Choosing a good floor jack for your garage should be easy enough — that is until you start your search and begin to get overwhelmed by all the choices. There are cheap car jacks, steel floor jacks, and lighter-weight aluminum jacks. In addition, there are low-profile and high-lift jacks, 2-ton, 3-ton, and heavy-duty floor jacks just to name a few.
It soon becomes apparent that you need to decide what your jack requirements are before deciding which floor jack is best for you. To make things easier, we have narrowed down all these choices and reviewed the top 5 floor jacks based on the various options available.
The jacks we list are rolling hydraulic floor jacks designed for cars, trucks, and SUVs. They are also called trolley jacks for the rolling frame they are affixed to. Regardless, these types of jacks are easy to move around your garage, driveway, or workshop. They are known for being very versatile as well as stable.
One important fact you need to be aware of is that most floor jacks available today are made overseas. Materials and labor there are far cheaper. Very few are manufactured and assembled here in the U.S. any longer. Those that are, cost three times as much at a minimum and often much more.
While we would like to recommend American-made jacks, it just doesn’t make economic sense for most people. Though they may last longer, it is not worth that high of a price for the average consumer.
This article has been updated for 2022 to reflect the latest products and changes
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Are Floor Jacks Made Overseas in China or Taiwan Any Good?
Can you purchase a good floor jack that is made overseas? The short answer is yes! Some of these jacks are manufactured and sold by American companies based overseas. The materials and labor are foreign, but they are built to U.S. standards. In addition, many overseas floor jacks meet ASME PALD and PASE certification standards.
Can a jack made in China or Taiwan malfunction or break shortly after you purchase it? Yes, but it doesn’t happen very often. Many of these jacks get great reviews and last for years when not used in a commercial environment. And just like any other product, people are much more likely to complain and give a bad review about a product than make an effort to give a good one.
Lastly, you may notice that many floor jacks offered by different companies look identical. And you would be right. This is because various American companies will import and sell the same floor jack. The only difference is the color and name branding.
Best Budget floor jack
If cost is a factor or you don’t have the room for a full-size floor jack, then it only makes sense to purchase a less expensive jack that will meet your needs. Though smaller, these jacks get the job done.
Pro-Lift F-767 2-Ton Floor Jack
That is why the first jack on our list is the Pro-Lift F-767. It is a smaller, yet well-built budget floor jack. It has a 2-Ton lifting capacity, all steel construction, full-size wheels, and a lower profile design.
This jack works well for the occasional oil change, tire rotations, or changing out for winter snow tires. It is designed primarily for cars and small to medium-sized trucks and SUVs. However, it will work fine on larger vehicles as long as you don’t exceed its lifting capacity.
The smaller size makes for easier storage and it has a convenient lifting handle for picking it up. At just 30lbs, it’s fairly easy to store away. It’s an ideal car jack for those that live in an apartment or condominium and only have a small amount of space to keep a jack.
The total lifting height of this jack is 14”. While this height is more than adequate for most cars and small trucks, some may find the height too limiting for larger trucks and SUVs.
PROS
- Durable all-steel construction for long life
- Lower profile design – lift pad 3-1/2″ to 14″
- Bypass valve protects from overpumping
- Easylift handle for transporting
- Great for small garages, condos or apartments
- Budget price
- Lightweight at 30 lbs.
CONS
- Limited to 2-Tons
- Lacks higher lift for tall trucks and SUVs
- Smaller lift pad than standard
- Requires careful control when lowering
Despite the much shorter pump handle, it does not require any extra effort to use. It just requires more pumps to lift your vehicle than the larger models do.
Pro-Lift does offer a cheaper 1.5-ton model called the F-2315PE. You can check the price here. However, it’s not our first recommendation for a couple of reasons unless your budget dictates the cheapest floor jack available.
The rolling frame of the jack is narrower as well as the front wheels. As a result, it does not spread the load out as far and will not be as stable. In addition, the narrow front wheels tend to sink into dirt or asphalt when lifting a car.
It also has a minimum lift pad height of 5.25”. This will not fit under some smaller cars. And lastly, the 1.5-Ton rating means it’s not suitable for larger trucks and SUVs.
