4 Post Lift Dimensions & Space Requirements

By the Daytona Team · Published October 6, 2026 · Updated October 6, 2026 · 12 min read Since 1999

You've picked the kind of lift you want. Now comes the question that decides everything: will it actually fit? Spec sheets list a dozen numbers. Only four of them decide whether a 4 post lift works in your space.

This guide lays out the full 4 post lift dimensions for every current Daytona 4 post lift, in inches and millimeters. Then it shows you how to test those numbers against your room. We checked every figure against Daytona's published product specs in October 2026.

What are standard 4 post lift dimensions?

A typical 4 post storage lift is about 15 to 20 ft long, 8.5 to 10 ft wide and 7.5 to 9 ft tall, with about 6 to 7 ft of clearance under the runway. Alignment lifts are wider and longer, at about 12 to 13 ft wide and up to 27.5 ft long. The table below uses Daytona's published ranges.

Overall length vs runway length: which one do you plan around?

Plan around overall length. It runs from the outside of the front post bases to the outside of the rear ones. Runway length is the deck your tires sit on, and it tells you the longest wheelbase the lift can carry.

Approach ramps can add length too. Check whether the spec you're reading includes them, and ask your distributor if the sheet doesn't say.

How wide is a 4 post lift, and what is inside width?

Overall width is the outside of one post to the outside of the other. That's what has to fit between your walls. Inside width, sometimes called drive-through clearance, is the gap between the posts or crossbeam ends. It sets the widest wheel track you can drive onto the runways, and the widest vehicle you can park underneath.

Here's a useful bit of math from our published specs. On the LFPA14 and LFPA24, the 43.7 in. inner width plus two 25.6 in. runways spans about 94.9 in. from outer runway edge to outer runway edge. Your tires need to land inside that span.

Overall height vs clearance under the runway

Overall height is the top of the posts. Clearance under the runway is the open space beneath the raised deck at full lock height. For storage, the second number decides whether your lower vehicle fits. It also feeds the ceiling math later in this guide.

Daytona 4 post lift dimensions, model by model

Use this table as your starting point. These are the real 4 post car lift dimensions from our current spec pages, so you can compare models without digging through brochures.

4 post lift dimensions in feet

Most garage tape measures read in feet, so here's the same data converted. Use these numbers when you mark out your floor.

For most home garages, the 9,000 lb LFPP9 is the compact choice. At just under 15 ft long and under 9 ft wide, it's the smallest 4 post footprint we make.

The LFPP10 parking lift adds capacity for heavier vehicles. It measures 197.6 in. long with ramps and 122 in. wide, with 79.5 in. of clearance under the runway.

Need more height or a longer wheelbase? The extra tall LFPP10-XLT gives you 85 in. under the runway. That's 14.1 in. more than the LFPP9, and it's the reason to choose it for a tall SUV or pickup on the bottom.

You can compare all three on our 4 post parking lifts page. The 35,000 lb LFPA35 is coming soon, and we'll add its dimensions once they're published.

How much room do you need for a 4 post lift?

You need the lift's overall footprint, plus a straight approach to drive on and room to walk around it. That's the short version of 4 post lift space requirements. The long version is a simple test we call the 4 + 4 fit test: four lift numbers checked against four room numbers.

Approach and ramps

You drive onto a 4 post lift, so the vehicle needs to line up straight before it hits the ramps. In plain English: don't plan the lift tight against the garage door. We suggest at least one full vehicle length of straight run in front of the ramps. That keeps you from loading the lift at an angle.

Walkways, doors and storage

A lift that technically fits but blocks the side door or the freezer gets old fast. We recommend about 3 ft (0.9 m) of walking room on any side you use often. Check car doors too: a vehicle on the lower level has to open its doors between the posts.

How to measure your garage for a 4 post lift

Take these measurements in this order and write each one down. They're the room numbers you'll need for the fit test above.

1. Measure clear floor depth from the garage door opening to the back wall, bench or anything fixed.
2. Measure clear floor width between the walls, or between a wall and where your other car parks.
3. Open the garage door fully. Measure from the floor to the lowest point of the door, its track or the opener rail.
4. Look for lights, heaters, beams and pipes over the lift area, and measure to the lowest one.
5. Measure the height of each vehicle you plan to lift or park, including antennas, racks and light bars.
6. Note where your outlets and electrical panel sit, so your electrician can plan the circuit.

Can a 4 post lift fit in a 2-car garage?

