Prices here run from $1,480 for a portable tilt lift to six figures for a heavy commercial column set. A working two-post starts at $2,111, and ten two-post models sit under $3,000. Storage four-posts start at $3,360; the low-rise entry is $1,800. Two-post capacity runs to 20,000 lb, four-post to 60,000 lb. All 164 lifts from 13 brands are new equipment, and every number on this page comes off the individual product page. Tell us your ceiling, your power and your heaviest vehicle at 800-562-4791 and we will shortlist two or three.
▸ Read the full Car Lifts buying guide — types, capacity, power and space, comparison table and FAQs
Then measure the room. A 9-foot ceiling is not a dead end here. The AMGO BP-9 two-post is built for it - its listing calls for a "ceiling height 9 ft or higher" and stands 108" overall. The four-post JMC8K-DX is 86" overall and "Fits in most residential garages." The iDEAL MSC-6KLP portable single-post lift lists a Minimum Ceiling Height of 9'. And just over ten feet of ceiling still gets full service rise: the Challenger CLFP9 lists a Ceiling Height Required of 10' 2" and delivers a Rise Height of 78.125" - more rise than the CL10AV3, which asks for a full 12-foot ceiling and rises 74.125".
Match the lift to the work
Wheels free, or wheels loaded
This is the first fork, and it is the one people get wrong. A two-post or a scissor lifts by the frame, so the wheels hang free and you can work brakes, suspension and tires. A four-post is drive-on: the wheels stay loaded on the runways. To get a wheel off a four-post you add a rolling jack, which the heavier Challenger four-posts offer as an option: the 4115EFX lists an optional alignment kit, sold separately, with rolling jacks, an internal airline system and stainless steel turn plates, and Challenger also lists the RJ7.5 air/hydraulic rolling jack, 7,500 lb capacity, as a separate accessory. BendPak lists "Optional 4,500-lb. air-hydraulic rolling jacks available" on the HD-973P-G parking lift.
Storing a car, or servicing one
On a four-post those are two different numbers on the same spec sheet, and the storage number is the smaller one. The Challenger CL4P9X lists a Rise Height (Top of Runway at top position) of 85.5" but a Crossbeam Clearance Height of 80". The JMC8K-DX lists a Lifting Height of 74-3/4" and a Maximum Clearance under Track of 70". If the plan is to park a tall truck underneath, the crossbeam decides, not the rise. Service-height four-posts in this category run roughly 68" to 89.5" of maximum lifting height - the BendPak HDS-14XT lists a Maximum Rise of 82.75 in. and a Maximum Lifting Height of 89.5 in. Above that you are into display and stacking platforms: the BendPak HD-7PXW lists a Maximum Rise of 140" and a Maximum Lifting Height of 145", "12-feet of lifting height."
How often the car goes up
Cycle time is published and it separates the tiers. The Challenger CL10AV3 lists a Speed of Rise of 38 s, the CLFP9 50 s, the JMC8K-DX a Lifting Speed of 90S, and the Challenger CL4P9X on 115v runs 120 seconds up. A 90 to 120 second storage lift is not an express-bay lift, and that is fine - as long as you bought it for storage.
