The 9 Best Suction Lifters
Special Honors
San Jung Leponitt Series Those who prefer a tool that’s specially tailored to the project at hand will want to consider this Leponitt series, which includes an option with a special two-finger handle, a model with three built-in cups, a unit that’s designed for curved surfaces, and a lifter that can be attached at a right angle. sanjung.com
CWC Supply The CWC Supply caters to simplicity seekers with its strong, thick aluminum handle and intuitive trigger for controlling the vacuum. You can choose from a single or dual cup model, and for those who tend to batter their equipment through extensive use, replacement cups and repair kits are available, too. cwcsupplyusa.com
Uplifter This German company offers everything from basic suction lifters, all the way up to crane assemblies that can complete commercial installations of panes as heavy as 780 kilograms. And, they also offer a range of lifting solutions that aren't suction related. uplifter.com
Editor's Notes
February 17, 2021:
We removed the GekBot Performance, Qadira Premium and Abaco 8 Inch all due to availability issues, and found two new options to help make up for their departure.
The first new choice was the Makerele Triple Locking, which employs three suction cups to carry as much as 462 pounds. The company even throws in an inexpensive pair of anti-slip gloves, which could be seen as a petty bonus, but might also be helpful if you’re making this purchase for a one-off install.
The second new choice was the IMT Seam Setter C300, which differs largely from others in this category in terms of its purpose. While the majority of suction lifters are intended to be used as a moving tool, often by window-installing glaziers, the C300 is designed to help with countertop installations, and can be applied to pull together two pieces of countertop for gluing.
We put some serious thought into adding some battery-powered models to our list, but at this point, all such options that we reviewed were fairly new offerings that were yet to be supported by many user reviews. When ranking some categories, a big part of our job is to dig past the obvious options offered by big brands, in order to present our users with some of the new innovations offered by underdog companies. However, in a category like this, where our audience’s safety (not to mention an expensive sheet of glass, likely) is riding on the capable performance of our recommendations, we can’t risk suggesting something less than tried and true. So, with that in mind, we decided to err on the side of caution and wait until our next round of updates before incorporating any electric models.
For further moving solutions, you might be interested in checking out our lists of truck cranes, moving blankets and arm straps for moving.
May 14, 2019:
At its highly affordable price, the Cosmos Aluminum Double is simply too good a value to overlook, so we upped its ranking a bit. For a low-cost model, it’s actually quite substantial, and it will even hold its suction for hours at a time as long as it’s adhered to a smooth surface.
In adding several new items, we tried to incorporate a mix of small, lightweight models for everyday tasks as well as heavy-duty options for more intense, industrial applications. The Gekbot Performance is a nice example of finding a middle ground between the two — it’s capable of lifting 260 pounds, and its solid construction will stand up to frequent use. Users seem genuinely impressed with how quickly it can achieve suction and how long the grip lasts once attached. Professional contractors vouch for the IMT Super, as it's effective for everything from moving shower walls to installing windows.
Removed the FastCap HOD-Double after discovering multiple users reporting a lack of confidence in its ability to hold suction for the duration of a task. On top of that, it seems to lack durability, as the pads begin to wear down after several uses. Even for light-duty projects at home, we could not recommend this model.