Best Car Lift for Small Garage: Buyer’s Guide

Are you having pain again from lying on the floor while working on your car at home? Then it makes sense to invest in a good car lift for your garage. It provides a comfortable and safe environment for you to work on your car. Most vehicles can lift or lower up to 10,000 pounds. Here is a shopping guide to some of the best home car lifts available today.

How to Choose Best Car Lifts For Garage

Car lifts to hoist vehicles to make maintenance access easier and to maximize parking and storage space. While they are most common in mechanics shops, auto lifts are now affordable enough to be used in home garages.

Finding the right lift largely depends on how you plan on using it. Some are better for maintenance work, while others are better suited for parking garages. Consider your garage space and the type of vehicles you will be lifting before purchasing an auto lift.

• 2-post vs. 4-post car lift

As you can see from the reviews above, most lift platforms for a home garage come in a 4-column or 2-column design. So before we move on to the shopping guide, let’s make a brief comparison between the two types to make sure you’re on the right track.

• Price

When it comes to price (which is important considering this is still a big investment), 2-post designs seem to be the best choice because they are more affordable. Even if you only want to use the elevator for repairs and short-term storage, a 2-pillar design makes more sense.

• Space

On the other hand, if you are tight for the space in the garage and want to make room for a second car by lifting the first one, you will need a 4-pillar lift. This design makes it easier to position the vehicle as it is a driveway and is more reliable for long-term storage as all four wheels are supported.
However, a 4-column design takes up more space when you install it in the garage, so make sure you measure everything twice before making a purchase.

• Ease of use

A 4-post lift has low ground clearance, which makes it more useful when lowering your vehicle. 2-post models have a relatively high ground clearance, which makes their use somewhat more difficult with lowered vehicles. Also note that a 2-post lift must be bolted to the floor to ensure stability, whereas this is not required for a 4-post construction.

A brief note: If you are looking for a portable car hoist, we recommend that you try a scissor lift. This design is lighter and comes ready to use (in most cases). However, it is not as powerful as the other two types.

Why do you need to buy a car lift for garage?

If you need to work on cars more than once a month, it doesn’t take long before you want your own Car Lift. Sure, they’re pretty expensive, but it’s so much easier to drive up and lift your car with a lever than it is to use a jack, ramps and stands that we think this purchase will be worth it.

That’s before you even think about the difference between standing and working at the level that’s best for you and working on the car while lying on your back, we’ll give you sound advice. So when it comes time to go from the jack to the elevator, these best car elevators should give you exactly the elevator you need.

Best car lifts for home garage

1. Triumph NT-9 2 Post Car Lift
​2. QuickJack 5175376 BL-5000SLX Car Lift
3. Triumph NSS-8 4 Post Car Lift
4. BendPak Portable Low-Rise Car Lift – 6000 Lb
5. Auto Lift Car-Park-8 Car Lift
6. BendPak 4-Post Wide/Standard Lift, 9,000-Lb. Capacity, Gray, Model# HD-9

Auto lift for small garage

Let’s be honest! Not everyone has a large garage that can accommodate many vehicles. Most people have a small garage for just one or two vehicles. However, what if you have a small garage and need to accommodate even more vehicles than it can physically accommodate? Well, you can do it by stacking vehicles with the car lift.

Best Compact car lift

In fact, the car lift bar is a heavy car storage device that allows you to stack several vehicles on top of each other to get the most out of your small garage space.

In addition, most hydraulic car lifts have a load capacity of at least 7,000 pounds, which means your average car lift can lift almost any type of vehicle on the market with great ease technically.

Moreover, if you have a garage or a small garage, you will learn that a car lift is a must for your daily activity. Modern designs are reliable, easy to use and offer the opportunity to do the work of a professional mechanic.

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.

1. XK USA L1000 10,000LBS Two Post Lift Car Auto Truck Hoist

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• Load capacity: 9.000 lbs
• Height range: 4.5 inches to 72 inches
• Material: steel

Best of all, the price of the XK USA L1000 10,000 LBS Two Post Lift Car Auto Truck Hoist is lower than other models, which makes it relatively inexpensive. If you are on the market for a 2-pillar car lift, whether for your personal garage or for a professional garage, this Triumph car lift will definitely deliver.

