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The Best Floor Jack 2021

Best Floor Jack

You can choose from a range of jacks to lift your car but the floor jack is the safest and most stable. They’re available as heavy duty examples with large weight capacities to low profile floor jacks for lowered cars.

If you require a quick answer, the best floor jack is the Arcan ALJ3T, which is constructed of a heavy duty aluminum that’s lightweight and has a lifting range of 3.75 to 18.25 inch. However, if you need to lift a sports or lowered car, the Arcan XL2T is the best alternative that’s able to lift from 2.75 to 24 inches.

In order to rate the floor jacks within this article, we based our recommendations upon our experience, research and a number of factors. The factors that we considered included their lifting range, capacity, construction, lifting pump, saddle, weight, value for money and warranty.

Table of Contents

Floor Jack Comparison

Floor JackLifting RangeMax Capacity
Arcan ALJ3T3.75 to 18.25 inch6,000 LBS
Arcan XL2T2.75 to 24.00 Inch4,000 LBS
Blackhawk B63505.50 to 22.00 Inch7,000 LBS
Pittsburgh Automotive3.12 to 19.62 Inch6,000 LBS
Performance Tool W16273.50 to 20.50 Inch7,000 LBS
Liftmaster Quick Lift3.00 to 20.00 Inch6,000 LBS
Sunex 6603ASJPK3.80 to 19.30 Inch6,000 LBS
OTC 1533 Racing3.50 to 15.25 Inch4,000 LBS
Powerbuilt 620479E2.75 to 15.50 Inch4,000 LBS
Powerzone 3800335.25 to 13.00 Inch4,000 LBS

Many cars have a bottle or scissor jack in the trunk but these should only be used in an emergency situation. If you are planning on doing extensive work underneath your car, its also advised that you use jack stands.

Whilst underneath your car, safety is crucial and using an unstable jack is dangerous. Considering that the latest generation of floor jacks have dropped in price, it would be silly not to invest in a new one.

Below is a list of the best floor jacks that effortlessly lift the car from the ground and safely lock in place.

The Best Floor Jack


1. Arcan ALJ3T Aluminum Floor Jack

Arcan ALJ3T Aluminum Floor Jack
The Arcan ALJ3T is a high quality floor jack that’s constructed of a lightweight aircraft grade aluminum. Although one of the most expensive in this article, it’s also the most popular, which displays its high quality. The brand also offer it with the choice of a 2 or 3 ton weight capacity to best suit your requirements too.

Other features of the Arcan ALJ3T include:

  • Lifting range of 3 3/4 to 18 1/4 inch
  • Dual pump piston for fast lifting
  • Reinforced lifting arm
  • Bypass and overload valves
  • Lightweight at 56 LBS
  • Ball bearing rear caster wheels
  • Wide track front casters for stability

Overall, the Arcan ALJ3T is the best aluminum floor jack that provides maximum durability for heavy duty usage. The lightweight construction and intuitive design make it the ultimate jack for any car owner.

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2. Arcan XL2T Low Profile Floor Jack

Arcan XL2T Low Profile Floor JackAnother floor jack by the Arcan brand is the XL2T model, which is a low profile floor jack that’s perfect for lowered vehicles or sports cars. The lifting range starts from as little as 2.75 inches but it’s able to lift all the way to 24 inches with a dual pump for quick lifting. The impressive lifting range is due to the extra long 32 inch chassis, which allows the jack to be low to the floor.

Other features of the Arcan XL2T include:

  • Lifting range of 2.75 inches to 24 inches
  • 2 ton weight capacity
  • dual pump for faster lifting
  • 32 inch chassis
  • Complies with ASME PALD
  • Aesthetically pleasing black finish

Overall, the Arcan XL2T is the best low profile floor jack that fits under the majority of lowered cars. The additional length also means it can reach to multiple areas underneath your car in case you are unable to use the jacking points.

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3. Blackhawk B6350 Floor Jack

Blackhawk B6350 Floor Jack
A more affordable floor jack that’s suited for trucks or SUV’s is the Blackhawk B6350. Due to the requirement of a 5.5 inch clearance, this jack is not suitable for low cars and is best suited as a floor jack for trucks.

To maximize the durability, it uses a heavy duty steel construction that’s been powder coated to resist rust.

Other features of the Blackhawk B6350 include:

  • Lifting range of 5.5 to 22 inches
  • Weight capacity of 3.5 ton
  • Fast lifting technology
  • Safety valve and bypass device
  • Swivel saddle
  • One year warranty

Whether you own a standard truck or a lifted truck, the Blackhawk B6350 is the best option. It can still work perfectly for passenger cars but you will want to measure the clearance between the floor and jacking point beforehand.

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4. Pittsburgh 3 Ton Low Profile Floor Jack

Pittsburgh 3 Ton Low Profile Floor JackAnother low profile floor jack is by the Pittsburgh Automotive brand and it offers the best value for money. It uses a rugged steel construction with precision welds for superior durability that the brand states can withstand years of heavy duty usage.