Often, yes. The LFPP9 is 104.1 in. wide, so it uses about 8 ft 8 in. of floor width. In a garage around 20 ft wide, that leaves room for a second car or a workbench beside it.

Depth is usually the tighter number. At 179.7 in., the LFPP9 needs about 15 ft of floor before you add approach and walking room. Measure yours rather than assuming a standard size, because garages vary a lot. The fit test above will tell you in minutes.

What ceiling height do you need for a 4 post lift?

For service work only, you need the lift's overall height plus clearance for whatever you raise. For stacking two vehicles, use this formula:

Ceiling needed = clearance under runway + runway deck thickness + top vehicle height + safety margin.

Runway deck thickness comes from your lift's manual. For the margin, we plan for at least 6 in. (150 mm) of air above the top vehicle's roof. Antennas, roof racks and light bars all count as roof.

Worked example: LFPP9 vs LFPP10-XLT

Here's the math for a 58 in. tall sedan on top. We assume a 5 in. deck for illustration only. Swap in your vehicle's height and the deck figure from your manual.

The bottom row is the one people forget. Most crossovers fit under 70.9 in. A lifted pickup or a tall van often won't. If your bottom vehicle is tall, the XLT is the safer bet, and it's worth the extra 14 in. of ceiling.

Working under the lift is a separate question. At 69 to 69.3 in. of clearance on our alignment lifts, a technician about 5 ft 9 in. or taller will need to duck or use a creeper. Follow ALI's guidance on how to use a car lift safely whenever you work under a raised vehicle.

How are 4 post alignment lift dimensions different?

Alignment lifts are built wider and longer, and the difference is big. Our alignment models are 39.4 to 51 in. wider than the LFPP9, and up to 150.8 in. longer. So a shop bay that fits a storage lift can still fall short for alignment.

The wider runways (25.5 to 25.6 in.) leave room for the built-in slip plates and turntables, and the LFPA24 is built to fit dual rear wheel trucks. The LFPA12 is the shortest at 236.5 in. overall.

Fleet bays usually step up. The 14,000 lb LFPA14 runs 268.7 in. long. The 24,000 lb LFPA24 runs 330.5 in., which is about 27.5 ft before approach room.

Two more space items to plan for: the alignment machine and the rolling jack. Both are sold separately from the lift. The aligner's footprint comes from its maker, so leave room for the console and cameras in front of the bay. See all models on our alignment lifts page.

What else should you check before you place a 4 post lift?

Concrete and anchoring

Your slab has to suit the lift and the loads it carries. Requirements vary by model, so follow the installation manual and have a qualified professional check the floor, especially a post-tension slab. Our slab thickness guide explains how to assess concrete before any lift install.

Anchoring rules also come from the manual, not from rules of thumb. ALI's ANSI/ALI ALIS standard covers installation and service, and it expects a qualified installer to do the work.

Power

Our parking lifts run on 120V, 1.5HP, 26A, single phase. Our alignment lifts need 240V, 4HP, 15A, single phase. Have a licensed electrician confirm your circuit before install day, and leave the wiring to them.

Rolling jacks

Want wheels-free work on a parking lift? The RAJ5 rolling jack and RAJ6 are made for our 9K and 10K parking lifts. On alignment lifts, the RAJ8 fits the LFPA12 and LFPA14, and the RAJ12 fits the LFPA24.

How does a 4 post lift footprint compare with a 2 post lift?

A 4 post lift trades floor for ceiling. It takes up more of the floor, but service work needs less height, and it's the lift you want for storage and alignment.

A 2 post lift is the opposite. It's compact on the floor, but overhead models need a tall ceiling. Our guide to 2 post lift dimensions has the same model-by-model breakdown. If you're still choosing between the two types, our 2 post vs 4 post comparison covers use, cost and safety.

Bottom line for 2026: if storage or alignment is the job, measure for a 4 post lift first. If the job is repair and the ceiling allows it, look at a 2 post lift.

About the author

The Daytona Team

Written by the team at Daytona Automotive Equipment, a Canadian-owned manufacturer of automotive lifts, tire changers and wheel service equipment since 1999.

• Specializations. 4 post parking and alignment lifts, 2 post lifts, scissor lifts, tire changers and wheel balancers.
• Standards. Guidance aligned to ANSI/ALI ALIS installation practice and ANSI/ALI ALOIM operation, inspection and maintenance practice.
• Reviewed by. Daytona product and technical support staff, October 2026.

Daytona Automotive Equipment Inc. · Brighton, ON, Canada · Automotive lifts, tire changers and wheel service equipment since 1999.