Having an above ground pool is one of the best things that in any home during summer. Nonetheless, the pool alone cannot offer you complete luxury without having the best above ground pool ladder as an accessory.
An above ground pool ladder makes it easier for you to get inside or outside the pool at your convenience. When buying one, concentrate on the product’s material quality and weight capacity to promote users’ security and the product’s durability.
If you are searching for high quality above ground pool ladder, this is a list of 7 top picks which will help you make the right purchasing decision.
Why Should I Need an Above Ground Pool Ladder?
Above ground pool ladders are very important to homeowners who have above ground pools because these pools are very tall, and it will be hazardous to try and get in or out of them without an above ground pool ladder.
This pool accessory is mainly important if you have kids who cannot access the pool’s edge when standing. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, kids under the age of 4 mainly drown in home swimming pools.
An above ground pool ladder boosts your child’s safety as most of the models feature a lockable design to inhibit access, mainly to children when there are adults around to supervise them.
In this post:
- 7 Best Above-Ground Pool Ladders – Review
- 1. Confer 6000X – Top-Rated Above Ground Pool Ladder
- 2. Confer Plastics Above Ground Pool Ladder – Best Safe Above Ground Pool Ladder
- 3. Confer Plastics 7200 – Best Above Ground Pool Ladder for Pools without Decks
- 4. Intex 28060E – Best Durable Above Ground Pool Ladder
- 5. Main Access 200200 – Best Budget Above Ground Pool Ladder
- 6. Blue Wave NE1145 – Best Above Pool Ladder with Sleek Design
- 7. Vinyl Works SLA – Best Heavy Duty Above Ground Pool Ladder
- How to Buy the Best Above-Ground Pool Ladder
- Conclusion
7 Best Above-Ground Pool Ladders – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Confer 6000X (Best Overall) |
| |
 | 2. Confer Plastics Above Ground Pool Ladder (Best Safe) |
| |
 | 3. Confer Plastics 7200 (Best for Pools without Decks) |
| |
 | 4. Intex 28060E (Best Durable) |
| |
 | 5. Main Access 200200 (Best Budget) |
| |
 | 6. Blue Wave NE1145 (Best with Sleek Design) |
| |
 | 7. Vinyl Works SLA (Best Heavy Duty) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Confer 6000X (Best Overall)
|
2. Confer Plastics Above Ground Pool Ladder (Best Safe)
|
3. Confer Plastics 7200 (Best for Pools without Decks)
|
4. Intex 28060E (Best Durable)
|
5. Main Access 200200 (Best Budget)
6. Blue Wave NE1145 (Best with Sleek Design)
|
7. Vinyl Works SLA (Best Heavy Duty)
|
1. Confer 6000X – Top-Rated Above Ground Pool Ladder
Photo: Confer
- Step Dimensions: 5 x 18 inches
- Total Height: 55 inches
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
- Material: Resin
Confer 6000X is a top-rated above ground pool ladder because it offers its users a range of benefits. Additionally, it gives you ample support, enhancing your safety and that of other users. Being a top-rated product, you can be sure that it will offer you value for your money.
This above ground pool ladder is highly adjustable and for this reason, it can be used in pools of different depths. As a matter of fact, the ladder will come in handy for pools with a depth between 48 inches and 54 inches.
Among the many things that you will love about this above ground pool ladder is that it supports people of different weights. This product features a weight capacity of 300 lbs. Therefore, it supports both lightweight and heavyweight people.
Since this product will forever be exposed to both moisture and air, but to ensure that it does not corrode or rust, it is made using resin material that lasts long, enhancing the product’s durability because it is rust-resistant.
One of the great things about ordering this above ground pool ladder is that it is easy to install. Therefore, you do not require any DIY experience or special skills to have it up and running. Nonetheless, you might have to sand the edges because they appear sharp.
