Best Jack Stands: Be Confident When Lifting Your Vehicle
Complete multiple maintenance tasks on your vehicle using these high-quality jack stands.
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Everyone is guilty of skipping jack stands. It's a really dumb thing to do, though. Without them, you're putting your life in the hands of a jack. While jacks are robust enough to lift weight, the stress of supporting it is often at the mercy of parts that can fail in a split second. So as much of a hassle as it seems to set the car on jack stands before you get moving, its worth doing if you want to live to wrench another day. Luckily, there's no shortage of options. No matter what vehicle you're working on, there's a jack stand to hold it. We're here to help you figure out which is the right fit for your situation.
Torin Big Red Steel Jack Stands: 6 Ton Capacity, 1 Pair
- Solid set of stands for a solid price
- Powder-coated to prevent rust
- Large saddle surface area for better contact with the supported load
- Weld quality may be poor
- May arrive bent out of the box
Pro-Lift T-6903D Double Pin Jack Stand
- Base is made from durable steel
- Double-pin design improves safety
- Ratchet bar is made from high-quality cast ductile iron
- Welds at the underside of the stands are inconsistent
- Paint chips off easily, calling rust and corrosion resistance into question.
Hein-Werner Blue/Yellow Jack Stands, 6 Ton Capacity (Set of 2)
- Robust design for improved reliability
- Solid, consistent welds
- Quality construction
- Packaged poorly and may arrive out of the box with chips and scratches
- Pads beneath the feet may be crooked
Summary List
- Best Overall: Big Red Torin 6-Ton Jack Stands
- Best Value: Pro-LifT 3-Ton Jack Stands
- Honorable Mention: Hein-Werner 6-Ton Jack Stands
- Best Value Runner-Up: Performance Tool 3-Ton Heavy-Duty Jack Stand Set
- Best High Weight Capacity: Omega 22-Ton Jack Stands
Our Methodology
We take jack stands seriously. There's no way to understate how important they are in a garage setting. Over the years, we've accumulated quite a bit of knowledge to call upon as we built this buying guide. We're not supercomputers, though. We know that the market is ever-evolving, and there are details we can easily miss. Therefore, we spent a ton of time researching the market to ensure our buying guide is as dependable as jack stands need to be.
Best Jack Stands Reviews & Recommendations
This pair of jack stands have a 6-ton, or 12,000-pound, weight capacity. They come in a bright red color with black lifting bars and saddles. They also come in a range of weight capacities, so you can buy the right pair for the size of your vehicle. Choose from 2, 3, 6, and 12 tons. You can adjust the height from 15 3/8 to 23 13/16 inches.
What makes these jack stands excel is their wide pyramid base. This gives you the most strength and stability. They’re forged from steel and have welded frames. The wide saddle gives you the greatest versatility and stability during use.
Unfortunately, the welding quality is inconsistent. Carefully inspect yours to ensure the welds are solid before you use them. These stands also have an issue with being crooked when you extend them to their full height.
Specs
- Manufacturer: Big Red
- Part Number: T46202
- Weight Capacity: 6 Tons
Pros
- Solid set of stands for a solid price
- Powder-coated to prevent rust
- Large saddle surface area for better contact with the supported load
Cons
- Weld quality may be poor
- May arrive bent out of the box
These jack stands have a weight capacity of 3 tons, which means they’re well-suited for sedans or midsize SUVs. They’re constructed from durable steel and use a ratchet bar as well as a pin-lock system for increased weight support. The ratchet bar is made from high-quality cast ductile iron, and adjusting the height of the bar can be done quickly, smoothly, and confidently. The maximum lift height is 16.5 inches, while the minimum lift height is 11 inches. Additionally, the manufacturer boasts that this pair of jack stands exceeds ANSI/PALD standards, making them suitable for home, shop, or farm use.
Some users have reported that the welds around the base of the stand were inconsistent. Others noted that the paint seems to chip off fairly easily, which means corrosion can be a problem in the long run.
