Facing problem for reaching out the roof or apex of the home with your single ladder?
Then, using an extension ladder is always a great idea.
Extension ladders are well-known for their telescoping style or foldable nature. It’s an excellent option if you need to increase or decrease the ladder in height to suit your needs.
If you’re looking for best extension ladders, this guide will present several well-reviewed options that should offer you reliable results.
Lets’ take a closer look at the top 10 products from the best ladder brands that are currently available.
Table of Contents
Best Extension Ladders : Quick Comparison
In A Hurry? Check Out The Top 10.
10 Best Extension Ladders – Pick The Right One
Below you’ll find 10 top extension ladders for 2020. These top 10 continue to outsell any other ladder in the market.
1. Ohuhu Aluminum Telescopic Extension Ladder, Y17-80100-07
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 12.5 feet
- Load Capacity: 330 Pound
- One-button retraction
- Spring Loaded Locking Mechanism
- Storage strap
- Anti-slip top cap
- Non-slip end cap
- Easy carrying base handle
- Descending control key
- ANSI Certified
The Ohuhu Y17-80100-07 is one of the best ladder storage solutions when it comes to buying a high-quality, user-friendly extension ladder. This telescoping style ladder scores excellent reviews from buyers for its extreme versatility, convenience, and of course, PRICE. In fact, this one is one of the best budget-friendly ladders on our list.
Its Great Features Include:
- Aluminum alloy construction makes it lightweight for easy movement around the house and transportation. It’s also great for RVing.
- One button retraction is an excellent feature to adjust the ladder height quickly and effortlessly.
- Impressive 330 pounds weight capacity lets you handle your big project. What’ more, the 12.5 reach height will meet all of your specific needs.
- Non-slip end cap intelligent locking pins hold the ladder in place, making your ladder using experience safe.
- Extra-wide steps of this ladder will ensure your safe footing and climbing.
- Carrying straps are heavy-duty that ensures your ladder will stay closed in compact areas or even the trunk of the car.
- The EN131 and SGS European safety standards compliant mean it’ll provide you some peace of mind.
- Pros
- Best compact ladder
- Sturdy but lightweight
- Easy to extend and close
- Slip-resistant
- More stable and safe
- Compact in the collapsed condition
- Easy to transport
- Extremely affordable
- Cons
- This telescopic ladder tends to accidentally get your fingers pinched when collapsing.
- Conclusion
Overall, for the price, Ohuhu 12.5 ft. is the best telescoping ladder under $100. It’s awesome telescopic ladder so far for the money.
2. TOPRUNG Multi-Purpose Extension Ladder, TSA-U17
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 17 feet
- Load Capacity: 300 pounds
- Aircraft-grade aluminum structure
- Fiberglass steps
- Non-marring rubber feet
- ANSI A14.2 standard
- 2 Years Warranty
Would you like your ladder works as intended?
If you’re searching for such kind of ladder, then TOPRUNG 17 feet multi purpose folding ladder can be the ideal choice for you. Thanks to its convertible design. This TOPRUNG ladder is highly versatile considering that you can set up it in five different ways. Additionally, its 24 different sized provides you the best versatility for your intended work.
Some of its outstanding features of this multi-purpose ladder are:
- Made of aircraft-grade aluminum, this ladder is exceptionally durable.
- Wide rungs increase your stability and balance and reduce fatigue and foot pain while working on it.
- Wide-flared legs make the ladder more stable and safer.
- Non-marring rubber feet make it safe on wood, concrete and even bare ground.
- Pros
- Convertible design- 5 in 1
- Comes fully assembled
- Compact enough to use indoors
- Steady and durable
- Light to carry
- Easy to use
- Stores nicely
- Cons
- Clasp pins are hard to pull out
- Heavy; it requires two people to extend it fully
- Conclusion
In summary, this top-rated multi-purpose extension ladder is exactly what you’re looking for your multi-projects. It’ll not only save you time trying to find the right ladder for your intended work but also help you get the most value for your money.
3. Ideal Choice Product Multi-Purpose Folding Ladder, 90708080
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 15.5FT
- Load Capacity: 330 pounds
- EN131 high-quality aluminum
- Multi-position safety locking hinges
- Slip-resistant rungs
- Stabilizer bars
- Non-slip rubber angled feet
This Multi-Purpose Folding Ladder has the reputation of being reliable and flexible enough to meet the essentials ladder-related needs of a homeowner. It’s capable of handling 330 pounds weight, which is ideal for nearly every uses. Additionally, it allows different configurations to tackle any interior and exterior activities and even working on stairs or uneven surfaces.
