We level more F-150s than any other truck at our shop in Willis, TX — so when people ask which leveling kit is "best," we answer from install experience, not affiliate links. Here are our ranked picks by year range, our spacer-vs-strut call for this specific truck, what it costs installed, and what actually fits once it's leveled.
Every kit below is one we stock, install, and align in-house. If you want the full deep dive on fitment and pricing, our F150 leveling kit guide covers it end to end — this post is the short list.
How We Pick What Goes on This List
Three filters. The kit has to hold alignment specs — if we can't dial the front end in after the install, it's out. It has to keep or improve the factory ride, because a leveled truck you hate driving is a bad trade. And the brand has to stand behind its hardware: every name here — ReadyLIFT, Bilstein, Rough Country, Eibach, Fox — is one we install week in, week out.
Best Leveling Kits for 2014–2020 F-150s
1. ReadyLIFT 2.25" SST — best overall. The kit we recommend most for daily-driven F-150s. Laser-cut steel, keeps factory ride quality, clears 33s clean, and it doesn't stress the factory struts the way taller spacers can. Install it, align it, forget it.
2. Bilstein 5100 Adjustable — best ride quality. Not a spacer — a complete adjustable front strut that levels the truck and upgrades the shock in one shot. On 2014–2020 trucks with real miles on them, this is often the smartest money, because those factory struts are usually due for replacement anyway.
3. Rough Country 2" — best value. The budget pick that doesn't act like one. Solid hardware, lifetime replacement warranty, and it leaves the most room in the budget for wheels and tires. For a work truck or a first build, it's hard to argue with.
These model years are the sweet spot — every kit above has a dialed-in application, so fitment surprises are rare.
Best Leveling Kits for 2021–2026 F-150s
1. ReadyLIFT 2.25" SST — best overall. Same verdict on the current body style: clean install, factory ride, no drama. One note — 2021+ trucks on higher trims with adaptive cruise may need the sensor recalibrated after leveling, so plan for that as part of the job.
2. Bilstein 5100 Adjustable — best ride quality. If your F-150 sees washboard roads, towing, or you simply care how it drives, the 5100 is worth every dollar. The ride improvement is immediately noticeable, and the adjustable height lets us set the stance exactly where you want it.
3. Eibach Pro-Truck / Fox 2.0 Coilovers — best premium setup. For the owner who wants a level stance plus serious suspension performance. Full coilover replacements with real valving — overkill for a mall-crawler, perfect for high-mileage highway trucks and weekend off-roaders.
Spacer vs Strut for the F-150: Our Pick
For most F-150s, a quality spacer kit is the right call. The F-150's factory ride is genuinely good, and a well-made spacer preserves it while getting you the stance and the tire clearance — that's why the ReadyLIFT SST tops both lists above.
We steer owners toward a strut-style kit in two cases: the truck has enough miles that the factory struts are tired, or ride quality is the top priority. Either way you're replacing parts you'd eventually buy anyway, so the extra cost works harder.
Still weighing the two? Our full spacer vs strut breakdown compares budget, ride, and adjustability side by side.
When Upper Control Arms Are Worth Adding
At normal leveling height, the factory upper control arms are fine for most F-150s — we don't add UCAs to every level.
They earn their keep in specific setups: wider 12.5" tires that contact the factory arm, a maxed-out 2.5" level running 35s, or a truck that sees real off-road use. Aftermarket UCAs improve suspension angles and buy back clearance where it's tight.
We covered the decision in detail in Do You Need UCAs With a Leveling Kit?
What It Costs Installed
Plan on $550–$1,000 all-in with alignment for an F-150 leveling kit at our shop. Spacer-style kits start at $550 installed — parts, labor, and alignment in one number — while replacement-strut setups like the Bilstein 5100 land toward the top of that range.
If tires are part of the plan, adding 33s typically runs about $1,250 and 35s about $1,500 on top of the kit. Most leveling installs are same-day, and financing is available with as little as $10 to start through Acima.
For the full pricing breakdown by kit type, see our leveling kit install cost guide.
Leveled on 33s or 35s: What Fits
The whole point of leveling, for most owners, is bigger tires. Here's what we see on leveled F-150s every week:
33s are the safe bet. A 33" tire in an 11.5" width fits clean on stock wheels with a leveling kit — no rubbing, no trimming. Step up to a 12.5" wide tire and it will contact the upper control arm; a simple 1/4" wheel spacer clears it.
35s can be done. On many trucks, especially 4WDs, a 35" tire clears with just a 2" leveling kit — worst case, the front crash bar needs trimming. If you want 35s with no chance of rubbing, go with a 2.5" kit; that's the guaranteed route.
Remember that wheel offset matters as much as tire size: a more aggressive offset pushes the wheel outward and rubs sooner, and a wider tire contacts before a taller one. Check your combo with our tire size calculator, and find the full fitment table in the tire size after a leveling kit guide.
The Bottom Line
Default pick: ReadyLIFT 2.25" SST. Miles on the clock, or picky about ride: Bilstein 5100. Tight budget with tires still to buy: Rough Country 2". Any of the three, installed and aligned correctly, will make an F-150 sit and drive the way it should.
Still deciding between a level and a full lift? Read Leveling Kit vs Lift Kit, or see everything we do for Fords on our Ford lift kits page.
Pricing mentioned reflects typical ranges at the time of writing — every truck and build is different, and prices can change. Your free estimate locks in the exact number.
Related reading: F-150 Leveling Kit Guide • Truck Lift Cost Guide • Lift & Leveling Kit Installation
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