by Joshua Thomas
The floor jack is a tool that allows you to quickly and easily lift a vehicle in a matter of seconds. It comes in different shapes, weight capacity and price depending on your need, budget, and purpose.
Due to its large base, the floor jack offers a lot of stability, making it a safe device to use by even beginners. In addition, the large base also provides it with more lifting power.
In fact, many floor jacks have an impressive weight capacity of up to 12 tons that allow them to comfortably lift a heavy vehicle like an RV or a camper.
However, most floor jacks have a weight capacity of at least 2 tons which allows them to lift universally any type of vehicle with ease. You also have the low-profile floor jack that can lift shallow cars like sports cars.
If you are fresh on the market for the best floor jack for the money, we have handpicked a selection of some of the best models available below.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES |
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 | 1. Powerzone 380044 (Best Overall) |
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 | 2. Arcan XL20 |
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 | 3. Powerbuilt 640912 |
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 | 4. Torin Big Red T83006 |
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 | 5. NOS NSJ0301 |
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 | 6. Pittsburgh 61253 |
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 | 7. Blackhawk B6350 |
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The Powerzone 380044 is a low-profile floor jack that focuses on performance and builds quality. Indeed, this floor jack has a nice combination of aluminum and steel, which makes it very durable and long-lasting.
Moreover, you can use this floor jack on vehicles of up to 3 tons in weight, which is the most small to medium-size vehicles on the market. When it comes to safety, this unit has a large saddle pad with a rubber top that prevents it from slipping from the jack point of your vehicle.
One of the best things about this low-profile floor jack is that the arm is reinforced with steel. This makes it even more durable and therefore, an excellent choice for those who operate a busy workshop and need to lift many vehicles every day.
All in all, this product from Powerzone is one of the best floor jacks for a garage, especially taking into account its excellent build construction and reinforced arm that makes it a heavy-duty floor jack.
The only caveat we note with this product is that the minimum lift range of 4 inches could have been a little bit better. So as to make it easier to work with extremely low profile vehicles like sports cars.
Pros:
Cons:
The Arcan XL20 is one of the most popular low-profile floor jack on the market. One great thing about this model is that it is available in 2 different styles: a low-profile model and an extra low-profile model that will allow you to lift shallow vehicles like sports cars.
Additionally, the lift range is very flexible with a minimum height of 3.5 inches and a maximum of 18.5 inches. The maximum height is high enough so as to work effectively on a tall vehicle like an SUV. The only caveat is that this model is rated at 2 tons and we would have preferred a 3-ton weight capacity for such a quality low-profile floor jack.
When it comes to portability, no problem. This low-profile floor jack can easily be moved around in the workshop due to its front rollers and rear casters. Moreover, the hydraulic system is very efficient and will require minimum effort to lift a vehicle.
Bottom line is if you're looking for a floor jack to lift a shallow vehicle like a sports car, the Arcan XL20 one of the best low-profile floor jack on the market.
It is sold at a very competitive price that makes it a worthwhile investment, especially for those who own a busy workshop. This model is certainly one of the best value floor jack you can get, even if its maximum weight capacity is only 2 tons.
Also, note that this floor jack is heavy-duty and highly durable due to its steel build construction. One final caveat is that the saddle is not anti-slip, a big turndown compared to other models especially in this price range.
Pros:
Cons:
The Powerbuilt 640912 has a traditional triangular floor jack shape. It has a large base that provides it with a lot of stability and therefore, better security when in operation.
Additionally, this model is one of the best-rated floor jack on the market because it is made out of steel, which makes it very durable and long-lasting. Not forgetting that this model can lift a vehicle of up to 3 tons. You also have the choice between different styles and weight capacity with this model.
Furthermore, since this model uses a bottle system, it is very easy to operate and will require minimum effort to lift a heavy vehicle. Best of all, this floor jack comes equipped with a safety bar lock that will allow you to lock your desired height in position quickly and easily.
