Car jacks are an essential tool in every vehicle’s roadside emergency kit and are also an important part of any DIY mechanic’s home garage. That said, if you’re ripped like The Incredible Hulk and drive around in a compact hot hatch, maybe you don’t need a car jack to lift your car, but for everyone else, a car jack should be considered a necessary component of your vehicle. You can’t repair a flat tire or service the underside of your automobile without one.
After reviewing dozens of car jacks we have identified the best available for emergency situations and at-home car maintenance. While inspecting these car jacks we considered factors such as weight capacity, lifting range, and reliability in choosing our top picks, and then we put together a thorough rundown of many more impressive jacks for cars and trucks both large and small.
Once our research was complete we chose the Arcan Quick Rise Floor Jack as our overall top pick. It has a low profile design and an impressive lift range that will work wonders in your home garage.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Car Jacks
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Car Jack Overall | Arcan Quick Rise Floor Jack | 4.5 |
| Best 3 Ton Car Jack | Sunex 3 Ton Jack Pack | 4.7 |
| Best Budget Car Jack | AmazonBasics Hydraulic Bottle Jack | 4.4 |
| Best Electric Car Jack | STANDTALL Electric Car Jack | 4.5 |
| Best Pneumatic Car Jack | OTC Air Assist Hydraulic Bottle Jack | 4.5 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Car Jack Overall: Arcan Quick Rise Floor Jack
The Arcan Quick Rise Floor Jack is the best all-around jack on the market. It’s comprised of a combination of heavy-duty steel where strength is required and lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum to keep the overall weight at a manageable level. This is a two-ton capacity floor jack with a low profile design that will work well with most consumer vehicles. The 3.5-inch minimum height is low enough to slide under most sports cars, and the 18.5-inch maximum height extends far enough to properly lift stock trucks and SUVs.
Featuring four sturdy wheels and a long, two-piece handle, this floor jack is easy to maneuver around a shop or driveway. The handle breaks down for convenient storage and the jack’s low profile design can be easily wheeled underneath common garage utility shelving. The jack itself is also easy to use, especially with the help of the dual pump pistons that quickly raise the floor jack’s saddle to your vehicle’s load point, and then smoothly raises the load to your desired height with only a few pumps of the handle.
Bypass and overload valves prevent the jack from extending beyond its capabilities and over-extending the hydraulic ram. Your vehicle will be protected by the well-designed rubber saddle and foam handle bumper. All in all, this is a highly capable floor jack that was built to accommodate most common vehicles, and it was engineered with the end-user in mind. It’s easy to operate, won’t scratch or otherwise damage your vehicle, and it comes backed by a 12-month warranty. What more could you ask for?
Arcan Quick Rise Floor Jack Key Features:
- Two-ton weight capacity
- Lifts from 3.5 to 18.5 inches
- Dual pump pistons
- 12-month warranty
Best 3 Ton Car Jack: Sunex 3 Ton Jack Pack
There’s no denying that a three-ton of lifting capacity is greater than a two-ton lifting capacity. This Sunex 3 Ton Jack Pack has the enhanced strength, durability, and stability required for lifting larger personal vehicles like large sedans, SUVs, and trucks. Not only is it a sturdy jack, but this Sunex Jack Pack also comes with a pair of aluminum three-ton jack stands so that you can safely keep your vehicle raised for extended periods of time.
The jack stands have wide, stable bases and they use six-position manual locking pins for a secure hold. The lowest height they can be set to is 10.6 inches, and the highest is 15.4 inches. Back to the jack— it is constructed of lightweight aluminum which keeps its weight down to about half that of a comparable steel jack. There are four aluminum wheels, two of which are rotating caster wheels, and a long two-piece handle that make it easy to cart this 68-pound tool around your garage.
With a low profile saddle minimum height of 3.8 inches and a sky-high maximum height of 19.3 inches, this Sunex jack has a large working range that will work for most stock height vehicles. If you have a lifted truck, you may need to find a taller jack, but this one will fit the bill for anything on the dealer’s lot. The dual pump pistons make quick work of the lifting action and can raise the lifting arm from its lowest to its highest setting in as few as seven pumps.
