Residential car lifts are designed for mechanics who service vehicles at home and small service shops.
Car enthusiasts who have limited space can also use them to stack vehicles for long-term storage.
This category of automotive equipment has become more popular in recent years, so we decided it was time to review the top 5 residential car lifts that are available in 2021.
Best Car Lifts For Home Garage
1. Triumph NSS-8 – Best 4 Post Car Lift
2. APlusLift HW-10KBP – Best Capacity Two-Post Lift
3. Triumph NT-9 – Best 2 Post Car Lift
4. QuickJack BL-5000SLX – Best Portable Car Lift
5. BendPak MD-6XP – Best Low Profile Car Lift
Below is a list of the best residential garage car lifts, which include a range of different types of lifts suitable for a home garage.
1. Triumph NSS-8 – Best 4 Post Car Lift
The NSS-8 is Triumph’s heavy-duty four-post car lift that features a drive-on support bed. With a lift height of 84 inches, it can safely store vehicles as well as serve as an overhead lift for servicing. The sturdy construction supports up to 8,000-pound loads, making it possible to lift large pickup trucks.The NSS-8 includes a safety feature called automatic locking to prevent sudden drops. It works by engaging a physical locking mechanism at intervals as the bed is raised. If you want to double-stack vehicles in a garage for long-term storage, we recommend this car lift from Triumph.
- Fixed four-post design with lift bed
- Maximum load weight of 8,000 lbs.
- Lifts vehicles up to 84 inches
- Doesn’t come with detailed instructions
2. APlusLift HW-10KBP – Best Capacity Two-Post Lift
The HW-10KBP is a residential car lift that has the height and weight capacity to handle even large heavy-duty pickup trucks. You can use it as an overhead service lift for most cars and SUVs, and it comes with height extensions for lifting trucks. Just be aware of the headroom required to lift a truck over six feet into the air.Like other two-post lifts, they require some practice to place the support arms correctly. The guesswork involved for some vehicles can lead to slippage or unbalanced lifts. The automatic locking system is robust, however, making drops very unlikely.
We recommend this lift to service shops and home mechanics that need an affordable lift for vehicles of any size.
- Maximum load capacity of 10,000 lbs.
- Lift height as high as 81 inches with truck extension
- Two-post support design
- This lift is not very portable
- You’ll need a ceiling height of at least 10 feet for trucks
3. Triumph NT-9 – Best 2 Post Car Lift
The NT-9 is a two-post car lift that takes up less space than a four-post lift and gives you the flexibility to select the support points for lifting a vehicle. It works by swivel two arms into place under a vehicle frame’s strong points.Some customers prefer this design because it fits into a smaller bay, but it also adds some guesswork to lifting large vehicles. If the arms aren’t placed correctly, they can slip, or the load can become unbalanced. Triumph’s locking system also sometimes require a hammer to pop into place.
We recommend this lift for advanced users who need the extra clearance and load capacity.
- Flexible rotating support arms
- Maximum weight capacity of 9,000 lbs.
- Maximum lift height of 72 inches
- The locking system can require a hammer at times
- This model doesn’t come with detailed instructions
4. QuickJack BL-5000SLX – Best Portable Car Lift
If you’re looking for a car lift that’s portable and safe, the BL-5000SLX is designed with you in mind. It consists of two pieces that slide under each side of a vehicle to provide four points of support. If you only need to change tires on cars or small SUVs, you can lift one side at a time with the BL-5000SLX.This car lift design is a great option for a homeowner who wants a lift for periodic maintenance work that can be stowed when not in use. Each piece folds down and fits onto storage shelves with the compact motor unit that powers it. If you need a safe and powerful alternative to floor jacks, this car lift fits the bill.
- Maximum load capacity of 5,000 lbs.
- Maximum lift height of 17.5 inches
- Very portable and easy to store
- Only intended for short lifts for tire changes
- A little complex for what it does
5. BendPak MD-6XP – Best Low Profile Car Lift
The MD-6XP is a medium car lift that uses a stable four-point scissor jack design. It slides under a vehicle and lifts it from the center of the frame.Its weight rating isn’t enough to safely lift large heavy-duty trucks, but it can handle most light trucks, SUVs, and cars. It’s ideal for changing tires quickly with the lift height to bring most vehicles up to waist level.
We recommend this model if you want a lift you can move from bay to bay as needed.
- Supports vehicles weighing up to 6,000 lbs.
- Maximum lift height of 53 inches
- Isn’t designed to lift heavy trucks
- Isn’t capable of overhead work
Best Residential Garage Car Lifts Buyer’s Guide
Residential car lifts are smaller, portable versions of the hydraulic lifts that you find in auto repair and body shops. They come in different sizes and weight capacities to suit the needs of different uses. They range from models that can lift and support vehicles for long-term storage to safer alternatives to floor jacks. When shopping for the lift that’s right for you, there are several factors to consider.
Weight Capacity
It’s important to be aware of the maximum load that a lift can raise and support safely. If you work with a variety of vehicles, be sure to assess what the heaviest load will be and buy a lift that can handle it.
Lifting Height
The second most important spec to note when comparing car lifts is the maximum height that it can raise a vehicle. Some car lifts are designed to serve as a replacement for jack stands, lifting a vehicle only one or two feet into the air. Others can serve as overhead lifts that raise vehicles as high as seven feet.
Lift Width
The width of each model is an important dimension if you want to install a car lift into a cramped space. Carefully measure the width you have available and check this against the specs provided by manufacturers. It will also determine if a lift is suitable for lifting large trucks, or if it’s better-suited for smaller cars.
Lift Safety and Design
Lift manufacturers have devised safety features like:
- automatic lift locks
- locking bars
- hydraulic cylinders
Automatic lifting locks support the load as the lift rises with a physical locking mechanism. This prevents sudden drops if the lift motor fails. Locking bars help make lowering a vehicle smooth and controllable. Most lifts also use hydraulic cylinders to hold a load in place, which prevents power failures from causing the load to drop unexpectedly.
Conclusion
That sums up the car lifts that are currently available for residential buyers. Depending on the size of the vehicles you service or store, one of these top 5 lifts should fit your needs. It’s exciting to see these products make repairs safer and more convenient for homeowners. Stay tuned for our review of any new car lift products that arrive next year!