The required ceiling height you need for a car lift will depend on the type of car lift you want to install, the types of cars you plan to lift, and how you intend to use the car lift.
We will address each of those issues one at a time and provide a few car lift options that will accommodate various ceiling heights.
If you have a specific sized ceiling, we recommend the following resources:
General Ceiling Height Ranges by Lift Type
Always make sure to confirm ceiling height requirements for a specific lift before you make a purchase. Individual lifts may have some slight variation in design that result in different height requirements.
The following ranges will provide you with a good sense of height requirements by lift type:
- 4 post car lifts require 12 to 14 feet of ceiling height.
- 2 post car lifts require 11 to 12 feet of ceiling height.
- Scissor lifts require 8 to 10 feet of ceiling height.
Ceiling Height for 4 Post Car Lift
4 post car lifts are popular for home use because of their storage space benefits. These storage lifts use a platform that will lift a car up in the air from the bottom of the wheel.
When you measure height requirements for 4 post lifts, you need to consider two elements: the total lift height of the platform and the vehicle height from the bottom of the wheel to the top of the car.
To give you an idea of different height ranges, we will start with a popular 4 post home lift, the Garage Pro 8000. We will also use two car examples, a standard vehicle and a pickup.
The Garage Pro 8000 has the following measurements:
- Lifting Height to Top of Runway: 72 inches or 6 feet.
- Clearance Under Runways: 67 inches or 5 feet 7 inches.
- Height of Columns: 83 inches or 6 feet 11 inches.
We will assume a home user has a Honda Accord and a Chevy Silverado in their garage. The two cars have the following heights:
- Honda Accord – 57.1 inches or 4 feet 9 inches
- Chevy Silverado – 75.51 inches or 6 feet 4 inches
Next, combine the lifting height at the top of the runway with the total vehicle height to estimate your total car lift height.
- Honda Accord – 72 inches + 57.1 inches = 129.1 inches or 10 feet 9.1 inches.
- Chevy Silverado – 72 inches + 75.51 inches = 147.51 inches or 12 feet 3.51 inches.
In this example, different car types can require fairly different ceiling heights for the same car lift.
You might be able to make a 12 foot ceiling work if you only plan to lift smaller standard sized vehicles. However, if you have larger vehicles, like an SUV or a pickup truck, the required ceiling height might be closer to 13 or 14 feet.
4 Post Car Lifts with Lowest Ceiling Height Requirements
If you are looking for a 4 post lift, but have a lower ceiling, we recommend looking at the following lift options which have the lowest lift heights.
Keep in mind you still need to estimate the total height of the cars you plan to lift. You also want to give yourself a little extra flex room at the very top of the ceiling.
Garage Pro 8000 4 Post Lift
- Runway platform height: 72 inches or 6 feet.
- Total Lift Height with a 60 inch car: 132 inches or 11 feet.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot of flex space: 12 feet.
Apex 8
- Runway platform height: 72 inches or 6 feet.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car: 132 inches or 11 feet.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot of flex space: 12 feet.
408SL Super Deluxe
- Runway platform height: 73.25 inches or 6 feet 1.25 inches.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car: 133.25 inches or 11 feet 1.25 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot of flex space: 12 feet 1.25 inches.
Commercial 4 Post Lifts with Lowest Ceiling Height Requirements
Commercial 4 post lifts will have higher lift capacities than 4 post lifts suitable for home use.
Platinum PVL140F-Ext Open Front Alignment Lift
- Runway platform height: 73.25 inches or 6 feet 1.25 inches.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car: 133.25 inches or 11 feet 1.25 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot of flex space: 12 feet 1.25 inches.
Platinum PVL14 ALI Certified Lift
- Runway platform height: 76.5 inches or 6 feet 4.5 inches.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car: 136.5 inches or 11 feet 4.5 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot of flex space: 12 feet 4.5 inches.
412 12000 Lift
- Runway platform height: 77.75 inches or 6 feet 5.75 inches.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car: 137.75 inches or 11 feet 5.75 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot of flex space: 12 feet 5.75 inches.
