Torin

Wrenching on a tight budget? That’s OK. This set of super-affordable jack stands from Torin is just what you need. Available in a variety of weight ratings from 2 tons to 12, the most affordable set starts at just $29. This gets you a pair of jack stands with an adjustable height from just shy of 11 inches to nearly 17 inches of maximum height. A sturdy ratcheting mechanism holds firm and allows you to easily fine-tune vehicle height. Constructed of welded steel and of a pyramidal design, these jack stands are rated at 4,000 pounds, meaning they should be able to support practically every type of typical passenger vehicle out on the road. Buyers are extremely happy with these affordable steel frame jack stands, too, as they have a 4.7 rating out of 5 after more than 8,000 reviews… 8,000!

“These are very nice. The constitution is far superior to those from others in the price range,” opined repeat customer Eric Heitman. “I have the 3-ton version, they look like a kid’s toy next to the 12-ton stands.” Obviously, like Heitman, if necessary for your application, you can skip the 2-ton stands and go all in on the 12-tonners, which will set you back a still-reasonable $135.

OTC

It’s no secret: OTC makes great tools. This is why the company’s 3-ton jack stands are our premium pick. Featuring high-quality steel construction for longevity, these jack stands have self-locking ratchet mechanisms, wide bases for added stability and a fetching (and durable) baked-enamel finish. As for working range, they extend from 12 inches to a max height just shy of 18. The ratcheting mechanism has 11 teeth and there’s a deep, V-style notch in each generously sized saddle to keep vehicles secure while up in the air.

So, what does all this OTC awesomeness cost? You get both jack stands for an exceedingly reasonable $64. Beyond that, a limited lifetime warranty is included, as is a generous 4.7 out of 5 rating. But don’t just take our word for it. Customer RCB wrote, “These are beautifully made, finished, and welded. When I crawl under my truck, I always trust that they are doing their job.” Those sentiments were echoed by Kristi, who noted, “Another quality product from OTC. Yes, they can be more expensive than other manufacturers but when it comes to my safety, I’d rather not take the chance.”

US Jack

If you want to spend your money where you earn it, these 100% American-made jack stands are for you. Manufactured by US Jack, these extra-heavy-duty tools are built for serious work, able to support a formidable 6 tons of weight capacity… each. That’s a whopping 12,000 pounds of automobile, enough, even, to handle commercial vehicles. The bases measure 11 inches square and the working height range goes from 16 1/4 inches to 25 1/4 inches, a full 9 inches of travel. Giving you plenty of wiggle room, these jack stands are even tested to 1.5 times their rated capacity. Providing that extra sturdiness, the legs are made of heavy stamped steel and are supported by a welded perimeter ring. The load bars are made of ductile iron.

At $249, this set of two American-made steel jack stands with 100% US parts isn’t cheap, but it’s built to last and customers are super happy as they have a full 5-star rating. Humorously, Gio wrote, “These things are tanks: well-built, solid and look good. I love them way more than all my ex-girlfriends combined, but not as much as my dogs.” Billy Buchanan said, “Best quality I’ve seen in floor jacks, very stable, solid as a rock. [I] feel very safe using these.” What more could you ask for?

Omega

“I purchased two sets of these because I liked them so much.” — D7

“These stands are incredible for 100 bucks [apiece]! You would probably not be able to purchase the raw materials to fab them for the price of these.” — Jeff

“I’m convinced they could support an aircraft carrier and survive a nuclear blast. Excellent construction; very good paint coverage. Welds are really good.” — Nova Guy

“People pass down jewelry or other valuable family treasure, but these to me, will be one of the most useful and valuable tools that I’ve come to possess in my lifetime. They are built like beasts…” — Dasteufelhunden

Based on customer reviews, these Omega heavy-duty jack stands are the cat’s pajamas, the feline’s nightclothes. With a host of glowing reviews, they’ve earned a 4.8-star rating out of 5, a damn-impressive performance. As for stats, together, they’re rated to support 22 tons, or 22,000 pounds each. They’re made of heavy-gauge steel and feature a pin-style locking mechanism. For added convenience (and so you can’t lose them), each locking pin is wired to its steel jack stand. These tools are adjustable, with a lift height from about 13 inches up to just shy of 20. At $226 this set of jack stands isn’t cheap (or light in weight) but it should withstand a lifetime of abuse and then some.

