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10 Best Above Ground Pool Ladders of 2024 – Top Picks & Reviews

above ground pool on commercial pad

above ground pool on commercial pad

The pool ladder may seem like a trivial purchase, but it’s actually a serious decision. A cheap pool ladder isn’t going to last very long. It may rust, come loose, develop sharp spots that can cause injury. Worst case scenario, the wrong pool ladder can be a serious safety concern.

You don’t want that, and we don’t want it for you. That is why we have assembled this handy guide to help you pick the right one. Read on for some above ground pool ladders reviews!

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A Quick Glance at the Winners of 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Blue Wave Stainless Steel Pool Ladder Blue Wave Stainless Steel Pool Ladder
  • Sturdy build
  • Textured rungs
  • Good for almost any type of pool
  • Second place
    Confer Above Ground Pool Ladder Steps Confer Above Ground Pool Ladder Steps
  • Provides easy access to pool
  • Very durable
  • Weight rating 400 pounds
  • Best Value
    Third place
    Bestway Above Ground Pool Ladder Bestway Above Ground Pool Ladder
  • Best for the money
  • Durable steps
  • Easy to assemble
  • Confer Economy Pool Ladder (635-52X) Confer Economy Pool Ladder (635-52X)
  • Affordable
  • Durable
  • Vinyl Works Slide-Lock Pool Ladder Vinyl Works Slide-Lock Pool Ladder
  • Safety sliding feature
  • Erosion-proof
  • The 10 Best Above-Ground Pool Ladders

    1. Blue Wave Stainless Steel Pool Ladder – Best Overall

    Blue Wave NE1145 Premium Stainless Steel

    First on our list of the best above-ground pool ladders, we have the Blue Wave NE1145 premium stainless-steel ladder. This unit secured its place at the top by being sturdy, eye-catching, and moderately priced.

    Essentially, this option is able to check all of the boxes we look for in a pool ladder. The stainless-steel make will ensure that it stands up to the erosive chemicals of the pool. This is a basic element of pool ladders, very necessary for their long-term performance. It is also a requirement not all units are able to meet.

    Each rung of the ladder is also suited with textured treading that will be comfortable on your feet while still providing plenty of grip. This feature is great because it will help eliminate the possibility of slips as people get in and out of the pool.

    Finally, this ladder is also equipped to suit a wide range of pools. It can, of course, easily be connected with flat bottomed pools, but it also features a pivot bottom that will make it equally well equipped to deal with slopes.

    As far as cons are concerned, we didn’t find much to complain about. The biggest issue we found was that assembly hardware is not included in the packaging. This means that when the package arrives you will need to consult the instructions and go on a scavenger hunt to pick up the missing pieces. Otherwise, it is a good option at a fair price.

    Pros
    • Reasonable price
    • Sturdy build
    • Textured rungs
    • Good for almost any type of pool
    Cons
    • Missing some assembly hardware

    2. Confer Above Ground Pool Ladder Steps

    Confer Staircase Style Above Ground Pool Steps

    The Confer Staircase unit, our pick for the best above ground pool steps for the money, has the appearance of a small staircase. Besides potentially being more cosmetically appealing (depending on your taste), there are advantages to this concept.

    The staircase setup may make it easier for people with physical limitations to enter the pool, as they can access the ladder the same way they would any other set of stairs. We also liked that these steps were made to accommodate almost anyone. They have a maximum weight rating of 400 pounds, which means that they will be able to safely support most people.

    So, why didn’t it take the top slot? Our biggest problem with this ladder is that it is light. Really light. Because of that, it will bob up and down with the water, and make entering and exiting the pool unstable in some situations.

    You can weight the stairs with sand, or other materials as you see fit, but even then, they are still lighter than most options.

    The unit is also more expensive than the last we saw, meaning you may want to look elsewhere if value is your highest priority.

    Pros
    • Provides easy access to pool
    • Very durable
    • Weight rating 400 pounds
    Cons
    • Too light

    3. Bestway Above Ground Pool Ladder – Best Value

    Bestway Flowclear 36

    In our best for the money slot we have the Bestway Flowclear, a sturdy ladder that packs in plenty of value.

    Price is certainly this product’s most significant virtue, but it also features an easy assembly, and durable plastic steps that offer safe, slip-free access to the pool.

    That said, we did have a few qualms. For one thing, this ladder is extremely narrow. If you have a wider frame, you may find it difficult to use this ladder at all. It’s also really lightweight, which means the side of the ladder in the pool is going to bob and move quite a bit.

    These issues may eliminate this unit as an option for some buyers. However, if your main objective is to get a usable product at a wallet-friendly price, this option would be hard to beat.

