> Our review guidelines
Many people have limited storage space for their bikes.
That’s true indoors and it’s often true in a garage, where vehicles, machines, workbenches, shelving and tools might compete for the limited space.
One way to create more room is to use the vertical space available to you.
That’s where a bike hoist comes in.
It allows you to free up floor space and store your bikes overhead.
In this article, we’ll try to find the best bike hoist for you and tell you what to look for when choosing one.
Top 11 Best Bike Hoists For Garage Storage
Below, you’ll find our eleven top picks for garage bike hoists.
Pick the one that suits you and do away with your bike-storage problems!
1. RAD Cycle Products Rail Bike Mount (best overall)
- No. of Bikes Held: 1
- Weight: 5lbs (2.27 kgs)
- Space Taken: 30” x 8” x 8” (762 x 203 x 203mm)
Especially good for its high-quality manufacturing and strength is the RAD Cycle Products Rail Bike Mount.
This robust rail mount has a 75-pound capacity and installs directly into a ceiling joist or joists.
Designed for ceilings up to 12 feet high, this RAD bike mount lets you adjust the distance between hooks, so it caters easily to any size of bike.
It has rubber-coated hooks to protect your bike from scratches.
This hoist is made from heavy-gauge aluminum, which is rust-proof and chemical-proof.
It uses an exclusive RAD Cycles thick rope that is resistant to fraying.
A locking mechanism prevents accidental release of the bike.
What We Like
- Robust – solid product that will hold your bike with ease.
- Adjustable – alter the distance between hooks to hold different bikes.
- Lock – locking mechanism stops accidental release.
What We Don’t Like
- Cost – higher in price than some other non-motorized bike hoists.
2. Delta El Greco Single Bike Ceiling Hoist (runner-up)
- No. of Bikes Held: 1
Suitable for garage ceilings up to 12-feet high, the Delta El Greco Single Bike Ceiling Hoist is ideal for road, commuter or mountain bikes.
Its efficient pulley system helps you to easily lift and lower bikes up to 50 lbs. (23kg) in weight.
This Delta hoist has two hooks at each end to hold your bike securely, and each hook has a rubber sleeve to prevent damage to your bike’s paintwork.
An auto-lock mechanism prevents accidental release.
The Delta El Greco is easy to install into ceiling joists and comes with all necessary hardware.
If you run into problems, a US-based support tile is on hand to help out.
What We Like
- Brand – reliable US brand with good support and assistance.
- Installation – inline bolt holes help to make installation easy.
- Efficient – efficient hoisting for everyone.
What We Don’t Like
- Balance – unbalanced hoists are possible (one side of bike before the other).
3. RAD Sportz Easy Bike Lift Hoist (best value)
- No. of Bikes Held: 1
- Weight: 4.07lbs (1.85 kgs)
- Space Taken: customizable length
For a budget-friendly bike hoist, try the RAD Sportz Easy Bike Lift on for size!
This assembly can be spaced according to your needs to suit any size of bike.
It has rubber-coated hooks to protect the finish of your bike.
This is a strong hoist that can support bikes of up to 100 lbs, though most bikes weigh half that at the most.
The figure gives you some assurance at least.
Installation is easy, as it installs straight into joists or rafters.
It can be done with a minimum of tools.
There is a cleat that mounts into a nearby wall, which you wrap the rope around while the bike is hanging.
A safe locking cam mechanism in the ceiling mount prevents accidental release of the bike.
What We Like
- Easy – easy to install and use.
- Customize – accommodates any bike from kid’s bike to recumbent.
- Strong – holds up to 100 lbs.
What We Don’t Like
- Hooks – a little too open, so you may want to improvise a loop to hold the saddle.
4. Floaterhoist BA1 Horizontal Bike Hoist (best for small spaces)
- No. of Bikes Held: 1
- Weight: 11.2lbs (5.1 kgs)
- Space Taken: 45 x 6 x 7 inches
If you have less room in your garage to have a bike hanging vertically, consider the Floaterhoist BA1 Horizontal Bike Hoist!
This hoist holds your bike flat against the ceiling using a gently but secure sling system.
Like most other bike hoists, the BA1 installs into wooden joists of your garage, or it can go into a concrete ceiling.
