featured image showing ladder duty ratings

What are Ladder Duty Ratings and Ladder Load Capacities?

Duty ratings were setup to provide some consistency and standards governing the safe construction, design, testing, care and use of portable ladders of various types and styles.

Ladder styles include portable stepladders, step stools, extension ladders, trestle ladders, sectional ladders, combination ladders, single ladders, platform ladders, and articulating ladders.

Each duty rating relates to a correlating maximum weight capacity (or load capacity) the ladder can safely carry. The maximum weight or load is the combination of several factors:

  • Your weight, plus
  • Weight of clothing and protective gear you’re wearing, plus
  • Weight of tools and supplies being used and stored on the ladder

Safety standards require a Duty Rating sticker to be placed on the side of every ladder. There is no correlation between the ladder length and weight capacity. So do not assume that a ladder with longer reach has a higher weight capacity.

ladder duty rating stickers on side of ladders

Duty Ratings Explained

There are five categories of ladder Duty Ratings:

Type l
A Type I ladder is the most widely used for professional services like that of contractors, public utilities, and construction workers. Regardless of the material construction of the ladder, Type 1 ladders are built in lengths from 3 to 20 feet. This rating is broken down into three subcategories:

  • Type 1 step ladders are built for occupant loads up to 250 lbs.
  • Type1A step ladders are built for occupant loads up to 300 lbs.
  • Type1AA step ladders are built for occupant loads up to 375 lbs.

Type II
Type 11 ladders also run in lengths of 3 to 20 feet long. They are used in more commercial applications like painters, interior decorators, maintenance workers, and electricians. They have a weight maximum of 225 lbs. Type II ladders are manufactured in wood, fiberglass, and aluminum and are commonly used for medium-duty use.

Type III
Type III ladders are most typically household ladders. They only handle a load capacity of 200 lbs and are primarily used for light-duty use. These ladders are typically manufactured in lengths between 3 to 6 feet.

Here is a quick recap of duty ratings and load capacities:

Type III (Light Duty)200 pounds
Type II (Medium Duty) 225 pounds
Type l (Heavy Duty)250 pounds
Type lA (Extra Heavy Duty)300 pounds
Type lAA (Extra Heavy Duty)375 pounds

About Sunset Ladder & Scaffold
Sunset Ladder and Scaffold rents and sells the safest and highest quality ladders, scaffolding and related products available since 1929. We rent and sell ALL types of ladders and scaffolding that the industry offers including our own American-made Sunset Ladder Co and EZ Lift™ brands.

9 thoughts on “What are Ladder Duty Ratings and Ladder Load Capacities?

  1. I have a type two 40 foot ladder and need to clean my gutters on a 2 story house but I weight 280 , now could I trust this ladder to hold me to clean my gutters ?

    1. Type II ladders typically have a total load capacity of 225 lbs. If you weigh 280 lbs. that would exceed the safe load capacity for your ladder.

  2. Good day very nice blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am satisfied to search out so many helpful information here within the publish, we want develop extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.

  3. Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate
    your efforts and I am waiting for your further write ups thanks once again.

  4. We have a model # FE1A40 ladder. The load capacity says 250 lbs but the Duty Rating is 1A which would mean 300 lbs. What is the actual load capacity of this ladder? How do we determine this going forward with different model #’s?

    Thank you.

    1. It is not unusual for Fiberglass extension ladders of 36’ and 40’ lengths to drop down to a 250Lb load capacity, that is the practice of several manufacturers regardless of the model number. The label on the ladder should in fact say it has a 250lb load capacity.

  5. I have a little giant ladder, that holds 250 lbs, I weight 300 lbs and have never had any trouble with it not holding my weight. I was always told for a long time now that the ratings of ladders is 5 times what the actual weight limit is. Yes this does change depending on how you use it. Such at if you take my ladder and extend it and open it flat and lay a plank on it and use it as a deck to work on the side of a building. I have my self my equipment and materials on it and I have never had it break or had any trouble.
    If you take 200 lbs and drop it 12″ it will hit with 1783lbs of pressure. So yes you don’t want to get on the ladder and start jumping up and down on it. But if you are just on it and walking back and forth it is safe. Try it. put the ladder on a secure surface half a foot off the ground and try it yourself. And I’m not telling you to go get a ladder and load it up. But you should be able to tell if you’re on the ladder and there it feels like it won’t hold your weight, then by all means don’t use it. Look for, sponginess, sounds like it’s overstressed or cracking, don’t use it. But I know from my experience those weights are conservative, and they will hold more weight. OSHA won’t tell you that they play everything safe. But if you need to use a ladder, and I’ve been on 225 lb rated ladders to go up 20′ ft and I haven’t had any trouble. Just use common sense and be aware of what you are doing and if you get to much play (bouncing when you climb the ladder, then don’t use it for whatever you are using it for.) I’ve been in construction for 35 yrs and I’ve used all types of ladders and if you look for problems you’ll be able to avoid any issues. If you don’t have common sense and can’t judge things to see problems, go by the weights. Now the collapsible ladders I never used so I can’t say anything about them.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *