Car Lift Weight Capacity

Besides the price, car lift weight capacity is a key consideration for garage owners shopping for a car lift. Luckily, My Garage Supplies can help you with both of these with our incredible selection of car lifts rated for vehicle weights of all sizes, and at all prices.

Whether you are working with a compact car or a full-sized SUV, My Garage Supplies brings you the most options to choose from, the best prices, and the most convenient shopping experience for car lifts. Let's take a closer look at various types of car lifts for garages and their weight capacity.

Why the Car Lift Weight Capacity Matters

Car lift weight capacity is the limiting factor for the types of vehicles you can safely work on. While smaller garages or personal car lifts can get away with a smaller car lift load, if you work on heavier vehicles, you'll need a more powerful car lift.

We'll break down how car lift capacity works further in this article, but as a general rule of thumb, aim for a car lift that has a lifting capacity 25% heavier than the heaviest vehicle you expect to work on. This will give you enough wiggle room to operate your car lifts efficiently and safely.

How Much Weight Can a Car Lift Handle?

The amount of weight a car lift can handle is more than just the weight rating for the lift. While a 10,000-pound lift can lift a 10,000-pound vehicle, it might suffer from performance and slower lift times when operating at maximum capacity.

Lifting the maximum rated load on a car lift all day can quickly start to add excessive wear and tear to your car lift. Let's explore lift weight capacity and how these ratings are to be interpreted by garage owners.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) vs Actual Lift Load

Gross vehicle weight (GVW) and actual lift load are two terms that are often confused when talking about car lift weight capacities. Gross vehicle weight is the maximum weight a vehicle can weigh when it is fully loaded with a tank of gas, fluids, and cargo.

Actual lift load, on the other hand, is the actual weight of the vehicle at the time it is on the car lift. Typically, when you are lifting a vehicle, it will not have any passengers, extra cargo, or other items that contribute to GVW. The actual lift load is typically less than GVW and will be what you will be working with under a lifted vehicle.

Typical Lift Capacities by Type

There are several different styles of car lifts, each with its typical range of lift weight capacities. When we compare 2-post lifts vs 4-post lifts, we see that 4-post lifts support more weight.

Most 2-post car lifts support a weight range of between 7,000 and 18,000 pounds. Certain models of 4-post car lifts, on the other hand, can support much more, with heavy-duty models being able to lift vehicles over 30,000 pounds.

Scissor lifts have their own car lift weight capacities, with most supporting vehicles in the range of 6,000-15,000 pounds. Finally, there are single-post car lifts which have the lightest weight capacities, typically in the neighborhood of 6,000 to 10,000 pounds.

Lift capacities can also vary heavily between brands. When you compare Atlas vs Bendpak lifts, you'll see that these brands' lifts have different weight capacities in their line-up of similar style lifts.

Factors That Affect True Lifting Capacity

Car lift weight capacities are also affected by additional factors when in use. Front-engine vehicles, for example, will be much heavier in the front than the back, which can put extra stress on the front arms of a lift. You'll also need to take car lift concrete requirements into consideration.

Typically, you'll need a minimum of 4 inches of concrete rated for 3,000 psi to use a car lift for mid-sized vehicles safely. Symmetric vs asymmetric lift is another factor to take into consideration.

Symmetrical car lifts are lifts that center a vehicle between the columns, allowing all parts of the lift to support the weight of the vehicle equally. Asymmetric car lifts, on the other hand, have columns that are slightly rotated to allow door clearance and save space in a shop.

Generally a symmetric style car lift will be able to support heavier vehicles than an asymmetric style lift.

Not All "10,000 lb" Lifts Perform Equally

One of the most common lift weight capacities you'll see on lifts is a 10,000-pound lift limit. Two lifts can claim to support equal amounts of weight, but their performance, lift speed, and durability can differ significantly. When you compare 10,000-pound car lifts, you'll also want to look at:

• Build quality
• Hydraulic systems
• Certification and testing of the lift
• Car lift installation environment
• Warranty coverage

Doing this will give you a better idea of the performance you can expect from a car lift. Paying attention to these factors will help you choose between the various 10,000-pound car lift weight capacity lifts on the market.

Find the Ideal Car Lift For Your Garage Today!

My Garage Supplies makes it easy for you to compare different styles of car lifts and their weight capacities. When you invest in a car lift, you're going to want to get the best lift for your money and your individual garage needs. 

Whether you are looking for a car lift for a personal vehicle or are running a commercial garage and need a heavy-duty lift, our team is here to help! Keep reading to learn about some of our best-selling lifts and some of their other features besides lift capacity alone.

Choosing the Right Capacity for Your Use Case

Car lift weight capacity can be more straightforward for automotive enthusiasts who are looking to get a lift for their personal vehicles. If you're looking for a lift that will work with your vehicles, we recommend a 110V 2-post style car lift rated for 25% more than the actual lift weight of your vehicles.

Commercial garages, on the other hand, will need lifts that can accommodate a wide range of different vehicle weights. Typically, 4-post style car lifts are a better fit for commercial garages as they will allow you to lift a wide range of vehicle weights you'll encounter.

What Else Matters Besides Weight Capacity?

Besides just car lift weight capacity, you'll also want to shop for a lift that comes with handy features, the right certifications, and warranty coverage. Many of the lifts that we offer from brands like Atlas Automotive Equipment come with excellent warranties that cover the structural integrity and hydraulic systems of your lift.

Voltage also plays a big role in lift choice. Personal car lifts running in garages running on 110V power are an excellent choice for home garages, as no modifications will be needed to the electrical system. Commercial garages that run off of 220V will want a lift that is compatible with this voltage.

Finally, if you are working with your lift in a commercial garage, you'll want one that comes with industry-recognized certifications. The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) is considered the gold standard for car lift certifications in the US. ALI certification on a lift ensures that:

• Meets safety requirements
• Has excellent mechanical and hydraulic systems
• Meets electrical safety compliance
• Is properly rated for the weight shown

My Garage Supplies has lifts in all voltages, lifts with warranty coverage, and lifts that come with ALI certifications.

Popular Models Available at My Garage Supplies

Now that you know what to look for in a car lift, let's take a look at some of our best-selling models. For personal garages, it's hard to go wrong with the Atlas 9KBPX 9,000 lb Base‑Plate 2‑Post Lift. This 2-post car lift is an excellent option for smaller garages as it can fit under lower ceilings and lift up to 9,000 pounds.

Professional garages might need more power and stability out of their lifts, which is where the Atlas APEX 9 4-Post Lift comes into play. This 4-post car lift comes with a heavy-duty design and can lift vehicles of up to 9,000 pounds around the clock.

For those who are looking for a more portable lift option, the Atlas PSP-6000 Single-Post Lift is an excellent option. This single-post car lift is incredibly mobile and able to lift vehicles weighing up to 6,000 pounds.

Whatever option you decide on, you'll get the best deal on your next car lift at My Garage Supplies!

Wrapping Up Our Car Lift Weight Capacity Guide

We hope this article has helped you get a better understanding of car lift weight capacity, and the role it plays in your lift decision. As a general rule of thumb, single-post car lifts support the least amount of weight, followed by 2-post car lifts, and the strongest option is 4-post car lifts.

My Garage Supplies makes it easy for you to compare all of your lift options online so that you can choose the perfect lift for your personal or commercial garage needs!