Compare lift types
| Lift type |
Capacity in this category |
Rise or clearance |
Best for |
| Two-post |
8,000 lb (Nussbaum HF3S8000 OTTO) to 20,000 lb (BendPak 20AP); the volume 9,000 lb entries include the JMC9KF-TUX and the APEX AL9LC |
Up to 84.75" rise height on a conventional two-post (Challenger CL12A series), and 90.25" with adapters on the BendPak 20AP; the BendPak OctaFlex 12DPS reaches 111.25" on its auxiliary arms |
Daily service work with the wheels free. The volume choice for a repair bay. |
| Four-post |
7,000 lb (BendPak HD-7PXW) to 60,000 lb (Challenger 44060) |
Up to 140" rise and 145" maximum lifting height on the display-height BendPak HD-7PXW; 85.5" rise with 80" crossbeam clearance on the Challenger CL4P9X |
Drive-on service, storage, stacking two vehicles, heavy trucks, and showroom-height display. |
| Mobile columns |
5,000 lb per column (Challenger CLMM-5000) to 19,000 lb per column (Mahle CML-9W); 152,000 lb in the CML-9Wx8 set of eight |
32" with two units, 69" with four or more (Challenger CLHM, Mahle CML) |
Buses, fleet trucks, anything that will not fit a fixed bay. Runs on rechargeable batteries (Challenger and Mahle sets); the single-column iDEAL MSC-6KLP plugs into 115V - 15 Amp. |
| Scissor, mid-rise and low-rise |
6,000 lb (AMGO LR06 low-rise, BendPak MDS-6 mid-rise scissors) to 12,000 lb (Nussbaum UNI LIFT 12 scissor); the Challenger SRM10 short-rise is 10,000 lb and the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 portable mid-rise is 7,000 lb |
22" on the SRM10 and 23 5/8" on the LR06; 44.5" on the BendPak MDS-6LPF and 47 1/4" on the AMGO MRL09; 52.75" on the Challenger MR6; up to 74.5" on the Challenger DX77 double scissor |
Tight bays, tires, wheels, brakes, detailing. Nussbaum notes a scissor "uses less area than a similar four post." Air: the Challenger DX77 lists Air Supply Required 90-120 psi; the MDS-6 series needs 50 PSI and 10 CFM at installation only. |
| Alignment |
9,000 lb (Nussbaum UNI LIFT 9 A) to 18,000 lb (Hofmann FPA18210 and BendPak HDS18EA); the Challenger AR4115 packages sit at 15,000 lb |
Full-length alignment runways; Challenger sells the turn plates and rolling jacks as a separate alignment kit |
Alignment racks. The Challenger and Hofmann alignment models list Air Supply Required 90-120 psi. |
| Parking and stacking |
6,000 lb (Autostacker A6S) to 9,000 lb on the lower deck of the BendPak HD-973P-G (7,000 lb upper deck); the AMGO 408-HP four-post parking lift is 8,000 lb |
Autostacker A6S lists 52.5" under clearance on the first lock and 81.25" on the fifth; the HD-973P-G lists a Maximum rise (upper platform) of 139.5 in. |
Getting a second - or a third - car into the same footprint. BendPak states the HD-973P-G "allows the storage of three vehicles in a single parking space." |
| Motorcycle, ATV and UTV |
2,200 lb (iDEAL M-2200IEH-XR) to 2,500 lb (iDEAL UF-2500EH-X) |
Bench-style working height |
Powersports service. Runs on 110V. |
Clear floor or floor plate: the trade you actually make
Two identical-capacity two-posts in this category show the trade exactly. The JMC9KFX is a 9,000 lb floor plate lift at $2,390 with a Height Overall of 111-7/8". The JMC9KSCX is a 9,000 lb clear floor lift at $2,640 with a Height Overall of 142-7/8". Both lift the car to the same 72" Max Lift Height. Same capacity, same rise, $250 apart - and 31 inches of difference in how much ceiling you have to give up.
A floor plate lift runs the hydraulics and cables through a low plate on the ground, so the columns stay short - that is how the Challenger CLFP9 fits a 10' 2" ceiling with a "Low profile drive-over floor plate" while still rising 78.125". A clear floor lift moves that crossover to an overhead beam, which leaves nothing to drive over but needs the height. So the floor plate does not buy you rise; it buys you headroom, at the cost of a plate you drive over. Where the floor plate design does buy rise is against taller clear-floor lifts: the CLFP9 rises 78.125" on a 10' 2" ceiling, while the CL10AV3 rises 74.125" and asks for a full 12 feet. If your ceiling is generous, take clear floor and keep the bay floor free. If it is not, floor plate buys you 31 inches of headroom for the same rise, and $250 less.
If your ceiling is somewhere in between, some models adjust. The AMGO OH-12S lists an "adjustable three height setting accommodates varying service ceiling heights" at 143 1/8", 155 1/8" and 167 1/8" overall. The Challenger CL10AV3 fits a 12-foot ceiling standard, with 2-foot or 3-foot extensions available.
Check four things before you order
Ceiling
The low end of this category is the JMC8K-B, JMC8K-DX and their Tuxedo equivalents (FP8K-B, FP8K-DX) at 86" overall, then 9-foot solutions in the AMGO BP-9 two-post and the iDEAL MSC-6KLP portable single-post lift. At the other end, the Challenger CL12A-2 requires 16' 3" minimum and the BendPak 20AP-192 is 193 in. (4,904 mm) overall. Measure to the lowest obstruction - a garage door track, not the joists.
