How Much Does a Jeep Hardtop Weigh?


The Jeep Wrangler has been described as a Lego kit of parts when it comes to customizability. Everything down to the frame can be modified. When considering purchasing a Jeep or modifying your own Jeep one of the first decisions is picking between a soft top and a hardtop. There are a lot of considerations when making the decision, but one thing you should consider is how much the hardtop weighs.

How much does a Jeep hardtop weigh? Depending on your year model, or if you have a two door or four-door Jeep, the weights might vary. However, the current year model hardtop weighs between 100 and 150 pounds for the two-door and four-door models respectively.

We’ll give you a download of the weights of some of the previous Jeep Wrangler hardtops, discuss the other pros and cons between a hardtop and soft top, and explain how easy it is to convert between them. 

Jeep Hardtop Weights

The listed specs for the hardtop on Jeep’s website says that the Unlimited (four door) model’s hardtop weighs about 150 pounds. The two door model weighs only about 100 pounds. The hardtop also consisted of three separate pieces. Two pieces in the front go over each the driver and the passenger and each weigh about 10-15 pounds, leaving the last, larger piece to weigh about 80-120 pounds. 

However, many third party and custom options are available for both the soft top and hardtop options, meaning the weight could vary depending on if you go stock or aftermarket. For example, the company JeeTops offers sun roof options for their customization of your hardtop. ExtremeTerrain.com sells fastback and aftermarket hardtop options, single-piece hardtops, as well as sunroof options.

If you are concerned with how heavy the hardtop is compared to the soft top, make sure to contact the manufacture of these third party options to verify the weight, as many of the websites do not include that information. The total weight of a jeep with a hardtop is approximately 4,100-4,500 for Unlimited versions, meaning that the total weight of the hardtop is only a small fraction of the total weight of your Jeep. 

Pros and Cons of a Hardtop vs Softtop

There are a lot of benefits to having a hardtop instead of soft top for your Jeep, but ultimately the choice comes down to personal preference. 

One of the biggest benefits of the hardtop is safety. The hardtop provides more rigidity in a crash and is less likely to crush or break. While the roll bars of the Jeep will do a decent job protecting the occupants during a roll over, the soft fabric and plastic of a soft top can be easily punctured or pierced by stray objects in an accident. 


The hardtop will last longer, typically, than a soft top. The cloth and plastic of the soft top are less durable, making it more likely to degrade, rip, or break over time, especially with repeated removal of the cover or unzipping the window components. The material of the soft top is more prone to security issues as well. Thieves can easily cut open the plastic or panels to steal items from inside your vehicle. 

The hardtop also provides much more insulation from the elements than the soft top version. The hardtop is constructed from panels that sandwich insulation between them. This helps keeps your vehicle warmer in the winter or cool in the summer. The soft top is typically only a thin layer of fabric or plastic, which doesn’t offer much protection against the heat or the cold. 

The hardtop is typically much quieter than the soft top. The insulation in the core also helps absorb sound from the tires and the road, keeping the inside of the Jeep quieter than the soft top version. Newer versions of the soft top are better than older versions. 

However, the soft top is much easier to take off than the hardtop. If you enjoy driving with the top off, then the soft top makes a lot more sense. Depending on the version, the windows or back flap can be easily unzipped, and the hold soft top can be removed much more easily by a single person. 

The soft top is a lot less expensive option. When pricing a custom 2020 Jeep from their website, adding the three piece hardtop option adds $1,295 to the price tag. However, the soft top needs to be replaced more frequently over the lifespan of the vehicle. Aftermarket soft tops can be purchased for a few hundred dollars, so if you replace the soft top two or three times during the life span of owning your jeep, purchasing the hardtop may pay off. 

Jeep Hardtop Conversions

If you can’t decide between the hardtop and the soft top, you don’t have to! If you are able to purchase both for your jeep, converting between the two is very straightforward. You’ll need a little bit of muscle or a friend, since the hardtop weighs around 100-150 pounds all together. If you don’t have a quick release system, you’ll also need a wrench, a driver, and a T40 torx bit. 

Steps to remove a three piece hardtop, follow these instructions:

  1. First, remove the first driver and passenger panels. You’ll need to sit inside you Jeep and unlatch the latches in the front. In most models, there are three latches on the front edge of the panels and three on the back. You may need to unscrew two large latches behind the head on the roll bar. Lift each panel off carefully and set aside, starting with the driver side panel.
  2. To remove the back piece, you’ll need to unscrew several torx bolts in the back of the Jeep. There are two near the front seats, then three under each window in the back. Some Jeeps may have aftermarket bolts you can unscrew with your hands, called quick releases. Use your torx bit to remove all the bolts. 
  3. Disconnect the electrical connection that connects the lights on the back of the hardtop. There should be an electrical plug that you can unplug, similar to pulling an electrical cord from a power outlet in your home. 
  4. Grab a friend and gently lift the hardtop up off the frame of the Jeep and set aside. Store the hardtop in a safe place so that it does not get damaged when not in use. 

When replacing the hardtop, simply follow the steps in reverse! When replacing the panels, make sure that you check your alignment between the panels and to ensure the gaskets have not been pinched. There is a chance that leaks can happen between the panels if they’re not seated correctly. With the three piece hardtop, you can even just remove the front panels easily, which can be stored in the back of your Jeep if you’re out on the road. 

Ultimately, switching between a hardtop and softtop will only minimally change the weight. Other jeep modifications will vary your weight much more drastically than this one. 

Weighing Your Options

There are a lot of benefits to the Jeep hardtop over the soft top, however, ultimately the choice comes down to personal preference. The hardtop only weighs about 100-150 pounds, making it easy to manage if you only plan to remove it a few times a year. By weighing the pros and cons, including the weight of taking the hardtop on and off, you can determine which option is right for you. 

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