9 Best Folding Step Ladders of 2024

They might sound like the bad guy in a sci-fi film, but Draak happen to make some excellent DIY products as well as one of the best step ladders for the money. Their 6-step aluminium ladder is just the right thing to store in your shed for when you need to get up high. It’s incredibly lightweight and has reliably grippy steps.

This is the classic type of aluminium step ladder that would be found in any DIYer’s arsenal of useful kit. If you’re planning on doing a spot of re-decorating, then you can’t go far wrong with a step ladder that reaches up to 184 cm. Other ladders in the Draak range include 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8-step versions.

The steps have a nice, machined finish to them that helps you to grip on, and the top curved part is longer, meaning you can lean on it for a bit of extra balance. With a maximum loaded weight of 150 kg, this lightweight ladder can easily accommodate heavier individuals plus their tools. It’s one of the best sets of steps I’ve seen in a while.

Step stool and folding ladder experts XinSunho know a thing or two about making the best step ladders. The best all-round ladder they produce is this five-step retractable step version. It folds down incredibly small but can still help you reach up to the highest shelves in your house.

Made from bright aluminium, this is a step ladder with a clever action. The wide steps pivot through 90° when you open the ladder up, which allows for two things. Firstly, it folds down incredibly flat, and the profile is less than 7 cm when it’s folded up. Secondly, the steps are nice and deep, allowing plenty of room for big feet. And with a maximum height of 151 cm, it’s tall enough for most DIY situations.

The secret weapon that this ladder packs is the retractable top-hand grip. Once you’ve opened the ladder and locked it into place, you can extend the top section by almost 20 cm. This extra bit of grip gives you something to hang on to when climbing the ladder. XinSunho also make this handy ladder in 3 and 4-step versions.

As you might guess from their name, Kingrack manufacture an impressive range of clever storage solutions and other equipment designed for the home. If you need a small set of steps that fold away but still let you reach that top shelf, then their three-step ladder fits the bill. You don’t always need a full set of steps, so having this miniature version tucked away is rather handy.

Even though this looks like a toy version of a regular step ladder, it’s ruggedly built from aluminium box section and can hold as much weight as a full-size ladder. You also get excellent non-slip steps and a wide top platform that allows you to work at a maximum height of just under 61 cm.

Folding the steps flat is easy, and once retracted they’re slim enough to fit in a cupboard without taking up too much room. The bottoms of the legs have grippy rubber feet to stop them sliding around, and at less than 4 kg they’re the lightest steps on my list. A great choice for when you don’t need a full-size ladder.

If you need heavy-duty equipment like sturdy metal cabinets or chunky cable protectors, then The Workplace Depot is the place to go. And if you need a serious set of steps that are safe to use around live electricity, their eight-tread fibreglass step ladder is one of the best in the business. With a huge reach and impressive maximum load capacity, this is a serious ladder to have in your arsenal.

This big beast of a step ladder is made from fibreglass. This provides several benefits over metal ladders, as it’s incredibly weather resistant, stronger than tubular or box section aluminium, and non-conductive to electricity. Available in 4 and six-tread versions, it’s a solid series of ladders.

There’s a huge amount to reach with this eight-tread ladder. Reaching nearly 2.5 m in the air, you can comfortably work at heights other ladders wish they could achieve. And when you’re up at the top of the ladder, there’s a handy tray that can hold tools, rolls of tape, or even a precious cuppa. This huge ladder is ideal for indoor as well as outdoor jobs and could easily reach a loft hatch.

If you need a new set of shelves for the garage, a decorative post box, or clothes airer, homewares outfit Home Vida have got your back. And if you need a really solid set of steps, their step ladder with safety handrail is one of the best. Made from chunky tubular steel, it’s as solid as a rock and easy to climb thanks to its textured treads.

Ideally designed for anyone who wants to climb up high, but not without extra support, the four steps on this ladder will get you up to just under 1 m high. That’s high enough to reach most things around the home or garden, and you have big handrails on either side to hang on to.

To add to the stability, the legs splay out at the bottom and have rubber feet for gripping onto a range of surfaces. Each folding tread has a ribbed, rubberised texture that allows for excellent grip, whatever the weather. It can take up to 150 kg maximum load as well, so it’s ideal for working on, even with your tools.

British company Beldray are famous for inventing the folding ironing board, but also make one of the best kitchen steps that I’ve come across. With more than 150 years of experience, they know a thing or two about what works well in the home. The LA023957TQ two-step ladder is great. It’s small, folds down flat, and it even looks good.

Made from steel box section, this simple set of steps is rugged and reliable without taking up too much room. The two treads are wide and have a turquoise-coloured non-slip coating on them, so it doesn’t look ugly in your kitchen.

When standing on the top step, you get an extra 47 cm of height from the floor, and you can use the large, curved handle on the top to help keep yourself steady. Weighing in at just over 4 kg, it’s not exactly lightweight, but it feels nice and solid. And if you need a bit more reach, there’s a three-step version available.

Don’t be put off by the bizarre brand name, BQKOZFIN know a thing or two about making the best folding step stools, alongside a whole host of clever storage and safety items. Their three-step folding ladder is a sturdy little piece of kit that you can stow away just about anywhere. It looks pretty good in jet black, but you can opt for a silver version if that’s what you like.

This set of steps is deceptively simple, and just the right thing to hide under the stairs for when you need that extra bit of reach. You unfold the aluminium alloy “A” frame, the steps pivot around, and you’ve got yourself an extra 66 cm of height from the top step. Rated to a maximum load weight of 150 kg, it should be strong enough to hold whatever you need it to.

Each tread is textured for extra grip and seeing as it weighs less than 4.5 kg it’s easy to manoeuvre to where you need it. The bottom of each leg has a non-slip ferrule, and if you need some extra height there’s a four-step version available too. It might be small, but it’s a handy little set of steps to have around.

Manchester-based VonHaus make a rather impressive range of tools, gadgets, and accessories. Their three step folding ladder has a simple and robust design, and all the features you need to feel safe when climbing up to dust the picture rails. It’s not a bad price for a folding step stool either.

Made from alloy steel and featuring three rubberised treads, this step stool folds out easily and has the all-important safety handle on top. It means you have something to grip on when you’re climbing up. The top step is 70 cm off the floor, so you can add a lot of height by climbing just a few steps.

Each deep tread features a texturised rubber foot pad. This should keep you from sliding about, compared with raw aluminium treads, and means you can climb up and down confidently. They’re heavier than aluminium steps but nice and sturdy.

There’s probably only one brand of ladder that I can think of, and that’s Werner. The daddy of all professional ladder makes, they’re spotted on building sites and on top of vans all over the country. The 7160618 fibreglass swingback stepladder is just one of a huge range of pro-level ladders that they sell. If you’re looking for a robust, safe, and well-tested ladder, this is it.

Although Werner sells ladders in almost any size, this five-step “swingback” style ladder is one of the most versatile. Reaching up to 167 cm when open, you can also use it closed for 184 cm overall height. The fibreglass construction means you can use it around live electrics as it’s non-conductive.

The wide treads have grip machined into them, and when you get to the top there’s a handy tray that can hold your tape, some hand tools, or whatever you need when you get there. The robust extra strengthening features and overall rugged design mean this ladder can take a lot of abuse, so it’s probably worth the extra money.