Best value floor jack
There are quite a few floor jacks to choose from in this category and one of the reasons people tend to get overwhelmed when trying to make a choice.
Finding a floor jack that is the best value can be hard, particularly if you don’t know what to look for. And the cheapest price does not mean it’s the best value.
Pittsburgh Heavy Duty 3-Ton Floor Jack
One of the best floor jacks for the money is the Pittsburgh Automotive Heavy Duty 3-Ton Low Profile jack. We have many years of experience with this jack and can attest that it is a workhorse. We like it so much that our family members have purchased three of these so far.
It has many features that people look for in a hydraulic floor jack. First is the 3-Ton lift capacity. This is good for large trucks and SUVs as well as cars. In addition, the lift saddle sits at only 3-1/8” with a maximum lift height of 19-3/4”.
It’s one of the best low-profile jacks available and fits well under our lowered track car. The rapid pump dual piston design will lift cars fairly quickly as well. Pittsburgh states 3-1/2 pumps, but we feel 4 full pumps are more accurate.
Our jack pictured above is over 6 years old and used frequently. Pittsburgh has since changed the color of the jack to red. The newly updated jack has a quick-release 2-piece handle as well.
A feature that we like is the wide front steel wheels. This helps to keep the jack more stable. It also spreads the load better if you are working on a softer surface such as asphalt or dirt.
Lastly, the all-steel construction makes for a very durable design. Though it is not a lightweight at approximately 78lbs, it’s right in the ballpark for a steel floor jack of this size.
PROS
- Low profile – Excellent for lowered vehicles or flat tires
- Saddle lift pad height of 3-1/8” to 19-3/4”
- 3-Ton lift capacity is good for trucks and SUVs
- Durable all-steel construction for long life
- Wide front steel wheels to spread the load
- Dual Piston rapid pump design
- Meets ANSI/ASME PASE Standards
- Universal joint release mechanism ensures accurate control when lowering
- Foam bumper pad on lower lift handle protects vehicles
- Best value for the money
CONS
- Heavy at 78 lbs.
- Lift pad saddle can’t be removed to add other components
- Was grey. New red design increased the minimum lift height from 2-7/8″ to 3-1/8″
Like most floor jacks, the lifting handle is a 2-piece design for shipping purposes. This has turned out to be a benefit for us when transporting it in the back of a car or the storage compartment of our car trailer.
Are there cheaper 3-ton floor jacks available? Yes, there are, but not by much. However, you will not find a lower-profile saddle pad, wider front wheels, or heavier steel construction, along with the ASME PASE standards that this jack meets. This is why we feel it’s the best value for a floor jack.
Best Low Profile Floor Jack with High Lift
Sometimes just having a low profile for a floor jack is not enough. The ability to get the jack far enough under the car to access a particular lifting point can be an important requirement.
Many low-profile floor jacks will not do this because the jack frame will interfere when pushing it further under the car. Another requirement may be the ability to lift the vehicle high enough to place on taller jack stands, and sometimes both.
Arcan XL2T 2-Ton Low Profile High Lift Floor Jack
This is why we list the Arcan XL2T 2-Ton Long Reach low profile, high lift service jack as the best jack to meet these requirements. There are a couple of features that make the Arcan XL2T unique to most low-profile floor jacks.
Having a low profile sometimes is not enough. Arcan supplements the low saddle pad height with a low-profile trolley frame that can reach up to 32”. This allows the jack to roll far under the car to access lift points.
The result of this design is a 2 -3/4” saddle pad height that can lift as high as 24”. This long reach creates an excellent jack for lifting exotic sports cars and lowered vehicles that require access to lifting points far under the car.
It also makes for the convenient lifting of trucks and SUVs when you need to roll the jack far under the vehicle to reach lifting points that may require a higher-than-normal lift height.