Our favorite features that this ladder offers are:
- Multi-position smooth operating hinges allow 5-way configurations for different jobs.
- Heavy-duty bottom rubber protective pads ensure a solid grip and resistance on all floor surfaces.
- Safety lock automatically locks it up once you unfold the ladder
- The foldable design gives it the flexibility and convenience for carrying it around the job site or store away.
- Platform Plates that comes with the ladder lets you stand for stability and safety during manual work on the scaffold
- Pros
- Heavy-duty but light-weight
- Easy to assemble and handle
- Foldable and easy to carry
- Rust-proof
- Cons
- A little flimsy
- In the fully extended position, it’s somewhat unstable
- Not made for heavy professional use.
- Conclusion
To summarize, this multi-purpose ladder can be a great option to fit a huge range of purposes for home and light-weight business use. It’s a great ladder at a reasonable price. Good for the money!
4. Werner D1524-2 Extension-Ladders
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 24 Feet
- Load capacity: 300 pounds
- Free sliding glides
- Aluminum slip-resistant Traction-Tred D rungs
- Rugged spring-loaded locks
- Heavy-duty shoes
- Rope and pulley
- UL listed and labeled
- Meets OSHA standards
- Made In USA
Need a ladder for two-story house? Then this Werner 24 feet ladder can be your right choice.
Werner ladder brand makes the top of the line ladders for a reasonable price. Their D1500-2 series aluminum extension ladders are well-known for their robust construction. And this 24-feet ladder is no exception. Besides, home-uses this ladder is also ideal for industrial purposes. The 300 load capacity means you can use Werner 24 ft. aluminum extension ladder for a variety of projects. Importantly, you can separate the base and fly sections easily and use them as two single sections.
Let’s have a look at its prominent features:
- Sturdy I-beam side rails ensure durability and high-level stability
- The guide bracket helps smooth operation of the fly section.
- Spring-loaded rung lock helps to lock the fly section into a position for secure use.
- The patented ALFLO® rung joint makes the ladder rigid in its fully extended position.
- TRACTION-TRED® D-rungs is a slip-resistant that prevents the user from slipping for added safety.
- The shu-lok feature helps the shoe to rest flat
- Mar-resistant end caps ensure secure use of the ladder
- Pros
- High-performance
- Sturdy and solid
- Weather-proof
- Stacked rail design
- Slip-resistant
- Safe to use
- Cons
- A little heavy
- Conclusion
For handling any ladder-related tasks around to the side of the two-story house, this rigid extension ladder is perfect. Undoubtedly, the purchase of Werner 24 feet D1524-2 ladder will be an excellent investment.
5. Louisville Fiberglass Extension Ladder, FE3228
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 28 feet
- Load Capacity: 300-pound
- Patented quick latch rung lock
- Rope and pulley included
- Steel-plated swivel safety shoes
- Mar resistant rail end caps
- MaxLock with quick latch
- “D” shaped rungs
- Meets or exceeds ANSI 14.4 and CSA grade1
Next, we have this 28 feet ladder from commercial brand Louisville. The 28-feet height makes this one of the best ladders for two-story. Moreover, this fiberglass extension ladder is great for working on electrical jobs. Of course, it’s also ideal for utility, light construction and residential jobs. houses.
The great features include:
- D-shaped rungs ensure stability and slip-resistant standing on the ladder that you need for all your heavy-duty jobs.
- Mar-resistant rail end caps protect landing surface and ensure the longer service life
- Heavy-duty slide guides prevent extending the ladder
- Plated steel swivel shoe with thick rubber treads makes this ladder easy to set up and safe.
- The quick latch system provides safety while it is a fully extended position.
- Outside slide guides enhance the durability, stability and smooth operation.
- Rope and pulley allow for easy extension. On the other hand, it also helps to tie the ladder off while extended.
- Pros
- Industry-standard
- Excellent quality
- Safe and stable
- Easy to use
- Durable and long-lasting
- Cons
- A little pricey
- Conclusion
In fact, this fiberglass ladder is safer than any regular aluminum ladder. It’s durable and provides performance on the jobs for years. Compared to other ladders of its class, even higher price ranges, Louisville FE3228 is excellent for the money. Overall, it’s a well thought out, high-quality ladder, highly recommended for everything from around the house to at work.
