Ceiling height is the number one reason people buy the wrong car lift. The lift shows up, it does not fit, and now you have a crate in the driveway. Here is how to measure your space, the simple math for each type of lift, and what we check before we install a lift in a home garage or shop on Long Island, in New York City or in Westchester.

Step 1: Measure your usable height, not your ceiling

Measure from the finished floor to the lowest thing above the spot where the lift will go. In most garages that is not the ceiling. It is usually one of these:

• The garage door when it is open, or its track
• The garage door opener
• Light fixtures, heaters, ducts or pipes
• Beams or a sloped section of the ceiling

Measure in a few places along the length of the bay. Ceilings and slabs are rarely perfectly level, and the lowest point is the one that counts.

Step 2: Use the right formula for your lift

4-post storage lift (stacking two cars)

Height of the bottom car + height of the top car + about 10 to 12 inches. The extra inches cover the runway thickness, the gap the locks need and a small safety margin.

Example: a 56-inch sports car under a 58-inch sedan needs about 124 to 126 inches, which is a little over 10.5 feet. Put an SUV that is 70 inches tall underneath and you are closer to 11.5 to 12 feet. If you only have about 9 to 10 feet, two low cars can still work on a short storage lift, but there is less room to spare.

See the lifts we recommend for this on our home garage car lifts and parking lift installation pages.

2-post lift (working underneath the car)

Lift rise + height of your tallest vehicle + about 6 inches. With a 2-post lift you are raising the car high enough to stand under it, so the vehicle's roof ends up close to the ceiling.

A standard full-rise 2-post lift usually needs about 12 feet. For example, many BendPak 10AP models stand about 145 inches tall overall and lift up to about 82 inches. There are taller versions for vans and trucks, and short versions for low ceilings: the BendPak 10AP-SRT has 93.5-inch columns and lifts about 46 inches, which is plenty for wheels, brakes and tire work.

Low-rise and mid-rise lifts (tight spaces)

If you have 8 to 9 feet, a low-rise or mid-rise scissor lift is usually the answer. They lift the car about 2 to 4 feet, which is enough for wheels, brakes, tires, detailing and a lot of under-car work, and they fit where a 2-post lift never will.

Quick guide by ceiling height

Usable height	What usually fits
8 to 9 ft	Low-rise and mid-rise scissor lifts
9 to 10.5 ft	Short 4-post storage lifts with two low cars, short-column 2-post lifts
10.5 to 12 ft	Most 4-post storage lifts with two regular cars
12 ft and up	Full-rise 2-post lifts, 4-post lifts with an SUV underneath
14 ft and up	High-rise lifts for vans and trucks, triple-level car stackers

This is a starting point. The exact lift, your vehicles and your obstructions decide the final answer.

Not enough height? You still have options

• Move or swap the garage door opener. A wall-mounted (jackshaft) opener frees up space above the bay.
• Change the door track. A high-lift or low-headroom track can keep the open door out of the way.
• Choose a different lift. A mid-rise or low-rise lift may do everything you need.
• Go into the floor. In shops, an in-ground or flush-mount lift keeps the floor clear and lets low cars drive straight on.

Do not forget the floor

Ceiling height gets the attention, but the concrete matters just as much. Most lifts need at least 4 inches of sound concrete, and heavier lifts need more. If your slab is thin or cracked, our crew can repair it or pour new footings before the lift goes in.

What we check before we install

On every site visit we measure the usable height, check the slab, confirm power and look at how you will drive in and out. Then we recommend the lift that fits your space and your cars, and our own crew handles the installation from start to finish.

Frequently asked questions

How much ceiling height do I need to stack two cars on a 4-post lift?

Add the heights of both cars and allow about 10 to 12 inches for the runway, the locks and a little clearance. Two cars that are about 56 and 58 inches tall need roughly 124 to 126 inches, or a little over 10 and a half feet, measured to the lowest thing hanging from your ceiling.

What ceiling height does a 2-post lift need?

A standard full-rise 2-post lift usually needs about 12 feet. Many BendPak 10AP models stand about 145 inches tall (just over 12 feet) and lift a vehicle up to about 82 inches, so you also need room for the vehicle's roof when it is fully raised. Low-ceiling versions like the BendPak 10AP-SRT have 93.5-inch columns.

Can I put a car lift in a garage with an 8 or 9 foot ceiling?

Yes, but usually not a full-rise lift. Low-rise and mid-rise scissor lifts work well for wheels, brakes, tires and detailing, and some short 4-post storage lifts can stack two low cars under a 9 to 10 foot ceiling.

What do I measure, exactly?

Measure from the finished floor to the lowest obstruction above the spot where the lift will go: the garage door when it is open, the door track, the opener, lights, ducts and beams. That number, not the ceiling itself, is your usable height.

Do I also need to check the concrete?

Yes. Most lifts need at least 4 inches of sound concrete, and heavier lifts need more. AFS checks the slab during the site visit and can repair it or pour new footings if needed.