The low profile construction has a chassis length of 27.5 inches and is designed to reach under most show cars. The lifting range starts from as low as 3 1/8 and reaches a maximum lift at 19 5/8 inch.

Other features of the Pittsburgh Floor Jack include:

  • Weighs 78 LBS
  • 3 ton weight capacity
  • Extra wide steel casters
  • Industrial quality construction
  • Patented Rapid Pump lifting mechanism
  • 45 inch long handle

Overall, it’s the best floor jack for the money that has the desirable low profile design. Although it has a cheap price tag, it’s still built to a high standard and performs just as well as the premium alternatives.

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5. Performance Tool W1627 Floor Jack

Performance Tool W1627 Floor Jack
The Performance Tool W1627 is a premium floor jack with various sizes that vary from 1 1/2 tonne to 3 1/2 tonne. They also offer this model as a standard, heavy duty or low profile floor jack to best suit your requirements. Each of the models use a high quality steel construction with an extra long frame for extra stability.

Other features of the Performance Tool W1627 include:

  • 3,000 lbs to 7,000 LBS load capacity
  • Lifting range of 3 1/2 inches to 20 1/2 inches
  • Durable flanged steel frame
  • Rubber saddle pad to avoid damage
  • Over load protection by pass valve
  • Heavy duty swivel casters
  • Double piston pump for quick lifting

Overall, the Performance Tool W1627 is a high quality floor jack that’s backed by a reputable brand for complete peace of mind. It does come with a premium price tag but features such as the metal wheels and rubber saddle are worth paying the extra.

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6. Liftmaster 3 Ton Floor Jack

Liftmaster 3 Ton Floor Jack
The Liftmaster is a heavy duty low profile floor jack with a lifting range of 3 to 20 inches. It also features the desirable dual pump hydraulic system, which provide quick and effortless lifting of any vehicle.

A common failure of many regularly used floor jacks is the rubber pad. However, the pad upon this jack has been strengthened for improved durability and protection.

Other features of the Liftmaster Floor Jack include:

  • 3 ton weight capacity
  • 24 inch long frame
  • Heavy duty steel construction
  • 45.5 inch handle with a molded grip
  • Shiny steel finish
  • Steel wheels

Overall, the Liftmaster 3 ton floor jack has been designed with durability in mind and offers great value for the money. The lifting range also makes it an excellent choice for both low cars and lifted trucks too.

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7. Sunex 6603ASJPK Aluminum Floor Jack

Sunex 6603ASJPK Aluminum Floor Jack
Sunex are a brand that produce a range of lifting equipment such as transmission jacks to this 6603ASJPK floor jack. This particular jack comes as part of a package that includes jack stands, which allows you to secure the vehicle once lifted. The construction of this floor jack is also made from aluminum, which the brand claim is half the weight of any steel alternative on the market.

Other features of the Sunex 6603ASJPK include:

  • 3 ton weight capacity
  • Lifting range of 3.8 to 19.3 inches
  • Dual pump pistons for fast lifting
  • Side carrying handles for portability
  • Rubber saddle and foam handle bumper
  • Clever lift handle that separates into 2 piece for storage
  • Includes jack stands

The Sunex 6603ASJPK is an excellent all-round floor jack that combines performance with value for the money. The lightweight aluminum construction and collapsible handle also make it the easiest to store.

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8. OTC 1533 Aluminum Racing Jack

OTC 1533 Aluminum Racing Jack
The OTC 1533 is a high quality racing floor jack that’s developed by the highly reputable OTC brand. It’s defined as a “racing” jack due to the speed at which it reaches the maximum lifting height of 18 inches in just 5 pumps. This particular model is also the brand’s 80th anniversary special edition jack, which comes with matching jack stands for extra value for money.

Other features of the OTC 1533 include:

  • Lifting range of 3 1/2 to 15 1/4 inch
  • Removable rubber saddle pad
  • Dual pump pistons for quick lifting
  • 2 ton weight capacity
  • Lifetime warranty

Overall, the OTC 1533 is a professional aluminum racing jack that’s built to the high of standards and comes with matching jack stands. It does come with a premium price tag but it has a reputable brand backing it and a lifetime warranty for complete peace of mind.

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9. Powerbuilt 620479E Xtra Low Profile Jack

Powerbuilt 620479E Xtra Low Profile Jack
The Powerbuilt 620479E isn’t the usual style of low profile floor jack due to the fact that it has more of an aggressive look and feel. It has a wider rubber pad and front, which provides maximum stability whilst lifting any vehicle. It’s by far the most heavy duty floor jack in this article but it’s also the heaviest, which is as expected.

Other features of the Powerbuilt 620479E include:

  • Lifting range of 2-3/4 to 15-1/2 inches
  • 4,000 lbs (2 ton) weight capacity
  • Steel safety bar to secure the jack further
  • Low profile design
  • Meets ASME standards

The unconventional design of this floor jack may become difficult to maneuver with a single wheel at the front. However, it’s been built for heavy duty usage and also has the clever functionality of being able to be locked in place.