PROS
- 32” long low profile reach with a high lift
- Lift pad height of 2-3/4” – 24”
- Extra-Wide front steel wheels
- All-steel construction for long durability
- Dual piston rapid pump design
- Relief valve overload protection
- Meets ASME Pald 2009 Standards
- Universal joint release mechanism ensures accurate control when lowering
- Foam bumper pad on lower lift handle to protect vehicles
- Great value for a low-profile, long-reach, and high-lift floor jack
CONS
- 97 lbs weight is heavy
- 33″ long length requires more room to store
- Limited to 2-Tons due to longer lift arm
Do not confuse the Arcan XL2T long-reach jack with the Arcan XL20. The XL20 is a standard-sized floor jack that does not have a high lift and long reach. It also has a taller lift pad height of 3-1/2”.
Lastly, make sure you have room for this jack. The long reach makes for a long jack. Some people are surprised by this when they receive it.
Best aluminum floor jack
Aluminum floor jacks have slowly been gaining in popularity. Though more expensive, they are well-liked by the performance car crowd and those that take pride in displaying their tools.
The weight savings make for easier transport and most perform just as well as their all-steel counterparts. Plus, we have to admit that some of these aluminum jacks are just dang good-looking.
NOS 3-Ton Aluminum Service Jack
Our choice for the best aluminum floor jack is the NOS 3-Ton Aluminum Service Jack. It weighs 58 lbs and comes equipped with convenient side handles for easy lifting when transporting. The two-piece pump handle provides easy storage with the jack in the back of a car or storage compartment.
In addition, the NOS aluminum jack incorporates a dual-piston rapid pump design for quick lifting and has a rubber-protected saddle pad to protect the underside of the vehicle. It is constructed of thick aluminum for stability and strength. This includes the lifting arm. The front wheels and rear casters are steel.
Though the weight savings for garage use doesn’t have that big of an impact, it can be very convenient if you need to store the jack someplace other than on the garage floor.
We purchased this jack a couple of years ago for use on our track car after numerous friends boasted about how much easier aluminum jacks are to transport. It’s much lighter than the 3-Ton Pittsburgh Automotive floor jack that we had been hauling around and a welcome addition.
We have to admit that it’s an impressive-looking jack and well-made. It has performed flawlessly to date.
PROS
- Lighter weight at only 58lbs
- Thick aluminum construction and bracing for added durability
- Side handles for easier transporting
- 3-Ton lifting capacity
- Lower profile design with lifting pad height of 3-3/4” to 18-1/8”
- Dual piston rapid pump design
- Safety valve prevents overloading
- Universal joint release mechanism ensures accurate control when lowering
- Rubber padded lift saddle protects underside of vehicle
- Two-piece pump handle with foam bumper pad
- Best value for an aluminum floor jack
CONS
- Not the lightest aluminum floor jack
- Not as low profile as all-steel floor jacks
- More expensive than steel 3-Ton jacks
- Aluminum construction may not be as durable
Remember when we said that many floor jacks from different companies look the same? Well, this is particularly true for aluminum jacks. You can purchase this exact jack from Sunex, Arcan, Jegs, Torin, and Big Red. They are just different colors with different name branding.
The NOS version is usually cheaper, but you can click on the red links above to check current prices. Just be sure to factor in possible shipping costs.
You can usually find 2-Ton aluminum jacks for a few dollars less. However, they do not have the additional bracing and reinforced aluminum lifting arm like the 3-Ton versions. We don’t care for the flex these jacks can have and it creates doubt about long-term use.
Lastly, some aluminum jacks have aluminum trolley frames only. The lifting arms are steel. It’s not worth spending the money on these when you are not getting all of the features and benefits of aluminum construction.
Best multi-use floor jack for vehicles, ATVs, and motorcycles
For some people, a traditional floor jack may not be versatile enough for lifting a variety of vehicles. In these cases, a multi-use floor jack that can lift ATVs and motorcycles in addition to cars and trucks can be a better choice.
Powerbuilt 620422E Heavy Duty Triple Lift Jack
If you find yourself in this category, then the Powerbuilt Heavy Duty Triple Lift Jack is the best multi-use jack since it does all that and more.