Floor and anchoring
Some models take the slab question off the table. The Challenger CL4P9S, CL4P9W and CL4P9X state that "Anchoring not required to maintain ALI/ETL certification" and that "Adjustable lock ladders allow for a versatile install with sensitivity to uneven floors." The Nussbaum HF3S8000 and HF3S12000 OTTO state that "No floor connection and no top static connection of the columns is necessary" - call 800-562-4791 for availability on those. Mobile columns "can be operated on almost any solid surface, indoors or out." Anchored models are a different conversation, and one worth having before the truck arrives - see the FAQ below.
Power
You may not need to run a new circuit. The JMC and Tuxedo four-posts list Power 115V - 20 Amp - 1PH. The Challenger MR6 and SRM10 list 1HP, 115V, 60Hz, 1Ph. The AMGO LR06, SL-7 and SML-7 list 1.0HP, 110V/60Hz. The iDEAL MSC-6KLP portable single-post lift lists 115V - 15 Amp 1Ph and "requires no additional electrical installation." The heavy-duty mobile column sets are the ones that do not plug in while working at all: the Challenger CLHM-140 lists an Operating Voltage of 24 VDC nominal (the CLHM-190 and CLHM-190W list 25 and 26 VDC), all three run on 12-volt deep cycle batteries with a 120 VAC @ 60 Hz charger, and the CLMM-5000 is a "Rechargeable battery powered 110v charging system" with "No air required." The Challenger CL4P9 series accepts either 115v or 230v, with a speed penalty: 120 seconds on 115v, 60 on 230v.
Shop two-posts are mostly 208v-230v single phase, and so are most mid-rise scissors - the BendPak MDS-6 series lists Motor 208-230 VAC at 60 Hz., 1 Ph., the AMGO MRL09 lists 2.0HP, 220V/60Hz, and the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 lists a 208/230, 1-phase supply. Above that, the heavy four-posts go three phase - the Challenger 44060 lists 15HP, 230 - 460v Three Phase at 42 - 21 Amps.
Compressed air
Some lifts need it and say so. The Challenger four-post, alignment and double-scissor models - the DX77 and DX77R both list Air Supply Required 90-120 psi - and the Hofmann FPA18210 call for 90-120 psi. The BendPak MDS-6 series notes it "Requires min. 50 PSI, 10 CFM air source at time of installation." Others explicitly do not: the Challenger CL4P9 series lists "Air not required for operation," the CLMM-5000 says "No air required," and the Nussbaum UNI LIFT needs no compressed air - its listing specifies a fully hydraulic lifting circuit, with a 208/230V single-phase, 3 hp oil-submerged power unit.
What is in this category
164 lifts from 13 manufacturers: 73 two-post, 37 four-post, 16 mobile column, 16 scissor, mid-rise and low-rise (the BendPak MDS-6 family is a mid-rise scissor, and all four MDS-6 models are counted once, here), 8 alignment, 6 parking and stacking, 4 powersports, 2 single-post, one portable tilt lift and one inground completion kit. Challenger Lifts, BendPak, Mahle, Nussbaum, AMGO Hydraulics, Tuxedo, iDEAL, Hofmann, Autostacker, APEX, Herkules, Omer and our own JMC Equipment line. Ten two-post models are under $3,000. Lead times vary by model and by manufacturer - call 800-562-4791 with the model you are considering and we will confirm availability before you order.
Car lift FAQ
How much does a car lift cost?
In this category, from $1,480 for the iDEAL TLX-7000 portable tilt lift to $154,328 for the Mahle CML-9Wx8 set of eight mobile columns. A working two-post starts at $2,111 with the JMC9KF-TUX, and ten two-post models sit under $3,000. Low-rise starts at $1,800 with the AMGO LR06, which lists 23 5/8" of rise - tires, brakes and body work. True mid-rise, where you can stand under the door sill, starts at $3,550 with the AMGO MRL09 (47 1/4" rise) or $4,045.61 with the Challenger MR6 (52.75"). Storage four-posts start around $3,360. Heavy commercial four-posts and full column sets run into six figures. One model - the Omer Bipark/Tripark parking lift - is quoted rather than priced online; call for it.
How thick does my concrete need to be?