Pittsburgh Automotive

But you don’t always need jack stands that are that strong or heavy. At the opposite end of the jack-stand spectrum is this highly rated set of aluminum units from Pittsburgh Automotive. Priced at $80, this set includes two jack stands that can support a decent 3 tons, but here’s the best part: They only weigh around 10 pounds. This makes these jack stands ideal to keep in the back of your vehicle for possible emergency repairs or throw them in your racecar so they’re at the ready if you need to do any work between hot laps. Light in weight, affordably priced and with self-locking ratchet mechanisms, these aluminum jack stands are easy to recommend. Customers love ’em, too, and have given this product a 4.8-star-out-of-5 rating.

All Trade Tools

As mentioned above, a floor jack should basically never be used without jack stands. Making it impossible to do this, a company called All Trade Tools has created an all-in-one solution, a bottle jack with an integrated jack stand. Yep, it’s every bit as clever as it sounds. This system can support up to 3 tons of weight capacity and its height adjustment range is between 11 and 21 inches. Once you’ve jacked your car or truck to the desired height, a safety bar locks it in that position, so if the jack lets loose, the vehicle stays in the air and off your body. Priced at just $66, this tool is ready to work, and many customers love it. This combination hydraulic jack and jack stand has a 4.5 out of 5 rating after nearly 2,900 reviews.

Omega

Our next recommendation is another Omega product. The company’s 6-ton steel jack stands are not as burly as the ones listed above, but they are lighter and more practical for shade-tree mechanics. Used in tandem, they’re rated to hold a whopping 12,000 pounds. Beyond that, these jack stands feature sturdy welded-steel construction and feature a mechanism that automatically raises the ratchet bar to the load, so you don’t have to fumble around while lifting vehicles, which is super convenient. As for specifications, their minimum lift height is 15 3/4 inches and they top out at 24 3/8 inches.

Together, these sturdy and jack stands clock in at less than 36 pounds. They’re also well-liked by customers, with a 4.8 out of 5 rating. Cwell commented in their review, “Really nice stands, very stable and the auto lift feature is invaluable when you only have one hand free to work with. Great price on such a substantial jack stand.” These sentiments were echoed by R. Dick: “These stands are very well built, and the air spring is a nice feature, but the best thing is the 24-inch saddle height. Those extra inches make a huge difference when doing transmission work on a larger vehicle like a 1-ton truck” Summing them up nicely, Dick wrote, “After using them a bit, I can heartily recommend anyone that does much mechanic work to invest in stands of this size.”

Torin

Let’s face it, not everyone needs to support a city bus, lifted truck or some other heavy vehicle. Maybe you have a sports car you store over the winter. To prevent the tires from getting flat spots and to help keep rodents at bay, you may elevate your pride and joy, keep it off the ground. Some lightweight, relatively low-profile jack stands are just what you need. This set from Torin is made of aluminum and clocks in at a claimed 6 pounds. Despite their featherweight construction, these babies can support up to 6,000 pounds, more than enough for most drivers. The adjustable supports feature six locking positions, which gives you a height adjustment range between 10 3/4 inches and 15 5/8 inches. Priced at just $59, these tools are a crowd-pleaser, having a 4.7 rating out of 5 after nearly 800 customer reviews. For example, Urden said, “These are solid jack stands and the photo doesn’t do them justice. They are lightweight, robust and larger than you can discern from the description photo.” DM likes them, too, “These jack stands look and feel great. They’re substantial in their solidity and the anodized finish gives them a really nice look.”