Ceiling Height for 2 Post Car Lift
Ceiling height requirements for a 2 post car lift will depend on whether you are considering a baseplate 2 post car lift or an overhead 2 post car lift.
Baseplate car lifts have a metal beam at the bottom of the 2 post columns. These lifts allow you to lift a car above the column height of the two posts. Additionally, because the 2 post lift raises the car from its center of gravity, the total car lift height is slightly lower than the car’s actual height from the bottom of the wheels.
To measure the minimum required height for baseplate 2 post car lifts, you need to measure the maximum lift height and add the height of the car being lifted to the total height.
Overhead 2 post car lifts have a maximum height that is limited by the top beam that connects to the two posts. This means that the raised car will never exceed the height of the 2 post columns.
To measure the minimum ceiling height for an overhead 2 post car lift, you just need to find the total height of the 2 post columns.
2 Post Car Lift with Lowest Ceiling Height Requirements
The following list includes both baseplate and overhead 2 post car lifts with the lowest ceiling height requirements:
9KBPX Baseplate Lift
This is a baseplate lift with 9,000 pounds of lifting capacity. This lift is designed for professionals or home garage use with a lower ceiling.
- Maximum Lift Height with Adaptors – 81 inches or 6 feet 9 inches.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car – 141 inches or 11 feet 9 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot flex space – 12 feet 9 inches.
BP8000 Lift
The BP8000 is a 2 post baseplate car lift with 8,000 pound lifting capacity. This is a lift intended for non-commercial, home use.
- Maximum Lift Height with Adaptors – 87.75 inches or 7 feet 3.75 inches.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car – 147.75 inches or 12 feet 3.75 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot flex space – 13 feet 3.75 inches.
9KOHX 9,000 Overhead Lift
This is a 9,000 pound capacity lift with an overhead design. This means the maximum ceiling height is based on the height of the 2 post columns.
- 2 post overhead column height – 142 inches or 11 feet 10 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot flex space – 12 feet 10 inches.
Platinum PVL10 Overhead Lift
This is a 10,000 pound capacity lift with an overhead design.
- 2 post overhead column height – 139.875 inches or 11 feet 7.785 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot flex space – 12 feet 7.785 inches.
Ceiling Height for Scissor Lifts
Scissor lifts are another option for home users with low ceiling heights. Scissor lifts are available in low to mid rise sizes and take up less space than a 2 post or 4 post car lift.
The primary consideration for a homeowner is that a scissor lift is not a great option for vehicle storage like a 4 post car lift. However, for doing wheel and body work in an area with a small ceiling, a scissor lift is a good option to consider.
To measure the height requirements of a scissor lift, you need to start with the maximum lifting height of the scissor lift and add the height of the car being lifted. Keep in mind a scissor lift lifts the car from the center, so the actual car lift height is less than the total car height.
To be on the safe side, you can use the full height of the car, but you need to make an adjustment for approximately half the tire height which hangs below the scissor lift.
Scissor Lifts with the Lowest Ceiling Height Requirements
The following scissor lifts are good options to consider if you have a low ceiling.
LR06 6,000 Portable Low Rise Lift
This low rise portable lift can be a good option for homeowners or professionals.
- Scissor Lift Height with blocks – 25.5 inches or 2 feet 1.5 inches.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car – 85.5 inches or 7 feet 1.5 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot of flex space – 8 feet 1.5 inches.
6MR 6000 LB Portable Mid Rise Lift
This portable mid rise lift offers 6,000 pounds of lifting capacity while only using a modest amount of floor space.
- Scissor Lift Height with adaptors – 53.5 inches or 4 feet 5.5 inches.
- Total Lift Height with 60 inch car – 113.5 inches or 9 feet 5.5 inches.
- Minimum Ceiling Height with 1 foot of flex space – 10 feet 5.5 inches.
For more information, read our full Car Lift Buyers Guide.