Sunex 3 Ton Jack Pack Key Features:
- Three-ton weight capacity
- Lifts from 3.8 to 19.3 inches
- Two 3-ton jacks stands included
- 12-month warranty
Best Budget Car Jack: AmazonBasics Hydraulic Bottle Jack
The AmazonBasics Hydraulic Bottle Jack is an incredibly capable bottle jack designed for lifting heavy high-clearance vehicles. It weighs about 10 pounds and measures 5.14″ by 4.7″ by 9.27″ which makes it a great jack to keep stored in your vehicle for roadside emergencies. Large trucks, SUVs, and industrial vehicles can be easily lifted with this jack, but they will need a ground clearance of at least 9 inches at their lowest jack points.
With an eight-ton maximum weight capacity, this jack is more capable than is necessary for any consumer vehicle. There’s no issue with using a jack that can handle weight well above your what vehicle weighs. Actually, it just means that you won’t ever have to worry whether you’re approaching its limits. Massive industrial vehicles and robust farm equipment may approach the eight-ton limit, but any smaller commuter vehicle can be lifted without a hitch so long as it meets the minimum ground clearance requirements.
This bottle jack is priced affordably and can work well as an emergency jack or an in-garage jack. If you’re vehicle rides too low to utilize this jack, no worries. We’ve listed several other great budget-friendly jacks and low profile jacks below for you to browse.
AmazonBasics Hydraulic Bottle Jack Key Features:
- Eight-ton weight capacity
- Lifts from 8.9 to 17.3 inches
- Operates best between 40 and 107 degrees F
- 12-month warranty
Best Electric Car Jack: STANDTALL Electric Car Jack
Lifting a car in your home garage or on the side of the road doesn’t get any easier than with an electric car jack. The STANDTALL Electric Car Jack is an electrically powered scissor jack that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter or any other 12V outlet. A battery clamp adapter is included so that you can connect the jack directly to the car battery if needed. The jack’s contact head resides at a modest height of 4.7 inches at its lowest setting, which should be low enough for most common commuter vehicles, and it can be raised to 13.8 inches in total height.
A remote control enables you to operate the lift with the push of a button from a safe distance. There’s no need to be near the vehicle as it lifts or lowers. The lifting process takes about two minutes to extend the scissor jack to its maximum height, and you won’t have to put in any work to get it there.
This electric jack weighs 12 pounds and measures 17 inches in length. Its compact size makes it a great option to keep in the car for emergencies, but it will also be a dependable lift for at-home maintenance as well. A built-in LED light conveniently illuminates your workspace. A hand rocker arm, gloves, and extra fuses have been included with this jack, as well as a handy carrying case to keep it all organized within.
STANDTALL Electric Car Jack Key Features:
- Two-ton weight capacity
- Lifts from 4.7 to 13.8 inches
- 12V cigarette lighter power line
- Built-in LED light
Best Pneumatic Car Jack: OTC Air Assist Hydraulic Bottle Jack
Our pick for the Best Pneumatic Car Jack isn’t a pure pneumatic car jack, rather the OTC Air Assist Hydraulic Bottle Jack is a manually operated hydraulic jack that can also be operated pneumatically. Your choice! This OTC jack has such incredible capability, and the brand is so well known for its reliability, that we couldn’t pass this jack up as a top pick.
This jack’s only limiting factor is its minimum 9.5-inch height which limits its use to trucks, SUVs, vans, and working vehicles with adequate ground clearance. If you need pneumatic a jack for a vehicle with lower ground clearance, check our list below for some fantastic alternatives. If, however, you’ve got a truck and want an undeniably versatile and reliable jack, this OTC Bottle Jack is the answer to your wishes. You’ll need an air compressor to enable the pneumatic assistance, but any work or off-road truck should be carrying a compressor, and your shop should have one too. If anything, the nearest gas station will do in a pinch.
The pneumatic system requires a minimum air pressure of 100 psi, and the attached air hose can swivel in a 360-degree motion to accommodate wherever an air compressor is located. An internal safety valve prevents overloading. It’s a powerful jack that can handle heavy loads and should last you a lifetime, which is why it comes backed by a lifetime warranty.
