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Best Portable Car Lifts (2026): QuickJack, MaxJax and the Pad Lifts, by Rise

By Garage Equipment ReviewPublished 9 min readHow we research

Affiliate disclosure: product links on this page go to Amazon, or to the maker's own store for brands that sell only direct. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you; a link to a maker's store earns us nothing. No retailer or brand sees our picks before they are published or has any say in them. How we choose.

A portable lift is the one that needs nothing from the building: no anchors, no ceiling to speak of, a 110 V plug, and a flat floor. Two designs do it. Frame lifts (QuickJack, and the VEVOR, Albott and XK pad lifts) are two low frames that slide under the sills, lift on pads and lock about two feet up. The MaxJax M7K is a real two-post that anchors to drop-in bolts and unbolts to roll away, with 47 inches of rise and a slab requirement. The QuickJack 8000TL ($2,100) is the pick for a published spec table, 24.5 inches of rise and 8,000 pounds; the 6000TL ($1,925) for cars; the 8000TLX ($2,302 with a 110 V unit on Amazon) for long wheelbases; the MaxJax M7K ($5,195) for standing-height work in a low garage; VEVOR's 9,000 lb ($2,000) and 7,000 lb pneumatic ($1,680) pad lifts for the budget with a remote or a compressor; Albott's 8,000 lb ($1,500) and 7,000 lb ($1,300) lifts; the 7,000 lb import ($1,260); and XK's LM230 ($1,349), the 5,070-pound lift with a self-levelling pump. Every pick gives its rise, lowered height, power and the slope limit its maker states, and says who should skip it.

Our top picks at a glance

  1. 1. Best overall

    QuickJack 8000TL Portable Car Lift, 8,000 lb

    Capacity and rise: 8,000 lb; 24.5 in max (24.25 with adapters, 27 with adapters and pin) (QuickJack) · Lowered height and length: 3.5 in collapsed (4 with a 2 in block); frames 70.75 in; lift point spread 37 to 60 in (QuickJack) · Power and floor: Power unit voltage not stated on the page (110 V and 12 V units sold); no anchors; a dealer cites a slope limit under 3 degrees

    QuickJack

  2. 2. Best for cars

    QuickJack 6000TL Portable Car Lift, 6,000 lb

    Capacity and rise: 6,000 lb; 24 in max (QuickJack) · Lowered height and length: 3.5 in with a 2 in block; frames 70 in; spread 37 to 60 in (QuickJack) · Power and floor: Voltage not stated; no anchors

    QuickJack

  3. 3. Best for long wheelbases

    QuickJack 8000TLX Extended Portable Car Lift, 8,000 lb, with 110 V power unit

    Capacity and rise: 8,000 lb; 24 in (spec table) or 24.5 (header) (QuickJack) · Lowered height and length: 3.5 in with block; frames 76 in; spread 43 to 66 in (QuickJack) · Power and floor: 110 V power unit (Amazon listing); no anchors

    Amazon

  4. 4. Best for standing-height work

    MaxJax M7K Portable Two-Post Lift, 7,000 lb, Standard Package (89.5 in overall)

    Capacity and rise: 7,000 lb, 1,750 per arm; 47.25 in with pad (BendPak) · Lowered height and length: Min pad 5.5 in (spec table) or 4.75 (description); 89.5 in overall height; width 105 to 135 in (BendPak) · Power and floor: 2 HP 110 V unit (page); 110 or 220 VAC (manual); 3,000 PSI concrete, 4.25 in slab for its anchors, 3 degree slope, 1/8 in shim, no post-tensioned slabs (manual); licensed electrician

    MaxJax

  5. 5. Best pad lift with a remote

    VEVOR 9,000 lb Portable Car Lift, 120 V power unit with remote

    Capacity and rise: 9,000 lb; 6.1 to 21 in with pads, 9.8 to 28 in with columns (per the Amazon listing) · Lowered height and length: 6.1 in lowered with pads (per the Amazon listing) · Power and floor: 120 V power unit, remote control, oil sight window; no anchors (per the Amazon listing)

