The Best Ladder Bookshelves

Buying Guide for the Best Ladder Bookshelves

Why buy a ladder bookshelf?

Take advantage of your vertical space with a ladder shelf. These shelves have an open concept that prevents your room from looking cluttered while allowing you to easily retrieve or display your items. These shelves are the perfect intersection between decoration and function and are adaptable to almost any room of your home.

What should you look for in a ladder bookshelf?

• Height: Pay attention to the overall height of the ladder and the distance between each shelf. Some ladders increase the spacing at different levels, which will result in fewer shelves but more vertical space.
• Weight Limit: As ladder shelves can be prone to leaning, controlling the weight is important for stability. Those looking to store heavy items like books should look for shelves with a weight limit of 35 pounds or more.
• Slip Protection: To prevent accidents, look for ladder shelves with added support rods or mounting systems. The base should also feature anti-slip materials so that your floor is not damaged from the weight.

What should you expect to spend on a ladder bookshelf?

You can expect to spend between $50 and $100 for a decent ladder bookcase. If you want a high-end, hardwood, larger bookcase, you may be looking at around $400. On the other end, you could find something under $20, though you’ll be sacrificing quality and size.

Our Picks for the Best Ladder Bookshelves

Pros: If you want to add some decorative interest to your home without hurting your wallet, this simple ladder shelf is a perfect choice. The frame is made from steel and features X-bars at the base for additional stability. The distance between each shelf increases as you move up, allowing you to play with different decorations. Each shelf holds up to 11 pounds, while the anti-tip kit secures the frame to your wall. Each of the color options requires simple assembly, so you’ll be able to set up your shelf quickly.

Cons: Some people may have difficulty assembling this bookshelf.

Bottom Line: A practical and aesthetically intriguing furniture piece, the VASAGLE industrial-styled ladder bookshelf has a lot to offer. It comes in several colors to complement your space.

 

Pros: This tall standing bookcase provides lots of space for books, photos, plants, and more. In fact, it has five shelves for creating your different displays. Part of its charm is the descending ladder design; each shelf increases in depth toward the bottom. The top shelf has approximately a depth of 4.5 inches, with the bottom shelf at 14 inches deep. The bookshelf has a straight back so that it sits flush to a wall. It’s made of solid rubberwood, a medium-density hardwood of the Pará rubber tree, known to be a sustainable option.

Cons: You may run into challenges putting this bookshelf together. It’s also the heaviest of the products we review.

Bottom Line: This attractive ladder bookshelf comes in white, espresso, and walnut. The minimalist modern design may be the perfect complement to your home’s decor.

 

Pros: You get two matching bookcases to place side-by-side, on opposite sides of the room, or in completely different rooms. Each ladder bookcase features four shelves that increase in width from top to bottom, giving the furniture a distinctive look. The main material is laminated medium-density fiberboard with a black finish and is paired with a matching black metal frame.

Cons: Assembly can be complicated and time-consuming.

Bottom Line: These ultra-lightweight bookcases weigh only a pound, which makes them a cinch to move. They’re also available in dove gray and white.

 

Pros: This piece makes good use of the space in your room. It fits right into a corner that would otherwise go empty, and its five shelves get deeper as they go down. The pinewood is solid and sustainably sourced, finished in espresso or white.

Cons: Since it’s a corner shelf, it isn’t as large as others.

Bottom Line: The combination of right angles and subtle slants create a fresh look to a standard furniture piece. Choose between espresso and white finishes for this corner ladder bookshelf.

 

Pros: Add a distinctive look to your home or office with this X-frame ladder bookshelf. The design is not only attractive but useful too; it provides tension so that the shelves can’t separate vertically. For added security, you can fix the ladder bookcase to the wall using the anti-tip kit. Assembled, the bookcase weighs 23 pounds; however, it can bear 55 pounds on the top shelf, 80 pounds on the second, 110 pounds on the third, and 120 pounds on the bottom shelf. This is one sturdy bookcase! It’s made from medium-density fiberboard with a metal tube frame.

Cons: For how sturdy it is, it’s rather small.

Bottom Line: There’s one more advantage to this bookcase: adjustable levelers or leg pads. They aid in giving the bookcase extra stability and balance. All you need to do is rotate them counter or clockwise to change the height of the feet.

Final Thoughts

Why not add some beauty to your home with one of these quality ladder bookshelves? Getting one provides a shortcut to a better-organized, better-looking living space.