The 220V engine is also powerful as it can lift any vehicle up to 9000 LBS to maximum height in less than 40 seconds. It is even possible to use the XK USA Autolift outdoors, but the engine should be covered.

Pros:

• High weight capacity of 10,000 lbs. Ability to lift heavy vehicles with ease.
• Flexible heights from 4.5 inches to 72 inches. Can accommodate a tall vehicle
• The elevator is quite spacious with a width of 132 inches. Can accommodate several people

Cons:

• The locking system of this car lift is not the best. Sometimes you need a hammer to fix it.

​2. QuickJack 5175376 BL-5000SLX Car Lift

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• Load capacity: 5.000 lbs
• Height range: 3 inches to 17.6 inches
• Material: steel

The QuickJack looks quite untypical compared to other car lifts on the market. Its shape, however, makes it a very efficient and robust car jack, capable of lifting heavy vehicles and easily exceeding its lifting capacity of 5,000 pounds.

However, one of the best things about this hydraulic car lift is its ease of use. All you need is an 110V outlet to get started. In addition, you can choose other models with motors of 12 V, 220 V or even 240 V depending on the voltage in your country.

In addition, the reinforced steel body and upper frame ensure that you can use this machine as a heavy-duty car lift in a busy workshop. In addition, the lifting points of this car lift are non-slip and are universally suitable for any type of vehicle on the market.

In addition, the small and flat form factor allows you to easily carry this Autolift with you. If you need a portable yet robust car lift, this is definitely an excellent model.

Pros:

• Easy to use even for absolute beginners
• Very durable and long lasting. The frame is made of reinforced steel.
• Flexible. Can be purchased with different voltages depending on the voltage of your country.

Cons:

• The price could have been a little lower.
• The low maximum height of 17.6 inches. You cannot stand under it.

3. Triumph NSS-8 4 Post Car Lift

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• Load capacity: 8.000 lbs
• Height range: 5 inches to 84 inches
• Material: steel

Triumph is the market leader in the home car lifting sector, with both 2- and 4-post lifts highly recommended. The Triumph NSS-8 is a 4-pillar car lift that many of its users consider to be one of the best car lifts on the market. One of the best things about this lift is definitely its high weight capacity of 8,000 pounds.

This ensures that it can lift heavy vehicles without any problems. In addition, the steel construction will make these car lifts very durable and long lasting. As this unit has 4 posts, it is very stable compared to a 2-post model and therefore safer to use. The only disadvantage is that it requires a little more space.

In addition, there are several safety features such as an automatic locking mechanism that locks the lift incrementally in position. This provides better safety, especially in the event of a power failure.

In addition, the maximum height of the lifting arm of 84 inches is quite generous. This lift can be used by a tall person, no problem. You do a lot of bang for the buck with this car lift as it comes with various accessories like jack trays, dip trays and a roll kit for more versatility.

Overall, the Triumph NSS-8 is the best 4-post car lift with the added advantage of being mobile in the garage. This is due to the intuitive roll kits included in the complete package.

Pros:

• More stable compared to a 2-pillar car lift
• Supplied with many accessories
• Excellent height ranges from 5 inches to 84 inches. Can be used by both short and tall people.

Cons:

• Difficult installation for beginners
• The instructions are not very detailed.

4. BendPak Portable Low-Rise Car Lift – 6000 Lb

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• Load capacity: 6.000 lbs
• Lift Pad Dimension: 18″ x 52″
• Lift Height: 26″, Overall Length: 82:”

The BendPak MD-6XP is a rather small and low-profile car lift that is an excellent solution for those looking for a car lift for the home garage. This unit has a small but efficient 1-phase engine that allows it to lift vehicles with ease up to 6,000 lbs., which is its maximum weight capacity.

In addition, the arm of this lift lowers slowly to prevent accidents. One of the best things about this car lift is definitely its ability to be used quickly and easily almost anywhere. If you need a portable car lift for your personal garage, the BendPak MD-6XP should definitely be a worthwhile model.

Overall, the BendPak MD-6XP is the best car lift for small garages due to its small footprint. However, since the middle of the elevator blocks the middle part of the car, changing the transmission fluid can be a bit uncomfortable or not possible at all.

