Key Takeaways
- Two post lifts give the best access to wheels, brakes and suspension.
- Four post lifts carry the car on its wheels — best for parking, oil changes and alignment.
- Scissor lifts need the least space and suit tyre shops, body shops and low ceilings.
- Many workshops combine all three, one per type of job.
There is no single best car lift — there is a best lift for each job. Here is how the three main families compare when you are planning bays.
At a glance
| Two post | Four post | Scissor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifts the vehicle by | Frame lifting points | Wheels (drive-on) | Frame points or wheels |
| Wheel & brake access | Excellent | Needs bridge jack | Good (mid-rise) |
| Under-car access | Excellent | Good | Fair to good |
| Floor space | Small | Large | Smallest |
| Parking / storage | No | Yes | No |
| Installation | Anchored | Free-standing or anchored | Surface, flush or portable |
Two post lifts — the all-rounder
If a workshop has one lift, it is usually a two post. Lifting by the frame leaves all four wheels hanging free, so tyres, brakes, suspension and exhaust are all reachable. The trade-off is that the technician must find the correct lifting points on every vehicle. Read how to choose a two post lift for the details.
Four post lifts — parking, oil and alignment
A four post lift is driven onto, so set-up takes seconds and there are no lifting points to find. That makes it ideal for oil changes, exhaust work and inspections — and for parking one car above another. Alignment shops use four post lifts with turntable recesses because the suspension stays loaded. Add a sliding bridge jack to lift the wheels free when needed.
Our range includes single-car parking lifts, mobile four post lifts on casters and double-wide lifts that park four cars.
Scissor lifts — speed and space
Scissor lifts fold flat into the floor area of a parked car. Mid-rise models are the fastest way to get wheels off the ground in a tyre shop; portable versions roll between bays; full-rise double-scissor lifts give standing access underneath with no posts in the way.
Combining lifts
Most productive workshops mix lift types by job:
- Tyre and quick-service bays: mid-rise scissor lifts
- General repair bays: two post lifts
- Alignment bay: four post alignment lift with a 3D aligner
- Storage and customer cars: parking lifts
Not sure? Send us your floor plan. We will mark up a bay layout with the right lift in each position.
FAQ
Which car lift is best for a home garage?
For a home garage with enough ceiling height, a four post lift doubles as parking and service. If floor space is limited, a portable mid-rise scissor lift or a single post lift is easier to live with.
Which lift is best for wheel alignment?
A four post alignment lift or a full-rise scissor lift with turntable recesses and slip plates. Both keep the suspension loaded while the aligner measures.
