The 10 Best Scissor Jacks
Updated by · How we research
Car scissor jacks from 1.5 to 3 tons, an electric model, a motorcycle lift and RV stabilizers compared. For most cars, the Torin Big Red T10152 leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
The jack in most car trunks is a scissor jack: a screw pulls a steel diamond together so it rises, with no fluid to leak. It's built for a roadside tire change, not for holding a car while someone works under it; that is what jack stands are for. Here are picks for cars, trucks, motorcycles and RVs.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Torin Big Red T10152 moves to the top. It's one of the few jacks from the old list still on sale, and its wide forged base and plain design have held up for years. The DICN 2 Ton, the Zeny JA0809, the BestEquip Electric and the Husky stabilizer are no longer sold, so they're gone.
The additions fill the gaps in the old list: ratchet kits like the Beaiguna CJ-001 and the VEVOR SJ25, the IMAYCC 3 Ton for trucks, and the VEVOR 3 Ton Electric for anyone who'd rather not crank. The Orion Motor Tech Motorcycle Lift stays, and so do the Ultra-Fab 48-979006, Camco Eaz-Lift 48840 and BAL LoPro 24028. The old page mixed those in with car jacks without saying they only steady a parked trailer, so now each one says so.
Nobody seems to lab-test scissor jacks. We checked each maker's rated load, lift range and warranty, used Power Tool Insider's comparison of scissor, bottle and floor jacks for the buying advice, and searched the CPSC's recall records, which list no recalls for any jack here.
April 28, 2021:
The only recent change to the Wiki was the removal of the Dragway Tools M1101, which is no longer easy to find. It's been replaced by the similar Orion Motor Tech Center Stand, which also comes with a convenient hand crank that the Dragway did not. Otherwise, the DICN Car is still the best replacement for a factory-standard jack, and we continue to recommend the BestEquip Electric to minimize the amount of physical work needed.
As always, take proper security precautions when lifting any vehicle. We strongly recommend a good set of jack stands, no matter what it is you're hoisting into the air.
February 12, 2020:
There are basically three main types of scissor jacks. The simplest aren't meant for lifting vehicles, but rather for stabilizing RVs and trailers. For example, if you look at the BAL 24028 Lopro, you'll see quite a few mounting holes on the top and the bottom for semi-permanent installation. Some, such as the Eaz-Lift Olympian, are even suitable for welding to vehicle frames for long-term use. The Ultra-Fab 24-Inch is another that can be either bolted or welded, and it's a great choice for permanent installation.
Then there are some that are meant for lifting vehicles, but not cars -- models like the Dragway Tools M1101 are designed for lifting bikes, even heavy ones, while the Zeny JA0809 is a great choice for motocross enthusiasts because while it's not ideal for the beefiest motorcycles, its raised saddles offer plenty of access to the bike while it's in the air.
Of course, the type that most people are most familiar with is the the spare tire jack. One of these comes in the trunk or nestled in the spare tire of most passenger vehicles, and the OEM ones are usually of poor quality. The Torin Big Red T10152 is anything but poor quality, especially thanks to its wide base plate that helps keep it stable. Unfortunately, it's rated to only 1.5 tons and it's also pretty bulky. The Husky Stabilizer is a relatively low-profile choice that, while marketed as a trailer accessory, makes a suitable spare tire jack in a pinch. In terms of manual models, the DICN Car is one of the most reliable and well-known, and it's rated to a full 2 tons so it's suitable for a wider range of vehicles than some others. If you really want some extra power, though, check out the BestEquip Electric, which plugs into a car cigarette lighter port and allows anyone to change a tire while minimizing how much energy they spend.
If you need something even more compact than one of these, check out our selection of bottlejacks. If you're specifically focused on off-road use, we can help you select a great choice for with your 4X4 vehicle. And if you don't need to take it many places, a standard floor jack is always a good choice.
Scissor, Bottle Or Floor Jack
Turning the threaded rod pulls the two side joints together, and the diamond grows taller.