However, it is important to keep in mind that this model will have difficulty lifting low-profile vehicles due to its minimum lift range of 8.6 inches.
Pros:
Cons:
This Torin floor jack is an affordable and good floor jack that does not sacrifice features or performance. Indeed, this jack is equipped with a heavy-duty and efficient hydraulic system that will allow you to quickly and easily lift a vehicle of up to 3 tons weight.
In addition, it comes with front and rear casters that can rotate it 360 degrees. This provides it with a lot of mobility, which is a great advantage, especially if you have to move your floor jack a lot in the workshop.
This model comes with a steel handle, which sadly is not coated with a foam that will prevent it from scratching the paint job. Therefore, you will have to be careful when using this handle. However, for the price that it is sold, this is not a big problem.
Furthermore, the lift range definitely shows that it is not made for low-profile cars. In fact, with a minimum height of 5.875 inches, this model is not best suited for shallow. The maximum height of 17.25 inches is quite decent and great for SUVs, on the other hand.
Also note that the handle is not coated with a soft foam so it will not protect the paint job of your vehicle. So, you will need to be careful when operating this floor jack.
All in all, taking into account its exceptionally low price, we comfortably rate this model as one of the best floor jack for SUV in this review.
Pros:
Cons:
The NOS NSJ0301 focuses deeply on build construction quality. Indeed, this model is made almost entirely out of a polished and high-grade aluminum.
Since it is made from aluminum, it is lightweight and very easy to carry around in the workshop. In fact, this is one of the things that we like the most about this floor jack.
One good thing about this model is the presence of front rollers and rear casters that make it very easy to move around in the workshop. Moreover, the saddle is quite large and is coated with a soft rubber that will prevent the jack point of the vehicle from slipping easily.
Additionally, this 3 tons aluminum floor jack is equipped with 2 side handle that allows you to easily move the device under your car. Best of all, you will find a safety valve mechanism that will prevent this floor jack from lifting more than 3 tons, thus protecting you and the floor jack from a potential damage.
Altogether, we have no problem rating this model from NOS as the best 3 tons aluminum floor jack for the money. It is not the most heavy-duty or durable model on the market since it is made from aluminum, but it is definitely more than enough for people simply looking to lift their vehicle and replace a tire.
Pros:
Cons:
There are 2 departments where this Pittsburgh floor jack will never lose. Firstly, it is in the durability department and secondly the price department. Indeed, this model is made out of steel so it is very durable and long-lasting. This model definitely has an excellent price to performance ratio.
Furthermore, the price is also exceptionally affordable for a floor jack of this caliber. The saddle and the jack point on this floor jack are large and designed in such a way that it will technically fit the jack point of almost all types of vehicles.
When it comes to mobility, you will have no problem since this model is equipped with heavy-duty rollers. Additionally, the hydraulic pump system is also quite effective in allowing you to lift a vehicle for up to 3 tons in weight with great ease.
But one of the best things about this model is definitely its low minimum height of 2.875 inches which provides this floor jack with an exceptional ability to lift a very low-profile car like a sports car.
Taking all those factors like build material and price into account, this Pittsburgh jack is definitely one of the best hydraulic floor jack for the money.
You will absolutely not regret this purchase, especially if you are on a tight budget and looking for a highly durable and heavy-duty low-profile floor jack.
It is definitely one of the best 3 tons floor jack on the market even if this model is not a looker and the jack point is not anti-slip.
Pros:
Cons:
If you are looking for a top-rated floor jack for your garage, the Blackhawk B6350 is an excellent model to consider.
This is definitely not the most professional grade floor jack on the market, but for casual and general-purpose use it is more than enough because it is very easy to use by even absolute beginners.
This model has a steel build construction that makes it very durable and long-lasting. Additionally, it has a very decent lift range of 5.5 inches on the minimum and 22 inches on the maximum.
The maximum lift range is one of the best we have seen since it will allow you to lift a very tall vehicle like an SUV with big rims.
