2 Post Lifts

Two-post lifts elevate vehicles by their frame or pinch welds to provide full undercarriage access for service work — oil changes, brake jobs, exhaust work, suspension repair, and general inspection. They are the standard configuration for most independent service bays and dealership shops.

On a symmetric 2-post lift, the columns face directly at each other, and the vehicle's center of gravity sits centered between the columns — better for heavier vehicles and trucks. On an Asymmetric lift, the columns are rotated slightly inward, and the vehicle sits offset rearward, giving the driver-side door room to open clear of the column.

This collection carries capacities from 9,000 lbs for passenger and light-truck work up to 18,000 lbs for heavy-duty applications. The right capacity is roughly twice the gross
vehicle weight of the heaviest vehicle you service.

A standard 9,000 lb 2-post handles all passenger cars, light trucks, and most SUVs. A 10,000 to 12,000 lb capacity covers full-size trucks and vans. 15,000 to 18,000 lb capacity covers heavy-duty diesel trucks, commercial vans, and small commercial vehicles. Always confirm gross vehicle weight against lift capacity before lifting.

A floor-plate lift connects its two columns with a steel plate at the floor instead of an overhead crossbar. This eliminates ceiling clearance requirements but requires technicians to step over the floor plate. Floor-plate lifts are the standard choice for shops with low ceilings.

Overhead 2-post lifts typically require 11 to 12 feet of ceiling clearance for full lift height plus the overhead crossbar. Low-ceiling models require 10 to 11 feet. Floor-plate models can fit under as little as 9 feet of clearance. Always check the specific model's specification sheet.

Yes. 2-post lifts require a minimum 4 inches of 3,000 PSI concrete in good condition. Some heavy-duty models require 4.25 to 6 inches at higher PSI. Concrete with cracks, expansion joints near anchor locations, or signs of spalling must be evaluated before installation.

Many models in this collection are ALI Gold Label certified. Filter for certified models in the ALI Certified Lifts collection or look for the ALI badge on each product page.

Two-post lifts grab the vehicle frame and lift the wheels free of the ground — ideal for undercarriage service. Four-post lifts use runways that the vehicle drives onto, keeping the wheels on the runway — ideal for alignment work, long-term storage, and any service where you need the wheels loaded. 2-post lifts have a smaller footprint; 4-post lifts have higher rated capacities.