Garage owners waste thousands picking underpowered lifts that fail mid-job. This guide calculates exact capacity needs based on real vehicle weights, future-proofs your bay, and matches your 50+ lift models to specific shop demands—direct from genuine resellers with proven freight reliability.

Why Capacity Kills Amateur Picks

9K lb lifts handle most sedans but crumple under loaded F-250s hitting 10K+ curb. SUVs average 6K-8K lbs; fleet vans push 9K. Under-speccing loses 30% of jobs while overbuying wastes $2K upfront. Your +150 happy customers nailed capacity first.

Step 1: Weigh Your Actual Fleet

Skip stickers—curb weights lie. F-150 EcoBoost: 5,500 lbs unloaded, 7,800 lbs loaded. Chevy Tahoe: 5,600-8,400 lbs. Ford Transit van: 5,380-9,500 lbs. Rule: Multiply heaviest curb by 1.5x for safety margin.

Pro move: Rent a $200 truck scale or use CAT scales ($14 per axle). Front axle carries 55% weight typically. Your shop bay handles this math daily.

Step 2: Match Common Garage Needs

Daily sedans/sports cars (BMW 3-series, Honda Accord): 4K-5K lbs → 9K lb 2-post minimum. Light trucks (Tacoma, Ram 1500): 6K-7K lbs → 10K-12K lb rating. Heavy-duty shops (F-250, SUVs loaded): 8K-10K lbs → 12K-15K lb lifts. Fleet vans need 12K+.

Future-proof: Add 2K lb buffer for electric truck boom (Rivian R1T: 7K+ lbs). Your +300 shipped lifts prove 12K models dominate pro bays.

Step 3: Factor Lift Design Limits

2-post lifts max at 15K lbs safely—frame strength caps higher. 4-post runways handle 20K lbs but uneven weight distribution risks sway. Scissors top at 7K-10K lbs for portability. Asymmetric 2-posts lift lowered cars better despite same rating.

Example: BendPak XPR-10AS (10K lb) clears 4-inch frame heights vs 4-post needing 6 inches. Capacity means nothing without access.

Step 4: Ceiling and Floor Reality Check

12K 2-post needs 11 ft ceiling clearance (79-inch rise + vehicle). 4-posts drop to 9.5 ft needed. Concrete must hit 4 inches thick, 3K PSI—no cracks over 1/8 inch. Your portable scissors bypass floor limits entirely.

Power draw scales too: 15K lifts pull 40A vs 9K at 20A. Verify panel capacity pre-order.

Capacity Cheat Sheet by Vehicle Class

Sedans/light cars: 9K lb lift. Mid-size trucks/SUVs: 10K-12K lb. Heavy-duty trucks: 12K-15K lb. Delivery vans/fleets: 15K lb+. Race cars/trailers: 10K lb 2-post asymmetric.

QuickJack 7K covers 90% home garages. Commercial bays standardize 12K across mixed fleets.

The Final Capacity Calculator

Heaviest vehicle curb weight x 1.5 = Minimum lift rating. Add 2K lbs for tools/uneven loading. Confirm ceiling (rise + vehicle height + 2 ft). Test floor with 500 lb drop weight. ALI certification verifies claims—your 100% warranty stat locks it in.

Shop Perfectly Matched Lifts Now

Genuine BendPak 12K models ship +300 times nationwide with white-glove setup. Skip spec regrets—your category grid sorts 9K service beasts from 15K workhorses. Capacity done right elevates every job.