Leveling Kit vs. Lift Kit – Which is Better? [2021 Guide]

Which one is better: leveling kit vs. lift kit – a big question we get all the time. There are very clear differences between the two. One kit is designed to significantly raise your truck such as a 4 inch “lift kit”, while the other includes spacers designed to just “level” your truck. Here we’ll explore the difference between a leveling kit and a lift kit  – the two sets of truck kits, and how to make the best decision from your Truck.

What is a Lift Kit?

To put it simply, lift kits are after-market parts and equipment used to lift a vehicle higher up off the ground. These are not made or installed by a manufacturer, but by companies that specialize in making additional parts for different vehicles. In the past, people often rigged up their own lift kits with varying degrees of success and safety. Most kits these days are made by reliable manufacturers that design the shape and size to fit specific vehicles, improving safety and stability. Truck lift kits usually come in two different options each displaying different pros/cons, namely suspension lift and body lift.

Body Lift Kit

A body lift uses spacers that are fitted between the body and frame to lift the body up without changing the suspension in any way. With a body lift you can run bigger tires which in turn give you more ground clearance.

Suspension Lift Kit

Suspension lifts typically include everything from springs to the control arms, the trailing arms and some even components of the driveshaft and steering. Replacing and improving these items allows the installation of a new suspension system, more ground clearance and the ability to run even larger tires. It essentially lifts everything up at the wheels instead of just at the body.

How Much Does a Lift Kit Cost?

One of the differences between a leveling kit and a lift kit is a price. Leveling kits are available from $30-50. A body lift will run a few hundred ($100-$300) is available. Suspension lift kits could run from $500 to a few thousand dollars. Body kits are the budget end and suspension lifts are more costly but provide more benefit off-roading.

4″ and 6″ pricing is similar

Where you get into the larger lift size 4 to 6 inches, the costs are pretty similar because the install equipment is mostly the same. Check out our 8 best f150 lift kits to learn about our top favorites.

The Difficulty of Lift Kit Installation

Each kit has their own difficulty level that can range from saying: “I could do this in a weekend” to saying “it might be time to let a pro install this one.” Most manufacturers provide detailed installation instructions. The kits come with instruction manuals which assist in getting your first.

Body – Moderate

Most body kits require you to remove some of the existing bolts that attach the truck to its frame, then raise up the body, insert the spacers and re-attach the bolts. While it sounds simple it is a moderate to medium level task to undertake. It’s easier than a full suspension lift but definitely more complex than an oil change.

Suspension – Moderate to Expert

Suspension lifts that are worth their price generally involve replacing springs or struts, steering components and hubs and in extreme cases with big lift, brake lines and driveshafts. For this reason they range from moderate to expert in the skill level and tools you will need. Definitely the hardest and most complex of the options discussed here.

What is a Leveling Kit?

A leveling kit works how it sounds — it levels your A leveling kit works how it sounds — it levels your truck. Most trucks come from the factory with what’s called “rake” or the front end being just a few inches lower than the rear. This is because the suspension is designed to ride level with a payload in the rear. Since a majority of time you’re not pulling a trailer or have your bed loaded with rocks, leveling kits fix that “rake” look.

Because the change is less drastic so it the leveling solution. It is typically just a 2″ spacer placed above the front strut tower for the ford f150 that levels the front ride height with the rear.

Spacers vs Shock & Springs

A majority of the leveling kits on the market use simple spacers in the front to lift the front and remove the rake front to rear. They are very inexspensive but can impact your ride quality. Leveling kits that have a loaded struts / spring combo offer the leveling kit look without sacrificing your ride. Find out the top leveling kit options in our breakdown of the best F150 leveling kits.

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Leveling Kit vs. Lift Kit – Pros & Cons of Lift Kits

Benefits of Lift Kits

Appearance and off road functionality are the 2 big wins for lift kits. The appearance of lifts has become one of the main reasons people want to get up from their lift. They make a large statement visually and They deliver the additional clearance if you want a large wheel tire combo on the street. However lift kits were born out of functionality, especially if you are an avid offroader that enjoys exploring rocks and taking the less traveled paths. The extra suspension lift allows for taller tires and added ground clearance for getting past the most rugged terrain mother nature throws your way. Make sure to check out 4″ vs 6″ lift kit guide if you’re trying to decide what lift kit size you should select.

Recommendation

For 09-2014 I would recommend a 3-4″ lift. The 6″ lift option is pretty drastic and may require many other aftermarket parts to a long sustainable fit.

Cons of Lift Kits

Lift kits are generally the more expensive options compared to a leveling kit. Body lift only can give you the look but great unwanted instability and movement between the Frame on body while off-roading. Suspension Lift kits put more pressure on other suspension components and they will prematurely wear out. This can cost you more money in the future or more money first to protect the component. Finally if you lift your truck but don’t add other important upgrades like larger tires/wheels it may actually degrade the look of your truck like these examples below.

Pro Tip

When lifting a vehicle more that 3 inches or more you might need to get larger tires to fill the wheel well better

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Leveling Kit vs. Lift Kit – Pros & Cons of Leveling Kits

Benefits of Leveling Kits

Since leveling kits are not drastic in their function the big plus is that leveling kits are much much cheaper than lift kits! They are much more simple in construction, there are a ton of options out there from many different companies and the install is pretty easy.

With the reduced complexity also comes a lot less stress on your truck’s suspension components than lift kits.They do provide some more clearance and benefit of the road but it is a small change. So do expect to fit 37s on your truck after installation.

Recommendation

For 09-2020 F150s most recommend a 2.5 inch leveling kit.

Cons of Leveling Kits

The biggest plus of their simplicity is also their downfall. It does not increase suspension travel, significantly increase ground clearance or let you fit those huge tires for off-roading. But hey, you get what you pay for…

How Much Do Leveling Kits Cost?

Very Affordable.. Generally the run $50-$70. I have seen them climb as high as $500 but, those systems general include a new front struct that is 2-3 inches taller insted of a spacer, which is a bit overkill if your just doing it for the looks.

Leveling Kit Installation Difficulty?

Moderate install. They are simple in nature and don’t generally take a whole Saturday to do but it’s not as simple as changing your oil. It requires a jack and some jack stands and the right tools to remove the front upper strut mount. It’s a 1-3 hour job if it’s your first time leveling up your grease monkey skills.

So, Which One is Better: Leveling Kit vs. Lift Kit?

it depends…

Buy a leveling kit if your doing it mostly for appearance reason

OR

Buy a lift kit if you need an aggressive lifted look and plan to make your truck more capable off-road.

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Make sure to check out all our articles on truck suspensions setups