All angles The sweet spot
Ladder feel sketchy? Use your angles.
The angleAbout 75°: 1 foot out for every 4 feet up
Set an extension or straight ladder at about 75°. The easy way: for every 4 feet of height to where the ladder rests, put the base 1 foot out from the wall. A ladder reaching 16 feet up needs its base 4 feet out.
The video for this angle is on its way.
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How to do it
- Measure or estimate the height to the point where the ladder touches the wall.
- Divide by 4. That's how far the feet go out from the wall.
- Check: stand at the base with toes touching the rails and arms straight out. Your hands should reach a rung.
- Make sure both feet sit level and firm.
- If you're stepping onto a roof, the ladder should extend 3 feet past the edge.
Where do the feet go?
Base out from wall
Ladder length needed
Add 3 feet if you're stepping onto a roof.
Why it works
Too steep and the ladder can tip backward as you climb. Too shallow and the base can slide out. Around 75° balances the two. This applies to extension and straight ladders, not stepladders.
Questions
Does the 4-to-1 rule work for stepladders?
No. Stepladders are self-supporting and must be fully opened and locked instead.
Where do I measure the height to?
To the point where the ladder rests against the wall or roof edge, not the top of the ladder.