Every floor jack gets a score from 0 to 100% built from seven factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Jacks are grouped by rated capacity, under 3 tons and 3 tons and up, and use the same scale in both groups.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per ton of rated capacity | 25% |
| Low profile | minimum saddle height | 25% |
| Lift height | maximum saddle height | 15% |
| Capacity | rated lifting capacity | 10% |
| Weight | jack weight per ton of capacity | 10% |
| Features | dual pump pistons, ASME PASE compliance and a foot pedal | 10% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 5% |
Where the numbers come from
Capacity, saddle heights, weight, frame material, pump design, safety standard and warranty come from the maker’s product page, sales sheet, catalog or manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where a maker publishes no product weight, the retail listing’s item weight is used and the product page says so. Figures from the maker that conflict are left out rather than guessed. Prices are checked at Amazon, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the rated capacity, in dollars per ton, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. $150 per ton scores zero and $30 per ton full marks.
Low profile is the minimum saddle height, the lowest the saddle sits with the jack fully down: 5.5 in scores zero and 2.75 in full marks. This decides whether a jack fits under a lowered car at all.
Lift height is the maximum saddle height: 14 in scores zero and 24 in full marks.
Capacity is the rated lifting capacity: 1.5 tons scores zero and 4 tons full marks.
Weight is the jack’s weight divided by its rated capacity, in pounds per ton, so a heavy jack with a big rating is not marked down against a small light one: 45 lb per ton scores zero and 15 lb per ton full marks.
Features is 50% for dual pump pistons, which raise the saddle to the load in fewer strokes, 35% for a stated claim that the jack meets ASME PASE, the US safety standard for portable automotive service equipment such as floor jacks, and 15% for a foot pedal that raises the saddle. A jack whose maker claims ASME compliance without naming PASE, or names a different ASME standard, gets half the ASME credit.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: none scores zero and 3 years full marks, so a 1-year warranty scores a third.
What isn’t scored
Frame material, length, handle length, the number of pumps to full height and release date are listed but not scored. Frame material shows up indirectly through the weight factor.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Features score neutral only when none of them is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.