To stack cars on top of one another for storage, most car lift manufacturers require a ceiling height composed of the heights of both cars plus 6 inches. Most standard ceilings are too low for this, especially if a roll-up garage door or the overhead garage-door opener apparatus takes up some of the space.
A two-post car lift will raise your car up to about 6 feet off the ground, which is low enough for most standard garage ceilings. While two-post lifts must be anchored to the ground for safety, this height allows you to work under your car, even though it does not allow you to store two cars on top of one another.
If you need to store cars using a car lift, you must have a high-ceilinged garage. If you plan to use a car lift to help you work under your car, a standard ceiling height may be able to accommodate the lift. Before you install a lift, make sure your concrete pad is able to handle the substantial additional weight.