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10. Powerzone 380033 Floor Jack

Powerzone 380033 Floor Jack
If you are looking for the best budget floor jack to keep in the garage, the Powerzone 380033 is perfect. It’s portable and easy to use with a safety valve to prevent overloading the jack beyond its 2 ton capacity.

The budget price tag does mean it has some limitations and this can be seen by the lifting range of just 5 1/4 to 13 inch, which may not be compatible for some vehicles.

Other features of the Powerzone 380033 include:

  • 2 ton weight capacity
  • Swivel rear wheels
  • Rugged steel construction
  • Compact design
  • Weighs just 20 LBS

Overall, the Powerzone 380033 is a cheap floor jack that’s perfect as a backup and it won’t disappoint. Compared to other cheaper alternatives, it’s built to much higher standards and includes the desirable safety valve to prevent overloading.

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How We Rated The Floor Jacks

Over the years, we’ve used a variety of floor jacks and gained plenty of experience of what to look for. However, we also based our recommendations upon research and multiple factors. The factors that we considered included their lifting range, capacity, construction, lifting pump, saddle, weight, value for money and warranty.

Floor Jack Buying Guide

Almost every car will have some sort of car jack, which is usually located within the trunk. They will either be an angled, scissor or bottle jack, which are great for emergencies such as a tire blowout. However, for those that want to lift their car with extra stability and safety, a floor jack is the best type of jack to use.

To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below guide regarding floor jacks.

Low Profile Design

A low profile floor jack refers to jacks that have a lower entry position than the traditional jack. The entry height is usually between 2 to 4 inches with the shorter height making it easier to reach under the car.

The purpose is simple, if you have a sports or lowered car, you won’t be able to fit the jack underneath without damaging the sill or sideskirts.

In order for the jack to have a lower entry position, the design is altered when compared to a traditional jack. Low profile alternatives will have a much longer frame and a wider base, which provides stability once it’s reached the maximum lifting height.

Weight Capacity

Many people misjudge the weight capacity of the floor jack for the total weight of the car. When using a floor jack, it only lifts 1 axle in the air and this will not weigh the same as the gross weight.

The most popular weight capacities are a 2 ton and 3 ton jack as this is surplus requirements for both cars and trucks. If you have a vehicle larger than these weight capacities, you may require a specialist heavy duty floor jack.

Lifting Range

The ability to raise the car that little bit further in the air is always a benefit. Over 20 inches is above average and will certainly assist many common service jobs. The Arcan low profile floor jack has the largest lift at 24 inches, which is ideal for most tasks.

Build Quality

When it comes to safety, you should never purchase something that could break easily. You want to buy a heavy duty floor jack that can withstand years of excessive usage and is built to last. Most steel and aluminum floor jack constructions are the best for build quality and provide long lasting performance.

Even on a small budget, you are able to find high quality floor jacks. After all, the purpose of a floor jack is to lift your car and if it’s struggling to hold your car whilst you are underneath it, you could seriously injure yourself.

safe car floor jack

Maintenance and Safety of Floor Jacks

As mentioned above, ensuring the weight capacity of the jack is able to lift the car is very important but there are other factors to consider. For example, a wider saddle with a lip will be able to help you locate the safest jacking point location.

Although they don’t need frequent maintenance, a floor jack will require some attention from time to time. We recommend that you check for any leaks and cracks around the casting because this can be a sign that it may give way at some point.

When a floor jack isn’t in use, we advise that the pump and piston is retracted. This will put less stress on the jack and reduce the chances of any leaks.

Jacking Points

The saddle of the floor jack uses the jacking point to safely lift the vehicle from the ground. Sometimes this can cause issues with low cars as the jack is unable to get underneath it. As shown in the below image, the jacking point is a rubber pad that’s located on each axle and there should be at least 4 on most cars.

Older cars can sometimes see these rubber jacking points broken or worn away and if this is the case, you need to look for an alternative solution for lifting your vehicle. This may also be a problem if you intend to use a garage car lift to lift the car from the ground too. The only alternative is to lift the car from the chassis or a solid part of the undercarriage. Do not make the mistake of placing it on something that’s not solid because the pressure will cause it to bend.

jack stump for floor jack

Mobility and Weight

An often overlooked feature when searching for the best floor jack is the weight and mobility when transporting the jack. When it comes to the weight, they are always going to be fairly heavy but useful handles on either side of the jack make it easier to transport. For example, lifting it in and out of your trunk when required.

Conclusion

All of our recommendations are suited to a range of cars with different design features. We advise that if you are underneath the car for long periods, you use jack stands or a car ramp to reduce strain on the jack. If you have any questions regarding floor jacks, feel free to get in touch with our team for further information.

procarreviews author

Written By Dan

About the Author

Dan is an automotive journalist and owner of over 10 cars ranging from supercars, tuned cars, classics and your good old beater cars. He always likes to get his hands dirty with nut and bolt restorations or detailing sessions using the best products on the market.

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