A scissor jack is a screw and four steel arms. Turning the threaded rod pulls the two side joints together, and the diamond grows taller. The fine thread holds its place under load, so the jack won't creep down when you let go of the handle (Wikipedia). There is no oil to leak or seals to wear out, which is why carmakers put one in the trunk and why an old one still works.
The trade-offs are speed and stability. A scissor jack touches the car at one small point, takes a long time to crank up, and can tip if the car is bumped. Power Tool Insider calls it a roadside tool: a rolling floor jack is better for brake and suspension work at home, and a hydraulic bottle jack packs the most capacity into a small space for trucks and trailers, though it needs more clearance to start.
Electric scissor jacks keep the same screw and arms but turn the screw with a 12-volt motor powered from the car. They save effort, not time.
Capacity, Lift Range And Lift Points
A jack only lifts one corner, but that corner is rarely a quarter of the car's weight. The heavier end, usually the front with the engine, carries more. Power Tool Insider says a jack's rating should comfortably exceed the heaviest corner: 2 tons is enough for sedans and small crossovers, and full-size SUVs and pickups call for 3 tons. A rating at the very edge leaves no safety margin.
Lift range matters as much. A low sedan may have only about 4 inches under its lift points, so the jack has to start low enough to slide in. A lifted truck can need 17 or 18 inches of reach to raise a tire clear of the ground. Check both numbers against your own vehicle.
Use only the lift points shown in the owner's manual. On most cars that's a reinforced section of the pinch weld under the doors; the jack's saddle should have a slot that fits it. Rubber pads help keep the weld from bending or losing paint.
Lifting Safely, And What RV Stabilizers Are For
Park on flat, hard ground, set the parking brake and chock the wheels that stay down; the brake alone isn't enough. Raise the car only as high as the job needs. A jack is for lifting, not holding: before any part of you goes under the car, lower it onto jack stands at the factory support points. OSHA's workplace rule for jacks says a raised load must be blocked or otherwise secured right away (OSHA 1910.244), and that's sound practice in a driveway too. Lower the jack all the way before moving it; a half-raised scissor jack is easy to knock over.
RV stabilizer jacks look like scissor jacks but do a different job. They bolt or weld under a parked trailer's frame and take the bounce out when people move around inside. They aren't built to lift the trailer, so don't use them to change a tire or level a camper that leans; level it first with blocks under the wheels, then lower the stabilizers until they're snug. Makers such as Camco and Norco, which owns BAL, sell them in pairs or singly, and a typical trailer uses four.
How we researched this
We compared 16 scissor jacks, electric jacks, motorcycle lifts and RV stabilizers, checked the makers' published load ratings, lift ranges and warranties for the 10 picks, read a comparison of scissor, bottle and floor jacks, looked at owner feedback patterns, and searched CPSC recall records for every brand. We found no independent lab tests of scissor jacks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work under a car held up by a scissor jack?
No. A jack only lifts. Lower the car onto jack stands at the factory support points before any part of you goes under it.
Is a scissor jack better than a bottle jack or a floor jack?
It's lighter and smaller, so it's the right tool for the trunk. A floor jack is faster and steadier for garage work, and a bottle jack gives the most capacity for trucks.
Do I need a 2-ton or a 3-ton jack?
A 2-ton jack suits most sedans and small crossovers. Full-size SUVs and pickups should have a 3-ton jack, since the rating needs to beat the heaviest corner with room to spare.
Can I replace the jack that came with my car?
Yes, as long as the new one starts low enough to fit under your lift points, reaches high enough to clear the tire, and is rated above your heaviest corner.
Can RV stabilizer jacks lift a trailer?
No. They steady a parked trailer so it doesn't bounce. Use a jack rated for the trailer's weight to lift it, and level it with blocks under the wheels.
Are electric scissor jacks worth it?
They save cranking, which helps anyone with a bad back or weak grip. They're no faster, they need the car's 12-volt outlet or battery, and a blown outlet fuse stops them, so carry the spares.
