A step ladder looks simple, but the label on it matters more than the number of steps. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says the load rating should cover you and your tools, and the ladder should suit the job. Here’s how to check, plus four step ladders from the top 20 of the Stepladders Best Sellers.
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Quick answer
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Measure the highest point you need to reach, then subtract about 1 m (3 ft). That’s the ladder height to look for, according to CCOHS. Then check that the load rating marked on the ladder covers your weight plus your tools.
A simple place to start: the KINGRACK 5-step steel ladder, ranked #6 in Stepladders when we checked. It has handrails on both sides, a tool tray and a safety lock under the top step. Want something lighter? The KINGRACK aluminum 5-step is listed at 6.4 kg.
Four step ladders, by how you’ll use them
| Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| KINGRACK 5-step steel ladder with tool tray (WK2223-5D) | Best for reaching high shelves and light fixtures with handrails to hold. Steel, 5 steps, listed at 330 lb. #6 in Stepladders when we checked. | See price |
| HBTower 5-step ladder with tool tray | Best for a higher stated capacity: the product page lists 600 lb (272 kg). Steel, 5 steps. #19 in Stepladders when we checked. | See price |
| KINGRACK aluminum 5-step ladder (WK3003E-5F) | Best for carrying between rooms. The lightest 5-step here at 6.4 kg, listed at 330 lb. #11 in Stepladders when we checked. | See price |
| HBTower 3-step folding ladder | Best for closets, pantries and low shelves. Steel, 3 steps, listed at 500 lb (227 kg). #2 in Stepladders when we checked. | See price |
Specs come from the retailer’s product pages and can change, so check the current page before you order.
How do you pick the right step ladder?
CCOHS’s advice for choosing one:
- Height: choose a stepladder about 1 m (3 ft) shorter than the highest point you have to reach.
- Load rating: check the rating marked on the ladder. CCOHS says it should cover your weight and the weight of the tools you’ll use.
- Duty grade: under the CSA Z11-18 standard, CCOHS lists Grade 3 (light duty, household) at 91 kg (200 lb), Grade 2 (medium duty) at 102 kg (225 lb), Grade 1 (heavy duty) at 113 kg (250 lb), Grade 1A at 136 kg (300 lb) and Grade 1AA at 170 kg (375 lb).
- Material: where electricity is a hazard, CCOHS says to use a fibreglass ladder. All four ladders above are metal.
The product pages for these four list a load capacity in pounds or kilograms. When the ladder arrives, check the rating label on the ladder itself.
How do you use a step ladder safely?
More from CCOHS:
- Open the spreaders fully and lock the braces.
- Put all the feet on a firm, level and non-slippery surface.
- Face the ladder. Keep three points of contact: two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand.
- Don’t stand, climb or sit on the top of the stepladder or on its pail shelf.
- You’ve climbed too high if your knees are above the top cap, or if you can’t keep a handhold.
- Don’t overreach. Climb down and move the ladder.
- Don’t carry tools in your hand while you climb. Raise them with a hand-line, a bucket or another device.
- One person at a time.
Putting up holiday lights?
CCOHS’s holiday advice: use a ladder or stool when you hang decorations above head height, watch for powerlines, and don’t leave the ladder unattended.
Common questions
Can I stand on the top step? No. CCOHS says not to stand, climb or sit on the top of a stepladder or on its pail shelf.
How much weight can a step ladder hold? Check the rating on the ladder. CCOHS says it should cover your weight plus your tools. The product pages list 330 lb for both KINGRACK ladders, 600 lb for the HBTower 5-step and 500 lb for the HBTower 3-step.
Which 5-step is the lightest? The KINGRACK aluminum, listed at 6.4 kg. The HBTower and KINGRACK steel 5-steps are listed at 9.7 kg and 11.3 kg.
Can I use these near electrical hazards? CCOHS says to use a fibreglass ladder where electricity is a hazard. None of these four is fibreglass.
Before you buy
- Measure the highest point you need to reach, then subtract about 1 m (3 ft).
- Add your weight and your tools together and compare the total with the rating on the ladder.
- Decide where it will be stored. A lighter ladder is easier to carry up from a basement or out of a closet.
- Changing a smoke alarm battery? Our smoke alarm guide covers where to put them and when to replace them.
- Checking your carbon monoxide alarms too? Get a ladder that reaches them.
Sources: CCOHS, Ladders: Step; CCOHS, Ladders: Portable; CCOHS, Ladders: Climbing Up and Down Safely; CCOHS, Holiday Safety. Product details come from the manufacturers’ and retailer’s product pages, so check the current page before you order.
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