Specs
- Manufacturer: Pro-LifT
- Part Number: T6903D
- Weight Capacity: 3 Tons
Pros
- Base is made from durable steel
- Double-pin design improves safety
- Ratchet bar is made from high-quality cast ductile iron
Cons
- Welds at the underside of the stands are inconsistent
- Paint chips off easily, calling rust and corrosion resistance into question.
If you need to lift a heavy vehicle like a truck or large SUV, you might want to consider getting a pair of Hein-Werner jack stands. This pair can withstand a weight of 6 tons, which is double that of most jack stands on the market. These stands use a ratchet system, and both the frame and ratchet bar are made from durable and thick steel that you can be confident will perform as intended. The lifting range is between 16.25 inches and 25.75 inches, and the manufacturer backs the product with a two-year warranty.
Unfortunately, you may find that these jacks don’t sit squarely on a flat surface. This could be because one leg is shorter than the others. The pictures show the label claims they’re made in the USA, but they’re actually assembled in the U.S. from global parts.
Specs
- Manufacturer: Hein-Werner
- Part Number: HW93506
- Weight Capacity: 6 Tons
Pros
- Robust design for improved reliability
- Welds are good
- Legs sit flush
Cons
- Packaged poorly and may arrive out of the box with chips and scratches
- Pads beneath the feet may be crooked
Another affordable contender that gets high points for added safety and durability is the Performance Tool W41022 Heavy-Duty Jack Stand Set. Like most others on the market, this is a straightforward ratcheting style jack stand that utilizes a simple lifting mechanism. These jack stands have a 3-ton or 6,000-pound capacity, so they’re ideal for most applications. The lift range is pretty standard at 12 to 17.25 inches.
The double-locking pin gives you extra peace of mind and is a great added safety benefit when you’re underneath your car. Their bright yellow color is also an added safety benefit, as they’re easy to see in most lights and stand out. There are complaints about them arriving with damaged packaging. Also, the finish tends to wear off easily, which can lead to corrosion
Specs
- Manufacturer: Performance Tool
- Part Number: W41022
- Weight Capacity: 3 Tons
Pros
- Great jack stands for the money
- Double locking pin adds safety
- Perfect capacity and height for average applications
Cons
- Packaged poorly and may arrive damaged
- Finish wears away easily
If you’ve got heavier equipment and larger vehicles that need support, the Omega 32225B Black Heavy Duty Jack Stand is an excellent, high-quality choice. This pair of jack stands have an impressive 22-ton capacity (that’s 11 tons per jack, not 22 tons each). They can securely support a minimum height of 13 1/3 inches and a maximum height of 19 2/3 inches. They’ve got large spacious saddles that are ideal for bigger vehicles. The heavy-gauge steel frame and wide, unibody base deters twisting and failing under heavy loads.
For added stability, the locking pin is impressively thick, and the saddle and jack stand aren’t two separate pieces welded together but are a unibody construction made to handle the extra weight. There are some complaints about the awkwardness of the V-shaped saddle versus a more flat design. Also, these jack stands are pricey, but when you’re working underneath a multi-ton vehicle, they’re worth it from a personal safety standpoint.
Specs
- Manufacturer: Omega
- Part Number: 32225B
- Weight Capacity: 22 Tons
Pros
- High quality construction
- High weight capacity makes them great for heavy-duty applications
- Highly versatile lift range
Cons
- Unibody design doesn’t sit well with some
- Expensive
What to Consider When Shopping for the Best Jack Stands
While the list above is good for most applications, there's a chance it misses the mark for you. We're not leaving you with just the list to work with, though. Below is the buying guide you need to nail down the right jack stand for any situation.
Types of Jack Stands
Pin-Lock
The pin lock is the most common type of jack stand. This stand will typically have a pyramid shape and a row of holes into which a pin can be placed to keep the height of the support bar in place. It's simple to use, and the pin will be made of a hardened steel that's strong enough to support the weight of a range of vehicles.
