The hydraulic mechanics that go into making the best floor jacks are incredible. It will allow you to easily lift a car up off the wheels in order to properly work on them. There is a lot of science and engineering that has gone into making lifting heavy weights easier than you could ever imagine. These low profile floor jacks are the end product of that hard work and if you want to do some good work on any vehicles, they are absolutely necessary.
If you have a shop at home, at work, need assistance on the road, or are simply wanting to learn about the underneath of the car, you need jacks. The best low profile floor jack will help you to make this simple, it’s just about finding the right ones.
There are a crazy amount of different styles of jacks. These vary from low profile jacks, high-lift jack, aluminum jack, heavy duty floor jack, 2-ton floor jack, 3-ton floor jack, budget floor jack, to all other variations, all used for a specific purpose. It all depends on what you need them for. The most important thing to note is what vehicles you are going to be working on. If you are specifically working on trucks, the jack you end up with will be far different than those working on sports cars.
These 7 Best Low Profile Floor Jacks of 2024 will help you work on the best of low profile sports cars, or just add a new paint job to your old Chevy sitting out back.
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We have chosen the Arcan ALJ3T as our top pick for a multitude of reasons. This low profile jack has a huge maximum lifting height without sacrificing its ability to lift low clearance vehicles. The aluminum construction helps it to move around the shop easily without the crazy amount of weight. It still has a heavy duty construction, so will have a good lifespan. It is even available for a cheaper price when made with steel so you can get the same product, but heavier and more durable.
7 Best Floor Jacks of 2023
1. Arcan ALJ3T – Our Top Pick
This 3-ton jack from Arcan is the top pick out of all the best floor jacks of 2023. At only 56 pounds, the Arcan ALJ3T is one of the lighter models available due to its aluminum construction. There is a steel version available, just be prepared for a much heavier shipment.
The Arcan ALJ3T has a maximum lift height of 18 ½ inches, making it capable of lifting SUVs and trucks in addition to some of the lowest clearance sports cars there are. The padded handle adds to the comfort and ease of use for this jack, which is more attractive than some may realize.
Arcan also features an incredible warranty for their products, which can be necessary to win you over as the pricetag on this jack is rather high. Overall though, the versatility on this model is its biggest strength. It will lift just about any vehicle you need with its 3-ton weight capacity and large lifting range.
Features:
18.5 maximum lift height for SUVs and trucks, 4 inch minimum lift for low clearance vehicles, dual pump pistons for quick raising of the saddle pad to the vehicle, aluminum construction makes this jack lightweight
Pros
- Lightweight
- 3-ton lift weight
- High lifting range for high clearance vehicles
Cons
- Expensive
- There have been issues with the jack on arrival
2. Sunex Aluminum Jack Pack – Runner-Up
The Sunex Aluminum Jack Pack is another aluminum design that can has a lifting weight of 3 tons. This is an incredibly well-built jack that stands up to the test when put up against more well-known brands. The aluminum construction is what makes it so easy to move around and still be an incredibly effective and strong 2 ton low profile jack. There is no problem making the switch over to aluminum from steel when it comes to Sunex.
Sunex utilizes Rapid Rise Technology so it only takes a few pumps of the lifting arm to get the saddle to its contact point with the vehicle. This way, there is no excessive cranking necessary just to make contact before ever lifting anything. It’s designed to be fast and make your life easier.
This set comes along with two 3-ton aluminum jack stands that can be thrown under the vehicle once you have lifted it. This is sure to provide extra security and comfort level when getting under a vehicle to work. They will make sure the vehicle stays stable until you want to lower it. This is a great idea when looking for a good set, and if you don’t have jack stands already, these will make sure all the safety measures are in place to help you get off on the right foot immediately without needing to make another purchase.
Features:
Rubber saddle grip for anti-slip protection, two piece handle for better storage, Rapid Rise Technology with dual pump pistons to quickly raise load, Aluminum construction for light weight of 58 pounds
Pros
- Comes with two 3-ton jack stands for added security
- Aluminum construction is lightweight
- 3-ton lifting capacity
- Rapid Rise Technology
Cons
- Expensive
- Not fit for low profile vehicles
3. Pittsburgh Automotive Heavy Duty 3 Ton Jack
The Pittsburgh Automotive 3-Ton Jack gives one of the highest maximum lifting ranges that there is to offer. This jack can lift at a height of 19 ¾ inches with ease. The minimum is a mere 2 ⅞ inches which makes it perfect for both low profile vehicles and huge trucks.
