Bottle Jack vs Toe Jack

A bottle jack lifts only from the saddle on top, so it needs at least 160mm of clearance, but it packs 2 to 50 tonnes into a compact body. A toe jack can also lift from a flat toe at floor level, from as little as 16mm, which makes it the right choice for machinery. For forklifts and reach trucks, use a low-entry forklift jack.

Most jobs that need a jack come down to one awkward question: how much room is there under the load? A bottle jack is compact, cheap and powerful, but it needs a fair bit of height to get underneath anything. A toe jack can slide into a gap of a couple of centimetres. Pick the wrong one and you will be hunting for packing blocks, or worse, lifting from a point that was never meant to take the weight.

This guide walks through the main types of jacks we supply, how a hydraulic jack actually works, and how to match the jack to the job.

How does a hydraulic jack work?

Every hydraulic jack works on the same principle. Pumping the handle drives a small piston that pushes oil through a one-way valve into a much larger cylinder. Because the larger ram has a bigger surface area, the force you put into the handle is multiplied many times over at the saddle. That is how a jack you can carry in one hand lifts several tonnes.

The one-way valve stops the oil flowing back, so the load stays up between strokes. When you are ready to lower, opening the release valve lets the oil return to the reservoir and the ram comes back down. The slower you open it, the more controlled the descent.

Mechanical jacks do the same job with gearing and a crank instead of oil. They are slower to operate but have no seals to wear and nothing to leak.

The main types of jacks

Hydraulic bottle jack

The bottle jack is the everyday toolbox jack. It stands upright, with the ram rising out of the top, and packs a lot of capacity into a small footprint. Our hydraulic bottle jack range runs from 2,000kg up to 50,000kg.

The trade-off is height. Even the smallest model in the range needs 160mm of clearance before it starts lifting, and that rises to 300mm for the 50-tonne version. Strokes range from 93mm to 180mm, and a screw extension on the saddle lets you close the gap to the load before you start pumping.

Bottle jacks are designed for vertical use. Ours can be used at up to 5° from vertical, but never on their side or upside down.

Best for: Vehicles, plant and structures with a solid lifting point and enough room underneath.

Toe jack

A toe jack has a flat "toe" at the base as well as a lifting head at the top. The toe slides under loads with very little ground clearance, which makes it the go-to choice for machinery installation, moving heavy equipment and getting a load high enough to fit skates or packing.

The industrial toe jack comes in 2,000kg, 5,000kg and 10,000kg models. The minimum toe height starts at just 16mm on the 2-tonne version.

The rotational toe jack adds a housing that turns through 360°, so you can position the pump handle wherever there is room to work. It is available at 5, 10 and 25 tonnes, with adjustable lowering speed for careful set-downs.

The mechanical steel ratchet toe jack uses a crank rather than hydraulics. It covers 1,500kg to 10,000kg, and its 300mm to 350mm stroke is much longer than a hydraulic toe jack's.

We also stock adjustable and machinery toe jacks for specific set-ups.

Best for: Machinery with low ground clearance, equipment moves and installations.

Forklift jack

Modern reach trucks and forklifts sit very close to the floor, which rules out most bottle jacks. A forklift jack has an extremely low entry height of 65mm and a wheeled base, so it can be rolled into position under the truck. The range covers 4,000kg, 5,000kg and 7,000kg, and the jacks fold down for storage.

Best for: Forklift and warehouse truck maintenance.

Bottle jack vs toe jack at a glance

Feature	Bottle Jack	Toe Jack
Lifting position	Saddle on top	Flat toe at floor level or lifting head on top
Minimum clearance	160mm	As little as 16mm
Capacity	2 to 50 tonnes	2 to 10 tonnes for industrial hydraulic models
Main advantage	High lifting capacity in a compact body	Lifts loads with very low ground clearance
Typical applications	Vehicles, plant and structures	Machinery installation and heavy equipment moves

How to choose the right jack

Four questions will get you to the right jack in most cases.

How much clearance is there? Measure from the floor to the lifting point. If it is under about 160mm, a bottle jack will not fit without packing, so look at a toe jack or forklift jack.

What weight will the jack actually carry? If you are lifting one corner or one side of a load, the jack carries only part of the total weight. Work out that share and choose a jack rated comfortably above it. If you are unsure how the weight is spread, ask us before you buy.

How high do you need to go? Check the stroke against the height you need. If you have to lift a long way, a jack with a longer stroke saves you from repacking and pumping again partway through the lift.

Where is the safe lifting point? A bottle jack needs a solid point directly above it. A toe jack lets you lift from a ledge or lip at floor level, which is often the only option on machinery.

Browse the full hydraulic jacks range to compare models side by side.

How to use a bottle jack safely

1. Check the rating. Make sure the jack's capacity is above the weight it will carry.
2. Set it on firm, level ground. Soft ground, gravel or a sloping floor can let the jack shift under load. Use a solid base plate if the surface is uncertain.
3. Position it under a proper lifting point. Keep it vertical, and never more than 5° off vertical on our range.
4. Close the release valve by turning it clockwise until it is snug. Do not overtighten it.
5. Wind out the extension screw until the saddle almost touches the load.
6. Pump steadily until the load reaches the height you need.
7. Support the load before working near it. Use axle stands or rated supports. Never work under a load held up by a jack alone.
8. Lower slowly by opening the release valve gradually anticlockwise, keeping hands and feet clear.

The same principles apply to toe jacks. On a toe jack, keep the load as far back on the toe as possible so it sits close to the body of the jack.

Looking after your jack

Hydraulic jacks rely on clean oil and sound seals. Store them upright with the ram fully lowered, keep the oil topped up with hydraulic jack oil, and check for leaks, bent saddles or a ram that creeps down under load. A jack that sinks while holding a load should be taken out of use.

Jacks used at work count as lifting equipment, so they need regular thorough examination by a competent person. Our guide on how often lifting equipment should be tested covers the intervals. For day-to-day checks, see how to properly inspect your lifting equipment.

Every bottle jack, toe jack and forklift jack in our range is supplied with an EC Declaration of Conformity.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main types of jacks?

For industrial and workshop use, the main types are hydraulic bottle jacks, hydraulic toe jacks, mechanical toe jacks and forklift jacks. Bottle jacks give high capacity in a compact body. Toe jacks lift from very low clearance. Forklift jacks are built to get under low-slung warehouse trucks.

What is the difference between a bottle jack and a toe jack?

A bottle jack lifts only from the saddle on top, so it needs 160mm or more of clearance. A toe jack can lift from a flat toe at floor level as well as from its head. That makes it the better choice for machinery and equipment that sits close to the ground.

Can a bottle jack be used on its side?

No. The bottle jacks in our range are designed for vertical use, or up to 5° from vertical. They must never be used horizontally or upside down.

What is the lowest-profile jack?

In our range, the 2-tonne industrial toe jack has the lowest entry point, with a minimum toe height of 16mm. For forklifts and reach trucks, the forklift jack has a 65mm entry height.

Is a mechanical toe jack better than a hydraulic one?

Each has its place. A hydraulic toe jack lifts with less effort. A mechanical ratchet toe jack has no oil or seals to maintain and a much longer stroke, up to 350mm, which suits jobs that need more height in one go.

What size jack do I need?

Choose a jack rated above the weight it will carry, not the total weight of the load if you are only lifting one side or corner. Then check that the minimum height fits under the lifting point and the stroke gives you the height you need.

Not sure which jack suits your load? Tell us what you are lifting, how much clearance you have and how high it needs to go, and our team will point you to the right jack. Browse the hydraulic jacks range or get in touch.