Besides the great reviews for this jack, what makes it unique is the large, flat-padded platform that is affixed to the lifting arm. This platform creates a functional lifting pad for motorcycles, ATVs, transmissions, differentials, lawn tractors, and more. Just lift out the saddle pad and it’s ready to go.
With a 2-Ton lifting capacity, it has a minimum lift pad height of 6” with the saddle pad in and 5-1/2” with the saddle pad out. The max lift range is 17-1/2” with the saddle pad in and 17” with it out.
Another great feature of this jack is that the all-steel design includes a safety lock-out pin that will hold the jack in place and eliminate the need to use jack stands. Plus, it has built-in tie-down loops over the rear casters. This allows you to use tie-downs when securing a transmission, differential, or motorcycle to the large lift pad.
There are some important points to consider before purchasing a multi-use jack like this one. The jack does not allow for a low profile so it may not fit under some smaller vehicles and sports cars. In addition, the max lifting height of 17-1/2” may not be high enough for some tall trucks and SUVs as well.
Lastly, the large lifting pad is permanently affixed to the lifting arm. Also, the width of the jack may prohibit using the saddle pad on some lifting points on the sides of a vehicle when accessing them from directly in front or behind the vehicle.
PROS
- All steel design with a 2-Ton lifting capacity
- Lift pad range of 5.5” to 17 1/2”
- Weight – 80lbs
- Removable saddle pad
- Large padded lift platform is 12” long by 9-3/8” wide
- Built-in tie-down hooks over rear casters
- Locking safety bar eliminates the need for jack stands
- Wide width is extra stable
- Meets or exceeds ANSI standards
- Great low price
CONS
- Not low-profile – minimum pad height of 5.5″
- Wide width and lift platform may block access to lifting points that are near vehicle wheels
- Requires careful control when lowering
Hydraulic Floor Jack Maintenance Tips
The first thing you want to do when you receive your new floor jack is to properly bleed or purge the system of air. Air can sometimes be introduced into the system during assembly, shipping, and transportation. This could potentially cause it to fail while under load.
The process is simple and your instruction manual should describe it step by step. It usually requires opening the release valve by turning your jack handle counterclockwise. You then remove the oil fill plug with a screwdriver and pump the handle up and down approximately ten times.
Reinstall the fill plug and you are ready to go. Even though it’s new, checking the oil level after purging is advisable as well.
Periodically inspect your jack including the oil level. Jack fluid can be purchased from your local auto parts store, home improvement center, or here on Amazon. Keep the hinge points and wheels of your jack well lubricated and check for loose nuts and bolts. Some jacks even have Zerk fittings for this. Always use heavy grease and not oil.
Floor Jack Safety Tips
Never use your jack as a jack stand. More people have been hurt due to jack failure when not using a supporting stand. We have reviews of the best jack stands here if you need a set.
When transporting a jack, always open the release valve. Never transport it on its side or upside down. Doing so can cause air to enter the closed system and possibly cause jack failure when lifting.
In addition, keep your jack clean and store it in a dry environment. It will last longer and make it easier to inspect or notice leaks.
Lastly, you also have the option to raise your vehicle with car ramps instead of a floor jack. This would not require that you use jack stands. You can read our article on our recommended car service ramps here.
Floor Jack Rubber Lift Pads
One product that is sometimes overlooked is rubber lift pads for floor jacks. These can work very well for protecting pinch weld seams on unibody cars and other underbody components. This one from Amazon is very popular and inexpensive.
You can also find a complete assortment of floor jack lift pads here on Amazon.
Just remember that a rubber pad will increase the overall minimum height of the jack saddle pad. If you use a low-profile jack, you will want to check the dimension of the rubber jack pad to verify that it will still fit under your car.
Ben says
None of these floor jacks have real hydraulic U-cup seals on the Ram. All they have is an O-Ring which means they are simply designed to fail in just a couple years. Many of them fail after a few uses.
Anyone looking to buy a good floor/service jack better buy one with real U-cup seals “on the ram” and with seals available if repair is needed. In other words a “Serviceable” service jack which is a term long forgotten by jack manufacturers. These are not rebuildable/ serviceable mainly due to lack of parts offered and brittle castings/threads that simply fail to reassemble correctly without chipping, cracking.
