Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. We do not buy, test, or physically handle the products we cover; our rankings come from aggregated owner reviews, ratings and expert consensus. Commissions never change our verdicts. How we rank & full disclosure.
The short version: running boards make a tall truck or SUV easier to climb into and add a stepping surface for the bed and roof, with a bit of side protection as a bonus. Ranked across aggregated owner reviews, our #1 pick is the APS iBoard: owners rate its wide, flat, rust-resistant aluminum step and no-drill fit. The one thing that matters more than any ranking — fitment is vehicle-specific, so you must buy the variant made for your exact truck and cab.
Running boards are part of dressing and protecting a working truck — pair them with our hood protector and bug deflector guides, and keep the bed covered with our tonneau cover picks. The whole approach is in the exterior protection hub.
Top Picks at a Glance
Our #1 Pick: APS iBoard
The APS iBoard tops the list because it nails the two things that make a running board worth having: a genuinely usable step and a fit-and-forget install. The wide, flat aircraft-aluminum surface gives a secure, grippy place to plant a foot — far better than a narrow round nerf bar — and the aluminum shrugs off rust and salt. It bolts to custom, model-specific brackets with no drilling, and owners rate it for solid support and a clean look. Just confirm the listing matches your exact year and cab, and it is the board the reviews back most.
Best Running Boards 2026: The Ranked Field
Best for a wide, flat aluminum step that resists rust (fitment is vehicle-specific)
- 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum
- Wide flat anti-slip step surface
- Supports up to ~300–500 lb
- Custom-fit brackets, no drilling
Why buy it: the running board owners rate highest — a wide flat aluminum step that shrugs off rust and salt, mounts to custom brackets without drilling, and gives a genuinely usable stepping surface. Confirm the listing matches your exact year and cab.
Best for affordable powder-coated steel steps
- Heavy-gauge steel, powder-coated
- Bolt-on, no-drill install
- 3.6 in drop side step
- Textured non-slip surface
Why buy it: the budget bolt-on owners recommend — powder-coated steel steps at a fair price that install without drilling; the F-150 listing is representative, so match one to your own truck and cab.
Best for a rugged tri-tube design with a 500 lb rating
- Patented tri-tube steel structure
- Dual-stage E-coat, powder-textured
- 500 lb weight capacity
- Bolt-on in ~20 minutes
Why buy it: the heavy-duty pick owners choose for looks and strength — the tri-tube steel and thick coating handle serious use and a 500 lb load, with a bolt-on install; confirm fitment for your model.
Best for a proven flat aluminum board sized for GM crew cabs
- 5 in aluminum step surface
- Custom-fit GM crew-cab brackets
- Anti-slip step pad
- Rust-resistant construction
Why buy it: the GM-fit favorite owners trust — the same well-regarded iBoard design sized for Silverado and Sierra crew cabs, flat and grippy underfoot; verify it lists your exact year and cab.
Best for lightweight aluminum that resists salt better than steel
- Slip-proof aluminum alloy steps
- More corrosion-resistant than steel
- Bolt-on brackets included
- 6 in wide surface
Why buy it: the corrosion-conscious pick — aluminum alloy resists road salt better than coated steel, so northern-climate owners get a step that will not rust out; match the listing to your truck.
Best for rugged steps sized for a mid-size pickup
- Tri-tube steel structure
- Textured black E-coat finish
- 500 lb capacity
- Tacoma-specific fit
Why buy it: the mid-size option owners like — the same tough Star Armor tri-tube design cut for a Tacoma, so smaller-truck owners get the durable step; confirm the year and cab match yours.
Power Retractable vs Fixed Boards
Beyond fixed boards there is a second category worth knowing: power retractable steps. These deploy automatically when you open a door and tuck up under the rocker when it closes, giving a low step on entry and full ground clearance on the trail. They look factory-clean and suit lifted trucks and full-size rigs like a Ram or Silverado, but they add cost, wiring and a motor that can fail. A fixed board has fewer failure points and costs far less. Weigh the options: powered for clearance and looks, fixed for simplicity and value.