OTC Air Assist Hydraulic Bottle Jack Key Features:
- 12-ton weight capacity
- Lifts from 9.5 to 18.4 inches
- Can be operated manually or pneumatically
- Lifetime warranty
Who Should Buy a Car Jack
Every single person who owns a vehicle should have a car jack for emergency roadside situations. If you don’t know if your vehicle has a jack you should find out before you take your car out for its next drive. If you do find a jack, you should also make sure that all of its parts are together and check to see that it works properly. If any part is missing or your jack doesn’t work properly, you should buy a new jack.
Car jacks are also important to have at home and in a professional garage. DIY home mechanics can save thousands of dollars by performing their own vehicle maintenance, and even if you aren’t mechanically inclined a jack can help you perform visual inspections of your vehicle undercarriage and complete basic maintenance tasks.
Changing your oil and replacing a damaged oil drain pan is a job that anyone can do. Likewise, installing new tires or shocks and struts is made easy with the aid of a good car jack.
Important Features to Consider
There are a few important considerations to think through before purchasing a car jack.
- Weight capacity. You must use a jack that has a weight capacity rating that is higher than the weight of what you intend to lift. When calculating your car’s weight, take into consideration any added factors that aren’t a part of the vehicle’s factory-shipped weight rating. A full gas tank, cargo in the trunk, tires larger than stock, roof baskets, and similar addons all add extra weight to a vehicle.
- Lift range. There are two factors of lift range you must consider. The lowest height is the absolute minimum height of the car jack’s lifting saddle, and this must be lower than your vehicle jack points. This must also be lower than your vehicle when it has a flat tire. The second factor is the car jack’s maximum lift height. If you purchase a jack that does not rise high enough, you may never get your vehicle off the ground.
- Size and weight. Car jacks can get quite heavy and bulky. You’re going to need to lift or wheel the car jack around at some point, and so you must be sure to purchase one that you are capable of maneuvering. Think of storage size as well, especially if you plan to leave the jack in your vehicle.
- Purpose. Following up on the size and weight considerations, it’s important to purchase the best car jack for your intended purpose. Emergency roadside car jacks were designed to fit inside of a vehicle, and most are manually operated to ensure that they will always work in any given situation. Larger floor jacks were made for regular garage use where there are flat floors and ample storage room.
- Manual vs automatic. If you have the muscle, you may want to consider a fully manual scissor car jack or a hydraulic bottle car jack, especially for emergency roadside use. They’re extremely dependable and easy to use no matter where you may find yourself stranded. Electric and pneumatic car jacks can be operated with the push of a button, but they must be connected to the proper outlets and machinery in order to operate. These automatic car jacks can work well in roadside emergencies with the proper setup, but they’re better put to use in garages where electricity and air compressors can be more easily managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a car jack and how does it work?
Car jacks are mechanical lifting devices that can be used to lift a vehicle or other large equipment. Compact car jacks are often used to raise a section of a vehicle during roadside emergencies, such as when repairing a flat tire. Larger floor car jacks are used to lift a vehicle for scheduled maintenance in a home garage or professional workshop. There are manual scissor and bottle jacks, hydraulic jacks, pneumatic jacks, and electric jacks. Electric and pneumatic jacks require little to no effort to operate aside from pushing a button, while manual and hydraulic jacks do require a person to crank a lever or turn a bolt in order to lift a vehicle.
Can you use any jack on a car?
Each style of jack can essentially be used on any car, but you must make sure that the specific jack you intend to use meets the specifications required to safely lift your vehicle. A jack must have a weight capacity that exceeds the amount of weight you are intending to lift. The jack must also have its saddle, the part that comes into contact with your vehicle, at a lower height than the car’s frame or jack points, otherwise, you won’t be able to get the jack underneath the car. When considering a jack’s height, you must also take into consideration that if you were to try to lift a car with a flat tire it will be even lower than it would normally be.
What kind of jack do I need for a SUV?
Any style of the jack will do just fine, but you must make sure you purchase a jack with an ideal height and lifting range. Some SUVs remain low to the ground like a car, but some SUVs stand tall with a foot or more of ground clearance. You’ll want to take note of how high off the ground the jack points are on your vehicle, and consider the flat tire resting height as well, in order to purchase a jack with appropriate height and lift range.
How many jack stands do you need?