    Pros
    • Best for the money
    • Durable steps
    • Easy to assemble
    Cons
    • Lightweight
    • Very narrow

    4. Confer Economy Pool Ladder (635-52X)

    Confer Economy in-Pool Ladder - 635-52X

    Penultimately, we have another unit from Confer. The Economy in-Pool Ladder is, as the name suggests, an affordable option for buyers on a budget. We also found that it is easy to assemble and (by virtue of its plastic design) completely resistant to erosion.

    Unfortunately, there were some compromises to quality that seem to come with the savings.

    One thing we noticed was that the rungs were made very thin. As a result, they put a good deal of uncomfortable pressure on the soles of your feet.

    We also found that, despite the fact that it doesn’t feature metal, it can be very sharp around the edges.

    These things aside, it is a good, sturdy, budget friendly option.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Durable
    Cons
    • Thin rungs
    • Sharp spots

    5. Vinyl Works Slide-Lock Pool Ladder

    Vinyl Works Slide-Lock A-Frame Ladder

    Finally, let’s look at the Vinyl Works Slide-Lock ladder. As the name suggests, this unit features an all plastic build, which means it is ostensibly immune to erosion.

    It also includes a unique safety feature on the exterior side of the steps. The exterior steps can slide and lock upwards to prevent your children from gaining unsupervised access to the pool. Unfortunately, however, we did find some cons that might make buyers think twice before buying this unique ladder.

    We found the unit to be very wobbly, which can be a safety concern when getting in or out of the pool. We also found that the sliding mechanism that lends safety to the stairs has a big con. When adult-sized people use the ladder, the stairs can pop out of the sliding track, leading to regular, frustrating maintenance.

    It is also worth mentioning that the package doesn’t come with enough hardware, so you will need to make a trip to the hardware store when your package arrives.

    Ultimately, this ladder has a great concept, but a lot of work needs to be done before it’s fully realized.

    Pros
    • Safety sliding feature
    • Erosion-proof
    Cons
    • Sliding steps pop out of track easily
    • Unit very wobbly
    • Doesn’t come with proper hardware

    6. Confer 6000X Above-Ground Pool-Ladder

    Confer 6000X

    The Confer 6000X is a sturdy ladder that’s adjustable for pools from 48-54 inches deep, with a weight capacity of 300 pounds. Crafted from a long-lasting resin, this ladder won’t corrode or rust. The no-swim barrier prevents children from getting stuck behind the ladder, an essential safety feature.

    We noticed two drawbacks with the Confer 6000X. First, the included screws are very prone to rust and left two large rust marks on our deck. Next, on pools deeper than 48 inches, the adjustable length struts on the bottom tended to float off. This was a recurring issue that we were never quite able to remedy, preventing this ladder from getting a higher recommendation.

    Pros
    • Resin won’t rust or corrode
    • No-swim barrier
    Cons
    • Included screws rusted
    • On deeper pools, the struts won’t stay on

    7. Champlain Drop-in Step & Pool Ladder

    Champlain Plastics

    For both children and older folks, a set of stairs may be much easier to use than a vertical ladder. The Champlain Plastics drop-in stepsare an alternative to consider. Easy to install and use, this unit drops right into your pool and the handrails attach to the deck. An outside portion is available separately to turn this into an A-frame ladder, should you need such capability.

    One thing we found is that there is no support under the top step. This caused it to sag under heavier loads, and we question its longevity. Also, these stairs did tend to move a bit while walking up them. For most, this won’t be an issue. Some people with balance problems might find it disconcerting though. The final problem we had is a safety issue. There is nothing to stop children from swimming behind the stairs. They could potentially get stuck there, which is why most brands include a no-swim blockade in the rear.

    Pros
    • Easy to install
    • Easier to walk than a ladder
    Cons
    • No support under the top step
    • No way to prevent children from going behind
    • Can move when walking up

    8. Easy-Incline Above Ground Pool-Ladder

    Main Access

    With a standard 300-pound weight capacity, this Easy-Incline above ground pool ladder should provide plenty of strength for guests to get in and out of almost any pool. It’s also very affordable, which may make it attractive to many homeowners. When it arrived, we quickly realized it’s not quite as simple to install as some of the other drop-in type ladders and steps.

    At first, we only secured the top, but this wasn’t sufficient. The ladder kept floating away from the wall, causing undue stress on the mounting brackets that would almost certainly be a problem in the future. We also noticed that the feet were damaging the liner behind, an issue that could lead to a real headache if you spring a leak.

    Pros
    • Strong 300-pound weight capacity
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • If not secured to pool wall, it can break
    • Not the easiest to install
    • Ladder can damage pool liner

    9. XtremepowerUS 32 Inch Ladders

    XtremepowerUS

    With a weight capacity of 400 pounds, this safety step above ground swimming pool ladder from XtremepowerUS is one of the strongest ones available. Despite the high weight rating, the rails were flimsy and did not hold up to even light use. The stairs themselves felt strong, but the railings should not even be used for pulling yourself from the pool. This was the first disappointment.