    Amazon

  6. 6. Best pad lift if you have a compressor

    VEVOR 7,000 lb Portable Car Lift, pneumatic pump

    Capacity and rise: 7,000 lb; 6.5 to 20 in with pads, 10.2 to 26.8 in with columns (per the Amazon listing) · Lowered height and length: 6.5 in with pads (per the Amazon listing) · Power and floor: Pneumatic hydraulic pump with a flow divider valve; fill with ISO 46 oil before use (per the Amazon listing); no anchors

    Amazon

  7. 7. Best pad lift under $1,500

    Albott 8,000 lb Portable Car Lift, Q355B steel

    Capacity and rise: 8,000 lb; overall lifting range 19.7 to 27.4 in with four adjustable posts (per the Amazon listing) · Lowered height and length: Not stated as a lowered height; 8.3 in extension plate for up to 75 in overall (per the Amazon listing) · Power and floor: Power not stated in the bullets; flat, solid surface, no slope over 4 degrees (per the Amazon listing); no anchors

    Amazon

  8. 8. Cheapest 7,000 lb pad lift

    7,000 lb Portable Car Lift with Extension Plates, black

    Capacity and rise: 7,000 lb; 10.24 to 26.8 in (per the Amazon listing) · Lowered height and length: 10.24 in minimum (per the Amazon listing) · Power and floor: Not stated in the bullets; no anchors

    Amazon

  9. 9. Best self-levelling pad lift

    XK LM230 Portable Car Lift, 5,070 lb, self-levelling, 110 V

    Capacity and rise: 5,070 lb; 10.04 to 23.23 in (per the Amazon listing) · Lowered height and length: 10.04 in minimum (per the Amazon listing) · Power and floor: 110 V 60 Hz single phase, standard outlet; self-levelling pump station (per the Amazon listing); no anchors

    Amazon
1

Best overall

QuickJack 8000TL Portable Car Lift, 8,000 lb

8,000 lb, 24.5 in of rise from 3.5 in lowered, 70.75 in frames with a 37 to 60 in lift point spread, 98 lb frames, dual-position locks, 1-year warranty, from $2,100.

Capacity and rise
8,000 lb; 24.5 in max (24.25 with adapters, 27 with adapters and pin) (QuickJack)
Lowered height and length
3.5 in collapsed (4 with a 2 in block); frames 70.75 in; lift point spread 37 to 60 in (QuickJack)
Power and floor
Power unit voltage not stated on the page (110 V and 12 V units sold); no anchors; a dealer cites a slope limit under 3 degrees
Warranty and ALI
1 year on structure and operating components, 2-year extension optional; listed in ALI's directory (certification date Mar 9, 2026), though the pages mention only ALI-certified manuals

Pros

  • Published spec table
  • Locks engage automatically at mid and full rise
  • 98 lb frames store against a wall

Cons

  • Two feet of rise
  • Frames must be set parallel and on the maker's lift points every time
  • Voltage and current not on the page

QuickJack lists the 8000TL at 8,000 pounds, 24.5 inches maximum height, 3.5 inches collapsed, 70.75-inch frames, a 37 to 60-inch lift point spread, 98-pound frames and dual-position automatic locks, with a 1-year warranty, from $2,100. It ships ALI's Lifting It Right manual and lifting-points guide, which is where the frames go on a given car. Skip it if you need to stand under the car or if the floor slopes more than the dealer's 3 degrees.

See it at QuickJack
2

Best for cars

QuickJack 6000TL Portable Car Lift, 6,000 lb

6,000 lb, 24 in of rise from 3.5 in, 70 in frames, 37 to 60 in spread, 78 lb frames, from $1,925.