Pros:
- Easy installation
- Fairly priced
- High weight capacity
- Rust-proof material for enhanced durability
Cons:
- You might have to sand the edges to make them less sharp
2. Confer Plastics Above Ground Pool Ladder – Best Safe Above Ground Pool Ladder
Photo: Confer Plastics
- Step Dimensions: 10 x 27 inches
- Total Height: 81 inches
- Weight Capacity: 400 lbs
Your safety when getting into and out of the pool is well taken care of when using this product because it comes with mounting brackets which the role of safely securing the ladder to the deck or the pool.
With this item, you do not require special skills to set up this ladder on your pool. Therefore, its installation is a breeze and it works well with all pool that feat a flat bottom. All you need to do is snap the pieces together for effortless setup.
You will love the economical design that is featured in this product while also enjoying the strong construction of the item. It features a white durable frame which has large, wide grey steps to ensure that they are highly visible in the water.
The design of this above ground pool ladder ensures that water can keep flowing within the pool. Therefore, it is perfectly designed to inhibit the growth of algae in the pool. Additionally, as water circulates behind it, chemicals can go around the pool without getting stuck around it.
Confer Plastics Above Ground Pool Ladder comes with a weight capacity of 400 lbs. However, with all the good qualities it features, this product weighs 62 lbs, which means that it is a little heavy.
Pros:
- Designed to boost safety
- Easy installation
- Economical and strong
- Allows water to keep circulating
Cons:
- Weighs heavily but this promotes sturdiness
- Might cost you a little more but worth the purchase
3. Confer Plastics 7200 – Best Above Ground Pool Ladder for Pools without Decks
Photo: Confer Plastics
- Step dimensions: 18 x 5 inches
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs
- Material: polyethylene
Here is a product that was designed for installation in pools without decks. You can set it up in pools ranging between 48 to 56 inches.
Safety is one of the things that Confer Plastics 7200 prioritizes because you can lock out access when there is no one to supervise the kids in the pool. This is possible because of the roll guard roller that it is equipped with during construction.
The product features an A-frame made from polyethylene material to boost lightweight, durable design. Moreover, this material ensures that the item will not be subject to rusting and corrosion since it is constantly exposed to moisture and air.
With a weight capacity of 300 lbs, you can be sure it is safe for use even by heavyweight individuals. Nonetheless, you cannot install this above ground pool ladder in an inflatable, pop-up style or Intex pools.
Pros:
- You can easily restrict pool access with it
- Extra-large platform for comfort and stability
- Accommodates even heavyweight individuals
- Rust-resistant material
Cons:
- Not compatible with inflatable pools
- Costs a little more but offers great value
4. Intex 28060E – Best Durable Above Ground Pool Ladder
Photo: Intex
- Total Height: 42.1 inches
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
- Material: Steel
Intex 28060E is an above ground pool ladder that comes with amazing durability, implying that it saves you a lot of money in the long run because it serves you for ages. Its longevity can mainly be attributed to the coated steel frame that it comes with.
One of the great things that make this product the best above ground pool ladder is its hi-impact steps which are slip-resistant. This means that the product is mainly stable and this is facilitated by the solid platform steps that it is made of.
The coated steel frame of this product is corrosion-resistant and rust-resistant. Therefore, the item is strong enough to accommodate even the heavyweight individuals with at most 300 lbs. Moreover, it is fairly priced to enhance affordability.
Pros:
- Relatively cheap
- Accommodates heavyweight people
- Rusty resistant material
- Stable and slip-resistant
Cons:
- Some users find the steps being further apart that they would wish
5. Main Access 200200 – Best Budget Above Ground Pool Ladder
Photo: Main Access
- Total Height: 53.4 inches
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
- Material: Foam
Main Access 200200 is a budget-friendly above ground pool ladder that is competitively priced to offer you enhanced affordability. Additionally, the fact that it is pocket-friendly does not mean that its quality and durability are compromised.
Moreover, it features a user-friendly design to ease its use and to ensure that you are safe and comfortable when using it. This is mainly enhanced by the round and easy to grip top safety handles, which ensure that you get in and out of the pool safely.
