Best Step Ladders

Find the Best Step Ladder for Your Home

Updated November 26, 2019

A good step ladder can make doing chores around your house much easier. Sometimes all you need is a 3’ step ladder to hang up a new picture on the wall. Other times you may need a 6’ ladder to change a light bulb. And you may even need a 15’ ladder or taller to reach high on a vaulted ceiling or to climb on your roof. Not all ladders are created equally, and safety and stability should be your two major concerns when you’re in the market for one.

Buying a step ladder is tricky because you may only need a short one now, but you never know when you’ll need a taller one later on. There’s never any harm in having multiple ladders to serve different purposes. However, there may come a time when you need the storage space and don’t have room to keep more than one ladder. We’ve analyzed and evaluated hundreds of different step ladders in order to help you narrow down your selections based on your needs.

This review comes to you from our Outdoor Tools expert Scott
Published January 11th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Scott set out on his first woodworking project when he was eleven years old. He has been involved with many hundred woodworking projects since then. For the last 46 years, Scott has custom-built cabinets and mantels, remodeled several homes, installed hardwood floors/trim work, and consulted or advised for a number of large home improvement stores on their product offerings to the expert DIY community. Whenever possible, you will find Scott in his custom built woodworking shop hard at work on his latest project.

Step Ladders

The Garden and Yards team is happy to present our favorite step ladders.

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Editor's Choice

Little Giant Ladder Systems

17-Foot Velocity Multi-Use Ladder, 300-Pound Duty Rating

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Safety is always a concern when you step foot on a ladder, but with this Little Giant ladder, you’ll feel safer than you would on any other ladder.

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Anyone who has to use a step ladder frequently shouldn’t sacrifice quality to get the cheapest option available. And what makes this particular ladder great is the convertible design, so it can be used as an extension ladder, a staircase ladder, an A-frame ladder and can even convert to a trestle-and-plank scaffolding system. It reaches a full 15’ and folds up to 9” wide for easy storage. Both sides of the ladder can hold 300 pounds as well. This truly is a ladder you can use for virtually anything.

Editor's insights

Customer love this ladder because it can be used for changing a light bulb that may be on an 8’ ceiling, or even if you need to reach something on a 20’ roof. Most of the time you would have to invest in multiple ladders to serve each purpose, but this one solves both needs. And from a stability perspective, customers have never felt safer on a ladder, even when it’s extended to the max. The one thing you have to deal with is the weight of this ladder. It weighs around 30 pounds, so it’s much heavier than the average aluminum ladder. If you’re capable of moving an item that heavy, then this may not be a problem, but it is something you need to be aware of.

Value Pick

Cosco

Signature Step Stool Three-Step Aluminum with Plastic Steps

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Sometimes you need a small ladder to hang up a picture frame or change out a light bulb and don’t want to get out your big outdoor ladder to do it. That’s where this Cosco Stool enters the picture.

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The top step is 29” high and it weighs about 8 pounds total, so it’s very convenient to grab when you need a little extra height assistance. The legs of the ladder have non-marring tips on them to prevent scratching as well, making it perfect for indoor use. And when you don’t need it, you can fold it up and store it virtually anywhere since it compacts to about 4” wide.

Editor's insights

When it comes to ladders in general, people are naturally skeptical about standing on the top step. But that’s not the case with this ladder. The top step is wide enough to support both feet easily, and the base is also wide enough to create stability and comfort. The lightweight and compact nature of this ladder also draws a lot of praise, since it’s easy to move around the house for various tasks. While the steps of the ladder are very sturdy, some customers have said they are a little too narrow, which can make it easy to slip off of if you aren’t wearing appropriate footwear.

Contender

Little Giant Ladder Systems

Flip-N-Lite 300-Pound Duty Rating 6-foot Stepladder with Platform

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It’s hard to find a quality lightweight step ladder that’s durable and reliable enough to make you feel secure, but this Flip-N-Lite ladder checks all of those boxes.

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This 6’ ladder only weighs 14 pounds, but is still rated to hold up to 300 pounds. The platform at the top of the ladder is 14 ¼” x 12”, so there’s plenty of room for you to stand and feel comfortable. The tall handrail at the top is very handy as well, since it gives you added support to hold on to when reaching up high. And when you’re done using it, you can easily find a place to store it since it has a slim profile when folded up.