Car jacks were designed to lift your car, but not to necessarily hold your car in a lifted state for extended periods of time. Jack stands are much safer and more reliable for holding a vehicle at a raised height. Ideally, every car owner should have four jack stands, one for each corner of the vehicle, so that the car can be lifted and held completely off of the ground when necessary. For a single flat tire repair, however, you can get away with a single jack stand. When you are working underneath a vehicle it is important to use a minimum of two jack stands to prop up the car at two points for balance and safety. Never work underneath a vehicle that is only held up by a car jack.
Other Car Jacks We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other car jacks. Even though they didn’t make our five best car jack list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for jacking up your car. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Electric Car Jacks
EAMBRITE Electric Car Floor Jack
The EAMBRITE Electric Car Floor Jack is a dependable roadside emergency jack with a 12V adapter that will plug directly into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter. Though it is powered purely by electricity, the device features a built-in safety system that will keep the jack in place if power is cut and allow the user to lower it manually if needed.
Key Features:
- 2200-pound capacity
- 12V cigarette adapter included
- Lifts from 6.1 to 17.3 inches
Cost: $110
A powerful five-ton scissor lift jack, the Eapmic Electric Car Jack is a dependable roadside emergency jack that can lift small sedans and mid-sized SUVs and trucks without issue. The electronic control works via single-button operation for ease of use.
Key Features:
- Five-ton capacity
- DC 12V plug
- Two-year warranty
Cost: $120
The Hyperion 3 Ton Floor Jack has a 12-foot power cord with a 12V DC plug so that the jack can easily reach all four corners of your vehicle when plugged into a dashboard cigarette lighter. It features an 11.5 in lift range and an LED light to illuminate your working area.
Key Features:
- Three-ton capacity
- Lifts from 6 to 17.5 inches
- LED work light
Cost: $90
The MarchInn Electric Floor Jack is more than just a car jack. The jack is a highly capable device with a five-ton capacity that can lift 11.5 inches, and it comes packaged with an assortment of helpful emergency tools including a hammer, impact wrench, tire inflator, and backup fuses.
Key Features:
- Five-ton capacity
- Lifts from 6.1 to 17.7 inches
- Includes an assortment of emergency car tools
Cost: $160
Pilot Automotive Electric Car Jack
Easy and safe to use, the Pilot Automotive Electric Car Jack extends up to 14 inches and is controlled through a wired remote control so that you can stay safely away from your vehicle while it is being lifted and lowered.
Key Features:
- 4000-pound capacity
- Lifts from 5 to 14 inches
- Remote control operation
Cost: $85
The ROGTZ Electric Car Floor Jack is an electric scissor lift jack with a three-ton weight capacity. It has am impressive lift height of over 12 inches and features an LED light to help you work on your car at night.
Key Features:
- Three-ton capacity
- Lefts from 4.7 to 17 inches
- LED work light
Hydraulic Car Jacks
Arcan 3 Ton Aluminum Floor Jack
A relatively lightweight and strong car jack, the Arcan 3 Ton Aluminum Floor Jack is a great option for small home garages. It features a two-piece handle that can be disassembled for easy storage, and the low profile 3.75-inch base height is ideal for small cars.
Key Features:
- Three-ton capacity
- Lifts from 3.75 to 18 inches
- Two-piece handle
Cost: $225
JEGS 3 Ton Professional Floor Jack
JEGS is a renowned name in the automotive industry for creating tough and durable products. The JEGS 3 Ton Professional Floor Jack lives up to those quality standards and features the brand’s notorious coloring. This three-ton jack can lift over 11 inches and has a fully rotating saddle.
Key Features:
- Three-ton capacity
- Lifts from 4.9 to 16 inches
- 360-degree rotating saddle
Cost: $240
Powerbuilt Alltrade Bottle Jack
The Powerbuilt Alltrade Bottle Jack is a tall jack designed for trucks and off-road vehicles with high frames. It starts at 11 inches in height, which your vehicle’s jack points will need to also stand at a minimum, and it extends up to 21 inches in total lift. This heavy-duty jack also has metal safety bars to locks lifts into place.
Key Features:
- Three-ton capacity
- Lifts from 11 inches to 21 inches
- Safety bars lock lifts into place
Cost: $60
The Pro Lift Speedy Lift is an impressive low profile jack with a 16.5-inch lifting range. It features a rubber saddle that reduces the chances of wear and damage to your vehicle during the lifting process, and it has a magnetic tool tray to help you keep organized while you work on your car.
