Extension ladders: Another form of a straight ladder that has adjustable heights. You'll find extension ladders with maximum heights of up to 40 feet, although for most people not needing to access the roof of a multi-story home, 12 to 20 feet is more than sufficient. Our top choice for extension ladders, the Louisville Fiberglass Extension Ladder FE3216, is 16 feet tall when fully extended. Telescoping ladders are basically extension ladders that "collapse" when not in use. While their collapsing features make for easier storage, these ladders still have a taller collapsed length, so they may be challenging to store in small homes. Johnathan Brewer, a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board adds, "Always ensure the ladder is properly footed prior to use. And tying the top of an extension ladder to the roof you are climbing is also a smart safety precaution." The M17 has a total height of 17 feet when fully extended, with a maximum standing level of 11.7 feet and a maximum reach of 18.1 feet. When used as a stepladder, you can adjust it to anywhere between 4 feet and 7 feet in height, depending on how you configure it. The ladder is rated 1A, which means it can hold up to 300 pounds and is made of aluminum. How It Performed Long-Term If you want all the versatility of the Little Giant Velocity but don’t need quite as much reach, nor do you want to spend quite as much money, then the Gorilla Ladders 14-Feet Reach MPXA Multi-Position Ladder is just what you are looking for. The ladder has four configurations with a total of 13 height possibilities; you can use it as an extension ladder, a 90-degree stepladder, a double-sided stepladder, or a staircase ladder. Initially, we found the owner’s manual a bit confusing, but we managed to easily figure out the ladder’s workings on our own, after which it was very easy to use. We also believe this ladder is likely the only one an average homeowner would need. The ladder has a tool tray at the top, providing an easy way to stash your paint can, drill, hammer, or other tools while you work. There’s also one oversize rung, which serves as a small standing platform in the extension configuration. We wish the rungs were slightly larger, but overall, we still felt safe during our testing experience, even when the ladder was extended and leaning against a wall.

12ft Ladder

If you're working mainly indoors a 4- to 6-foot step ladder will offer the right amount of reach in most homes. When it comes to using an extension ladder outside of your home, we recommend purchasing a ladder that has plenty of rungs that go above your roof (about 3 feet). This not only ensures you have a stable connection to the house but that you can also easily climb down the ladder if you get off to work on your roof. You can learn more about choosing the right type of ladder for every kind of project through our guide. Johnathan Brewer, licensed general contractor and member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board Think about how high you'll need to climb on your ladder—your answer to that will tell you what height you should be looking at. Ladders range from small step stools with just one rung to giant extension ladders that can reach the roofs of multi-story homes. By choosing a ladder that's appropriately sized for your needs, you’ll avoid safety concerns, since a ladder that's too short may tempt you to lean and sway on the top rung, while one that's too long can become unsteady at the base.For the best stability when standing atop a ladder, a platform-style stepladder with an extended frame for support and grip is your best option. The Cosco 6-Foot Signature Series Step Ladder won our top score for ladders in this category. We found the overall design very secure and never felt the ladder shift while climbing and standing on the top. The ladder has three regular rungs, but the fourth top rung is a large platform that measures 14.2 inches wide and 13.5 inches deep. The platform is 45 inches above the ground, and the frame extends 24 inches higher, providing a secure grip should you need one. The reach height of this ladder is around 8 feet, making it a good choice for many projects. This aluminum ladder adjusts to four different heights in the double-sided stepladder position, with a maximum reach height of 12.2 feet. There are seven adjustable heights in the extension configuration, with a maximum reach height of 19.1 feet, which is high enough to clean gutters, hang holiday lights, or paint fascia trim on a one-story house or even some two-story homes. Always set a ladder on even, solid ground. Avoid muddy spots, puddles, slopes, or loose ground, such as gravel or pebbles. We think this ladder is a great option for basic household needs like reaching high shelves or organizing your garage. We've enjoyed using it around a house for six months and have no complaints about its performance. As a lightweight, sturdy, and maneuverable ladder, we can't ask for much more from it.

Featherlite Aluminum step ladder 10 Feet grade II Featherlite Aluminum step ladder 10 Feet grade II

We did notice that this ladder may be more difficult to store given its height, but it could easily be stored in a tool shed or larger crawl space too. With the ladder’s strong fiberglass frame, aluminum rivets, zinc-plated steel supports, cross braces, and reinforced spreader mounts, it’s no wonder that we felt this was an ideal choice for any homeowner who wanted a commercial-grade ladder for frequent tasks around the house or yard. While a stepladder is the most common type of ladder for most around-the-house tasks, extension ladders, telescoping ladders, and multi-position ladders are popular options to consider if you need to reach higher up. Ladders can be expensive, but we found that the HBTower 5-Foot Wide-Step Folding Step Ladder with Tool Platform performed as well as many more costly ladders, but without as much damage to your wallet. We appreciated the stepladder’s sturdiness, even on slightly uneven ground, and it was very easy to climb up and down the wider-than-typical rungs. This sturdy ladder stands a bit over 5 feet when closed and has 8.5-inch deep, strong plastic rungs, which perfectly fit one of our team member's men’s 9.5 shoes. Thanks to the top rail, you can safely stand on the fourth rung, giving you roughly nine feet of reach.

Despite its telescoping design, the ladder is very stable and steady. During testing, we found this ladder felt sturdy even at the top and it felt comfortable while climbing. Collapsing the ladder is easy: Just depress the two red buttons simultaneously, and the ladder slowly retracts, making it less likely you’ll get a finger pinched. We felt the ladder was easy to set up, extend, and collapse and very easy to carry when fully collapsed. All in all, this is a solid choice if you only need a basic ladder for occasional simple tasks around your home. Multi-position Stepladders: This type allows you to balance the ladder on a staircase or other uneven surfaces. They often also function as extension ladders and can reach up to 20 feet. After six months of regular use, we're still impressed by this ladder's sturdy, yet lightweight design. It's a go-to height for most projects around a home and it hasn't shown any signs of wear. While some ladders can be unwieldy this model is always easy to pull out and set up. During our long-term testing, we found this ladder was just as easy to use as we experienced during lab testing. While it is a bit difficult to store, we've found that such is a common problem with extension ladders. Overall, it's a great tool for clearing gutters or painting your home. While we can confirm that this ladder is easy to collapse, comfortable to use, and very easy to store, we've found that it can only be used in specific situations. Since it has to be leaned on a sturdy surface to be used, it's not best for day-to-day tasks around the house. However, it can be a great tool for completing outdoor repairs on your home.