Garage size and car lift clearance calculator
A four-post parking lift lets you store one car above another. Before you buy one, check three things: the lift fits on the floor, the ceiling is tall enough for the top car, and the lower car fits under the raised runways. Enter your garage sizes, your two cars and the lift's numbers from its maker's spec sheet. The defaults are the published specs of one common lift, the BendPak HD-9.
How we calculated this
Top car: the ceiling must clear the lift's maximum rise, plus the runway, plus the height of the top car, plus the safety gap you choose. Many lifts have lock positions below full rise, so a low ceiling can still work with a lower lock. Ask the installer.
Lower car: the lower car must fit under the raised runways, minus your safety gap.
Floor: the lift's outside width and overall length must fit inside the clear floor. This does not add space to walk around the lift, to open car doors or for the garage door track.
Default lift numbers are from the BendPak HD-9 four-post lift spec page (bendpak.com/car-lifts/four-post-lifts/hd-9/, accessed 2026-10-29): 70 in maximum rise, 5 in minimum runway height, 75 in maximum lifting height, 110.25 in outside width and 200.5 in overall length. Replace them with the numbers of the lift you are quoted.
The slab, the anchors and the power supply also limit where a lift can go. The lift maker's installation manual sets those rules.
Method checked on 2026-10-29.
A planning check, not an installation plan. The lift maker's manual and a qualified installer decide whether a lift can go in your garage.
Questions
- What ceiling height do I need for a four-post parking lift?
- Add the lift's maximum rise, the runway height, the height of the top car and a safety gap. With the BendPak HD-9 spec (70 in rise, 5 in runway) and a 56 in tall car, that is 131 in before the gap.
- Does the garage door get in the way?
- Often, yes. A standard track runs along the ceiling when the door is open. Measure to the lowest point of the open door and opener, or ask a door installer about a high-lift or wall-mounted opener.
- Can I use these numbers for a two-post lift?
- Not directly. A two-post lift raises one car for service, not for parking, and its columns set the height. Use the column height and the lifting height from its spec sheet.
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