Capacity and rise
6,000 lb; 24 in max (QuickJack)
Lowered height and length
3.5 in with a 2 in block; frames 70 in; spread 37 to 60 in (QuickJack)
Power and floor
Voltage not stated; no anchors
Warranty and ALI
1 year; listed in ALI's directory (certification date Mar 9, 2026)

Pros

  • Lightest QuickJack frames, 78 lb each
  • Under $2,000
  • Same locks and open centre

Cons

  • 6,000 lb excludes most pickups
  • Two feet of rise
  • Same discipline on placement

QuickJack lists the 6000TL at 6,000 pounds, 24 inches of rise, 3.5 inches lowered with a block, 70-inch frames, a 37 to 60-inch spread and 78-pound frames, 1-year warranty, from $1,925. Skip it for anything heavier than a mid-size SUV.

See it at QuickJack
3

Best for long wheelbases

QuickJack 8000TLX Extended Portable Car Lift, 8,000 lb, with 110 V power unit

The extended 8,000 lb frames: 76 in long, 43 to 66 in spread, 81.5 lb each, 24 to 24.5 in of rise, with a 110 V power unit on Amazon for $2,302.

Capacity and rise
8,000 lb; 24 in (spec table) or 24.5 (header) (QuickJack)
Lowered height and length
3.5 in with block; frames 76 in; spread 43 to 66 in (QuickJack)
Power and floor
110 V power unit (Amazon listing); no anchors
Warranty and ALI
1 year, 2-year extension; listed in ALI's directory (certification date Mar 9, 2026)

Pros

  • 66 in of spread for trucks and long sedans
  • 110 V unit included in the Amazon package
  • Amazon in stock

Cons

  • QuickJack's own page gives two max-rise figures
  • Longer frames to store
  • $2,302

QuickJack lists the 8000TLX at 8,000 pounds, 24 to 24.5 inches of rise, 3.5 inches lowered, 76-inch frames, a 43 to 66-inch spread, 81.5-pound frames and a 15-pound power unit, from $2,150; the Amazon package with a 110 V power unit is $2,302, and the 6000TLX with a 110 V unit is $2,114. Skip it if your car's lift points are inside 43 inches.

Check price on Amazon
4

Best for standing-height work

MaxJax M7K Portable Two-Post Lift, 7,000 lb, Standard Package (89.5 in overall)

The portable two-post: 7,000 lb, 47.25 in of rise, 89.5 in tall, a 2 HP 110 V unit, drop-in anchors it unbolts from, and a manual that sets the slab at 3,000 PSI, $5,195.

Capacity and rise
7,000 lb, 1,750 per arm; 47.25 in with pad (BendPak)
Lowered height and length
Min pad 5.5 in (spec table) or 4.75 (description); 89.5 in overall height; width 105 to 135 in (BendPak)
Power and floor
2 HP 110 V unit (page); 110 or 220 VAC (manual); 3,000 PSI concrete, 4.25 in slab for its anchors, 3 degree slope, 1/8 in shim, no post-tensioned slabs (manual); licensed electrician
Warranty and ALI
Warranty page link; not in ALI's directory (the older M6K is); manual cites ANSI/ALI ALIS

Pros

  • Four feet of rise on a lift that stores
  • Full manual online
  • Fits under 8 feet by column height

Cons

  • Anchored: the slab must pass and the holes stay
  • $5,195 to $5,695
  • Re-inspect every anchor at every re-install (manual)

BendPak lists the M7K at 7,000 pounds, 47.25 inches of rise, 89.5 inches overall, 105 to 135 inches wide, a 2 HP 110 V unit and 980 pounds shipping, in four packages from $5,195 to $5,695; its manual requires 3,000 PSI concrete with the drop-in anchors in a 4.25-inch slab, no more than 3 degrees of slope or 1/8 inch of shim, never a post-tensioned slab, 1 inch of clearance above the tallest vehicle at full rise, a licensed electrician, and inspection of every anchor on every re-install. It is portable the way a lift that leaves ten anchor holes in your floor is portable: it rolls away between jobs. Skip it if you will not drill the slab.

See it at MaxJax
5

Best pad lift with a remote

VEVOR 9,000 lb Portable Car Lift, 120 V power unit with remote

VEVOR's 9,000 lb pad lift: electric hydraulic pump with a remote, 6.1 to 21 in with pads and 9.8 to 28 in with columns, mechanical locks at each height, casters and handles, 120 V, $2,000.