Though it’s pricey compared to other products, it is superbly made with high-quality components.
Among the well-made parts of this joist are 6061 aluminum beams, 5% glass-filled-nylon pulley structures and heavy-duty welded steel moveable pulleys.
This hoist offers a 2:1 mechanical advantage, meaning you pull with half as much force as the weight of the bike, or slightly more.
It can support a maximum bike weight of 55 lbs (25 kg).
What We Like
- Construction – solidly made with high-quality components.
- Space – leaves more vertical space free in your garage.
- Gentle – sling system preserves your bike’s paintwork.
What We Don’t Like
- Price – the cost is justified, but you can lift a bike for less.
5. Garage Gator Motorized 8 Bike Lift (best for large numbers of bikes)
- No. of Bikes Held: 8
- Weight: 50lbs (22.67 kgs)
- Space Taken: 60 x 60 x 30 inches (1524 x 1524 x 762mm)
With a capacity of 220 lbs, the Garage Gator Motorized 8 Bike Lift can hold up to 8 bikes at a time.
What’s more, it doesn’t take any of your energy to lift or lower them, thanks to the built-in motor.
You can use this multi-bike hoist on ceilings from 9ft to 15ft high.
Each bike is attached to a bar by its seat post via a large rubberized hook.
With the push of a button, your bikes are lowered and ready to ride.
There are downsides worth noting.
Installation is patently more complicated, to the extent that you may want to hire a contractor to do it.
The unit is also heavy, so it’s hard for one person to lift and install it.
What We Like
- Effortless – raise and lower bikes effortlessly.
- Capacity – hang enough bikes for a large family.
- Ease – easy to hook bikes up.
What We Don’t Like
- Install – many will need professional help for installation, and even then it’s heavy to lift (so you may need to help).
6. Bike Lane Heavy-Duty Garage Bicycle Storage Lift (best for heavy weights)
- No. of Bikes Held: 1
- Weight: 3.97 lbs (1.8 kgs)
Many hoists can lift maximum bike loads of 100 lbs, but the appealing price and simplicity of the Bike Lane Heavy-Duty Bicycle Storage Lift make it a good buy.
It’s ideal for heavier bikes like full-suspension MTBs or e-bikes.
Features of this hoist include rubber-coated hooks and a locking mechanism that prevents the bike from falling.
To that end, you might want to swap the included hooks for more secure Velcro fastenings.
As usual, the hoist attaches to ceiling joists or rafters using the minimum of tools.
What We Like
- Inexpensive – a hoist for low budgets.
- Load – can hold a heavy bike like an e-bike or full-sus MTB.
- Lock – a locking mechanism that prevents slippage.
What We Don’t Like
- Hooks – the hooks are shallow (not J hooks), which makes them potentially insecure. You may need to modify it.
7. Allied International CargoLoc Ceiling Mount Bike Lift (best budget)
- No. of Bikes Held: 1
- Weight: 3.8lbs (1.72 kgs)
A cost-effective bike hoist that can accommodate machines weighing up to 45 lbs is the Allied International CargoLoc Ceiling Mount Bike Lift.
This is a simple hoist with sturdy steel parts and rubber-coated hooks.
The CargoLoc includes the features you’d typically expect to find, like a locking mechanism to prevent the load from accidentally falling.
It’s suitable for use on ceilings of up to 14’ in height.
This hoist comes with all the requisite hardware and is easy to install for anyone DIY inclined.
Like most hoists, it goes into ceiling joists or rafters, though you can also install a mounting board if preferred.
What We Like
- Price – very friendly on the wallet or purse.
- Steel – solid steel mounts for installation.
- Lock – includes a locking mechanism to keep the bike from falling.
What We Don’t Like
- Rope – the rope or cord frays a little too readily.
8. Cartman Bike Hoists (Set of 2)
- No. of Bikes Held: 2 (1 apiece)
- Weight: 3.89lbs (1.76 kgs)
For any couples that cycle together, a set of two Cartman Bike Hoists is ideal for creating space on the garage floor.
Each hoist can support a bike of up to 50 lbs, which includes most non-electric road bikes, hybrids, commuter bikes and hardtail MTBs.