Never on your life trust an O-ring designed jack, they are JUNK!!
Shea says
Hello Ben and thank you for your input. We do not disagree that hydraulic U-cup seals are superior to an O-ring seal. At issue, however, is the economics of purchasing a jack with the U-cup seals. Most jacks these days with such a seal are generally U.S. made and cost an average of 3 to 4 times the amount of jacks with O-ring seals. Also, it’s difficult to find a low profile jack with U-cup seals. Most have a minimum height of 4″ which is not low enough for many of your modern day sports cars. Also, the quality of jacks made overseas has improved tremendously in the last 5 years or so. The reviews these jacks are getting now back that up. We confidently admit that if you needed a floor jack for everyday use, the benefits of a quality jack with U-cup seals definitely out weigh the costs. However, most people are buying floor jacks for occasional use at home and the cost of the more expensive jacks just don’t justify the price.
Steven says
Hello Ben, could you please mention those brands? I hope you had included it in your comments.
Bob Schwartz says
Yes, please mention those brands
Hab Fan in Leaf Jungle says
I have had my Hein-Werner 2-ton jack for over 30 years. It’s used very rarely but works perfectly…no leaks or hesitation. It’s made in the USA and it was very expensive. However, many friends have gone through several cheaper jacks in that time. I think jacks that get used infrequently tend to rust and the seals rot but not my H-W. I am in the process of buying a used (25 year old) 5-ton long chassis Hein-Werner…the asking price is over $500. It’s for my truck and RV. I consider it pretty fair for that quality.
Shea says
That’s great to hear Hab. Unfortunately Hein-Werner was bought by the Shinn Fu Company of America (no joke) more than a few years ago. The company is located in Taiwan. Many of the Hein-Werner products are now a combination of parts from overseas and the U.S. and few are completely U.S. made. This includes both jacks and jack stands. Many of their products now state assembled in the U.S. and not made in America. The older U.S.A. made products are now increasing in value because of this.
Anthony says
Thank you Shea for your very informative breakdown. You are right when you say that not everyone needs an expensive jack, I purchased a cheap one from Walmart that I’m returning because of your information. I now can buy a better inexpensive good jack and have it for occasional use. I kind of like the Nos 3 tons 58lbs Aluminum.
Thanks
Frank Hublou says
I need a floor jack with a lift greater than 30 inches. The Harbor Freight model 42820 and the American Forge & Foundry model 2110A lifted that high but neither are sold anymore. Do you know of an available floor jack with lift greater than 30 inches?
Shea says
Hello Frank. Compac makes a 1-1/2 ton floor jack with a 31.5″ lifting height. You can find them at Northern Tool or ASE Deals. They are a more expensive jack, but the quality is good. They are made in Denmark and parts are available to completely rebuild the seals if necessary.
Nigel Board says
I have been looking to buy a new jack as my two trolley jacks are old, my first was sold by Halfords here in the UK it is made in Taiwan rated at 1 1/2 tons still works fine being 42 years old with no maintenance. My newer jack is made by Catic in China and is 25 years old works fine I have just tightened up two nuts which had become loose.
I bought a new jack 2 ton from Amazon and sent it straight back as it lacks the quality, size, and weight of my old jacks.
I will lookout for the jacks under your review but now appreciate my old jacks more then I did before I bought the toy jack from Amazon.
Kc Dickey says
Shea,
Thanks for such an informative list. I’m glad to see that Arcan made your list. I am an Autobody technician and use the Arcan 3.5 ton xl low profile jack almost daily. I also have two at home for personal use and don’t have a single complaint about any of them.
I think people are afraid of using products made overseas, but I agree with you that the quality of such items has improved greatly over the years.
With that being said, Arcan makes great products and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to others.
Mike says
I had the older silver colored Pittsburgh 3-ton jack for years. I gave it to my son-in-law and it’s still going strong. I ordered the newer red one that you feature here. I can confirm that it’s the same, well constructed jack. I actually like the red color better I think.
Shea says
Hi Mike. That is great to hear. We like our Pittsburgh jack as well.