Additionally, the handle is coated with a foam that will not accidentally scratch the paint job of your vehicle when lifting. One outstanding feature of this floor jack is its patented saddle design that makes it easy and safe to lock onto the jack point of your vehicle.
Furthermore, the weight capacity of 3.5 tons is superior to other models in this floor jack review. With such a big weight capacity, you have more flexibility in lifting different types of vehicles.
All in all, the Blackhawk B6350 is definitely one of the best floor jack for home use and we highly recommend it. Note that the front and rear caster bearings will get used over time and need replacement after extensive use because they are not the most heavy-duty bearings we have seen.
Pros:
Cons:
1. Hydraulic
The hydraulic floor jack is a floor jack that uses a hydraulic system comprised of a closed compartment filled with oil to provide the lifting. It is the most popular type of floor jack that you can currently buy and the best thing about the hydraulic floor jack is its affordable price.
Additionally, most hydraulic floor jacks have a sealed compartment that prevents dust and debris from entering the hydraulic system.
2. Mechanical/Scissor
The mechanical or scissor floor jack is a common type of floor jack found in almost every garage in the world. It is an old design that has been used for decades and is quite effective and can be used to lift a wide range of vehicles.
One of the best things about the scissor floor jack is its ease-of-use and ultra-affordable pricing. Indeed, due to its simple design, the scissor floor jack is unbeatable when it comes to price. However, the main drawback is that it is a little bit labor-intensive when compared to other types of the floor jack.
3. Bottle/Piston
The bottle or piston floor jack is a type of floor jack usually used by professionals. Indeed, almost all professional workshops will have at least one piston floor jack. This is because this type of floor jack is very heavy-duty and is able to lift extremely heavy vehicles like an SUV, RV or even a camper.
The downside of the piston floor jack is that it has a high minimum lift range. This means that this type of floor jack is ideal only for tall vehicles like SUVs and not cars.
First and foremost, it is important to choose the right type of floor jack based on your need and purpose. Indeed, there are several types of floor jack on the market. The most common one is the traditional floor jack that has a triangular shape and a large base for stability.
On the other hand, there is also the low-profile floor jack that, as its name suggests, is a low-profile jack and intended for shallow vehicles like sports cars.
The floor jack will not work in just about any type of vehicle. Indeed, the floor jack needs to be specialized for the car that it is intended to be used on.
For example, if you have a shallow vehicle like a sports car or have tuned your vehicle so that it is low-profile, you should use a low-profile floor jack rather than the regular floor jack.
The floor jack is made out of basically 2 different types of material. Aluminum and steel.
Aluminum: Floor jacks made from aluminum is usually lightweight and can easily be moved around in the garage or workshop. One of the main advantages of aluminum is that it is resistant to the different types of materials that you usually encounter in the workshop. Indeed, it will offer full protection and resistance against substances like brake oils, grease and others.
Additionally, aluminum does not rust and is very durable and thus long-lasting as well.
Steel: Steel remains one of the most common build material of the floor jack. This is simply because steel is very durable and long-lasting. Therefore, floor jacks made out of steel is the very heavy duty and will not break easily under load.
Moreover, a steel floor jack can have a higher weight capacity and you will often find that some of the best car floor jacks on the market are usually made out of steel and can lift a heavy vehicle like an RV or a camper. Many times, those steel floor jacks can have a weight capacity as high as 12 tons.
Also known as the weight capacity, the lifting capacity will show you how much weight the floor jack can lift without suffering damage or underperforming. The lowest lifting capacity that you will encounter when purchasing a garage floor jack is 2 tons.
This value is more than enough for most people, especially those working mostly with cars. However, if you need more performance, there are floor jacks that have a lifting capacity of 3 tons, 6 tons and some are even rated up to 12 tons.
Read More: The Best 3-ton Floor Jacks
Of course, your lifting capacity choice will depend on your vehicle weight. You do not need a 12-ton floor jack for a small car if you mostly need our jack for cars.
