The Best Ladders

I spent 10 years in high-end residential construction, and in that time I worked with countless ladders, from mini 4-foot stepladders to fully extended 40-foot extension ladders (not recommended). I was also a member of my company’s safety committee, responsible for maintaining safe work practices and OSHA compliance for our crews, which included educating team members on safe ladder practices. I’m currently (eternally?) renovating my demanding 1773 saltbox, which places me on a ladder more than I’d like.

For this guide we spoke with Mark Clement, licensed contractor, co-host of the MyFixitUpLife radio show, and author of Old House Online’s 12 Ladder Safety Tips, a brief yet comprehensive article about choosing a ladder.

Ladders are available in a variety of lengths and styles, and a ladder that works perfectly for one person might not suit someone else. For this guide, particularly with our extension-ladder recommendation, we concentrated on the ladder needs of a typical two-story home with eaves approximately 19 to 20 feet off the ground. Ladders are available in a wide variety of lengths, so if your home requires a different ladder, it should be easy to scale our recommendations up or down, depending on the height you require. Werner has a useful guide to ladder lengths to help you get the correct ladder for your needs.

For this guide, we looked at two ladder styles: stepladders and extension ladders. Because of their lengths and features, these two styles complement each other. To actively maintain a home, it’s a good idea to own both.

Stepladders have an A-frame design and are self-supporting. Residential models are typically 4 to 10 feet in height, but much larger sizes are available. Unlike extension ladders, which are better for outdoor work, stepladders can work well indoors, too. They’re good for tasks such as pruning trees, fixing ceiling fans, changing light bulbs, and painting interiors and exteriors.

A 6-foot step ladder should handle the needs of most homes. According to respected manufacturer Louisville Ladder, you can calculate ladder reach by assuming a 5-foot-9 person with a 12-inch reach. For stepladders, this results in a reach height that is about 4 feet higher than the stepladder. So a 6-foot stepladder, for example, would allow for a 10-foot reach, enough to get to the ceilings in most homes.

Extension ladders lean against a house and are capable of reaching very tall heights. Such models are not self-supporting and need a house to lean against, so they’re good for tasks along the exterior of a house or up on the roof, such as painting, window and gutter cleaning, siding work, or roof repair. An extension ladder actually consists of two ladders—a fly section nested within a base section—that are identical in length. With the use of an integrated pulley system, the fly section can extend upward and lock at your desired height.

A 28-foot extension ladder is sized for a typical two-story house. At its most compact, this size ladder is just over 14 feet long. Fully extended, it reaches roughly 25 feet. For safety, you should not use the top three rungs as steps. So, for example, a 28-foot ladder allows for a maximum reach of about 27 to 28 feet. To get on and off the top of the ladder and onto a roof, three rungs need to extend beyond the roofline to act as a handhold, so a 28-foot ladder works with roofs that are about 21 feet high or less. If your house does not conform to those heights, Werner offers a chart that can help you decide on the correct ladder length.

Together, a properly sized extension ladder and stepladder make a nice pair. Ideally, with an extension ladder fully retracted and set up against a house and a stepladder set up next to it, no portion of a home’s sidewall is inaccessible. Where the reach for the stepladder stops, the reach for the extension ladder starts. Put together, these two types of ladders offer you the ability to access the entire exterior of your house.

Other styles are less practical. You can find a few other kinds of ladders that have less universal appeal and practicality. Three-section extension ladders are more compact in storage but cost nearly twice as much as their two-section counterparts. Multi-use ladders, such as the Little Giant Classic, split the difference between an extension ladder and a stepladder. But they omit key elements of each, since they lack the length of a full-size extension ladder and the ease-of-use features of a stepladder, such as platform steps or a top shelf to store tools while you’re working. Telescoping ladders, like the Telesteps 1800EP and the Xtend & Climb 785P, are compact but usually not tall enough for a two-story home.

