16 Different Types of Ladders & Their Uses (with Pictures)
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Pete Ortiz - Last updated:
Ladders themselves aren’t a tool, really. You can’t use them to connect two pieces of wood. You can’t use them to shape metal. You can’t even use them to paint the side of your house. A lot of these jobs, however, would be impossible without a ladder.
There are lots of different types of ladders, and some of them are designed with specific jobs in mind. Knowing why certain types of ladders are designed in a certain way, will help you figure out what you need in a ladder.
The 16 Different Types of Ladders
Basic Ladders
There are a couple types of ladders that most everyone has around the house. They provide a few extra feet when you need to do things like store items on a high shelf or even perform basic home maintenance like cleaning out low eaves. They’re super handy and also pretty inexpensive.
1. Step Ladders
2. Step Stool
3. A-frame Ladders
Extension Ladders
Extension ladders allow the user to reach higher points while economizing on space. Users will want to keep safety in mind while using these types of ladders. But, if you need to get up into that hard-to-reach exterior corner to power wash off a wasp’s nest, these are invaluable.
4. Basic Extension Ladders
5. Telescoping Ladders
6. Attic Ladders
7. Flexible Ladders
Versatile Ladders
If you’re going to buy just a single type of ladder beyond the basics, one that can do several things might be a good investment. These types of ladders can be purposed for a wide variety of tasks.
8. Podium Ladders
9. Multipurpose Ladders
10. Articulated Ladders
Painting Ladders
Painting is one job that traditionally required specialized ladders with shelves large enough to hold paint cans. Nowadays, those ladders have fallen out of fashion, and a lot of traditional painting ladders have found a home in DIY projects.
11. Platform Trestle Ladders
Platform trestle ladders are like a miniature form of scaffolding for painting the high parts of an exterior wall. They have a traditional A-frame design with a platform in the middle that provides a stable standing surface. It’s probably not sound enough, however, for high-pressure work.
Related Reads: Which painting ladder should you choose? We’ll help you in this guide
12. A-frame Ladder With Paint Can Shelf
Mobile Ladders
The idea of a mobile ladder might sound frightening, but when done right they can be a very useful tool. As long as you can maintain a stable frame and have locking wheels, mobile ladders are especially useful on wide-open floors like the kind you find in warehouses or large barns.
13. Five-step Portable Ladders
14. Portable Warehouse Ladders
Specialty Ladders
Some ladders don’t fit into a neat category. These are ladders of specialized use or design and even materials. Ladders used for recreation fall into this category because they aren’t used for any kind of industrial use that might make them attractive to contractors.
15. Net Ladder
Ladders made of net or rope are a favorite for kids. They go well as part of a backyard playset or providing easy access to a tree fort. Just make sure that there is something anchoring them into the ground as even with wooden rungs they can prove unsteady for climbing.