Once the height of the support bar is adjusted to touch the relevant pinch point underneath the vehicle, a pin is inserted through one of the holes to keep it in place. It isn't the fastest to work with, but its simple design makes it one of the most durable.
Ratchet Lock
This type of jack stand uses a ratchet system to automatically lock the support bar in place. It's one of the easiest designs to use because all that’s needed is to pull the support bar to the required height. Compared to a jack stand with a pin-lock design, the height increments in one with a ratchet system are smaller, allowing for more flexibility in terms of where the stand can be used underneath the vehicle.
Most jack stands with ratchet systems will be durable, but compared to other locking systems, it's the design with the most risk of failure. If you prefer a stand that offers the convenience of a ratchet system, get one from a trusted manufacturer and make sure the tool was built to support the weight of your vehicle.
Screw Lock
This type of jack stand is the least common, and although you can expect the design to be stronger than a ratchet type, it won't be as strong as a pin-lock stand. One disadvantage of this design is that it takes longer to use compared to the other types. Basically, the saddle where the pinch point of your vehicle is supposed to rest is fitted to the top of a screw-like center column whose height can be adjusted by screwing or unscrewing.
As you can imagine, it's not the fastest to work with, but the design does allow you to set more custom heights.
Key Features of the Best Jack Stands
Lifting Height
Different jack stands will cater to different vehicles in terms of lifting height. It's important that the tool you choose can keep your car at the height that allows you to get work done underneath. Most jack stands will work just fine for a small vehicle or sedan because they don't need to be raised as high as a midsize SUV or truck. Getting one to accommodate a larger vehicle can be trickier, but it's just a matter of checking the specs of your jack stand and making sure it can adjust to the height that you need.
Weight Capacity
Another thing to consider in a jack stand is its weight capacity. Stands typically come in capacities ranging from 1 to 10 tons, but some will be designed to handle more. Needless to say, using a jack stand for a vehicle it wasn't designed to support is dangerous, so if you have a large SUV or truck, you'll need to be extra sure the stand you choose can withstand the weight. Take note that the listed weight of a pair of jack stands refers to the total weight they can withstand when working together, so if the pair is rated for 2 tons, this means they can support 1 ton each.
Construction Quality
In terms of build quality, not all jack stands are the same. Some are made with sturdier designs, such as gusseted frames and reinforced welds, and have better rust and corrosion resistance. Your best bet for saving money and frustration in the long run is to go for stands with a good quality build. They'll be more expensive, to be sure, but their increased durability and reliability will give you peace of mind. Of course, it pays to read reviews. Consumers are the best resource to call upon here as they will find and expose weak points that make a jack stand worth skipping.
Jack Stand Pricing
Jack stands exist on a broad price spectrum. You can land a single jack stand for less than $30 or spend nearly $300 on a heavy-duty set. What you can expect to spend depends on a few factors. Quality, general construction, and quantity are all highly influential of any given option's pricing.
FAQs
You have questions. The Drive has answers.
Q: Can I work on a vehicle that’s being supported by hydraulic jacks?
Do not work under a car or truck that is being held up by hydraulic jacks. The same goes for any other kind of jack for that matter. Always support the vehicle with a jack stand before crawling under it.
Q: Can I lift just one side of a vehicle with jack stands?
Yes, but you have to follow some safety precautions. Make sure to chock the wheels and set the parking brake. You want to take as many precautions as possible to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
Q: What do I do if a jack stand fails?
Don't allow yourself to end up in that situation as there's no telling what will happen to you. Make sure to support the vehicle with jack stands and secure the wheels before crawling beneath it. If you don't trust it, don't get under it.
Q: Are ramps safer than jack stands?
When sed properly, ramps can be safer than jack stands. However, jack stands are very reliable and safe to use as long as you use the right jack stand for the application and use it safely.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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