Look for a Type IA (300-pound) weight rating. Ladders come in a variety of weight ratings, from Type III (200 pounds) up to Type IAA (375 pounds). For regular tasks around the house, we like Type IA, which is rated for 300 pounds. For some people, that may sound like too much, but the weight rating includes the total heft of everything on the ladder. So it isn’t just a person but also their clothing, their tools, and anything else that they might carry. It’s also important to understand that a ladder rated for 300 pounds won’t collapse at 301 pounds; according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, for a ladder to be rated for 300 pounds, it must be able to hold nearly 1,000 pounds.

We evaluated a number of stepladders, using them for common household tasks such as adjusting storm windows, changing light bulbs, cleaning windows, painting, hanging a ceiling fan, installing light fixtures, and doing other odd projects, such as lubing up a barn-door roller and taking down part of a ceiling. We’ve also used many of them on larger renovations, including a kitchen remodel in 2023. In addition to those unstructured tests, we ascended and descended each stepladder countless times and did plenty of “wobble testing” by standing at various steps and shifting our body weight around.

We did not do any comparative testing of our extension-ladder pick, though we did get our hands on a Werner ladder to confirm the overall build quality (it’s excellent).

For tasks like cleaning first-floor windows, washing the lower portion of a house, painting near a ceiling, or installing an overhead light fixture, we recommend the Gorilla GLX-5B 5.5 ft. Aluminum Dual Platform Ladder. A major difference between this model and the competition is that its extra-large top two steps support the entire foot, not just part of it, allowing for easier balance and a wider range of movement in comparison with a traditional stepladder.

The top of the stepladder has a small workstation, but it also comes with a large project bucket that you can clip into the top of the ladder, creating a nice area to put tools and accessories while you’re working. This sturdy aluminum ladder, with a 300-pound weight rating, offers the same reach as a standard 6-foot ladder, but it accomplishes that with a slightly smaller footprint—which helps when you’re setting it up in a tight hallway or small bathroom.

The platform steps are this stepladder’s high point. On a traditional stepladder, the steps are all about 3 inches deep. But on the GLX-5B, the top step is 10 inches deep, and the step below that is 8 inches deep. This larger standing area offers you much greater stability and comfort in comparison with a regular stepladder. Because the steps are big enough to support the entire foot, our testers could use their standing balance while on the GLX-5B, in contrast to the constant “balance awareness” necessary for standing on a regular stepladder. That significantly reduced the amount of strain on our feet and legs, and we rarely felt the need to brace a knee against the ladder.

The large steps make shifting positions easy, as well. Because the design fully supports your feet, turning to the side while you’re on the ladder is less of an issue. With a regular stepladder, turning can take some creative footwork and maneuvering.

The work tray adds a lot of convenience. The included large work tray can attach to the top of the ladder. At roughly 15 by 8 inches, the tray can comfortably hold a drill, hand tools, fasteners, a nail gun, really anything—and the 3-inch-high sides keep it all in place. What we especially like is that the tray, when not in use, clips in between the rails of the ladder, where it remains out of the way even while the ladder is being used.

Here’s an example of how an additional tray like this can be helpful: While we cleaned and adjusted storm windows, the tray easily held a bottle of window cleaner, a roll of paper towels, a cordless drill, a prybar, a hammer, and a handful of small, easy-to-lose aluminum storm-window screws. The bucket also gave us a place to put the old caulk that I was scraping off the edges of the windows. And with all of that stuff in the bucket, it still had plenty of room left over.

This stepladder is thin and easy to store. Folded up, the GLX-5B is about 1.75 inches thinner than a regular stepladder (4.25 inches versus 6 inches, measured at the tool tray). That amount is fairly small and won’t mean anything to most people. But if your garage space is extremely limited, or you plan on storing your ladder in a closet, this model’s thinner build could make a difference.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The top of the ladder is lower than on similar ladders. The GLF-5X is a 5.5-foot ladder with the reach of a 6-foot ladder. Gorilla accomplishes that by putting the steps at the same height and lowering the top of the ladder, and thus the tool tray, by 6 inches. This is an inconvenience, but only a slight one. With the additional stability of the platform steps, we didn’t think that bending over a little more to grab a hammer was a huge issue.

