In 1999, the Router Lift was invented by JessEm Tool with the introduction of the Rout-R- Lift. This innovation created a whole new category for the woodworker, and since then other manufacturers have joined the market including Kreg, Incra, Woodpeckers and Bench Dog. A router lift is essentially a router-table mounting plate with an attached carriage that holds the router. A removable crank handle inserts into the mounting plate and turns to raise and lower the carriage with incredible precision down to a 1/64-inch adjustment.
In addition to the improvements in the quality of your work this gives you, a router lift makes your life so much easier and more efficient. A router lift immediately removes the three main problems caused when you mount your router in a router table – bending down and reaching under the table, working with height-adjustment controls and locks that are upside-down and backward and having to remove the motor from the router base to change the router bit.
BEST OVERALL ROUTER LIFT - INCRA Mast-R-Lift-II

Review: INCRA Mast-R-Lift-II Router Lift
INCRA Mast-R-Lift-II Router Lift Review
- MagnaLOCK magnetic insert rings
- Doubled sealed bearings on the lift spindle which means that even the heaviest router on the market can be raised and lowered with one finger
- Patented thread tensioning design which means it's not necessary to lock the router into position after setting the cutting height
- Hard anodized top plate for long life
- Nothing

THE ORIGINAL ROUTER LIFT AND STILL ONE OF THE BEST - JessEm Mast-R-Lift II

Review: JessEm Mast-R-Lift II Router Lift
JessEm Mast-R-Lift II Router Lift Review
- Doubled sealed bearings on the lift spindle which means that even the heaviest router on the market can be raised and lowered with one finger
- Patented thread tensioning design which means it's not necessary to lock the router into position after setting the cutting height
- Hard anodized top plate
- Nothing! It's awesome.

MICRO-ADJUST THUMB WHEEL ROUTER LIFTS

Review: Woodpeckers PRL-V2-420 Precision Router Lift
Woodpeckers PRL-V2-420 Precision Router Lift Review
- Innovative Micro Adjust Thumb Wheel eliminates the need for a crank handle
- Spring-assist Lift Wrench to make rapid height adjustment
- Adjustable reference scale
- Tool-less scale adjustments can be set to zero from any bit position
- Micro adjust wheel can be difficult to adjust when raising router
- Only compatible with the Porter Cable 7518 out of the box


Review: Kreg PRS3000 Router Lift
Kreg PRS3000 Router Lift Review
- Innovative Micro Adjust Thumb Wheel eliminates the need for a crank handle
- Spring-assist Lift Wrench to make rapid height adjustment
- Adjustable reference scale
- Kreg quality
- Micro adjust wheel can be difficult to adjust when raising router
- Only compatible with the Porter Cable 7518 out of the box

BEST INTEGRATED ROUTER LIFT

Review: JESSEM Mast-R-Lift Excel II Router Table Top With Integral Router Lift
JESSEM Mast-R-Lift Excel II Router Table Top With Integral Router Lift Review
- Incredible accuracy especially with the optional digital gauge
- Superb, ergonomic crank handle which locks solidly
- Large 32" x 24" phenolic table top
- High quality, well machined construction
- Phenolic table top scratches easily and scratches are highly visible against the black top