Pros:

• Portable model
• Electric/hydraulic power system
• Heavy-duty steel channel frame

Cons:

• Lower compared weight capacity to other models.
• Not recommended as a heavy-duty car lift.

5. Auto Lift Car-Park-8 Car Lift

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• Load capacity: 8.000 lbs
• Height range: 74.75 inches
• Material: steel

If you have little space in your garage, then this car lift is an excellent model. It has a load capacity of 8,000 lbs, which means it can lift and store almost any type of vehicle, from a normal car to an SUV.

For added safety, this Auto-Lift has a safety lock that automatically locks the lift even when there is no power. This makes it a safer auto lift to use, as even in the case of a power failure the lift will not lower and crush the vehicle underneath.

In addition, the single-phase motor is efficient and powerful. It can be used as a heavy-duty car lift and even lasts for a long time despite regular use. In addition, the upper runway is non-slip and your vehicle will not slip accidentally.

Overall, if you can afford it, the Auto Lift is a decent 4-post car lift for the money.

Pros:

• Stable steel frame. Very durable and long-lasting.
• The decent maximum height of 74.75 inches. A tall car can sit comfortably under this lift.
• Safety lock with automatic locking function. No worries about a power failure

Cons:

• Difficult to move. Not the most efficient roller design.

6. BendPak 4-Post Wide/Standard Lift, 9,000-Lb. Capacity, Gray, Model# HD-9

Buy BendPak 4-Post Wide/Standard Lift, 9,000-Lb. Capacity, Gray, Model# HD-9

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• Load capacity: 9.000 lbs
• Height range: 88 inches
• Material: steel

This BendPak 4-post lift is a reliable electric/hydraulic system lift that is ideal for vehicle service or storage. The space-saving design maximizes the use of valuable floor space. Equipped with a single-phase 220V, 2HP motor that brings the lift to full height in just 45 seconds. Works in areas with a standard ceiling of at least 8 feet. Painted grey as standard. Also available in red or black.

Pros:

• Narrow 88in. overall width efficiently uses less space
• Requires no special foundation and installation is quick and easy

Cons:

• The price. It is one of the most expensive models in this Autolift review.

Why buy a car lift for your home garage?

Increased safety. If you are looking for something to lift your vehicle, safety is a major concern, and you cannot afford to choose poor-quality hoists because they cause accidents. Modern car lifts feature sturdy steel construction and anchors that hold the lift firmly to the ground to prevent it from collapsing while you work under your vehicle.

Hold larger cars and equipment. Car lifts are not only suitable for small family cars. Most can expand to heights and widths that can accommodate larger vehicles such as pickups, vans, and SUVs. They can also be used to store snowmobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers, and snow blowers.

Work from home. If you hate spending a lot of money by hiring someone to work under the vehicle for you, a car lift will help you give your car all the extra attention right from the comfort of your home.

How to Buy a Car Lift

2 Post vs. 4 Post Car Lift

If you have been looking for a car lift online, then you have probably seen that they come in 2 types of posts. There is one model that has 2 posts, while another has 4 posts.

What is the difference, may I ask? The 4-post car lift is the most stable type and is designed for lifting heavier vehicles, as the hydraulic system of a 4-post car lift has a higher PSI rating and therefore a higher load capacity.

When choosing between these two types, you need to consider the type of vehicle you normally work with and the frequency of lifting you need to perform.

If you have a busy garage where you lift many vehicles of different types, from light vehicles to heavy vehicles like an SUV, then you are probably better off working with a 4-post car lift with a large height range, even if it is more expensive than a 2-post lift.

Load capacity

The load capacity of the lift simply tells you how much weight it can lift before the safety mechanism comes in and prevents the lifting arm from moving. In most cases, a car lift for the home garage is capable of lifting at least 6,000 pounds or more.

If you plan to use the Autolift in a professional environment such as a mechanical workshop or car park, then it is probably best to choose a model that can lift at least 9,000 pounds so that the Autolift is more flexible and can lift a wider variety of vehicles with different weights.

Height range

In addition to the load capacity, the height range shows you how far the car lift can lift the vehicle. The higher the height range, the more space you have under the cabin lift so that it can accommodate larger vehicles.

Width range

The width range is simply the width of the cabin lift. The wider the width range, the more flexibility it has in accommodating large width vehicles like an SUV, which is generally wider vehicles.

