Search for “floor jack” and you will find hundreds of models that look alike. What separates them is a short list of numbers and features: rated capacity, minimum and maximum saddle height, frame material, pump design and safety certification. This guide explains each one, with figures from our own range, so you can choose a jack for your garage or plan a range for your store.
Quick checklist
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Capacity | At least 75% of the vehicle’s GVWR (the 3/4 rule) |
| Minimum height | Lower than the lowest jacking point you need to reach |
| Maximum height | Enough to lift the tyre clear and fit a stand |
| Chassis length | Long enough to reach central jacking points |
| Frame | Steel for value, aluminum for weight, hybrid in between |
| Pump | Dual pump for fewer strokes |
| Saddle, wheels, handle | Rubber pad, swivel casters, padded two-piece handle |
| Safety | Overload valve, full-height bypass, ASME PASE (US) or CE to EN 1494 (EU) |
| Support | Jack stands rated for the vehicle |
1. Capacity: how many tons do you need?
A floor jack lifts one end or one corner of a vehicle, not all of it, but the front end usually carries more than half the weight. The common rule of thumb is the 3/4 rule: choose a jack rated for at least 75% of the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR, printed on the label in the driver’s door frame).
- A car with a GVWR of 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) needs a jack rated at least 1.5 t.
- An SUV with a GVWR of 2,800 kg (6,170 lb) needs at least 2.1 t, so a 3-ton jack.
- A pickup with a GVWR of 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) needs at least 2.6 t; a 3- or 3.5-ton jack gives margin.
| Vehicle | Typical choice |
|---|---|
| Small and mid-size cars | 2–2.5 t |
| Large cars, SUVs, crossovers | 3 t |
| Vans, pickups, light trucks | 3–4 t |
| Trucks, buses, tractors | 5–20 t long-chassis jack |
More capacity costs more and weighs more, but a jack that is rarely near its limit runs cooler and its seals last longer.
2. Minimum height: will it fit under the car?
Minimum height is the saddle height with the jack fully lowered. Measure the clearance at the jacking point you use, not the general ground clearance.
- Standard garage jacks start at about 130–140 mm (5.1–5.5 in). Ours start at 133–140 mm.
- Low-profile jacks start under about 90 mm (3.5 in), for sports cars and lowered vehicles. Our low-profile floor jacks start at 70–85 mm (2.8–3.3 in).
- Compact and truck-oriented jacks can start higher, at 190 mm (7.5 in) or more.
If the jack does not fit, a low-profile model is the answer; driving onto ramps first is a workaround, not a fix.
3. Maximum height and lift range
Maximum height decides whether you can lift the tyre clear and still fit a stand underneath. Cars need about 350–400 mm (14–16 in); SUVs and pickups 480–500 mm (19–20 in) or more.
| JackMaker model | Capacity | Minimum height | Maximum height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T30000 compact | 2 t | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 5.5 kg (12 lb) |
| T31302 garage | 3 t | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 495 mm (19.5 in) | 33.5 kg (74 lb) |
| T31513 low profile | 3 t | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 508 mm (20.0 in) | 34 kg (75 lb) |
| T31006BD aluminum, dual pump | 1.5 t | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 375 mm (14.8 in) | 12 kg (26 lb) |
| T32002 long chassis | 2 t | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 800 mm (31.5 in) | 55 kg (121 lb) |
| T32010 long chassis | 10 t | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 580 mm (22.8 in) | 125 kg (276 lb) |
Compact jacks lift less: they suit a trunk kit or a light car, not a workshop SUV.
4. Chassis length and reach
Many cars have central jacking points under the front crossmember or the rear subframe, well inside the bodywork. A long chassis lets the saddle reach them without the handle hitting the bumper. Low-profile jacks almost always have a long chassis; compact jacks have a short one and work at the side jacking points.
5. Steel, aluminum or hybrid
- Steel is the value choice and the workshop standard: heavy and stable, it survives daily use.
- Aluminum frames and arms save a lot of weight, which mobile tyre fitters, motorsport teams and track-day users pay for: our 1.5-ton aluminum racing jack weighs 12 kg (26 lb).
- Hybrid jacks combine an aluminum chassis with a steel arm, between the two in weight and price.
At the rated capacity all three are as strong as each other; the difference is weight and price.
6. Single pump or dual pump
A dual-pump or “rapid lift” jack uses a second, larger pump piston to bring the saddle up to the vehicle in a few strokes, then lifts under load on the small piston. It saves time on every lift and is the feature workshop buyers notice first. A single-pump jack keeps the price down for occasional use; both need the same care.
7. Saddle, wheels and handle
- Saddle: a large swivel saddle with a rubber pad protects pinch welds and sills; pinch-weld adapters are useful accessories.
- Wheels: steel casters for workshops, polyurethane-coated casters for epoxy and showroom floors. Two fixed rear wheels and two swivel front casters make positioning easy.
- Handle: a two-piece handle stores compactly; a foam grip and a bumper pad protect the car. On most floor jacks, turning the handle opens and closes the release valve for controlled lowering.
8. Safety features and certification
- An overload valve stops the jack from lifting beyond its rating, and a bypass stops the ram at full height.
- In the US, jacks and stands are built and labelled to ASME PASE, the safety standard for portable automotive service equipment (the current edition is PASE-2024; many labels still show PASE-2019).
- In the EU and UK, look for the CE mark to EN 1494. German dealers also ask for the GS mark.
- In Australia, trolley jacks must meet the mandatory safety standard based on AS/NZS 2615.
Check that the capacity, the minimum and maximum height and the warnings are printed on a durable label, in your language.
9. Budget for jack stands
A floor jack is for lifting only. Buy a pair of jack stands rated for the vehicle at the same time; our jack stand guide shows where to place them.
For distributors: building a floor jack range
Search demand for 3 ton floor jack, low profile floor jack and trolley jack is consistent across the US, UK and Australia. A range that covers most customers:
- 2 ton compact and steel garage jack: the price leader for cars, with a high carton count per container.
- 3 ton steel, dual pump: the workshop volume model for SUVs and light trucks.
- 3 ton low profile: for tuning shops, tyre chains and owners of lowered cars.
- 1.5–3 ton aluminum: one or two premium models on top of the steel range, not a replacement.
- 5–20 ton long chassis: if you sell to truck workshops and fleets.
Floor jacks usually share a 40’HQ with jack stands and bottle jacks. MOQ is 10 pieces per model in a stock colour; your own colour, logo and colour box from 500 pieces.
Compare the full range of hydraulic floor jacks, or request a wholesale quote.