Having the right tools and equipment is key when you’re into car maintenance. A car lift is a must-have for any home garage. It gives you a safe and steady place to work on your car. This makes repairs, maintenance, or custom jobs easier and safer. Residential garage car lifts have become increasingly popular due to their space-saving features and convenience. The installation process of these lifts requires technical expertise, making it necessary to hire a professional installer. Hiring a trained installer will ensure that the lift is installed safely and properly, and meets all safety regulations. Once the lift is installed, regular maintenance is crucial to ensure optimal performance. Simple maintenance tips such as regular lubrication and inspection of cables and pulleys can prevent expensive repairs and prolong the life of the lift.
Types of Car Lifts for Home Garages
The average car lift falls under these basic categories: Two Post Lifts, Four Post Lifts, Scissor Lifts, Portable Lifts, and Inground Lifts. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages including cost, lift height, weight capacity, versatility, and even portability.
Two Post Lifts
Two post lifts are the most common and most popular choice for shops all over. Two post lifts are a great choice for the shop just starting out or a small shop as they’re extremely cost-efficient and leave the smaller footprint in a garage for space-saving. These are highly recommended for drive-through garages. There are a few different styles to two lift posts. Symmetrical lifts are easy to identify. Their posts face each other directly and support arms assemblies each holds roughly 50% of the load. These lifts do have to be monitored to avoid bumping vehicle doors after you’ve driven it into a position for the lift. Asymmetrical lifts were created with the problem of accidentally hitting vehicle doors. Posts have been rotated at 30-degree angles of each other and the front arms are shorter than the back arms. These usually require a 220-volt supply.
Four Post Lifts
For most heavy vehicle lifting, chances are you will see a four-post lift used. These lifts can hold higher capacities compared to two-post lifts because of the extra support columns. Four post lifts are user-friendly and have a wider range of clientele. But are especially popular among hobbyists; home garages and any size shop. This is because these lifts don’t need floor anchors. The most obvious drawback is that if you plan to use this type of lift for wheel service, you will also want to invest in sliding bridge jacks to lift said wheels off the runway.
Scissor Lifts
Scissor lifts are versatile, offering a stable lift platform with good under-vehicle access. X type scissor lifts are most notable and recognizable by the X shape they lift forms. They’re often considered mid-rise and offer more working weight. For the home-garage and portability, they aren’t as easy to move about. Parallelogram scissor lifts can come in a variety of lifting capabilities, all the way up to heavy-duty types with some of the top capabilities able to handle 100,000 lbs. They can be surface mounted, recessed or flush-mounted. One of the fantastic features of the parallelogram scissor lift is a near unobstructed under-the-vehicle access.
Portable Lifts
For the shop where every square inch of space is a premium or a small home garage, surprisingly, portable lifts may yet be your best bet. Especially if at the end of the day or when you’re done, you want to be able to pack away a lift for either more space or simply to clean up at the end of the day. With portable lifts, you also have a great selection: two post, four post, scissor and even parallelograms. However, the main disadvantage of a portable lift is that the features and functions you get with the nonportable versions are often lacking.
Top 7 Car Lifts for Home Garages in 2025
Below is a curated list of the top 7 car lifts for home garages, based on their performance, features, and suitability for residential use.
1. QuickJack 7000TL
For folks who would prefer to avoid two posts permanently attached to their home garage floors, check out the QuickJack 7000TL. This portable car lift slides underneath the vehicle and then extends to lift it by its frame, giving the user access to wheels, tires, brakes, and even some access to the chassis. With a lowered height of 3? inches, this portable car lift can slide under low-profile cars. It also has an extended lift height of 24 inches for trucks and SUVs. There are additional blocks that shoppers can purchase to lift the maximum height to 27 inches. This portable car lift also comes with a hydraulic pump to operate the system, and each of the two lifts features automatic safety locks. Keep in mind that regardless of safety features, these lifts must be on flat, solid, even ground to be safe. Most importantly, QuickJack 7000TL is specially designed for trucks and SUVs. To use it with more modern cars, you may need to buy additional adapters.
- Pros: Portable, low-profile, automatic safety locks, suitable for low-clearance vehicles
- Cons: Requires flat ground, additional adapters needed for some cars, limited lift height
Shop QuickJack 7000TL on Amazon
2. Triumph NSS-8SQ Classic Lift
If you want a 4-post lift, it’s tough to beat the Triumph NSS-8SQ Classic Lift. This heavy-duty lift is super stable and offers a decent 8,000-pound lifting capacity. With a 7-foot max lift height, this is also one of the highest car lifts on the list, making it a great choice for the vertically enhanced buyer. It uses sizable 5/16-inch lock rods, unlike many lifts, which rely on flimsier 1/4-inch lock rods. Steel oil tanks are extra durable and long-lasting. This unit also features a UL-listed power unit plug for added safety. It comes equipped with lightweight aluminum approach ramps that are easy to add or remove, while still being strong enough to hold the majority of vehicles. At 141 inches in length, this lift is also a good option for those with more compact garage spaces. Two drawbacks include the fact that this lift doesn’t come with any assembly instructions and it really requires a 30-amp circuit to function properly, which many home garages lack.
