The 9 Best Electric Hoists
Special Honors
Dongqi Crane If you're looking to do some heavy lifting – and we are talking really, really heavy lifting – this company specializes in industrial crane and hoist solutions that can pick up as much as 35 tons at a time. Quotes are available by request. dqcranes.com
Hoists Direct Whether you're a heavy-duty diesel mechanic or a light-duty garage hobbyist, there's a good chance this company's offerings will include a selection that's good for you. With capacities ranging from 1/8 ton all the way up to six tons, and various single- and three-phase voltage configurations available, there's something for virtually every shop. hoistsdirect.com
Editor's Notes
February 17, 2021:
We removed the Arksen 018-HO-18038 due to availability issues, and added two new options to our list.
Our first new pick, the Bannon Compact A02-054-0012, is capable of lifting 1,100 pounds, and at 95 feet boasts the longest cable of any model we ranked this time around, by a long shot. Policed by two limit switches that keep its upper and lower limits in check, and equipped with a sensing arm that shuts its motor down in the event that its cable is under-wound, it’s a model that was designed with safety in mind.
Our second pick, the Bestauto 885000, has a similar lifting capacity to the A02-054-0012, but this model caught our eye with its wireless remote control, which seems like an obvious accessory that could be affordably included in more models. While corded remote controls have their advantages – they tend to be more reliable and they don’t have any batteries to change – in this particular situation, where your remote’s dangling from the same unit that’s holding up some monster engine you’re trying to lift, it seems inevitable that it would become a nuisance at some point. But, I suppose there’s a convenience, and perhaps some safety, associated with always having the remote within arms reach while you’re working under one of these machines.
Note that this list – perhaps with the exception of the Warn PullzAll – is focused on equipment intended for vertical lifting. For horizontal pulling applications, you might want to check out our list of Best Winches.
March 30, 2019:
Choosing the best electric hoist generally comes down to two things: reliability and capacity. Since we have done the research to ensure all the models on this list are reliable, you'll only have to take one thing into consideration when making your buying decision — lifting capacity. If you work in a commercial shop that often needs to hoist very heavy objects, your best options are going to be the Arksen 018-HO-18038, Goplus 1320, and BeamNova 70021863, as these can lift 2,000, 1,320, and 1,500 pounds respectively. The Champion 18890 and Steel Dragon Tools SDT-EWH0880 have an 880-pound capacity when set up in a double-line configuration, and half that when in a single-line configuration. The Sportsman Series E-Hoist UL and Shop Fox D4070 are the weakest models on our list with just a 440-pound capacity. For a versatile option, consider the Warn PullzAll, which allows for both vertical and horizontal operation.