DIY Car Scissor Lift Plans
We see tons of DIY car scissor lift plans circulating online, and we understand why. More and more homeowners are transforming their garages to service their own vehicles, and a professional car lift for garage is expensive.
The problem is, a DIY scissor car lift is unlikely to be safe - let alone stable and strong enough to really get the job done. Is it really worth the risk when you’re getting under your vehicle? We think not.
We’ll take a closer look at what most DIY car scissor lift plans entail below, but more importantly, we’ll show you how much more affordable and attainable a car scissor lift can be than you may have initially thought.
Here at My Garage Supplies, we have models from trusted brands like Katool, iDEAL, AMGO, and more starting as low as $1,500, with hassle-free financing to make the purchase as accessible as possible. Shop now or get in touch with our team for more advice!
Is a DIY Car Scissor Lift a Good Idea?
Care scissor lifts are one of the most popular styles because they don’t take up a ton of space in tight garages. They sit low when collapsed, don’t need tall ceilings, and give you all the access you need for tire, brake, and suspension work.
It’s easy to see why you’re looking to bring one into your home shop, and we get the appeal of DIY scissor lifts as well. But we want to make sure you’re totally aware of both the pros AND cons before proceeding.
The Appeal of DIY Scissor Lifts
Online forums and videos make it seem like DIY car scissor lifts are actually pretty simple. You just need some steel tubing, a hydraulic ram, and some welding skills. You can save some money and enjoy the satisfaction of building something yourself!
So, what’s the catch?
The Risks and Shortcomings
Scissor lifts are one of the most load-sensitive pieces of shop equipment you can put under a vehicle. Every pivot point, weld, pin, and lock holds massive shear forces, especially at mid-rise and full-lift height. In other words, we think the stakes are just too high to bother with DIY.
DIY plans rarely account for metal fatigue, uneven load distribution, or side-loading during real service work. Most homemade designs fail to include truly dependable mechanical safety locks, too.
There’s no redundant hydraulic protection, pressure relief systems, or controlled descent valves in most of the DIY plans for car scissor lifts that we’re coming across. That’s scary. Nothing is stopping the lift from collapsing if a hose fails or a weld cracks. There’s definitely no testing or certification being conducted on these DIY designs, either.
There’s absolutely zero margin for error once a vehicle is in the air. Even well-executed DIY builds create liability issues. Insurance, property damage, and personal injury are all real risks when you bring an untested lift into your garage.
Ask yourself, is it worth all this just to save a few hundred dollars? Or even a few thousand? We don’t advocate for DIY car lifts of any sort, with the best residential garage car lifts more accessible than ever before.
What DIY Car Scissor Lift Plans Entail
Let’s take a closer look at what DIY car scissor lift plans involve, just so you can see why we’re so concerned about people following through on these projects.
This will also show you that these plans don’t really save you as much money as you might think, and they’re way more complicated than most people realize!
Frame Design and Steel Selection
Most plans are formed around a basic scissor-frame made from square or rectangular steel tubing. Dimensions for arm length, pivot spacing, and overall footprint are included, but material thickness and steel grade are usually vague. This is what influences strength and reliability.
Builders are expected to decide how much steel is “enough,” even though small changes in wall thickness or weld quality can significantly affect load capacity and rigidity.
Pivot Points and Moving Joints
Scissor lifts have multiple pivot points, all of which see extreme forces during lifting and lowering. DIY plans typically call for drilled holes and solid pins or bolts to form these joints.
Alignment precision is super important, but perfect drilling, square cuts, and zero deflection are honestly unrealistic to achieve outside a production environment. That’s why professional car lifts are so expensive, but you get what you pay for.
Hydraulic Components
Nearly all DIY designs use a single hydraulic cylinder paired with a small electric power unit. Plans reference general cylinder sizes and pressure ratings.
Like most things in DIY car scissor lift plans, though, the important details surrounding flow control, hose routing, and pressure spikes are often glossed over. This directly affects lift speed, stability, and how controlled the descent feels under load.
Mounting and Floor Requirements
Most DIY scissor lifts sit directly on a concrete slab and won’t have to be anchored - but that’s not always the case. Plans may show base plates and anchor locations in these instances.
However, they rarely specify concrete thickness, PSI ratings, or real-world anchor loads. You’ll have to reconcile these details with your actual garage floor. Miscalculations can have serious implications for not just safety but also your garage’s floor.
Locking and Safety Provisions
Safety locks in DIY plans are usually manual and rudimentary - like simple bars, pins, or drop-in stops. It’s rare to see integrated mechanical locks that engage automatically at multiple heights in DIY car scissor lift plans.
Redundant systems, such as secondary supports or fail-safe descent controls, are typically not addressed in these types of DIY projects either. But they’re some of the most important features in professional car lifts!
Electrical Controls and Operation
DIY plans usually have basic electrical control - a motor switch for lifting and a manual valve for lowering. What you usually won’t find, though, are limit switches, emergency stops, or controlled lowering circuits. Again, that’s a red flag.
Save the Time, Stress, and Uncertainty With Professional Car Scissor Lifts
There’s no need to mess around with DIY car scissor lift plans when the best car lift brands and their most trusted models are just a few clicks away at My Garage Supplies. Whether you’re looking for a scissor lift vs 2-post lift, we’ve got you covered.
You get verified load ratings, tested safety systems, predictable lifting speed, and support when something needs service. More importantly, you get equipment designed to hold vehicles overhead day after day without guesswork. Here are some popular lifts worth exploring more:
iDEAL Portable Auto Tilt Lift TLX - 7,000 lbs
Uses a handheld electric drill drive with no hydraulics to leak or bleed to lift up to 7,000 lbs with a max height of 23-½”. Perfect for inspections, brakes, detailing, and display work.
Dual independent safety lock bars, adjustable-width platforms, and weather-resistant construction let it work indoors or out. Stores flat when not in use. Ships with risers, adapters, and jack stands.
AMGO LR06 Low-Rise Lift - 6,000 lbs
A true low-ceiling solution with a 4-⅛” collapsed height and a 23-⅝” rise. Reaches full height in 25 seconds and comes with multiple mechanical safety locks (with manual release).
At 849 lbs, it’s portable enough to add a temporary bay during peak seasons while still handling tire, brake, and body work with confidence. One of our more affordable solutions.
AMGO AX-12 Scissor Lift - 12,000 lbs
Dual synchronous hydraulic cylinders keep both platforms level, while electro-air controls engage mechanical locks automatically. The X-scissor design uses thick steel tubing and non-skid diamond platforms to support up to 12,000 lbs for full-service work.
Get a Personalized Recommendation Today
Our team can point you in the right direction if you’re not sure which of these car scissor lifts makes the most sense for your garage. We can also talk about whether a single-post car lift, 2-post car lift, or 4-post car lift might be a better fit. Take the next step now!
Bringing Our DIY Scissor Car Lift Guide to a Close
We know they might be tempting, but don’t fall victim to the idea of DIY car scissor lift plans. They’re simply not worth the stress and risk.
On the other hand, a professionally built scissor lift removes the unknowns and gives you rated capacity, tested safety locks, and predictable performance every time you raise a vehicle. It’s worth every penny for peace of mind alone.
My Garage Supplies carries proven scissor lifts from trusted manufacturers, backed by clear specs, manufacturer warranties, financing options, and hands-on support before and after delivery. Browse our lineup or connect with our customer service team today!