The Best Home Ladders for DIY Projects

You may think of a ladder as a tool for professionals, one you don’t need to keep around the house. However, having your own ladder at home can be an extremely useful tool for certain chores. Painting indoors or outdoors, cleaning the gutters, changing lightbulbs, hanging curtains, fetching items from tall shelves; the list of tasks you can accomplish with a ladder goes on. You don’t have to buy a 20-foot ladder, either. There are plenty of smaller, more compact models that are easier to store and more suitable for use around your home, even inside. Here are a few good home ladders we recommend.

What to Consider in a Home Ladder

Here are a few things to think about before buying a home ladder:

• Type: There is actually more than one type of ladder on the market. There are single-pole ladders, stepladders, stepstools, and platform (also known as podium) ladders. There are also extension and multipurpose ladders, which are longer versions of single-pole and stepladders, respectively. If you do many outdoor chores, an extra-tall stepladder, multipurpose ladder, or extension ladder will be the better choice since you’ll probably need more height for outdoor tasks.
• Height: Obviously, the fewer rungs or steps a ladder has, the shorter it will be. Consider how tall of a ladder you’ll need and how many steps or rungs you’ll want it to have. If you plan to mostly use your ladder indoors, you’ll probably want something shorter, generally between three and 16 feet. If you anticipate using it outdoors most of the time, look for a 16-to-40-foot ladder.
• Storage: A home ladder won’t do you much good if you don’t have the room to store them in your home, closet, or garage. Just about every ladder will fold up to some degree to make them easier to store. It’s worth keeping an eye out, too, for ladders that are collapsible or fold down further to make them easier to store. This is particularly true if you don’t have garage space and plan to store your ladder inside your home.

Top Choice: Little Giant Ladder Sytems Flip-N-Lite Stepladder

This sturdy yet lightweight home ladder offers several purchasing options to best suit your needs. The aluminum body is tough enough to support up to 300 pounds but is lighter than other metals, so it’s easy to transport; none of the models weigh over 14 pounds. Setting it up and taking it down is also a cinch, and when folded down, it’s slim enough to fit in the narrowest closets. The rungs are designed extra wide to prevent foot fatigue since your feet won’t be gripping to them the entire time you’re standing on the ladder. Choose between a 4-foot, 5-foot, and 6-foot ladder. There’s an extra standing platform that folds out of the top for instances that you might need extra height. You can also purchase any of the three sizes with shoe coverslips for the ladder’s feet if you want extra stability and security.

Best for Budget: HBTower Folding Stepladder

A space-saving and handy folding stepladder that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to purchase. This one comes fully assembled, so you don’t have to put it together yourself. It opens easily and stays open with a metal safety buckle that automatically locks it into place. It weighs 11.5 pounds and folds down to less than two inches for maximum portability and effortless storage. The stepladder’s steel body makes it incredibly strong despite its small size, able to bear a load of up to 500 pounds. The back cross brace structure reinforces the already durable structure to give you peace of mind while climbing up and down. The non-slid rubber on the handgrip and feet increase its safety and security as long as all four feet an in full contact with the ground. The rubber feet will also protect your floors from getting scratched by the ladder. The wide pedals offer heel to toe foot support and also are decorated with a non-slip rubber pattern. Choose between a ladder with three or four steps and green or black in color.

Most Size Options: Little Giant Ladder Systems Green King Kombo Pro

A professional-grade ladder that is designed for use in and around the home. This is a natural combination ladder, but it can convert into a stepladder, extension ladder, or leaning ladder as needed. The narrow rear section is ideal for tight workspaces, such as ceiling trusses and roof access ports. The rotating wall pad makes it easier to conform to inside and outside corners, walls, and studs so you can get as close to your work as needed. This ladder can support up to 375 pounds at a time. You have the choice between 4-foot, 5-foot, 6-foot, and 8-foot options, as well as 5- and 6-footers that have either a quadpod or a single hinge. It is also available in four different models, two professional-grade, one industrial-grade, and one technical-grade. Each ladder is made of a fiberglass that’s safe to use around electricity or a light yet sturdy aluminum. The fiberglass models are bright green in color, and the aluminum ones are silver.

Best Miniature: TOOLF Aluminium Folding Stepladder

This stepladder is ideal for anyone who has limited storage space or only requires a small ladder for household tasks. It’s constructed out of light yet durable aluminum that is anti-rust and won’t corrode, break, or rot over time, unlike other materials. The aluminum build also means that this small three-rung stepladder can support 200 pounds of weight at a time. The feet and rungs have non-slip treads to keep you safe and stable during use or when climbing on or off the ladder and prevent the ladder from scratching your floors. This compact stepladder folds down almost entirely flat, to a mere four centimeters in width, so it can easily fit in tight spaces or be carried under your arm between indoors and outside if need be.