The following lists feature the best floor jacks on the market with safety and durability as a priority. You can be rest assured that only the best quality jacks are included.
Best Floor Jack Overall:
Purchasing a floor jack is an investment; it is an important tool in a shop, and an important decision to be made carefully. Performance and safety are paramount to professional and amateur mechanics alike. Tire stores and repair shops understand the necessity of a top quality floor jack. They need dependability under professional, real world conditions as well as adequate lifting power.
The basics of the floor jack haven’t changed much since Scottish immigrant Richard Dudgeon invented the hydraulic jack in 1851. With each draw of the pump handle, a check valve is pulled open and hydraulic fluid fills the pump cylinder. The basic mechanics of a floor jack are similar, so it is the quality of the materials used and the quality of workmanship to determine the very best floor jack available.
There are also many kinds of floor jacks designed for a myriad number of jobs. Select the jack which is best suited for your needs. Since the floor jack is a rolling tool, it must have a dependable rolling system. These wheels must also carry the full weight of whatever you’re lifting, and a three-wheeled jack is about as useful as a three-wheeled shopping cart.
Next, the floor jack must have an adequate hydraulic lifting system. Here is the first question to ask after how much? Can I get new hydraulic seals or a new pump sometime down the road if I need them? If the answer is no, or I don’t know, the floor jack is a throw away - just move on. The hydraulic cylinder is the heart and soul of a floor jack; if you’re a professional, you’re lifting thousands of dollars of someone else’s property up into the air. Leaking hydraulic oil seals indicates a floor jack which isn’t trustworthy.
The part of the floor jack which makes contact with the vehicle is called the saddle. It is important that the saddle has a wide surface area to disperse the weight of the vehicle. It is also important that the saddle has an adequate swivel. As the vehicle rises, the jack itself begins to inch forward as the saddle rises with each pump of the handle. A poor swivel could cause slippage and or damage.
One of the most common things overlooked in large purchases are the smallest things: the crown nuts on the wheel axle, the size of the axles, and the size of the swivels on the caster wheels. Attention to these details promises you the very best value for your money.
Vehicle fleets are far more diversified than they were in the past, requiring low profiles to reach underneath smaller vehicles while still requiring enough lifting capacity for bigger vehicles. As with any tool - use only as directed and never overload a jack, and always use with jack stands in place.
Snap-on YA700B Hydraulic Service Jack
The Snap-on YA700B has a 5,000 lbs. capacity and weighs less than 100 lbs. Lifting height is a maximum 23 inches, while still able to fit under 4-3/4 inch clearances. Flanged steel side plates are designed to increase strength; a sealed hydraulic unit keeps out grit and grime, and extends pump life. The cast iron bell crank with an in-line pump assembly allows for direct alignment of pump and handle, preventing off balance lifting. Read Full Review »
Milwaukee 20 - 2 Ton Hydraulic Service Jack
The Milwaukie Model 20 is hands down one of the best floor jacks in the world. The Snap-on has comparable features to the Milwaukie Model 20, but for considerably less money. Read Full Review »
Hein-Werner 2 Ton Professional Jack HW93642
The Hein Warner HW93642 is a great floor jack for the money, with many of the same features found in higher-priced models. Th HW93642 has very good lift combined with a very low profile, along with a manageable weight for ease of use. Read Full Review »
Arcan Aluminum Quick Lift Service Jack - 2-Ton, Model# ALJ2T
The Arcan ALJ2T Aluminum Floor Jack is a very good floor jack for the homeowner or do-it-yourself-er. Pound for pound, the Arcan ALJ2T offers a very good value in a 2-ton floor jack. Read Full Review »
Sunex Tools 6602ASJ Aluminum Service Jack
With its light weight, the Sunex 6602ASJ is extremely portable and easy to carry along with you. The two-piece handle makes this floor jack an easy fit for service trucks, or anywhere you need to take the jack to the project. Read Full Review »
Best Budget Floor Jack:
Floor jacks, or trolley jacks, are mechanical lifting devices that most people have around their home and garage to help lift very heavy objects, namely vehicles for repairs, that are too much for human muscle. Jacks are of benefit to most every car owner because let's be honest, unless you're the Hulk, you're not lifting your car up by hand to change your oil. That being said, not all jacks are created equal. Jacks have different weight ratings so that you know how much weight they can lift and if you have an average sized car, you don't need the same type of jack that someone with a heavy duty truck would need.
Not only that, but jacks can get expensive to upwards of $500 for the good ones. Why should you have to pay that price if you own a little Civic or only plan on using the jack to change your own oil every couple months?
This list is for the budget-minded DIYer. Every jack on this list is under $75. Also, each jack supports at least 3000 pounds.
Pittsburgh Automotive Rapid Pump 1.5 Ton Compact Aluminum Racing Jack
The Compact Aluminum Racing Floor Jack With Rapid Pump 1.5 Tons by Pittsburgh Automotive is the best budget floor jack because of its rapid pump feature, which allows you to lift your vehicle quickly. It also has a handle that protects your car from damage and a warranty. Read Full Review »
Torin 3Ton SUV Floor Jack
The Big Red 3-Ton S.U.V. Service Jack by Torin is on this list of budget floor jacks because it has a very long neck that reduces the distance needed to lift up higher vehicles. It also comes with a one year, 100 percent guarantee. Read Full Review »
Craftsman 2-1/4 Ton Floor Jack
The 2-1/4 ton Floor Jack by Craftsman is a smart one to buy because it comes from a familiar brand name, it's very portable with a light weight and carrying case plus it comes with a warranty. Read Full Review »
Torin 2.5-Ton Low Pro Jack
The 2.5-Ton Low Pro Jack by Torin is one of the best budget floor jacks because its extremely low profile makes it able to fit beneath even the lowest of cars. It also has a safety valve, which is good for those concerned about overloading. Read Full Review »
Powerbuilt 2 Ton Trolley Jack 640181
The 2 Ton Trolley Jack 640181 by Powerbuilt is one of the best budget floor jacks because it's cheap in comparison to other jacks on this list and it has a safety valve to stop overloading. Read Full Review »