6. Werner Extension-Ladders, D1228-2
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 28-Foot
- Load capacity: 225 pounds
- Traction-Tred D-Rungs
- 1-3/4'' traction-tred flat steps
- Spring locks with spring-activated nylon flipper
- ABS gold end caps and rail closures
- Patented ALFLO rung joint
Werner 28- ft D1228-2 is an ideal ladder for home-repair and medium-duty commercial use. It’s built for stability and comfort. The lightweight aluminum construction makes the ladder lightweight for easy setup and transport. Additionally, it provides a sturdy and reliable work surface. Thanks to its smooth-operating pulleys, spring-loaded locks and interlocking side rails that makes extending the ladder easy and smooth.
Let’s see what’s more it offers:
- The patented ALFLO rung joint ensures stability while you work.
- 1-3/4-inch D-rungs provide a flat and comfortable standing surface. What’s more, the D-rungs are traction-tred that means they are slip-resistant for a safe climb and descend.
- ALFLO heavy-duty rung joint keeps the ladder from twisting while in use.
- Shu-lock helps to keep the ladder in position. Additionally, the foot features spur that makes it safe and easy to use on soft ground.
- I-beam rail structure strengthens the aluminum rail, ensuring its durability and safety.
- Mar-resistant end caps help preserve the surface and the ladder lean against.
- Pros
- Medium-duty commercial
- Easy to set up and transport
- Safe and secure
- Slip-resistant
- Smooth sliding
- Superior customer service
- Cons
- Not for heavy-duty use
- Conclusion
Overall, this Werner aluminum extension ladder is a workhorse around the house and yard. For the homeowner, it’s a beast to take care of the house – painting windows, cleaning gutters, cleaning siding, hanging lights, etc. It’s a great Werner ladder at a great price.
7. Louisville Extension Ladder, AE2232
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 32 ft
- Load Capacity: 300-pounds
- Rung lock quicklatch
- D-shaped rungs
- Mar-resistant end caps
- Heavy-duty plated steel swivel safety shoes
- Rope and pulley
- ANSI and OSHA standard
It’s our second inclusion from the market leader Louisville. And this time, it’s 32 Ft AE2232, one of the best ladder for two story house. Due to its several useful features, this ladder is favored by contractors and industrial users. First of all, the 300 pounds load capacity and the 32-feet extension make this ladder ideal for working on residential and light construction jobs. Secondly, it meets or exceeds the ANSI and OSHA safety standard that means you can use it safely and securely.
So, what’s more it offers? Let’s see.
- The full I-Beam construction and heavy-duty side rails keep the ladder rigid to keep users at ease when climbing.
- D-shaped rungs ensure flat and comfortable standing
- Outside metal slide guides at the top of the base section make it stable and secure, preventing separation of the flying part. Additionally, it prevents the overextending of the ladder.
- Swivel safety shoes ensure safe footing on the uneven surfaces. Quick latch rung locks help the ladder keep extended.
- Impact-resistant end caps on the top and bottom of the fly section provide rails protection and durability as well.
- Pros
- Safe and easy to use
- Easy to move, place, extend by a single person
- Reasonably lightweight, yet strong
- Useful and reliable
- Well-made and durable
- Cons
- Rung lockers are made out of plastic
- Conclusion
Louisville AE2232 is the lightest ladder at this 32 feet length. That is to say; it’s perfect for anyone with a two-story house, needs a sturdy ladder to feel comfortable to reach the roof or to go up any distance. It’s also great for light-duty industrial jobs.
8. DeWalt Fiberglass Extension Ladder, DXL3020-28PT
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 28-Foot
- Load Capacity: 300-Pound
- Non-marring durable top with tool slots
- Rungs end caps
- Quick latch
- Nylon rope
- Steel shoes
DeWalt extension ladder, DXL3020-28PT is not only sturdy and functional but also elegant and stylish. The 300-pound capacity, 28 feet height, provides a safe elevation for utility, electrical, heavy construction, as well as residential jobs.
It comes loaded with many features. Let’s look at some of them.
- The innovative- designed handy top improves user experiences. It includes hardware tray, tool and drill slots for a convenient work surface.
- Non-marring rubber side prevents scratches on the landing surface. Additionally, it provides wider contact when leaning against pole, wall or any irregular surfaces.
