A jack lifts a car. It never holds one up. That job belongs to a pair of stands, and they aren't all equal. The rating on the box is usually for the pair, not each stand, and on a cheap ratchet design a single pawl is all that stands between you and the car.
The stakes are real. Since 2000, an average of five Australians a year have been killed at home by a vehicle falling on them during maintenance, according to the Federal Government's 2017 explanatory statement for the mandatory standard. We compared five stands sold here on the numbers that matter: per-stand capacity, height range, locking design and price.
Which jack stands should you buy?
For most home mechanics, the Kincrome K12274 Pin and Ratchet pair is the one to buy: quick ratchet adjustment plus a safety pin through the column, and a stated AS 2538:2016 compliance. Lowered cars need the Kincrome K12070's 252mm minimum height. 4WDs want the TradeQuip 1148T's 605mm reach.
- Best overall: Kincrome K12274 Pin & Ratchet, 3,000kg pair, $174.99 at Supercheap Auto
- Best value: SCA Car Stands Pin 3000kg, $92.99 at Supercheap Auto
- Best for lowered cars: Kincrome K12070 Pin, 1,350kg, $80.95 at Total Tools
- Best for 4WDs: TradeQuip 1148T, 4,000kg pair, $191 ex GST trade price
- Think twice: ToolPRO Car Stands Ratchet 3000kg, $59.99 on sale. No secondary lock.
Is a 3 tonne rating per stand or per pair?
Usually per pair, so halve it. Supercheap lists the Kincrome K12274 as “One pair supports up to 3000kg”, which means 1,500kg on each stand. That's still plenty for most cars when you lift one end, but a big 4WD can carry more than 800kg on each front stand.
Our calculation, using example kerb weights and assuming 60 per cent of the weight sits on the end you lift. Front-engined utes and 4WDs carry more over the front axle, so check your own axle loads. Per-stand limits are half the pair rating.
Brands don't always make it clear. Kincrome's own manual lists the K12070's 1,350kg working load limit for a two-piece set without saying whether that's per stand or per pair. The mandatory standard requires the maximum load to be marked on each stand, so read the stamp on the stand, not the box.
What does the Australian Standard actually cover?
The Consumer Goods (Vehicle Support Stands) Safety Standard 2017 makes AS 2538:2016 mandatory for stands with a nominated capacity of 1,500kg or less. The ACCC says each stand must carry a permanent warning notice and its maximum load in kilograms, and must survive overload testing. A 3,000kg pair rated 1,500kg per stand sits right on that line.
Above it, compliance is voluntary. The ACCC told Victoria's coroner that a stand involved in a 2019 death fell outside the standard because of its higher rating. Look for a stated AS 2538:2016 claim on bigger stands, and check recalls: in 2023 the ACCC recalled GS Optimus 3 and 6 ton stands that couldn't hold their advertised weight.
Kincrome K12274: the double-lock stand to buy
The Kincrome K12274 Pin and Ratchet is the best all-rounder because it locks twice. The ratchet sets the height in seconds, then a pin on a lanyard goes through the column so a bumped handle can't drop the car. It's rated at 3,000kg per pair and costs $174.99 at Supercheap Auto.
The numbers suit most cars: 305 to 448mm of working height on Kincrome's site, a 235 x 200mm base and a deep 93mm saddle. Kincrome states compliance with AS 2538:2016 and backs it with a two-year warranty. One Supercheap reviewer reported a faulty locking pin out of the box in 2024, so check yours before first use.
SCA Pin 3000kg: the best value pair
The SCA Car Stands Pin 3000kg is the value pick because a steel pin through the column is about as simple and positive as locking gets. Supercheap rates it at 3,000kg per pair, prices it at $92.99, and says it complies with the 2017 safety standard. Height runs from 322 to 480mm.
The trade-off is convenience. Setting a pin stand means lifting the column to the nearest hole and fitting the pin, so height adjustment comes in steps. One Supercheap reviewer in 2025 also said both stands rocked on a level floor, so check they sit flat on your garage slab before loading them.
