Ladder Angle Calculator

What angle should a ladder be?

ft
ft

Your ladder sits at

76°from the ground

OSHA 1926.1053 calls for the foot about one quarter of the working length from the support, roughly 75.5 degrees. Rails should reach 3 ft above an upper landing.

3 ft out76 degrees12 ft upClose to 4 to 1
Target distance out3 ft
Ladder length at that angle12.4 ft
With 3 ft above the landing15.4 ft
SetupClose to 4 to 1

Enter the height and how far the foot sits out to see your angle and the 4 to 1 target.

How it works

Arctangent of height over distance gives the angle. The target distance is one quarter of the working height.

Before you order

  • Stand with toes against the feet and arms straight. Your hands should reach a rung.
  • Tie off the top when you can.
  • Keep your belt buckle between the rails as you work.

Common questions

What is the 4 to 1 rule?

One foot out from the wall for every 4 feet of height to the top support.

How high above a roof should a ladder go?

At least 3 feet past the landing, per OSHA.