- Wrap around and heavy-duty steel shoes ensure its stability and support. The shoes are swivel so that you can place them safely even on an irregular surface.
- Nonconductive full channel rails that are covered with polyester offers years of service life.
- The Rung Locks with quick latch provide ease of use, ensures safe climb and enhance safety.
- Nylon rope helps easy extension and stronger support when extending and collapsing the ladder. It also provides strength & durability during heavy use.
- Pros
- Elegant design
- Smooth finish
- Highly functional
- Scratch-resistant
- Built smartly
- Weather-proof
- Wobbling when it’s fully extended
- Cons
- A little heavier
- Conclusion
In short, it’s a pretty good fiberglass extension ladder that offers outstanding value. It’s exceptionally sturdy, handy size and all of its parts are designed to take a lot of abuse.
9. Louisville L-3022-24PT Fiberglass Extension Ladder
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 24-Foot
- Load Capacity: 300-Pound
- Pole grip V-design
- Integrated bumper
- Wider design
- Rung lock with QUICKLATCH
- Swivel safety shoes w/metal shield
- Slip-resistant D-shaped rungs
- Outside slide guides
- Innovative design Work tray
- Meet or exceed all safety standards set by ANSI and OSHA
Louisville L-3022-24PT is an exclusively designed fiberglass ladder, ideal for electrical, utility, heavy construction, and residential jobs. The best aspect of this ladder is its PATENTED PRO-TOP SYSTEM.
Let’s proceed to learn more about this product.
- Molded work-tray (non-conductive) with convenient handyman’s tool slots help to keeps tools in place and accessible.
- The Corner grip, V-shape design of the Pro-Top provides greater stability on corners.
- The integrated bumper features soft rubber tread (non-marring) that protects the work surface.
- The Pole grip with its V-shape design makes it perfect for working against trees or poles.
- The exclusive QUICKLATCH rung lock and one finger operation make locking it quick and easy for securing the sections when the ladder is on extended position.
- D-shaped aluminum rungs serrated on the top for a slip-resistant and greater standing surface.
- The steel-plated swivel safety shoes can be used with tread down or in a straight position. It makes this ladder safe and easy to use.
- Two heavy-duty outside guides secure the top of the base section. The four heavy-duty rivets provide maximum strength. And the stop on the fly section ensures overextending.
- Pros
- Innovative design
- Functional and durable
- Great for Corner set up
- Safe and easy to use
- Stable and durable
- Cons
- Heavier, hard to raise single-handed
- Conclusion
To sum up, it’s a well- built heavy-duty ladder. The addition of “PRO-TOP” is an excellent idea that you’d wonder why all other brands aren’t utilizing it.
10. Little Giant Velocity Multi-Use Ladder, 15422-001
Key Features at a Glance
- Height: 22-Foot
- Load Capacity: 300-Pound
- Weight 39 pounds
- Aerospace-grade aluminum construction
- Dual-pin hinge
- Wide-flared legs
- Tip & Glide Wheels
- Exceeds all OSHA and ANSI standards
Our top 10 list will remain incomplete if we don’t add this ladder from the market leader LITTLE GIANT. You’ll enjoy an unmatched feeling of stability and functionality when climbing on this Little Giant ladder. In fact, it’s a real two-person ladder.
This professional-grade ladder system comes with the following features
- 5 in 1 that means you can use the right ladder for your job every time. Thanks to its convertible design that let you use it up to 33 unique configurations.
- Dual-pin hinge along with the aluminum construction offers greater extension stability.
- The rock lock system makes it easy and quick to configure and adjust the length of the ladder according to your needs.
- The wide rungs increase your stability and balance and reduce foot pain and fatigue while working a long time on the ladder.
- Wide-flared legs ensure optimal stability and safety.
- Tip & Glide Wheels help to transport the ladder easily.
- Pros
- Well-thought design
- Highest quality construction
- Convertible design
- Simple and quick adjustment
- Versatile and comfortable
- Safe and reliable
- Effortless to configure and use
- Easy to transport
- Reasonable price
- Cons
- Somewhat wobble when fully extended
- Conclusion
In short, this little giant folding ladder is a very high-quality, flexible option to buy. It offers numerous uses and configurations and is simple enough to use. This best-reviewed ladder can be a great deal for you at a reasonable price.
How To Choose An Extension Ladder?