Key Features:
- 3.5-ton capacity
- Lifts from 5.5 to 22 inches
- Magnetic tool tray
Cost: $170
Sunex Low Rider Steel Service Jack
With a low clearance of 2.75 inches, the Sunex Low Rider Steel Service Jack is an extremely low profile jack with an amazing lift range of up to 24 inches in height. This jack can be pumped from its lowest height to its tallest in only 6.5 pumps thanks to its rapid rise technology.
Key Features:
- Two-ton capacity
- Lifts from 2.75 to 24 inches
- One-year warranty
Cost: $235
When you need to lift heavy-duty trucks, mobile homes, or farm equipment, the US Jack 12 Ton Bottle Jack is a dependable jack that’ll get the job done. It can lift over 24,000 pounds up to 19.5 inches off the ground. There’s no substitute for quality.
Key Features:
- 12-ton capacity
- Lifts from 9 to 19.5 inches
- Heavy-duty ductile-iron base
Pneumatic Car Jacks
The Best Brose Air Jack is a relatively lightweight and easy to maneuver jack. It weighs 39 pounds, which is lighter than many comparable hydraulic and electric jacks, and it has two handles with non-slip grips for easier lifting. The flat and wide steel base provides excellent stability.
Key Features:
- Three-ton capacity
- Lifts from 6.81 to 18 inches
- Double lift handles with grips
Cost: $150
Taking portability to a whole new level, the Bestauto Pneumatic Car Jack features a pair of rolling wheels and a long handle that can be used to push the jack around like a lawnmower. This method of maneuvering makes it easy to slide a jack under a car without having to get down on the ground yourself.
Key Features:
- Three-ton capacity
- Lifts from 5.71 to 16 inches
- Long handle and wheels
Cost: $130
The ultra heavy-duty BIG RED Pneumatic Bottle Jack is a manual pump hydraulic jack that can also be used pneumatically. This is a 12 ton capacity model, but by following the product link you will see that there is a 40-ton model available as well. This is intended for use with heavy machinery, farm equipment, and construction applications.
Key Features:
- 12 Ton Capacity (40 available)
- Lifts from 10.25 to 20.1 inches
- One-year warranty
Cost: $105
This Mophorn Triple Bag Air Jack works in much the same way as the Bestauto pneumatic jack we went over. This unit also has rolling wheels and a long handle for enhanced maneuverability. It takes about five seconds to fully lift and inflate.
Key Features:
- Three-ton capacity
- Lifts from 6.5 to 16 inches
- Long handle and wheels
Cost: $150
Zendex Tool RakJak Pneumatic Jack
The highlight of the Zendex Tool RakJak Pneumatic Jack is its compact design. This is a powerful and reliable air jack that can lift from 6.8 to 18 inches, and it is only 10 inches in diameter ay its widest point. It’s easy to store and move around thanks to its small size.
Key Features:
- Two-ton capacity
- Lifts from 6.8 to 18 inches
- Compact design
Budget Car Jacks
There are many sizes of the BIG RED Torin Bottle Jack to choose from, and they are all priced affordably. We’ve featured to least expensive two-ton capacity variant here, but there are many other sizes ranging all the way up to an industrial-strength 50-ton capacity model.
Key Features:
- Two ton capacity (with more options)
- Lifts from 7.1 to 13.6 inches
- Hydraulic bottle jack
Cost: $14
LEADBRAND Scissor Jack
The LEADBRAND is made from heavy-duty steel, and that’s about it. It’s a solid scissor jack that’ll hold up to 2.5 tons without breaking a sweat, but there are not fancy hydraulics or electronics to help you here. Manually cranking this lift may make you sweat, but it doesn’t cost much.
Key Features:
- 2.5-ton capacity
- Lefts from 3.85 to 17.4 inches
- Manual ratcheting scissor jack
Cost: $45
The Pro Lift Bottle Jack is an easy to use and quite capable budget jack. It has the strength to lift four tons up to 15.4 inches in height. If our top budget pick isn’t right for you, we’d recommend considering this as your next top budget-friendly choice for taller vehicles.
Key Features:
- Four-ton capacity
- Lifts from 8 to 15.4 inches
- Hydraulic bottle jack
Cost: $20