Capacity and rise
9,000 lb; 6.1 to 21 in with pads, 9.8 to 28 in with columns (per the Amazon listing)
Lowered height and length
6.1 in lowered with pads (per the Amazon listing)
Power and floor
120 V power unit, remote control, oil sight window; no anchors (per the Amazon listing)
Warranty and ALI
Not stated; brand not in ALI's directory

Pros

  • Highest capacity here
  • Remote-controlled electric pump
  • Locks at each height (listing)

Cons

  • 6.1 in lowered is nearly twice QuickJack's 3.5
  • No slope limit stated for this model
  • No certification stated

VEVOR's listing: 9,000 pounds in reinforced alloy steel, an electric hydraulic pump with a remote and an oil sight window, four rubber pads and four lift columns, a 6.1 to 21-inch range with pads and 9.8 to 28 with columns, a mechanical lock at each height, nylon casters and handles, at $1,999.90. Skip it for a car whose sills sit under 6 inches.

Check price on Amazon
6

Best pad lift if you have a compressor

VEVOR 7,000 lb Portable Car Lift, pneumatic pump

VEVOR's 7,000 lb pad lift with a pneumatic hydraulic pump and flow divider, 6.5 to 20 in with pads and 10.2 to 26.8 with columns, $1,680.

Capacity and rise
7,000 lb; 6.5 to 20 in with pads, 10.2 to 26.8 in with columns (per the Amazon listing)
Lowered height and length
6.5 in with pads (per the Amazon listing)
Power and floor
Pneumatic hydraulic pump with a flow divider valve; fill with ISO 46 oil before use (per the Amazon listing); no anchors
Warranty and ALI
Not stated; brand not in ALI's directory

Pros

  • No electrical circuit: shop air drives it
  • Flow divider for even lift (listing)
  • $1,680

Cons

  • Needs a compressor
  • 6.5 in lowered
  • Oil to add and bleed before first use (listing)

VEVOR's listing: 7,000 pounds, a pneumatic hydraulic pump with a flow divider valve, a bleeder valve to open and ISO 46 oil to fill before use, four pads and columns, a 6.5 to 20-inch range with pads and 10.2 to 26.8 with columns, mechanical locks at each height, casters and handles, at $1,679.90. VEVOR's 120 V electric 7,000-pound version ($1,599.90) had one unit left when we read it. Skip the pneumatic one without a compressor.

Check price on Amazon
7

Best pad lift under $1,500

Albott 8,000 lb Portable Car Lift, Q355B steel

Albott's 8,000 lb lift in Q355B steel: 19.7 to 27.4 in overall range, dual locking pins, 130 lb units, an 8.3 in extension plate, and a stated 4-degree slope limit, $1,500.

Capacity and rise
8,000 lb; overall lifting range 19.7 to 27.4 in with four adjustable posts (per the Amazon listing)
Lowered height and length
Not stated as a lowered height; 8.3 in extension plate for up to 75 in overall (per the Amazon listing)
Power and floor
Power not stated in the bullets; flat, solid surface, no slope over 4 degrees (per the Amazon listing); no anchors
Warranty and ALI
Not stated; brand not in ALI's directory

Pros

  • Q355B steel stated, stronger than the Q235B of the older units (listing)
  • Dual locking pins and mechanical locks (listing)
  • 130 lb units

Cons

  • Pump type not in the bullets
  • Lowered height not stated as such
  • No certification

Albott's listing: 8,000 pounds, Q355B steel, dual locking pins and built-in mechanical locks, four adjustable posts for a 19.7 to 27.4-inch range, four rubber pads, an 8.3-inch extension plate, 130-pound units, and an instruction to use it on a flat, solid surface with no slope over 4 degrees, at $1,499.99. Albott's 7,000-pound Q355B version ($1,399.99) has a 17.7 to 25.4-inch range and 120-pound units; its older 7,000-pound Q235B lift ($1,299.99) reaches 28 inches with its plates. Skip them if you want the pump type on the page.