The hoists work in the standard way, with a mount in the ceiling and a cleat in the wall to loop the rope around.
As is pretty much standard, there’s a locking mechanism in the ceiling mount that prevents the bike from falling once hoisted.
This economical set of hoists for 2-bike households comes with sturdy steel parts and a durable nylon rope.
This 48-foot rope is sufficiently long for ceilings up to 14-feet high.
What We Like
- Value – low-priced solution for two bikes.
- Lasting – durable parts should provide years of service.
- Tall – long rope length for ceilings up to 14ft.
What We Don’t Like
- Hooks – could do with more curve and plastic coating is prone to slipping off. Improvisation may be necessary.
9. Flat-Bike-Lift Overhead Hydro-Pneumatic Hoist
- No. of Bikes Held: 1
- Weight: 32.8lbs (14.87 kgs)
The Italian-made Overhead Hydro-Pneumatic Hoist from Flat-Bike-Lift is superbly manufactured from powder-coated alloy steel and can accommodate bikes up to 46.2 lbs (21 kg) in weight.
It’s meant for lower 8ft to 8.5ft ceilings.
Thanks to the incorporated hydro-pneumatic lifting system, you can raise your bike horizontally up to ceiling level with minimal effort.
You only have to set it in motion and it’ll complete the task with dampened effect on its own.
Lowering the bike is also easy.
The same manufacturer makes a longer “XLE” arm to replace the existing one if you want to use this product with a taller ceiling.
Communication and optional purchases are available through the flat-bike-lift website.
Note that U.S. customers will probably need to buy a “U.S. Bracket” from the company directly for 16″ or 24″ O/C spaced joists (unless you improvise an alternative solution).
This adds to the price, but this is an exceptional product.
What We Like
- Quality – a very robust, superbly made hoist that’s pleasurable to use.
- Easy – lift a bike with ease to ceiling level, lower it with similar ease.
- Low ceilings – ideal for low ceilings and adaptable for use with higher ceilings.
What We Don’t Like
- Extras – you may find yourself paying extra for a U.S. ceiling joist mount or an extension arm, depending on your needs (check first).
10. Racor PBH-1R Garage Bike Pulley Lift
- No. of Bikes Held: 1
- Weight: 2.7lbs (1.22 kgs)
A bike hoist that uses high-quality parts with a steel construction and epoxy finish is the Racor PBH-1R Garage Bike Pulley Lift.
This hoist will lift bikes of up to 50 lbs, which accommodates most non-electric bikes.
Not least of the appeal with this particular hoist is the amount of installation information readily available and the easy-to-follow instructions.
This hoist claims a 4:1 mechanical advantage, which should make a bike feel about four tiles lighter to lift than it otherwise would.
Hoisting a lightweight road bike might feel similar in effort to lifting a bag of sugar.
What We Like
- Info – easy-to-understand contents and comprehensive information.
- Quality – high-quality epoxy-coated steel parts.
- Ease – the claimed 4:1 mechanical advantage makes light work of lifting bikes.
What We Don’t Like
- Hooks – again, on the shallow side with roughly 90° bend. You must be careful or improvise something else.
11. VIVOHOME Heavy Duty Hoist With Pulley (2-pack)
- No. of Bikes Held: 2 (1 apiece)
Hoists that are not bike-specific are sometimes stronger, as they’re designed to support heavier items like kayaks or sets of ladders.
That’s the case with the robust VIVOHOME Heavy Duty Hoist With Pulley, which can hold up to 125 lbs.
This is a hoist that will cost you a little more than some of our selections.
For that, you gain features like heavy-duty iron hooks (rubber coated).
Notably, these hooks have a proper J bend, so you can feel a little more confident the bike won’t fall onto your head.
Other attributes include a strong nylon rope that is resistant to abrasion and tearing, and an easily adjustable hanging height.
This hoist is suitable for use in garages up to 12-feet high.
Like most hoists, you secure the loose end of the rope to a cleat on the wall.
What We Like
- Heavy-duty – dependable robust parts.
- Hooks – excellent rubber-coated iron hooks with reassuring bends.
- Rope – high-quality nylon rope.
What We Don’t Like
- Pairs – no single-hoist option available, so you have to buy two.
