The best car lift for a home garage is the one that fits your ceiling, your floor and what you actually want to do with it. Store a second car? Change your own oil? Pull the wheels for brake jobs? Each answer points to a different lift. Here is how we help homeowners on Long Island, in New York City and in Westchester choose, based on lifts we install every month.
Start with three questions
- What do you want the lift for? Parking two cars in one space, routine maintenance, or real repair work.
- How much usable height do you have? Measure to the lowest obstruction, like the open garage door or the opener. Our guide on how much ceiling height you need for a car lift walks through it.
- What is your floor and power like? Slab thickness and condition, plus whether you have 110V or 220V nearby.
Option 1: 4-post storage lift (best for most homes)
Best for: parking one car above another, oil changes, exhaust work and long-term storage.
A 4-post lift is drive-on, so it is the easiest lift to live with. You drive onto the runways, raise the car and park another one underneath. Many models can sit on the floor without anchors, and add-ons like drip trays, a jack tray for wheel-off work and caster kits make them more useful.
Popular picks: BendPak HD-7 and HD-9 series storage lifts, with longer, wider and taller versions for bigger vehicles.
Ceiling: plan on the height of both cars plus about 10 to 12 inches. That is usually 10.5 to 12 feet for two regular cars.
Option 2: 2-post lift (best for serious DIY repair)
Best for: brakes, suspension, transmissions and anything where you need the wheels hanging free and open access under the car.
A 2-post lift lifts the car by the frame, so the wheels and the whole underside are open. It takes up less floor space than a 4-post lift, but it must be anchored into good concrete and it needs the most ceiling height, about 12 feet for a full-rise model.
Popular picks: BendPak 10AP series, or the short-column BendPak 10AP-SRT for lower ceilings.
Option 3: Low-rise and mid-rise lifts (best for low ceilings)
Best for: wheels, tires, brakes, detailing and body work in garages with 8 to 9 foot ceilings.
These scissor-style lifts raise the car about 2 to 4 feet. You will not stand under the car, but you can sit or kneel comfortably and do a lot of work. Some are portable and roll out of the way when you need the space.
Popular picks: BendPak LR-60, LR-60P and MD-6XP, and Coats low-rise pad lifts.
Option 4: Parking lifts and car stackers (best for collectors)
If the goal is storing several cars, look at double-wide 4-post lifts that hold four cars in the space of two, or scissor-style parking lifts. See our parking lift installation page for collections and multi-car garages.
Side-by-side
| Lift type | Best for | Typical ceiling | Anchored? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-post storage | Parking two cars, maintenance | 10.5 to 12 ft | Often not required |
| 2-post | Repair work, wheels-free access | About 12 ft | Always |
| Low-rise / mid-rise | Wheels, brakes, detailing | 8 to 9 ft | Usually not |
| Parking lift / stacker | Storing several cars | Depends on levels | Depends on model |
Why the install matters as much as the lift
A lift is only as safe as its installation. We check your slab, measure your usable height, confirm power, then deliver, assemble, anchor where needed and test the lift with you before we leave. As an authorized BendPak dealer, we can also help you pick the right model and accessories. Browse the lifts that fit most homes on our home garage car lifts page, or see all BendPak lifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of car lift for a home garage?
For most home garages, a 4-post storage lift. It stands on the floor, holds a car above another and is great for oil changes and storage. Choose a 2-post lift if you do serious repair work and have about 12 feet of ceiling, and a low-rise or mid-rise lift if your ceiling is lower.
Do I need to bolt a 4-post lift to the floor?
Many 4-post storage lifts can sit on the floor without anchors, and some can be moved with caster kits. 2-post lifts must always be anchored into sound concrete of the right thickness.
What power does a home car lift need?
Most home lifts run on 110V or 220V, depending on the model. We confirm what your lift needs and what your garage has before installation.
Do you install lifts in residential garages?
Yes. AFS installs car lifts in home garages across Long Island, New York City and Westchester, and checks ceiling height, the slab, power and garage size first.
Which brands do you install?
We are an authorized BendPak dealer and the exclusive Coats distributor for our area, and we install other major brands too.
Get a home lift recommendation
Tell us your ceiling height, the cars you have and what you want to do, and we will recommend the right lift and give you an installed price. Fill out the form below or call (929) 405-1033.