It is an ultra low profile jack that is easy to store and the wheels are built well for easy movement. It also uses a dual piston pump system to rapidly lift vehicles in 3 ½ to 4 pumps. This is incredibly useful when you are working on cars all day long. The time that adds up, cranking away at the lifting arm, means there is less work that you can get done that day. We all know the importance of time, and this system will save you that time.
The steel wheels on the front are extra-wide and help provide a large amount of stability so the jack is sure to not move around when it is under the vehicle and fully extended. The steel construction makes for a heavy weight of 74 pounds, but also adds to its extreme durability, low cost, and high build quality.
Features:
Lifting range of 2 ⅞“-19 ¾” makes it incredibly versatile, Dual piston pumps for quick lifting of heavy vehicles, steel construction for strength and long life
Pros
- Heavy duty construction for stable base and long life
- Huge lifting range as a great low profile jack
- Easily maneuvered around the shop
Cons
- Steel construction is heavy
4. Arcan Low Profile High Lift Jack – Best High Lift Jack
Another low profile floor jack from Arcan is the XL2T. When a high clearance vehicle needs to be raised even higher to be put on jack stands, the XL2T is the best option. It has a maximum lifting range of 24 inches. That is huge compared to a lot of other low profile floor jacks on the market.
Not only can the XL2T lift high, it has a long reach to get 32 inches underneath the vehicle when it is necessary to lift at a hard-to-reach spot. This is another factor that makes this jack incredibly unique.
For trucks and SUVs that require the high lifting height as well as a long reach, this is the pick. It still has the capacity to lift a low clearance car with its minimum lifting heigh of 2 ¾”. Its steel construction does however add up to a whopping 97 pounds which could be a huge shipping cost.
Features:
Long reach of 32 inches underneath car, lifting range of 2 ¾”-24”, dual piston rapid pump design, durable steel construction increases life expectancy
Pros
- Best reach underneath vehicles for hard to reach spaces
- High clearance to jack up tall vehicles
- Heavy duty steel construction
Cons
- Incredibly heavy weight
5. JEGS
The Jegs 80006 is a lightweight aluminum constructed jack that will greatly save on weight when you are needing to store it anywhere off the floor. It has a 2-ton lift capacity with a range of 3 ½” to 19 ½”.
While many other low profile jacks feature a lot of the same things as the JEGS 80006, it is the aluminum construction here that comes into play. It makes it much easier to move around the shop and keep around without having to recruit a friend just to lift it.
This jack has everything else. A dual pump piston design for rapid lifting makes it quick to use, the 2-ton weight capacity is great for most vehicles, and a rubber padded lift saddle protects the undersides of cars as well as helps to keep the vehicle on the jack.
Features:
Dual pump pistons for rapid lift, 2-ton weight capacity, heavy duty aluminum construction, rubber padded lift saddle
Pros
- Lightweight aluminum construction
- Two piece lifting arm for better storage
- Padded arm for car protection
Cons
- Aluminum construction always means possibly a shorter lifespan
6. Pro-Lift Grey Low Profile Jack
The cheapest option on our list is the Pro-lift F-767. This little guy uses its steel construction to still be able to carry a 2-ton weight capacity. It has a lifting range of 3 ½” to 14 inches. While this isn’t mean for heavier or higher clearance vehicles, it is a great for the average car.
At only 31 pounds, this is a great machine to have in your garage for simple tasks. There is nothing very heavy duty about the Pro-Lift F-767, but it does the job. When you don’t want to drop a fortune on a low profile jack, this is a good option to see if you may even need that bigger and more expensive jack.
Features:
Steel construction and 2-ton capacity, 3 ½” to 14” lifting range, lightweight and low cost
Pros
- Incredibly low price
- Lightweight, but still steel and durable
- Built in safety valve for overload protection
Cons
- Not heavy duty or made for professionals
7. Powerbuilt
The Powerbuilt 620422E is an industrial grade multi-use floor jack that is fit to jack up vehicles, ATVs, and motorcycles. The lifting arm features a flat padded platform that is great for covering more surface area and making better contact with whatever machine you are lifting. The saddle pad is removable and can lower the minimum lifting height from 6” to 5 ½”. It also increases the maximum lifting height from 17” to 17 ½”.
A safety lock-out pin mechanism is in place for when you want to get underneath, but don’t have jack stands accessible. This will ensure the jack stays put without accidentally lowering. The tie down loops over the rear casters allow you to use tie downs when securing anything to the lifting pad. These are perfect for making sure you can have stability and not lose anything when jacking it up high.
This is a great multi-use floor jack that can help to lift all different types of machinery. It is highly recommended and the reviews are great, all for a reason. It performs at the top of its class in several different areas. The biggest drawback is that a multi-use jack doesn’t have very low clearance.