Check price on Amazon
8

Cheapest 7,000 lb pad lift

7,000 lb Portable Car Lift with Extension Plates, black

An unbranded 7,000 lb Q235B pad lift with a 10.24 to 26.8 in range, 11 in extension plates, four wheels, folding, $1,260.

Capacity and rise
7,000 lb; 10.24 to 26.8 in (per the Amazon listing)
Lowered height and length
10.24 in minimum (per the Amazon listing)
Power and floor
Not stated in the bullets; no anchors
Warranty and ALI
Not stated; no brand named, so nothing to look up in ALI's directory

Pros

  • $1,260
  • 11 in extension plates (listing)
  • Folds, four wheels

Cons

  • 10.24 in minimum is a truck's clearance, not a car's
  • Unbranded
  • Pump not stated

The listing: 7,000 pounds in Q235B steel, four adjustable columns with 3.2 inches of adjustment for a 10.24 to 26.8-inch range, 11-inch extension plates, safety locks, four nylon wheels and a folding design, at $1,259.99. Skip it for any car under 10 inches of sill clearance, which is most of them.

Check price on Amazon
9

Best self-levelling pad lift

XK LM230 Portable Car Lift, 5,070 lb, self-levelling, 110 V

XK's LM230: 5,070 lb, 10.04 to 23.23 in, a self-levelling pump that balances both sides, A572-grade steel, 110 V, $1,349.

Capacity and rise
5,070 lb; 10.04 to 23.23 in (per the Amazon listing)
Lowered height and length
10.04 in minimum (per the Amazon listing)
Power and floor
110 V 60 Hz single phase, standard outlet; self-levelling pump station (per the Amazon listing); no anchors
Warranty and ALI
Not stated; brand not in ALI's directory

Pros

  • Self-levelling: no cylinder bleeding between sides (listing)
  • Steel grade stated (A572 Grade 50 equivalent)
  • 110 V

Cons

  • 5,070 lb is a car-only rating
  • 10 in minimum
  • No certification stated

XK's listing: 5,070 pounds, a 10.04 to 23.23-inch range, a built-in self-levelling pump that balances both sides without repeated cylinder bleeding, A572 Grade 50 equivalent steel, a mechanical lock, and 110 V single-phase power from a standard outlet, at $1,349. Skip it for an SUV or truck.

Check price on Amazon

How we chose

Lifts that need no permanent installation, judged on capacity, rise, lowered height, frame length or lift point spread, power source, floor requirements as stated, locks, weight per unit, warranty and price (October 9, 2026). QuickJack and MaxJax figures from their pages and the MaxJax manual; the rest from Amazon listings. The MaxJax is included because it is sold as portable, and marked as the one that anchors.

Every pick in one table

LiftCapacityRise (in)Lowered (in)PowerFloor rule statedPrice
QuickJack 8000TL8,00024.53.5110 V or 12 V unit, sold separately or bundledDealer: under 3 degrees$2,100
QuickJack 6000TL6,000243.5SameSame$1,925
QuickJack 8000TLX8,00024 to 24.53.5110 V (Amazon bundle)Same$2,150 to $2,302
MaxJax M7K7,00047.255.5 pad2 HP 110 V (110 or 220 per manual)Manual: 3,000 PSI, 3 degrees, anchors$5,195
VEVOR 9,0009,00021 pads, 28 columns6.1120 V, remoteNot stated$2,000
VEVOR 7,000 pneumatic7,00020 pads, 26.8 columns6.5Shop airNot stated$1,680
Albott 8,0008,00027.4Range from 19.7Not in bulletsListing: no slope over 4 degrees$1,500
7,000 lb import7,00026.810.24Not in bulletsNot stated$1,260
XK LM2305,07023.2310.04110 V, self-levellingNot stated$1,349

Frame lifts: what the two feet buy

Wheels, brakes, suspension, oil, exhaust and detailing on a creeper, with the whole underside open between the frames. What they do not buy is standing room or a transmission out from under a crossmember. Lowered height decides which cars they slide under: QuickJack's 3.5 inches fits a lowered coupe, the VEVOR's 6 inches a crossover, the 10-inch imports a truck. The lift points are the car maker's (QuickJack ships ALI's lifting-points guide), and a frame on the wrong point is the way the sills get bent.

