Construction

Ladder Angle Calculator

Find safe ladder placement angle and base distance.

Parameters Live Compute
Calculated Output
Base distance (4:1 rule) 0.25
Ladder length needed 1.031
Angle (°) 75.964
Formula: base = height ÷ 4 ; length = √(height² + base²)
Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. Values used:
2. Height to reach = 1
3.
4. Base distance (4:1 rule) = 0.25
5. Ladder length needed = 1.031
6. Angle = 75.964°
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The 4:1 rule: for every 4 feet of height, the ladder base should be 1 foot from the wall.

The math behind it

base distance = wall height ÷ 4; ladder length = √(height² + base²). The result is about a 76° angle.

Worked Example

15 ft high → ~3.75 ft base, ~15.5 ft ladder.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to measure?

You can also stand at the base and extend your arms — they should just reach a rung.

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