Best Floor Jacks for Cars
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The scissor jack that came with your car is an emergency tool. It’s slow, wobbly and miserable to crank. If you’re doing anything in your own driveway, like rotating tires, swapping brake pads or changing oil, a floor jack is the first big tool to buy.
A good one lifts a corner of the car in a few pumps and rolls into position on wheels. The trick is picking the right capacity and the right height for your vehicle.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Product | Best For | Deal |
|---|---|---|
| Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Aluminum Floor Jack | Best overall for most drivers | Check Price on Amazon |
| Big Red T83006 3-Ton Floor Jack | Best budget steel jack | Check Price on Amazon |
| Hein-Werner HW93642 3-Ton Service Jack | Serious DIYers | Check Price on Amazon |
| Sunex 6602LP 2-Ton Low-Profile Jack | Lowered and sports cars | Check Price on Amazon |
Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Aluminum Floor Jack: Best overall for most drivers
Aluminum jacks are lighter than steel, which matters more than you’d think when you’re dragging one across a driveway. The Arcan is a 3-ton jack that’s still easy to carry, with a dual-pump design that raises the saddle quickly.
It has a low enough starting height for most sedans and enough lift for SUVs. It costs more than a basic steel jack, and you’re paying for the lighter weight and smoother action.
Big Red T83006 3-Ton Floor Jack: Best budget steel jack
Big Red, made by Torin, is the jack a lot of people start with because the price is right. It’s heavy steel, it lifts 3 tons, and it’ll handle cars and light trucks for years if you keep it out of the rain.
It’s heavy, and the lift is slower than on the premium jacks. For occasional tire and brake work, those are fair trade-offs.
Hein-Werner HW93642 3-Ton Service Jack: Serious DIYers
Hein-Werner has been making shop equipment for a long time, and this jack feels like it. It’s a heavy, long-chassis service jack built for frequent use, with a lift that’s smooth and controlled on the way down too. The controlled lowering matters when a car is sitting over your arm.
It’s more than most casual DIYers need. If you work on cars every weekend, this is a jack you buy once.
Sunex 6602LP 2-Ton Low-Profile Jack: Lowered and sports cars
If your car sits low, a regular floor jack won’t slide under the jack points. The Sunex is built for exactly that, with a very low starting height and a long reach that gets under front bumpers without scraping.
At 2 tons it’s right for cars, not full-size trucks. If you drive anything low, this is the one.
How to Choose a Floor Jack
- Capacity: a 2-ton jack covers most cars; go 3 tons for SUVs and trucks. You’re only lifting one corner, but extra margin makes the jack work less.
- Minimum height: measure from the ground to your car’s jack point. Lowered cars need a low-profile jack.
- Maximum height: trucks and lifted SUVs need a jack that reaches high enough to get the tire off the ground.
- Weight: aluminum is easier to move; steel is cheaper and tougher.
- Saddle: a wide, padded saddle protects the pinch welds on unibody cars.
Never Work Under a Car on a Jack Alone
This is the one rule that matters. Floor jacks are made to lift, not to hold. Seals can fail and a jack can roll. Once the car is up, put a pair of rated jack stands under solid frame points and lower the car onto them before any part of your body goes underneath. Chock the wheels that stay on the ground.
Lift on the jack points listed in your owner’s manual. Lifting on the oil pan or a plastic panel is an expensive mistake.
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FAQ
What size floor jack do I need?
A 2-ton floor jack works for most cars. Choose 3 tons for SUVs, minivans and pickups. Check that the jack’s lowest height fits under your car and its highest height lifts the tire clear of the ground.
Is an aluminum floor jack worth it?
If you move the jack around a lot or work in a driveway, yes. Aluminum jacks weigh roughly half as much as similar steel ones. If the jack stays in one garage, steel is the better value.
How do I maintain a floor jack?
Store it with the saddle fully lowered, keep it dry, and check the hydraulic oil level once a year. If it starts lifting slowly or sinking under load, bleed the air from the system per the manual.
Can I use a floor jack on gravel or grass?
Avoid it. Jacks need a hard, flat surface to roll and stay stable. On soft ground, put a thick piece of plywood under the jack and work on the most level spot you can find.
