Black Friday Black Friday
Sign Up
Shop by Room
Fill Your Home with Laughter. Shop here for all your holiday needs. Follow Us.
Fill Your Home with Laughter. Build a Super Elf-tacular Christmas Tree! Follow Us.
BUYING GUIDES Shopping Advice You Can Trust.
 

Choosing and Using a Ladder

 
 

Whether you’re painting, cleaning gutters, or getting the cat out of a tree, you need a ladder. There is no substitute for a ladder properly matched to the project at hand.

Lowe's is happy to provide this information as a service to you.

Espanol
E-mail
Printable Version
Add to my Projects
 
Article Content
Height

Ladders vary by material as well as size. First determine what size is needed:

CHOOSE THE RIGHT STEPLADDER*

If this is the maximum
height you need to reach:

Buy This Size Stepladder:

7’

3’

8’

4’

9’

5’

10’

6’

11’

7’

12’

8’

14’

10’

15’

11’

16’

12’

18’

14’

20’

16’

 

CHOOSE THE RIGHT EXTENSION LADDER*

If this is the maximum
height you need to reach:

Buy This Size Extension Ladder:

15’

16’

19’

20’

23’

24’

27’

28’

31’

32’

34'

36’

37’

40’

*For a person 5'6" with a 12" vertical reach.

Back to Top
Load Capacity

Load capacity is important. The load capacity includes your own weight plus the weight of materials you will be carrying. Match your needs to one of the following ratings:

Load Capacity

Type

Grade

Typical Uses

375 lbs.

IAA

Commercial

General heavy-duty applications (available as stepladder only).

300 lbs. IA Heavy-Duty Industrial Industrial, Building, Roofing, General Contracting
250 lbs. I Industrial General Contracting, Building, Maintenance, Drywalling
225 lbs. II Commercial Light Commercial, Painting, Cleaning Light Repair
200 lbs. III Household Painting, Yard Work, Chores
Back to Top
Materials

Ladder safety also includes ladder materials.

WOOD

ALUMINUM

FIBERGLASS

  • Economical
  • Electrically nonconductive
    (when clean and dry)
  • Strong
  • Lightweight
  • Corrosion resistant
  • WILL conduct electricity
  • Electrically
    nonconductive
  • Great value
  • Strong

In addition to standard stepladders and extension ladders, articulating multi-use ladders are a good investment if your needs are varied. They can be used as a regular or stairway stepladder, an extension-type straight ladder, or a scaffold system support.

Back to Top
Ladder Safety
Articluating Ladder.
Multi-use ladders adapt to many household projects.
  • First, select the proper ladder for the job.


  • Style, Size, Duty Rating, and Material are all important factors.


  • Always check overhead clearance before using any ladder.


  • Make sure all locks are engaged and the ladder is supported securely at all contact points.


  • Wear non-slip shoes. Keep your body centered. Move materials with extreme caution.


  • Do not stand above the highest Safe Standing Level of a ladder.

    • These levels are:

      • The second rung from the top of a stepladder,


      • The fourth rung from the top of an extension ladder.




  • Examine your ladder before every use — especially any moving parts. They can be damaged in transit or storage. Do not use a damaged ladder. Never paint a wooden ladder, paint may hide a structural flaw.


  • Overreaching and leaning are falls waiting to happen. Keep your body centered, never let your belt buckle pass beyond the ladder rail. Always keep one hand on the ladder.


SAFETY NOTE :
Always use fiberglass ladders when working with or near electricity.

Safety standards are established by:

  • OSHA -- the Occupational Health and Safety Act and


  • ANSI -- the American National Standards Institute
Back to Top
Interactive Design Tools
Design Tools
Installation Services
Lowe's Installation Guaranteed
If you are not satisfied with the service we provide, we will make it right. Guaranteed.
Tell Us Your Thoughts
Sharing your opinion of this article and your experiences with the project will help us continue offering you valuable advice.
Submit Your Comments

Was this information helpful? Please let us know your do-it-yourself experiences. We'd love to hear from you!

These How-To's are provided as a service from Lowe's, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe's "How-To" clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe's assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. Please read our terms of use.