If you are looking for a hydraulic car lift for personal use and have a small car, then a model that measures at least 100 inches is more than enough. For storing large vehicles such as an SUV, we recommend you choose a model with a width of at least 132 inches or more.

Lift material

Lift material is perhaps one of the most important aspects to consider when buying a car lift. The material used in the construction of the lift determines how durable, durable and long lasting the lift will be in both the short and long term.

In most cases, the safest building material of the car lift is steel. Because steel is a tough metal that does not corrode, is well resistant to substances such as car oils and is extremely durable. The only concern is that a steel car lift is very heavy and you may have difficulty transporting it.

Safety

There are many different types of safety that are used in car lifts. The most important thing to look for is the automatic safety locking mechanism that automatically holds the lift in position when it is lifted. This prevents it from suddenly falling on you or your undercarriage in the event of a power failure.

Also, make sure that your Autolift has a locking bar function. This ensures that the cab’s lifting arm lowers gently and hands-free when you want to lower the vehicle. Usually a hydraulic system is used and no power is usually required.

Therefore, during a power failure, you should still be able to lower the arm of your car lift and gain access to your vehicle.

Usability

When you operate the lift, you want it to be as easy as possible to operate. Even if you are an absolute beginner, you should have no problem operating the Autolift, as all you have to do in most cases is press one button to move the lift up and another to move it down.

The most important thing you can do when you shop around for a new auto lift of some kind is to complete your own car lift consumer research. As you read this detailed guide for the car hub, you are already on the right path.

You should start by gaining more than just a basic understanding of where the vehicle elevator is to be installed. This first requires accurate measurements of your bay or garage, including the ceiling height. Also decide what type of car or truck the car lift will be raised to. Use this information to select the dimensions and carrying capacity of the future car lift.

Additional things to be aware of are the concrete strength and the pound per square inch (PSI) rating as well as the location/valuation of your power and air supply. These factors will certainly influence which car lift you should invest in.

Lift maintenance

Depending on the use of the car sling bar, you may not need maintenance. However, they sometimes require maintenance from time to time. We strongly recommend that you check regularly for leaks, corrosion and the level of hydraulic fluid.

Types of car lifts for a home garage

Scissors Style

Scissor lifts or portable car lifts are the easiest to operate and install. Some come ready to use, so you don’t have to set them up. They are ideal for temporary repairs to your vehicle, such as changing tyres or repairing a damaged wheel. However, compared to two and four column lifts, they are somewhat underpowered.

Two-post

Two-column lifts use two frames that support one vehicle and take up less space than four-column lifts. They are more powerful than scissor lifts and have a higher lifting height. Their small profile makes them ideal for small DIY shops and shops.

Four-post

Four-column lifts are the largest, most powerful and most compact car lifts. They often weigh just over 2,000 pounds and need to be bolted to the floor for stability. They are therefore not portable. Nevertheless, they can lift a vehicle quickly and keep it stable long enough for you to finish working it.

Best car lifts for pricing in the garage at home

Under $1,500: While it can be almost impossible to find a car lift that is under $1,000, you will find some pretty good two and four column car lifts in this range. Most offer the versatility of an adjustable width and height, but often have a maximum load capacity of less than 6,000 pounds.

$1,500-$2,000: Expect some high-end products in this price range that are powered by powerful motors with a voltage of about 200 volts. Most products here have a maximum load capacity of 6,000 to 9,000 pounds. They also exist as twin or four-column beds.

Over $2,000: Budget so much for a high quality garage lift of rugged and durable construction. Most lifts are either four-column or scissor lifts and are anchored to the floor due to their size. They have a maximum lifting capacity of 6,000 to 10,000 pounds.

Conclusion

As we have seen, the Autolift is a powerful and heavy tool for lifting and storing several vehicles in the smallest space. This lift is very versatile and can be supplied with either 2 or 4 posts, depending on requirements and purpose. In addition, the steel construction guarantees that you get a very robust lift that lasts.

Car lifts reviews

The only disadvantage is that the price can be prohibitive for the average user. However, for people who need to park several vehicles in a limited workshop or garage, the Autolift will make a big difference!

If you have finally read our lift overview above and have not yet found a model, we recommend that you go through it again.

Best Car Lifts for Garage Video