Kincrome K12070: the pick for lowered cars
The Kincrome K12070 Pin is the stand for lowered cars because it starts at just 252mm, the lowest minimum height we found at a major Australian retailer. It tops out at 372mm on Kincrome's site, uses a pin secured with a wire strap and costs $80.95 at Total Tools. Pair it with a low-profile trolley jack to get it in.
The weakness is capacity. The K12070 carries a 1,350kg working load limit, and if that's for the pair, each stand handles 675kg. That's fine for a light hatch or a slammed hot hatch on coilovers, but not for a ute. Its 195 x 170mm base is also the smallest here, so use it only on smooth concrete.
TradeQuip 1148T: built for 4WDs
The TradeQuip 1148T is the pick for 4WDs and lifted utes because it reaches 605mm and still has a double-lock safety pin. TQB Brands rates it at 4,000kg as a pair, so 2,000kg each, with a broad 287 x 252mm base and a 14kg weight. Its recommended trade price is $191 ex GST, about $210 with GST.
The catch is where to buy it. TradeQuip is sold through trade tool suppliers rather than the big auto chains, and we couldn't confirm stock at a major retailer. At 2,000kg per stand it sits outside the mandatory standard, although TQB says it's tested to AS 2538:2016. Its 395mm minimum height also rules out most cars.
ToolPRO Ratchet 3000kg: why we'd think twice
The ToolPRO Car Stands Ratchet 3000kg is cheap and popular, and it isn't unsafe if used correctly. Supercheap rates it at 3,000kg per pair and says it complies with the safety standard. It's $59.99 on sale until 18 October 2026, normally $102.99. But it relies on a ratchet alone, with no secondary pin.
That's the weakness owners keep flagging. One Supercheap reviewer in 2025 wrote that it “releases instantly if the ratchet handle is moved”. For a few dollars more, the SCA pin stand gives you a positive lock. If you already own ratchet-only stands, leave the trolley jack in place and just touching, as Kincrome's manual advises.
Will the stand fit under a lowered car?
Only if its minimum height is lower than your jacking point once the car is up. A stand starting at 367mm, like the ToolPRO, won't slide under a car whose sill sits at 300mm on the jack. Measure the gap at your car's support points with the jack raised before you buy.
Heights from Kincrome (product pages), Supercheap Auto and TQB Brands listings, checked 13 October 2026. Kincrome's manual lists slightly different figures for some models (for example 308 to 450mm for the K12274). Measure your car's jacking points before you buy.
How to use jack stands safely
Follow the ACCC's rules: use stands in pairs on a hard, level surface, fully engage the lock and chock the wheels that stay on the ground. Never get under a car on a jack alone. A 2024 Victorian coroner's finding counted 25 Victorian deaths from 2010 to 2021 involving DIY vehicle work, all men.
Find your car's support points in the owner's manual, lower the car gently onto the stands, then leave the jack in place just touching. Street Machine advises you give the car a shake before crawling under, with a spare wheel under the sill as a last defence. Torque wheel nuts with a proper torque wrench once it's back down.
| Stand | Price | Rating (pair) | Per stand | Height | Lock | AS 2538 claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kincrome K12274 Pin & Ratchet | $174.99 | 3,000kg | 1,500kg | 305 to 448mm | Ratchet plus pin | Yes |
| SCA Car Stands Pin 3000kg | $92.99 | 3,000kg | 1,500kg | 322 to 480mm | Twin pin | 2017 safety standard |
| Kincrome K12070 Pin | $80.95 | 1,350kg (set) | Not stated | 252 to 372mm | Pin | Yes |
| TradeQuip 1148T | $191 ex GST | 4,000kg | 2,000kg | 395 to 605mm | Double-lock pin | Tested to AS 2538 |
| ToolPRO Ratchet 3000kg | $59.99 sale | 3,000kg | 1,500kg | 367 to 522mm | Ratchet only | 2017 safety standard |
Prices from Supercheap Auto, Total Tools and TQB Brands, checked 13 October 2026. The ToolPRO sale ends 18 October 2026. Specs from Kincrome, Supercheap Auto and TQB Brands.
Buy stands the way you'd pick a climbing rope: by the worst day, not the price tag. Halve the box rating, make sure the height suits your car and insist on a pin or double lock. If a stand can't pass those three checks, it doesn't go under your car, and neither do you.