Features:
85 pound steel construction lifts up to 2 tons, multi-use jack with lifting pad allows for use on several different machines, tie downs built in by rear casters, locking safety bar so there is no need for jack stands, removable saddle pad
Pros
- Multi-use for different vehicles and machines
- Removable saddle pad and lifting pad
- Locking safety pin means no jack stands required
Cons
- Not very low clearance or high maximum lifting height
Buyer’s Guide
As we mentioned earlier, the mechanics to a low profile floor jack are highly engineered and can be complicated. There are several different parts, all serving a certain purpose. It helps to understand each part of the low profile floor jacks you are considering buying before even looking at the products. This way, you know if you are going to have everything you need to raise the vehicles you want to.
Here, we will look at some of the different parts that make up these low profile floor jacks in order to better understand each individual product. Most of the low profile floor jacks out there these days will have a universal joint release mechanism for safe lowering and the aluminum jacks are made from high quality aircraft grade aluminum. Something you need to look out for are the different ways they function and how that will help you service your vehicle.
Lifting Arm and Lifting Range
The lifting arm refers to the long bar that you lower in order to raise vehicles. This takes a fair amount of pressure as the jack is engaging underneath the vehicle, which means it needs to be strong and well built.
The shorter the lifting arm, the more strength and pressure that is required to work the jack. Working in tight spaces may require this, so some come with a two piece arm that can be shortened or lengthened.
The height range of a jack is the lowest point at which it can fit in and start lifting low profile vehicles. If you are trying to lift higher clearance vehicles, remember to pay attention to the maximum lift range.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of a car jack is pretty self-explanatory. It is the weight a jack can safely lift without overstraining the system. This often comes in 2-ton or 3-ton measurements, but some are rated as heavy duty for larger vehicles.
Knowing the vehicles you are working with is incredibly important. Often, these are modified and the weight is different than the factory weight. If you go over the rating, it makes the jack unsafe and can result in serious injury.
Saddle Pad
The point at which the jack makes contact with the car is called the saddle pad. Things to look out for are anti-skid coatings on the saddle pad and that it is made of a strong and durable material. The coating often gets worn away and can be prone to rust or other damage. This is the part of the jack that takes on all of the weight and it is essential that it is of a high build quality.
Keep in mind that while lifting a vehicle, the correct connection point is key. Often on low profile vehicles there will be a point with anti-skid or anti-slip properties to help stabilize the car when on a jack.
Rear and Side Handles
These handles on the jack are built to help you move it around while underneath the vehicle. A jack made to life a huge amount of weight is bound to be incredibly heavy and difficult to maneuver. These rear and side handles help to increase that maneuverability.
Rollers and Casters
Rollers and casters are just wheels that are attached to the bottom surface of the jack. Because of the huge amount of weight placed onto the jack, these rollers and casters need to also be built to endure a lot otherwise there can be bearings that jam and then you are looking at replacing parts.
Construction Quality
When you start looking at purchasing a jack, you will come across two different materials used in the construction. These floor jacks are made out of either steel or aluminum. There are reasons to buy both, and sacrifices you must make with each as well.
For starters, steel jacks are incredibly durable but incredibly heavy as well. Aluminum is much lighter, but lacks the sturdiness that comes with steel. For a home garage, aluminum may be worth checking out, but if the floor jack you are looking for is going to be used every day and put through a lot, the weight of steel pays off with high durability and a long lifespan.
An aluminum floor jack is going to be much easier to move around than a low profile steel floor jack due to its weight. These heavy duty ultra low profile jacks are simply going to be difficult to move around, but it is up to you what style you want. If you are in your garage, a smaller steel jack won’t cause too much trouble, but in a big mechanic’s shop, it will be a pain to haul the heavy and hard to steer steel jack.
Final Thoughts
When you are in the market for one of the best low profile floor jacks, there are a lot of things to choose from. It is important to note your intended use and the different vehicles that you want to use it on. A lot of these jacks are going to allow you to lift several different vehicles, while some are mostly designed for low profile vehicles like sports cars. A heavy duty aluminum jack is going to make you happy in certain scenarios, when it can also leave you wishing you had the steel one in the garage.
You can read all the different guides and what every customer has to say on Amazon. The market is flooded with incredible options for all of these products. There is no direct menu for low profile floor jacks. There are however a lot of useful tips and tricks to picking the right one out there. In the end, you are the best judge for what you want. Follow this guide and get yourself lifting vehicles with ease in no time at all.
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