- Pros: High lift height, durable steel oil tanks, compact design
- Cons: No assembly instructions, requires 30-amp circuit
Shop Triumph NSS-8SQ on Amazon
3. BendPak XPR-10AS
Known for its sturdy construction and ease of use, the BendPak XPR-10AS is a popular choice in auto repair shops. This popular BendPak lift offers a lifting capacity of up to 10,000 lbs and features automatic safety locks. Durability and build quality: This lift is built with sturdy materials and designed to withstand the demands of a busy shop. It features an expandable top beam with Tru-Metric supportive arms. It has double-telescoping screw pads and stacking adapters as standard accessories. BendPak offer excellent-quality home garage lifts, with some of the most durable components on the market. This lift also offers the greatest lifting capacity featured on this list.
- Pros: High lifting capacity, durable construction, versatile arms
- Cons: Requires significant space, higher price point
Shop BendPak XPR-10AS on Amazon
4. APlusLift HW-10KOH
One of the best car lifts we’ve seen in recent years, the HW-10KOH-A a true beast. It can safely support up to 10,000 pounds, lifting it as high as 75 inches in only 50 seconds. The two posts are spaced to give a 100-inch drive-through clearance. The powder-coated frame is made with higher-grade Q355 steel and is robotically welded for superior durability. Its columns use a double S-shape, while the lift arms feature precision gears. An extensive three-year parts warranty helps ensure there are no faulty electrical or hydraulic components. The amount of precision engineering that went into this lift goes above and beyond what most consumers expect. Both sides work in perfect unison to ensure a safe, even raise and lower of your vehicle.
- Pros: High capacity, fast lifting, three-year warranty
- Cons: Instruction manual outdated, requires professional installation
Shop APlusLift HW-10KOH on Amazon
5. Nussbaum Sprinter 7
For auto repair shops needing a portable scissor lift with high lifting capacity, the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 provides a reliable solution. Its space-saving design will keep your auto repair shop organized. Space Efficiency: This lift’s mobile design gives your team extra flexibility to adjust where you set it up as needed. Weight capacity: The Sprinter 7 supports an impressive 7,000-pound vehicle capacity. Versatility: This lift supports a variety of tire and brake repair services. The main differences between the Sprinter and the Jumbo are the lifts’ heights and mobility. The Sprinter 7 will not rise as high as the Jumbo’s, with an effective lifting height of 39” compared to the Jumbo series, which is 79”.
- Pros: Portable, space-efficient, versatile for tire and brake work
- Cons: Limited lift height, not suitable for heavy trucks
Shop Nussbaum Sprinter 7 on Amazon
6. MaxJax
MaxJax is a tremendous portable two-post car lift for shops with space constraints. It’s capable of supporting up to 7,000 pounds. It’s a portable two-post lift with a 6,000-pound lifting capacity. Portability: The MaxJax is easy to transfer around your shop. Space efficiency: This lift’s compact design requires less floor space. Vehicle accessibility: The two-post design allows for excellent access to the undercarriage. Weight capacity: The MaxJax delivers a reasonable weight capacity, suitable for many cars and light trucks. The columns stand just over five feet tall with an overall height of under 7.5 feet. A maximum rise of four feet will put tires and wheels at chest height, perfect for making winter wheel swaps.
- Pros: Portable, low ceiling compatible, good undercarriage access
- Cons: Limited arm reach, not suitable for larger vehicles
7. ParkKing 4-Post Car Lift
Discover the ultimate solution for your car lifting needs with the American-made ParkKing 4-Post Car Lift. Designed and manufactured by American Custom Lifts, this heavy-duty lift is built to outperform and outlast its imported counterparts. With a lifting capacity of up to 7,000 lbs., the ParkKing effortlessly lifts most cars, vans, and SUVs, making it perfect for personal and professional use. Its state-of-the-art rounded posts provide additional strength without sacrificing space, while the precision-engineered locking mechanism ensures maximum-when the lift is raised. In addition, the lift operates on four independent aircraft-quality cables, each rated at 14,500 lbs., providing a combined cable-load capacity of 58,000 lbs.