The design of the floor jack will play an important part in dictating the efficiency of this device. In short, the traditional floor jack that has a triangular shape and a large base are usually intended to lift heavy vehicles like SUVs, RVs, and campers. Those type of floor jacks has a higher lifting capacity.
On the other hand, for shallow cars, the low-profile floor jack is an excellent design choice because it allows you to lift very low-profile vehicles like small sports cars in a matter of seconds.
The only downside to the low-profile floor jack is that it has a lower lifting capacity when compared to the traditional floor jack.
The lift range in the floor jack is another important aspect. It will basically tell you how high the floor jack can lift the vehicle. If you will be using your floor jack on a tall vehicle like an SUV, it is important that the floor jack has a high maximum lift hide of at least 15 inches.
On the other hand, when it comes to low-profile vehicles like sports cars, the minimum lift height must be at least 3.5 inches so that it has a suitable height to work with shallow cars.
Since the floor jack is a heavy-duty lifting tool, it is important that you check if the manufacturer offers any type of warranty on this tool. Additionally, it is very difficult to repair the floor jack in case of breakdown so some manufacturer warranty is important.
In general, the floor jack is an affordable garage tool. However, there are models that are expensive with features that barely justify their high price. Therefore, it is important that you set a budget based on your need and purpose. Then, choose a model that fit your budget and need.
Taking into account some of the best floor jack brands on the market, you can generally expect to spend anywhere between $50 to $250 when looking to purchase a floor jack online.
Blackhawk B6350 Black/Red Fast Lift Service Jack - 3.5 Ton Capacity - Walmart Link
Aain Heavy duty 3 Ton Floor Jack, Steel Hydraulic Service Jack Quick Rise With Double - Walmart Link
Pro-LifT F-2315PE Grey Hydraulic Trolley Jack Car Lift with Blow Molded Case-3000 LBS - Walmart Link
BIG RED T815016L Torin Hydraulic Low Profile Aluminum and Steel Racing Floor Jack with - Walmart Link
Pro-Lift F-767 Grey Low Profile Floor Jack - 2 Ton Capacity - Walmart Link
Pittsburgh Automotive 3 Ton Heavy Duty Ultra Low Profile Steel Floor Jack with Rapid Pump - Walmart Link
BIG RED T83006 Torin Hydraulic Trolley Service/Floor Jack with Extra Saddle (Fits: SUVs - Walmart Link
Blackhawk B6350 Black/Red Fast Lift Service Jack - 3.5 Ton Capacity - eBay Link
Aain Heavy duty 3 Ton Floor Jack, Steel Hydraulic Service Jack Quick Rise With Double - eBay Link
Pro-LifT F-2315PE Grey Hydraulic Trolley Jack Car Lift with Blow Molded Case-3000 LBS - eBay Link
BIG RED T815016L Torin Hydraulic Low Profile Aluminum and Steel Racing Floor Jack with - eBay Link
Pro-Lift F-767 Grey Low Profile Floor Jack - 2 Ton Capacity - eBay Link
Pittsburgh Automotive 3 Ton Heavy Duty Ultra Low Profile Steel Floor Jack with Rapid Pump - eBay Link
BIG RED T83006 Torin Hydraulic Trolley Service/Floor Jack with Extra Saddle (Fits: SUVs - eBay Link
As we have seen, the floor jack will lift a vehicle quickly and easily. Best, you do not need a lot of experience when operating the floor jack. So much so, even absolute beginners can start working with this lifting tool right away.
In addition, several types of floor jacks are equipped with different technologies and are sold at different prices. However, what they all have in common is their ease of use and high-quality build construction. They will last a long time and anyone who owns a garage or a workshop need this lifting tool.
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About Joshua Thomas
Joshua Thomas just simply loves cars and willing to work on them whenever there's chance... sometimes for free.
He started CarCareTotal back in 2017 from the advices of total strangers who witnessed his amazing skills in car repairs here and there.
His goal with this creation is to help car owners better learn how to maintain and repair their cars; as such, the site would cover alot of areas: troubleshooting, product recommendations, tips & tricks.
Joshua received Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University.
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