If our top pick is out of stock, or if you do a lot of electrical work, we also like the Gorilla GLXF-5B 5.5 ft. Fiberglass Dual Platform Step Ladder. This stepladder is identical to our top pick in nearly all ways, except that its side rails are made of fiberglass rather than aluminum. This makes it a whisker heavier and a tad thicker when folded up. Otherwise it has the same dimensions, platform steps, project bucket, and weight rating (300 pounds).

Fiberglass does not conduct electricity like aluminum does, and the ladder rails are bright yellow. So if you do a lot of electrical work, or you simply want a little aesthetic pizzazz from your ladder, this model is a better choice. It usually costs about $40 more than the aluminum version. It’s also exclusive to Home Depot.

If you prefer a more traditional stepladder, we also like the Werner FS106 6ft Type I Fiberglass Single Sided Step Ladder. It lacks the larger steps and the included project bucket of the Gorilla ladders, but it’s a nice, sturdy ladder from a very reputable company. This model has a Type 1 weight rating, which indicates a load capacity of 250 pounds, a little less than our other stepladder picks offer (Werner also sells a 300-pound stepladder). Since a stepladder is likely to see a lot of light-duty indoor work, we’re okay with recommending a model that has the lower rating.

It has smaller, standard ladder steps. Without the large platform steps of the Gorilla models, Werner’s FS106 supports only the arch of your foot (or the ball, depending on how you’re standing). With the FS106, you’re more likely to need to brace your knee against the steps, and you’ll have to be more careful while shifting your feet or reaching down for tools. The FS106 offers a fine setup, but the GLF-5X simply gave us a much better feeling of comfort while we were working.

It doesn’t come with a project bucket, but there is one available for purchase separately. Werner sells a number of optional accessories, which sit in tapered grooves up at the top of the ladder. We’ve used the AC52-UB Utility Bucket and the AC56-UH Utility Hook, and both are nice additions (a paint cup is also available). We much prefer how the bucket comes standard with the Gorilla stepladders. However, it’s a comfort to know that the accessory is available for this Werner stepladder as well, even if it does require an additional purchase.

The Little Giant Select Step Model 5-8 is an unusual ladder that can make life much easier if you’re taking on more advanced DIY projects or you regularly need to set a ladder up on a set of stairs. Each side of the ladder can extend and lock at various lengths, so this single ladder can serve as a 5-, 6-, 7-, or 8-foot stepladder. Because each pair of legs adjusts independently, the ladder can lean flush against a wall or stand on an uneven surface, such as a hillside or a set of stairs. The Select Step Model 5-8 has a single platform step at the top, plus an extending work tray that you can use as a handhold while standing on the higher steps. The tray has a magnetic area for securing nails, screws, drill bits, and so forth, as well as places for extension cords, hand tools, and a can of paint. The legs splay out at the bottom, giving the ladder a level of stability not found in other 6-foot stepladders.

We’ve been relying on this ladder for years. For simple tasks like swapping out light bulbs and installing a smoke alarm, we opt for the lighter, easier-to-handle Gorilla stepladders. Yet we’ve encountered many occasions when the Select Step Model 5-8 is the only ladder that can help us get the job done. Being able to set it up on uneven ground enables us to do a host of tasks that would befuddle someone using a regular stepladder, such as working on the underside of a deck that sits over a hillside or painting a stairwell. So if you tend to take on more-advanced projects on your own, you’re likely to appreciate what this ladder has to offer.

It has an aluminum build and is available only with a Type IA (300 pounds) weight rating. The ladder’s design adds versatility but packs on extra weight. At 26 pounds, the Little Giant Select Step Model 5-8 weighs about 8 pounds more than the traditional Werner stepladder, making it an awkward item to carry through a house.

Other than the weight, this ladder’s main drawback is its cost. The Select Step Model 5-8 runs more than $200 as of this writing, almost three times the cost of our main stepladder pick. At such a price, this is not the ladder for everyone. But if you’re serious about your DIY work, you’ll probably find it worth the investment.