    These stairs tend to float up, even though they’re very heavy. The weight also made them more difficult to install. Since these aren’t one of the cheapest options, we had hoped to see better quality. Although they are strong, we think you’d get better value from a set that has usable railings.

    Pros
    • 400-pound weight capacity
    Cons
    • Flimsy railings
    • Trouble with stairs floating
    • Heavy weight makes install difficult

    10. Swimline Ladder with Barrier

    International Leisure

    If you’re price shopping for your new above ground pool ladder, then you’ll probably spend some time checking out this A-frame ladder from Swimline. As the lowest-priced option we tested, we didn’t expect very much from it to begin with. We weren’t really surprised, either. To start, it took us hours to set up. Once assembled, the entire unit was very shaky and didn’t feel sturdy. The base is too narrow, which meant that the ladder always felt like it wanted to tip over. This could be a very dangerous situation if it occurs.

    We appreciated the no-swim safety barrier to prevent children from getting stuck behind it, though. Despite the low price and several desirable features, we just don’t think this above ground pool ladder is safe enough. We recommend picking something much more secure and stable instead.

    Pros
    • Very affordable
    • No-swim safety barrier
    Cons
    • Shaky and flimsy
    • Assembly is long and tedious
    • Narrow base is unstable
    • Tip-over is possible

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    Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Above-Ground Pool Ladder

    You’ve read your reviews, but you aren’t quite sure which option came out as the winner. We get it. There are lots of considerations to factor in. That is why we’ve put together this useful buyer’s guide to help you make your decision.

    Price

    Price is an important buying consideration with any purchase. As you probably saw on our list today, pool ladder prices can range pretty widely.

    Budget mindfulness is always important, but remember that it is to everyone’s benefit that you get something sturdy, safe, and built to last.

    A durable ladder that survives years of use will ultimately be much more affordable than one that doesn’t make it through its first summer. And of course, there is no putting a price on good safety features.

    If you find an affordable above-ground pool ladder, that’s great. But before you get too excited, make sure that it is safe and of a sound build.

    Weight Rating

    Weight rating is another important thing to factor into your decision-making process. While virtually every ladder will be able to accommodate weights of 300 pounds or more, it may be to your benefit to get the highest weight rating you can find.

    Why? Well, for one thing, it does make your pool safer for a wider range of people. But it also ensures that the ladder will be able to stand up to horseplay if your kids are goofing around.

    Best pool practices see only one person using the ladder at a time.

    However, that might not be what actually happens at say, a pool party. You want something that will be able to stand up to rough play, as well as recommended use.

    Materials Used

    There are pros and cons to both stainless steel and vinyl. On the one hand, stainless steel is going to be very durable, and possibly more slip-resistant on the rungs.

    On the other hand, it will erode over time.

    The reverse is true of vinyl. Vinyl will essentially never erode, but it also won’t be quite as durable as stainless steel.

    Style

    We saw two different styles on our product list today. Traditional rung ladders and one unit that was in the design style of a staircase.

    The difference is mostly cosmetic, but, as we mentioned in our reviews, the staircase model might be a little bit friendlier to people with physical limitations.

    Which you pick is ultimately going to be a personal choice. Just remember that you do have a variety of different options.

    The Rungs

    The rungs are one of the most important aspects of any above-ground pool ladder. Ideally, you want your rungs to be wide enough to comfortably accommodate a human foot. You also want them to have a slip-resistant texture that will ensure the ladder is safe to use.

    When buying online it can be hard to know how good the rungs are just by looking at pictures, so feel free to check in with what people who’ve used it are saying. If the rungs are no good, they will definitely be mentioning it.

    Weight

    Last but not least, you should consider the weight of the ladder that you choose. When a ladder doesn’t have enough going for it in the weight department, it will move and bob around with the water. This won’t always be a huge problem, but it can cause concern for the safety of the product.

    If you are buying an above-ground pool ladder that isn’t designed to be fastened onto the wall of your pool, make sure there is a weighting system in place.

    Some free-hanging ladders will include ways for you to weight them so that they don’t move around.

    Other gear you may want to consider for your pool:

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    Conclusion

    Now that you have read our above-ground pool ladder reviews, it is time to start thinking about which one you want to buy. As you can see on the list above, there were a couple of ladders that stood out.

    Shoppers who are looking for the best above-ground pool ladder may find the Blue Wave unit to be to their liking. However, if you need to be more mindful of budget, you might like our best above-ground pool ladder for the money pick, the Bestway Flowclear.

    Of course, now that you have read our buyer’s guide, you are free to make your own informed decision.


    Featured Image Credit: Boris Mrdja, Shutterstock

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