How Bike Hoists Work
Most bike hoists use a rope and pulley system that makes it easier to lift your bike to ceiling height.
This weight-lifting benefit is technically called the “mechanical advantage” and is expressed as a ratio (e.g., 2:1).
A typical pulley system might reduce the effective weight of a bike by four times.
For instance, a 10-pound bike would only take two-and-a-half pounds of force to lift.
The above 4:1 mechanical advantage would occur if the rope is pivoted at ceiling height by two pulleys and there are two pulleys further down the rope near the attached bike.
In this type of hoisting system, more pulleys equals greater mechanical advantage.
A hoist that only uses one pulley to take the weight at the top and one pulley near the bike has a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
More rarely, bike hoists can be motorized, so all that mechanical advantage using pulleys goes out the window.
You don’t need any effort beyond pressing a button to lift or lower bikes in that instance.
Hoists that use dampened hydropneumatic lifting mechanisms allow you to raise and lower bikes with ridiculous ease, too.
These are also relatively rare.
Video: The Mechanical Advantage Of Pulleys
When Should You Use A Bike Hoist (and when not to)?
You don’t have to use a bike hoist to hang bikes from a ceiling, but not all bikes are created equal and neither are human beings.
A commuter bike can easily weigh three times more than a lightweight road bike (e.g. 35-45 lbs).
If you feel able to lift your bicycle above your head in order to hook it onto a regular ceiling rack, you may not need a bike hoist.
The bike will probably be upside down for extra fun.
Anyone who isn’t blessed with herculean strength or doesn’t want to risk a back injury might want a bike hoist to create extra floor space in their garage.
It largely depends on what bikes you have and how fit or strong you are.
The other option you might consider is to hang bikes on the wall.
This also creates floor space, though it does impede on potential shelf space or workbench space in a garage.
Read more:
Are Bicycle Hoists Easy To Install?
Bicycle hoists nearly always go specifically into ceiling joists or rafters.
Theoretically, they should install easily, but of course this is overplayed in marketing text.
If you’re not DIY-inclined, you might find it easier to pay a handyman to do it.
One of the main challenges with installing bike hoists lies in locating your ceiling joists and identifying the center of them.
Video: How To Find Joists In A Garage
What About Installing Motorized Bike Hoists?
Motorized hoists are much more difficult to install, not least because they are far heavier.
That makes them difficult to maneuver into place at ceiling level and may require two or more people.
Electrical integration is also an obvious requirement.
For motorized hoists, it’s highly recommended you use professional contractors to do the installation work.
How Many Bikes Can Hoists Hold?
The vast majority of hoists, unless they are motorized, will only hold one bike at a time.
Apart from any other consideration, this ensures the load is easily liftable by the majority of people and avoids the user from unnecessarily having to lift multiple bikes.
Motorized hoists exist with an 8-bike capacity (we’ve shown you one of them).
Much more than that would be beyond what most households need.
In any case, it’s always possible to install multiple hoists, space permitting.
Can I Install A Garage Bike Hoist Inside My Home?
You can install bike hoists in any home provided there is a receptive ceiling for the mounts.
The only other limiting factor might be the height of your ceiling, as there’s no point in hanging bikes if they encroach on your living space.
Wall mounts are often popular within homes, as they can free up floor space without needing a tall ceiling.
Conclusion: Up, Up & Away!
To recap on our best bike hoist reviews, the RAD Cycle Products Rail Bike Mount wins the top spot for its combination of quality manufacturing, secure rubber-coated hooks, and ease of mounting with a convenient rail.
Offering great value in second place is the Delta El Greco Single Bike Ceiling Hoist, which also has better hooks than most.
Its efficient pulley system makes light work of moving your bike overhead.
In third place, we have the RAD Sportz Easy Bike Lift.
Aside from its attractive price, it can hold heavier bikes of up to 100 lbs and is easy to install into your garage joists or rafters.
Simple and effective for not much money!
Please do take the trouble to examine our other choices, too.
There are some classy bike hoists among them at various price points.
Just as hoists make it easier for you to lift your bike, we hope we’ve made it easier to find the best bike hoist for your garage.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
bikepush.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
