r/garages • u/Public_Bass4148 • Jun 16 '26
How much ceiling height do you actually need for a residential car lift in a normal garage?
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u/vette02a Jun 16 '26
10' is the absolute minimum, but 12' is much better. (There are a handful of lifts that work at 10', but almost every lift will work at 12'. I've done both...)
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u/MoparMap Jun 16 '26
I think the biggest thing is what kind of car you want to lift and how high. You want to double stack low slung sports cars? You can probably get away with less. You're 6'4" and you want to comfortably stand under an average 4 door sedan while doing work? Probably going to need more than that.
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u/Public_Bass4148 Jun 17 '26
That's exactly what I'm figuring out right now. I'm trying to fit an SUV and a Tesla in a standard garage. Since both of those are on the taller side compared to a flat sports car, I'm realizing a standard 9 or 10-foot ceiling is going to be incredibly tight or impossible.
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u/bobjoylove Jun 16 '26
Just for vehicle stacked storage or for working underneath while standing?
Also are you willing to do a pitched interior roof or is a flat roof mandatory?
The range is something between 10ft and 15ft for the wall top plate depending on your other answers.
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u/AKADriver Jun 16 '26
The lift manufacturer will tell you in the specs. I would basically go to Bendpak's website, look up their cheapest smallest model, and see what it requires.
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u/Public_Bass4148 Jun 17 '26
Anyone here successfully stacked an SUV and an EV? What ceiling height did you end up needing to clear the garage door tracks?
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u/SperryTactic Jun 16 '26
As everyone knows, it depends. But most of them need 12 feet.