Running Boards vs Nerf Bars and Step Bars
The terms overlap, so it helps to separate them. A running board is a wide, flat step that runs most of the cab length; nerf bars (also called step bars) are round or oval tubes with one or two stepping pads. Flat boards give the most usable, grippy surface underfoot — better in the rain with wet boots — while nerf bars look sportier and cost less. Both bolt to the side of most trucks at the same factory points. Established makers like Westin, Rhino-Rack and Luverne build both styles, so choose by whether you value a full-length grip surface or the leaner tube look, then match the steps to your cab.
Installation: A Bolt-On Job
For most trucks, installation is a no-drill, bolt-on task using existing rocker-panel points. The brackets attach to factory holes, the board bolts to the brackets, and you level both sides and torque everything down — 20 to 60 minutes with hand tools. The awkward part is working under the truck and occasionally popping a plastic plug to reach a mount. Power retractable steps add a wiring run and a fuse tap, so budget more time. Whichever you choose, the vehicle-specific instructions assume your exact model, which is one more reason correct fitment matters.
Quick Comparison
APS iBoard Running Boards (6 in, Aircraft Aluminum)
Best for a wide, flat aluminum step that resists rust (fitment is vehicle-specific)
Best Premium
Tyger Auto Star Armor Running Boards (Tri-Tube)
Check Price on Amazon
Best for GM Trucks
APS iBoard Running Boards (5 in, Silverado/Sierra)
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Best Aluminum
Nilight Aluminum Running Boards (F-150 SuperCrew)
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Best for Mid-Size
Tyger Auto Star Armor for Toyota Tacoma
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How We Rank
We do not bolt these to every truck ourselves — we rank by aggregated owner ratings, review volume, and the themes owners repeat across real installs. We weigh four things. Step usability — how wide, flat and grippy the surface is underfoot. Durability — corrosion resistance and load rating over years of use. Fit and install — how well the model-specific brackets line up and whether it is truly no-drill. And value — build quality per dollar. Prices were current at the time of writing.
Fitment Is Everything
Read this before you buy anything on this page. Running boards are not universal — each set is engineered for a specific year, make, model and cab configuration, bolting to that truck's factory mounting points and cut to its length. A board for an F-150 SuperCrew will not fit a Silverado, and often will not fit the same F-150 in a different cab. The products we reference are representative of each line; the ASIN that fits your truck may be a different variant with the same design. Before ordering, confirm the listing names your exact year, model and cab — this is the single most common running-board mistake, and it is entirely avoidable.
Steel vs Aluminum
Both are good; pick by your climate. Steel boards (powder- or E-coated) are strong, often cheaper, and carry high weight ratings — but if the coating chips, they can eventually rust, which is a real concern where winter roads are salted. Aluminum boards resist corrosion far better and weigh less, at a higher price. The rule of thumb: salt-belt driver, choose aluminum for long-term rust resistance; dry-climate driver, a well-coated steel board is durable and often the better value. Either way, a wide flat step beats a narrow round tube for actually using it in the rain with wet boots.
How to Choose Running Boards
Work through it in order. First, fitment — find the variant for your exact truck and cab; nothing else matters if it does not fit. Then step style — a wide flat board (iBoard) is the most usable; tri-tube and nerf bars trade some step width for a rugged look. Next, material — aluminum for salt country, coated steel for dry climates or budget. Check the weight rating if you or your passengers are heavier or you will stand on them to load the roof. And confirm it is a no-drill install to your factory points. Get those five right and you will be happy for years.
Round Out the Truck
Running boards are one upgrade among several for a working truck. Shield the hood and windshield with our hood protector and bug deflector guides, add matching window visors, and keep the bed dry with our tonneau cover picks. Protect the lower paint they sit near with a good wax. The full truck-protection picture is in the exterior protection hub.
The Verdict
For a wide, flat, rust-resistant step that installs without drilling, the APS iBoard is the running board owners rate above the rest. On a budget, Nilight powder-coated steel is solid value; for maximum toughness, the Tyger Star Armor tri-tube carries a 500 lb rating. Whatever you choose, get the fitment exactly right for your year and cab — that decision matters more than the brand. Check Price on Amazon →