Editor's insights

Most customers who have purchased this ladder seem to feel extremely safe and secure on it. Whether you own a home or live in an apartment, this is the ideal ladder because it stores away easily without taking up much space and you can reach almost anything indoors with it. Another underrated aspect about this ladder is how light it is, so just about anyone can handle it. While this is a quality ladder for handling routine tasks around the house, it may not hold up for extended use and abuse on a daily basis, so contractors and professionals may want to only use this ladder as a supplement to their main ladder.

What to Look for When Evaluating Step Ladders

The number one thing you should always look at with a step ladder is the maximum weight rating. If the weight rating is 300 pounds, then don’t step on it if you weigh more than that or if an object you have in your hands makes your total overall weight more than the amount. Not paying attention to this rating can create an unsafe situation for you and anyone else around you, with the possibility of the ladder collapsing while standing on it and injuring yourself or others.

It’s also important to evaluate the construction and stability of the ladder before purchasing. Ladders are mainly made of aluminum, fiberglass or wood, while some smaller versions are made of a sturdy plastic. Even if you only need a 3’ step ladder, you want to make sure it’s sturdy enough to make you feel comfortable. If you have the opportunity to do so, step on a few of the steps and shift your weight slowly to see if the ladder shifts with you. The ideal ladder won’t move at all and feel very solid and sturdy. It’s hard to completely simulate how you’ll be using the ladder and the stress it’s going to be put under, but you should be able to get a general idea of its sturdiness this way.

Shopping Guide for Step Ladders

Once you’ve determined the maximum weight rating you need, as well as the durability and stability, you can take a look at other features. The actual overall weight of the ladder is something people often overlook and regret later on. You don’t want to buy a ladder so heavy that you can’t move it around easily. However, many multi-purpose ladders are worth the extra weight since they are essentially multiple ladders in one. This decision comes down to how often you use the ladder, how high you need to reach, your own strength for being able to move the ladder and more.

Depending on how much storage space you have in your home or apartment, you may want to prioritize how compact the ladder folds up when not in use. The average person doesn’t use a step ladder every day, so keeping it out of the way when it’s not needed and taking up as little space as possible is important for some people. Some ladders can fold up small enough to fit in between a wall and a refrigerator, in the back of a closet or other small spaces. Evaluate your storage area and you can then compare the specifications of the ladders you’re interested in.

Why a Step Ladder

A step ladder is one of those handy items you might never think you needed until you get one! It makes tasks like changing lightbulbs, hanging pictures, and clearing cobwebs much simpler.

What Are the Benefits of a Step Ladder?

Anyone who lives in an apartment or home can benefit from having a step ladder. A good step ladder is much safer than standing on a chair, countertop or other item to access hard-to-reach places. Even if you just need a couple extra feet to hang a picture frame exactly where you want it, it’s worth the investment in a small step ladder to protect your body from a potential injury that could happen when standing on a different object. Many people don’t realize how often they would actually use a step ladder if they had one readily available, so it’s a small investment with a great return in convenience and accessibility.

Whether you’re the weekend DIY warrior or work in a profession where a step ladder is needed often, having a couple of different ladders can make tasks much easier and safer. You may need a ladder for indoor use only, or you may need to invest in the strongest one you can find so it can handle significant use and abuse. Evaluating the types of tasks you’ll be doing in general can help you narrow down your options.

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to ladders, but there are plenty of different features with various benefits to help you find one specifically to fit what you need. Starting off with a basic step ladder to help you perform routine tasks like changing light bulbs may be a good place to start. Then if you decide you want to start a major project like painting your house, trimming trees or cleaning gutters, you can invest in a taller one so you won’t have to reach and strain. Your needs will always change, but you can feel confident that there’s a ladder available to solve any problems you have in this regard.

If you’re on the hunt for other outdoor tools, check out our favorites.

Best Step Ladders

Find the Best Step Ladder for Your Home

This review comes to you from our Outdoor Tools expert Scott

Step Ladders

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Little Giant Ladder Systems

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Cosco

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Little Giant Ladder Systems

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

What to Look for When Evaluating Step Ladders

Shopping Guide for Step Ladders

Why a Step Ladder

What Are the Benefits of a Step Ladder?

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Best Step Ladders

Find the Best Step Ladder for Your Home

This review comes to you from our Outdoor Tools expert Scott

Step Ladders

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Little Giant Ladder Systems

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Cosco

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Little Giant Ladder Systems

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

What to Look for When Evaluating Step Ladders

Stay Connected

Shopping Guide for Step Ladders

Why a Step Ladder

What Are the Benefits of a Step Ladder?

Quick Links

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