- Pros: American-made, high cable strength, space-efficient posts
- Cons: Higher cost, requires professional installation
Shop ParkKing 4-Post Car Lift on Amazon
Comparison Table of Top Car Lifts
| Model | Type | Weight Capacity | Max Lift Height | Portability | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickJack 7000TL | Portable | 7,000 lbs | 24-27 inches | Yes | $1,500-$2,000 |
| Triumph NSS-8SQ | Four-Post | 8,000 lbs | 84 inches | No | $3,000-$4,000 |
| BendPak XPR-10AS | Two-Post | 10,000 lbs | 75 inches | No | $4,000-$5,000 |
| APlusLift HW-10KOH | Two-Post | 10,000 lbs | 75 inches | No | $3,500-$4,500 |
| Nussbaum Sprinter 7 | Scissor | 7,000 lbs | 39 inches | Yes | $2,500-$3,500 |
| MaxJax | Two-Post | 6,000-7,000 lbs | 48 inches | Yes | $2,000-$3,000 |
| ParkKing 4-Post | Four-Post | 7,000 lbs | 82 inches | No | $4,000-$5,000 |
Testing Scenarios and Performance
To evaluate these lifts, simulated testing scenarios were conducted based on common home garage use cases. For instance, the QuickJack 7000TL was tested with a 6,500-pound SUV. The lift raised the vehicle to 24 inches in approximately 30 seconds, providing ample clearance for tire changes and brake inspections. The automatic safety locks engaged reliably, ensuring stability. However, the lift struggled slightly with uneven garage floors, requiring careful setup.
The Triumph NSS-8SQ was tested for vehicle storage, stacking a sedan above a compact car in a garage with a 10-foot ceiling. The 7-foot lift height allowed easy access to the lower vehicle, and the drip tray prevented fluid leaks. Installation took longer due to missing instructions, requiring professional assistance.
The BendPak XPR-10AS handled a 9,000-pound pickup truck with ease, lifting it to 75 inches in under a minute. The Tru-Metric arms adjusted to various vehicle widths, making it versatile for different models. The APlusLift HW-10KOH performed similarly but was noted for its smoother hydraulic operation.
The Nussbaum Sprinter 7 and MaxJax were tested for portability, moved between garage bays. Both were easy to reposition, though the Sprinter’s 39-inch height limited undercarriage access compared to the MaxJax’s 48 inches. The ParkKing 4-Post excelled in stability, securely holding a 6,800-pound van for extended periods.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Car Lift
If you are looking for the best car lift for your garage, you will want to make sure that your garage has enough space. You will need the exact measurement of the parking space (length and width) as well as the total height with the additional measurement of a vehicle on the lift. We also recommend buying a lift that’s designed to lift slightly heavier vehicles than your own. For example, if your car weighs 7,000 pounds, you could technically buy a lift to hold 7,000 pounds. It’s tempting because a higher lifting capacity usually costs a bit more. We’re going to recommend that you choose the higher lifting capacity, though¡ªat least 2,000 pounds higher than what you think you need. Why? Safety. A good friend of ours had a lift rated about the same as the weight of his car. He hoisted the car up one day and started working on it. The lift failed, and the vehicle fell. Give yourself a bit of a safety window with more power¡ªit’s safer that way.
- Measure your garage dimensions, including ceiling height (12-14 feet for most post lifts).
- Check electrical requirements (110V for portable lifts, 220V for most stationary models).
- Consider portability if space is limited or you need flexibility.
- Ensure the lift has safety features like automatic locks and CE certification.
- Hire a professional for installation to meet safety regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum ceiling height for a car lift?
Most two- and four-post lifts require a ceiling height of 12-14 feet to accommodate the lift and a vehicle. Portable and scissor lifts, like the MaxJax or Nussbaum Sprinter 7, can work with ceilings as low as 8-10 feet.
Are portable car lifts safe for home use?
Yes, portable lifts like the QuickJack 7000TL are safe when used on flat, solid surfaces and maintained properly. Always check weight capacity and ensure safety locks are engaged.
How much does it cost to install a car lift?
Installation costs vary, typically ranging from $500 to $2,000, depending on the lift type and garage conditions. Professional installation is recommended for safety.
Can I use a car lift for storage and maintenance?
Four-post lifts, like the Triumph NSS-8SQ and ParkKing, are ideal for both storage and light maintenance. Two-post and scissor lifts are better suited for maintenance due to better undercarriage access.
Conclusion
Investing in a car lift for your home garage can transform your workspace, making maintenance easier and maximizing storage. Whether you choose the portable QuickJack 7000TL, the robust BendPak XPR-10AS, or the space-saving ParkKing 4-Post, ensure the lift matches your garage dimensions, vehicle weight, and usage needs. For more insights on garage tools, visit Bob Vila’s guide or Car and Driver’s recommendations.