiberglass-reinforced nylon body lift pucks 

• Provides additional ground clearance 

• Clears oversize tires 

• Limited lifetime warranty

Best Leveling Kit: Bilstein B8 5100 Adjustable Lift Struts

Bilstein is a popular name in the performance suspension industry, renowned for producing some of the highest-quality automotive dampers on the market! Bilstein B8 5100 Adjustable Lift Struts and no exception, providing between 0 and 1.75 inches of lift with adjustable spring seats! 

These struts offer exceptional on and off-road ride quality and feature full height adjustability, allowing you to retain your F-150’s factory rake or eliminate it! Bilstein 5100-series dampers feature zinc-plated steel construction for superior strength and corrosion resistance, withstanding even the harshest winters. 

Bilstein B8 5100 Adjustable Lift Struts feature a simple bolt-on installation without any modifications. Bilstein backs them with a limited lifetime warranty.   

Features: 

• Performance-oriented digressive valving

• Ride height adjustable (0-2.75” lift)

• 46mm gas-charged monotube design

• Offers fade-free performance on or off-road

• Durable zinc-plated steel bodies

• Direct-fit installation

• Sold individually

• Limited lifetime warranty

Best Basic Suspension Lift: Superlift 4" Basic Lift Kits

If you’re looking for more lift than a leveling kit or body lift has to offer, but don’t want to break the bank, consider a Superlift 4” Basic Lift Kit! Superlift lift kits are high-quality, USA-made lifts backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Each kit includes everything necessary for installation, including your choice of Superlift Shadow or optional Bilstein dampers! 

Superlift is a RealTruck company, so when you purchase the 4” Basic Lift Kit or any other Superlift product from RealTruck, you’re ordering directly from the manufacturer. 

Features: 

• Complete front and rear lift kit

• Vehicle-specific fitment

• Includes all required installation hardware

• Most kits are available with Superlift or Bilstein shocks

• USA-made

• Backed by a limited lifetime warranty

Best Coilover Lift Kit: Superlift 6" Coilover Lift Kits

If premium performance is your primary concern, consider a Superlift 6” Coilover Lift Kit from RealTruck! This kit is similar to a Superlift Basic kit, sharing the same premium build quality and engineering. However, unlike the entry-level monotube dampers of the Basic lift, this kit includes high-performance King front coilovers and rear shocks, providing a comfortable on-road ride and dominating off-road performance. 

Superlift is a RealTruck company, so when you purchase the 6” Coilover Lift Kit or any other Superlift product from RealTruck, you’re ordering directly from the manufacturer. 

Features: 

• Complete front and rear lift kit

• Vehicle-specific fitment

• Includes all required installation hardware

• Includes King coilovers & King rear shocks

• USA-made

• Limited lifetime warranty