After closely comparing almost 20 extension ladders of varying lengths, we’ve concluded that the one to get is the Werner D6228-2 28ft Type IA Fiberglass D-Rung Extension Ladder. Its 28-foot length is enough to safely get someone up to the roof of a typical two-story home, and its Type IA weight rating (300 pounds) is strong enough to support a person completely loaded up with tools and gear. Because of its fiberglass side rails, this ladder is safe near power lines (as long as it’s clean and dry), and it has antislip safety feet, which can flip up and dig into the ground when on grass or gravel. All of these features are available on some other ladders, but the D6228-2 has wider availability at major retailers, where it typically sells for less. The D6228-2 isn’t a cheap item, but for something that you’re literally trusting with your life, paying for quality is worth it.

This fiberglass ladder does not conduct electricity. Since its side rails are fiberglass, the D6228-2 is a safer option for working near power lines. We didn’t require that our stepladder pick be fiberglass, but that feature is much more important with long, difficult-to-maneuver extension ladders. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends fiberglass ladders in a safety alert (PDF), noting that it’s crucial they “be kept clean to maintain their non-conductive safety properties.”

It’s a very stable extension ladder. Because a ladder rated as Type IA is designed to handle so much weight, it has less flex in its side rails, a factor that becomes increasingly important as you extend the ladder sections. At the D6228-2’s maximum reach, only 3 feet of the ladder sections overlap. Relative to other extension ladders, it’s less bouncy. We’ve been on plenty of undersize, bouncy ladders, and it’s really not an enjoyable experience.

The feet are compatible with either hard or soft surfaces. On pavement or other flat surfaces, the D6228-2 stands on nonslip textured rubber grips. But when you set the ladder up on a lawn or other soft surface, the feet pivot so that the claw end faces downward, ready to dig into the ground for a better grip. Both setups work well and are very stable.

Werner is a well-respected name in ladders. And the D6228-2 has stellar owner feedback on the Home Depot site. This reception is not surprising, since the majority of the ladders I used in construction were Werner models. In fact, I’ve spent many, many days working on this exact ladder.

It costs a serious chunk of change, but a quality ladder, even one that you use only a few times a year, is worth the investment. The areas where you could go cheaper simply aren’t worth the reduction in capability. The Werner D6228-2 has the length, build, and weight rating to assist in any household task and perform in an emergency.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Getting it home can be a problem. This ladder and other Werner models are readily available at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and many local hardware stores and home centers, but getting it to your home may prove tricky depending on your vehicle. The ladder weighs 60 pounds, so most roof racks should be able to handle the weight. We recommend using a strong tie-down system, such as ratchet straps, to prohibit any movement of the ladder during transportation. Many stores deliver for an additional fee.

Like any 28-foot extension ladder, it is heavy. If you’re not used to maneuvering a 60-pound extension ladder, setting up the D6228-2 is likely to be an awkward and difficult process; just getting it vertical can be a struggle. Our recommendation is to educate yourself on the proper techniques for carrying and setting up an extension ladder. Also, it’s a good idea to have someone help: On construction sites, for example, it’s not uncommon for one person to “foot” the ladder (stand on the feet) while the second person lifts the other end and walks it to the vertical position.

Even downgrading a few of the features doesn’t significantly reduce the weight. Stepping down to a ladder with the Type I, 250-pound rating saves you just 5 pounds, and buying the same ladder yet with an aluminum body saves you only about 3.5 pounds. Extension ladders are simply heavy, and sacrificing safety features to shave off a pound or 3 doesn’t make sense.

Storing a 14-foot ladder can pose difficulties, as well. We’ve always had luck with wall hooks (similar to these hooks) set up either behind the garage or inside it. For such a heavy ladder, it’s critical that the hooks are screwed into studs, not just drywall.

The vast majority of extension ladders we’ve encountered on construction sites are either Werner or Louisville models, so it’s not surprising that our runner-up is the Louisville Ladder FE3228 28-Foot Fiberglass Extension Ladder Type IA. We didn’t test this ladder, but we saw very little to differentiate it from our Werner pick. The two ladders have the same weight rating, the same general build, and similar safety shoes. Like Werner, Louisville is a respected name in the ladder industry, and throughout my construction career I’ve stood on many Louisville Type IA ladders with complete confidence. Where the Werner model edges out the Louisville model is in its in-store availability.