You’ll find many extension ladders that vary from each other in size, weight capacity, materials and other features. Not all ladders will be perfect for your intended work.
To choose the right one for your needs, consider the following things.
Select The Right Ladder Materials
Modern ladders come in fiberglass and aluminum construction. Based on your work type, choose the right ladder materials. For example, for electrical work or working around electricity, fiberglass is the safest option.
Both the aluminum and aluminum alloy ladders are lightweight. But aluminum alloy ladders aren’t as sturdy as the pure aluminum ladder. However, on the positive side, aluminum alloy ladders are more affordable than the pure aluminum one.
Select The Right Height Of Your Ladder
Before choosing the ladder height, consider the required overlap, the angle of the ladder and the highest standing point on the ladder. These factors affect the proper working. It’s also essential to take into considering the extension above the roofline if you use your extension ladder for accessing the roof. To repeat, for accessing a roof, your extension ladder must be long enough to extend it at least three ft. beyond the roofline.
Extension Ladder Height Chart
Selecting The Proper Load Capacity
Ladders come with different weight capacities (duty rating). While choosing the right load capacity of a ladder, consider the user’s weight and the potential weight of the materials or tools that he/she may need to carry onto the ladder.
Ladder Duty-Rating Chart
Safety Features And Ease Of Use
Consider the convenience and safety of the ladder. Extending, collapsing and using an extension ladder must be easy. Besides construction quality, check the safety features such as locks that secure it when extended. Also, check the stability as well as maintenance ease and cost.
What Is Extension Ladder?
An extension ladder is one type of telescoping ladder that is adjustable in length. In general, this non-self-supporting ladder consists of two or three overlapping sections that travel in guides. The telescopic sections are known as Fly Sections that incorporate locks.
This type of ladder is designed to support a specific weight and level of usage. Usually, you’ll find the duty rating printed on the color-coded label on the side rail. For construction-related job Type I, IA and IAA are the only recommended duty-ratings. The fiberglass ladders with non-conductive side rails are safe to work near electricity.
How To Extend An Extension Ladder?
There are some basic parts that an extension ladder consisted of. You should be familiar with those parts before attempt to extend the ladder. These are:
- Safety shoes make contact with the ground when the ladder is standing position.
- Fly section extends upwards and you’ll climb on this section when you get closer to the top of the ladder.
- The base section remains on the place and the fly section glides over on it.
Follow the steps below to extend your extension ladder.
Step 1: Place the ladder close to the wall or house keeping the fly section in front. Try to keep it vertical when raising it.
Step 2: Smaller ladders do not come with pulley and rope. To extend your smaller ladder, simply push the fly section up manually.
Step 3: The largest extension ladder usually comes with rope and pulley. Pull on the rope of the ladder to extend it. The rope needs to be clear of obstruction so that the pulley runs smoothly.
Step 4: During the raising process, make sure that at least one person holds both the rails of the base.
Step 5: By using the rung lock, lock the fly section in place.
Step 6: When extending at your required height of the roof level, rest the ladder against the roof.
Step 7: If you need to work on a roof, it’s safe to extend the ladder at least 3 ft. above the landing space.
Step 8: Make sure both top ends of the flying sections have touch and good contact with the structure that your ladder leaned against.
Step 9: Slowly pull the base section away the support wall until it’s at the right angle. Follow the angle rule.
Step 10: Make sure that the feet of the ladders are solidly seated on the ground. By using ladder levelers or simply digging out the ground level the feet.
Step 11: Use a block to prevent the bottom of the ladder from slipping.
Related : How to setup an extension ladder?
Extension Ladder Safety Rules
- Place your ladder on a dry and even surface.
- Set your ladder properly follow the angle rules.
- Never climb on the ladder on barefoot. Wear non-slip shoes.
- Don’t step on the top three rungs of the extension ladder.
- Never shift or move the ladder while someone is on the ladder.
- Before expanding your extension ladder, make sure that there is no overhead electric wire or any other obstruction.
- Raising or lifting a ladder in an incorrect posture may lead to injury. So, when lifting follows the proper lift techniques.
- Don’t place your ladder too close to the edge of the wall or supporting structure.
Conclusion
We aim to help you to find the best extension ladders for your needs quickly and efficiently.
Hope this top 10 list and the detailed information were sufficient to help you make a wise buying decision.
Enjoy your ladder shopping! Good luck.