Our product listings do not publish slab thickness or PSI, because it is set by the model's installation manual, not by us - and it is the one number you should confirm before ordering an anchored lift. Call us with the model you are considering and we will pull that requirement from the manufacturer's installation documentation. If your slab is the problem, the catalog has ways around it: the Challenger CL4P9S, CL4P9W and CL4P9X do not require anchoring to maintain ALI/ETL certification, the Nussbaum HF3S OTTO two-posts need no floor connection (call for availability on those), and mobile columns operate on almost any solid surface.
Can I put a lift in a home garage?
Several models are built for it. The Challenger CL4P9S, CL4P9W and CL4P9X are home four-posts that need no anchoring and no air. The JMC8K-B, JMC8K-DX and their Tuxedo equivalents are 86" overall and fit most residential garages on a 115V - 20 Amp circuit. The BendPak MDS-6LPF is described as a flush-mount design for "lube shops, full-service bays and home garage environments looking for a zero-footprint lift." Confirm your local permitting before you order.
Do I need 220V in the garage?
Not always. The storage four-posts (JMC and Tuxedo 8K/9K) run on 115V - 20 Amp - 1PH, and several small lifts run on a standard household circuit: the Challenger MR6 and SRM10 at 115V, and the BendPak MD-6XP and the AMGO LR06, SL-7 and SML-7 at 110V. But most mid-rise scissors are not - the BendPak MDS-6 series, the AMGO MRL09 and the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 all call for 208-230V, and full-size shop two-posts generally want 208v-230v. Mobile column sets work off rechargeable batteries, with charger requirements that vary by brand: the Challenger CLHM lists 120 VAC @ 60 Hz, the Mahle CML-9W lists 70-130 VAC @ 50-60 Hz, and the Challenger CLMM-5000 lists 120-240 VAC @ 50-60 Hz. Check the Power row on the model you want.
Do I need an air compressor?
It depends on the model, and the listing says which. Challenger four-post, alignment and double-scissor lifts - the DX77 and DX77R list Air Supply Required 90-120 psi - and the Hofmann alignment rack call for 90-120 psi. The BendPak MDS-6 mid-rise scissors need 50 PSI and 10 CFM at installation. Autostacker parking lifts note a minimum 30 psi / 3 CFM supply for the safety locks. The Challenger CL4P9 home four-posts, the CLMM-5000 and the Nussbaum hydraulic lifts need none.
Two-post or four-post?
Two-post if the wheels have to come off, or if you want the lowest entry price into a service-height lift - they start at $2,111 here with the JMC9KF-TUX, and ten two-post models sit under $3,000. Four-post if you are driving on, storing, stacking, or lifting something heavy: the four-post range in this category tops out at 60,000 lb. Add a rolling jack to a four-post when you occasionally need a wheel free.
How many mobile columns do I need?
Four, if you want full height. The Challenger CLHM lists a Maximum Lift Height of 69" with four or more units, but only 32" with two units in normal mode. Mahle publishes the same split: Min (2)/Max (4) Lift Height 32 in / 69 in. Buying a pair and expecting full rise is the classic mistake.
Is the lift ALI certified, and is installation included?
About 81 of these listings state ALI/ETL certification outright, and they say it in different places - a Specifications row on Challenger and Mahle, a Features bullet on BendPak and Hofmann. Close to half the pages - 78 of 164 - say nothing either way; a silent page is not a No. Call 800-562-4791 with the model number and we will confirm its certification before you order. Do not read a blank row as uncertified. Call 800-562-4791 with the model number and we will confirm its certification before you order. On pricing: the listed price is the equipment. Most listings here ship free to the contiguous 48 states - 112 of the 164, including every Mahle, Autostacker and APEX model, all but one Challenger and all but two BendPak. Check the Free Shipping row on the model you want. Where freight is charged, most listings state the amount per unit up front (the JMC8K-DX, for example, shows $665 per unit). About 25 listings - among them models from AMGO, Nussbaum, Omer, Herkules, Hofmann, BendPak and Challenger - publish neither free shipping nor a freight amount; call 800-562-4791 and we will quote the freight before you order. Installation is arranged separately.
Not sure which lift fits your bay?
Tell us three things - your ceiling height to the lowest obstruction, what power you have at the wall, and the heaviest vehicle you expect to lift - and we will narrow 164 lifts down to the two or three that actually fit. Call 800-562-4791 or send the dimensions and we will come back with models, freight and lead times.
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