You can find a number of add-on accessories that make an extension ladder easier and safer to use, including stabilizers, ladder mitts, and leveling legs.

A stabilizer braces the ladder off the house, preventing damage. When you attach this piece to the end of a ladder, it allows you to set up the ladder directly in front of a window or prevents the ladder from damaging a gutter. We’ve used one similar to the Louisville LP2200-00, which works fine and doesn’t cost much, but it’s tedious to put on and take off. Were we to purchase one now, we’d seriously consider the Werner AC78, with its quick-attachment system.

Ladder mitts are little rubbery end caps for the rails on the fly section. These add-ons help prevent the scuffing, marring, and denting of siding. The Werner AC19-2 covers are well worth the typically minimal investment.

We plan on investigating the extension ladders offered by Little Giant, namely its HyperLite and SumoStance models. The HyperLite design appears to offer what our other extension-ladder picks do, but at a lighter weight (50 pounds versus 59 pounds). And it has some added safety features, such as bubble levels (to ensure proper placement) and an additional warning not to step on the top three rungs. The SumoStance models have additional outriggers for stabilizing the ladder on uneven ground. Both come with a double pulley system to make raising the ladder easier. These models offer more than our extension-ladder picks from Werner and Louisville, but they’re typically a lot more expensive.

Gorilla’s GLF-5X Fiberglass Dual Platform Hybrid Ladder was our previous top pick, but it was discontinued. It’s very similar to our current Gorilla recommendations, except that it has a lower weight rating and does not come with the additional project bucket.

The Little Giant King Kombo articulating fiberglass stepladder (available in sizes ranging from 4 to 8 feet) and the Werner Leansafe line (available in sizes ranging from 4 to 12 feet) are both stepladders that can be used while leaned against something, like extension ladders. They’re quite expensive, and for around-the-house tasks, a regular stepladder usually works fine.

The Little Giant Flip-N-Lite stepladder weighs just 12 pounds (about 6 pounds less than our top pick from Gorilla), but it omits a tool tray and has only one platform step. The lighter weight is nice, but it isn’t worth the other sacrifices. This model is also a lot more expensive than our picks.

The Louisville Ladder FS2006 6-Foot Fiberglass Step Ladder Type I looks similar to our stepladder runner-up, the Werner FS106. Knowing Louisville’s reputation, we would wager that the FS2006 is an excellent ladder, but Louisville does not appear to make compatible accessories, as Werner does. Also, the current cost of this model is higher than what the Werner FS106 typically sells for.

The Werner PDFS103 Type I Fiberglass Podium Ladder has a platform-step design similar to that of the Gorilla GLF-5X, but it has only a single such step, whereas the Gorilla model has two. The reach on this ladder is also only 9 feet, not 10, as on the Gorilla stepladder.

Gorilla, Little Giant, and Werner all make other ladders with telescoping legs, some of which can unfold to form a single straight ladder, such as the Gorilla GLMPXA-18, the Little Giant Model 22, and the Werner MT-22IAAXTHD. These can be convenient, but they don’t offer the safety of the GLF-5X’s platform steps or the tool-holding convenience of its project bucket.

For extension ladders, Louisville and Werner are the two primary manufacturers worth considering. Besides offering an extensive selection of ladders under their own names, these two companies are responsible for the ladders made under other names, as well: Louisville manufactures ladders for DeWalt, and Werner owns Keller, as well as the discontinued Green Bull line. The Louisville and Werner brands are the most widely available, and in our experience they’re the most common on construction sites. Both are trusted names.

Werner’s D6028-2 28ft Type I Fiberglass Extension Ladder is the same as our main extension pick, but it has only a Type I weight rating, which means it can hold 250 pounds. This is the extension ladder we tested for this article, and the truth is, this model would be enough for many people. One significant drawback is that heavier people may go over that weight limit, either on their own or once they load up with tools. This ladder also has limited availability compared with the D6228-2, and it currently takes about a month to ship to a local Home Depot or Lowe’s, where it costs about $20 to $30 less than our pick. All things considered, we decided that stepping up to the model with the 300-pound rating simply made more sense.

This article was edited by Harry Sawyers.