Floors

Flat, solid, level. Albott states 4 degrees as the limit; MaxJax's manual says 3 degrees and 1/8 inch of shim; a QuickJack dealer says under 3 degrees. Garage floors slope toward the door by design, usually within those limits across a lift's footprint, but measure before assuming. Asphalt in summer, gravel and pavers are not floors for any of these.

Power

110 V plug-in on the QuickJack 110 V unit, the XK, the VEVOR electric and the MaxJax's 2 HP unit; shop air on the VEVOR pneumatic; a 12 V unit is a QuickJack option. QuickJack's page does not state the unit's current; an owner's forum reading is not a figure we print. The electrical guide has what the makers state.

The MaxJax question

It is the only portable lift that lets you stand (47 inches, which is a stool for most people) and the only one that drills the floor. For a garage with a slab that passes its manual and an owner who wants the two-post experience without the two-post column, it is the answer; for a rental or an unknown slab, it is a two-post. The home garage lift guide places it against the others by ceiling.

What to skip

Skip a pad lift whose lowered height is above your sills. Skip frames set on anything but the car maker's lift points. Skip the MaxJax for a post-tensioned slab (its manual forbids drilling one). And skip getting under any of them before the mechanical locks are engaged and the hydraulics are unloaded, which every manual here says in its own words.

Frequently asked questions

How high does a QuickJack lift a car?

24 inches on the 6000TL, 24.5 on the 8000TL (24 in the 8000TLX spec table, 24.5 in its header), from 3.5 inches lowered with a 2-inch block, by QuickJack's pages. That is creeper height, not standing.

Does a QuickJack need to be bolted down?

No. The frames are freestanding and QuickJack's pages give no concrete requirement; a dealer cites a slope limit under 3 degrees. The MaxJax M7K is the portable lift that anchors, with a 3,000 PSI slab in its manual.

What is the best portable car lift for a truck?

QuickJack's 8000TLX (8,000 lb, 43 to 66 in spread, 76 in frames) or VEVOR's 9,000 lb pad lift, with its 6.1 in lowered height suiting a truck's clearance. The XK LM230 at 5,070 lb and the QuickJack 6000TL are car lifts.

Can I stand under a portable car lift?

Only under the MaxJax M7K, which lifts 47.25 inches and anchors to the slab. The frame and pad lifts lift 20 to 28 inches, which is a creeper or a low stool.

How level does the floor need to be?

Albott's listing says no slope over 4 degrees; MaxJax's manual says 3 degrees and 1/8 inch of shim; a QuickJack dealer says under 3 degrees. Measure the fall across the lift's footprint, not the whole floor.

What power does a portable car lift need?

A 110 V outlet for QuickJack's 110 V unit, the XK, the VEVOR electric and the MaxJax (whose manual allows 110 or 220); shop air for the VEVOR pneumatic. QuickJack's page does not state the unit's current draw.

Is QuickJack ALI certified?

Yes, by ALI's directory: it lists the QuickJack 5000TL, 6000TL, 7000TL and 8000TL and their TLX versions with a certification date of March 9, 2026 (searched October 12, 2026), even though QuickJack's pages mention only ALI-certified manuals. The MaxJax M7K is not listed, and neither is any VEVOR, Albott or XK portable lift.

Sources

  1. QuickJack 8000TL (product page), QuickJack
  2. QuickJack 6000TL (product page), QuickJack
  3. QuickJack 8000TLX (product page), QuickJack
  4. MaxJax M7K Standard Package (product page), BendPak / MaxJax
  5. MaxJax M7K Installation and Operation Manual, MaxJax
  6. Lift Certification FAQ, Automotive Lift Institute

Cover photo: S2000 civic MDX service repair www.chiautorepair.com 19114 19136 philadelphia by Chiautorepair, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.

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