You will love the narrow profile of this item, which ensures that the ladder remains closer to the wall. This makes sure that it is out of the way for swimmers to have more room and also for swimmers to never be trapped between the ladder and the wall.
The ergonomic design of this ladder also offers you extra-wide steps, which gives you a lot of room for you to use the ladder comfortably. Moreover, the steps are also graduated to facilitate enhanced comfort, as well as grip when entering and leaving the pool.
Installing this above ground pool ladder is a breeze and this is further simplified by the tools in the package that are meant to help you set up the ladder. In the package, you will find flanges of your own choice between plastic and aluminum made flanges to help you connect it to the deck.
Moreover, the installation of the ladder is very easy but the instructions should be clear and comprehensive.
Pros:
- Occupies limited space in the pool
- Easy installation
- Competitively priced
- Does not interfere with the pool liner
Cons:
- Installation instructions should be more comprehensive and clearer
6. Blue Wave NE1145 – Best Above Pool Ladder with Sleek Design
Photo: Blue Wave
- Total Height: 53.4 inches
- Weight Capacity: 225 lbs
- Material: Stainless Steel
Blue Wave NE1145 is a sleek looking above ground pool ladder, which gives your pool a complete look and a touch of elegance. This is mainly facilitated by the stainless steel rails and stainless steel treads it comes with.
To enhance safety and durability, this above ground pool ladder features reinforced stainless steel rails, which are not subject to corrosion or rust. Moreover, the product features deep stainless steel treads which are non-skip to keep you from falling accidentally.
Even if the product has a narrow profile, it features extra-wide steps which are 24 inches in width. As a result, you get simple entry and exit from the pool with great comfort.
To ensure that it gives you top-notch service and great confidence in purchasing it, the manufacturer offers you a 1-year warranty to make sure that any repair or replacement is covered within the first year of purchase.
Some users find this ladder having narrow steps.
Pros:
- User-friendly design to enhance comfort
- Fairly priced to offer you value and affordability
- Sleek look polishes the appearance of your pool
Cons:
- Some users think the steps would be better
7. Vinyl Works SLA – Best Heavy Duty Above Ground Pool Ladder
Photo: Vinyl Works
- Total Height: 84 inches
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
- Material: Resin
Looking for a heavy-duty above pool ladder that is both stable and durable? This ladder is all you are searching for because it features sturdy construction to last you years. The product is very stable and gives you and other pool user’s top-notch service.
This is considered as the best above ground pool ladder with gate because of the slide lock design it features, implying that the exterior ladder has the capacity to slide up and lock itself into place to inhibit pool access.
The product also has a user-friendly design to facilitate easy climbing when leaving or entering the pool, which is mainly enhanced by the 4 treads on every side that come with the product. The steps also feature an anti-skid surface, which gives your feet a comfortable grip to enhance safety.
In the package of this ladder, you will also find an anti-entrapment barrier, which is responsible for converting the ladder into deck mounting while using a separate kit. Additionally, this product also accepts pool fence when using a separate connector kit.
While it has a heavy-duty construction, this product also has a heavyweight, which might need you to ask for assistance when installing it. However, it is stable and durable to serve you for ages.
Pros:
- Stable and sturdy construction
- Maintenance-free material
- Enhances security with the additional entry barrier
- Extended handrails and anti-skid surfaces
Cons:
- Weighs more but this enhances stability
How to Buy the Best Above-Ground Pool Ladder
1. Safety
Here is one of the most important factors that you must consider when buying an above ground pool ladder. To make sure that the pool users will be safe, you must ensure that the pool ladder is compatible with the pool.
Additionally, make sure that it securely attaches to the deck or pool frame. Once installed, the pool ladder should not float or move around in the pool.
Moreover, to further ensure that pool users are safe, the steps and handrails should be non-slip to prevent the incident of pool users accidentally falling off the ladder.
The best above ground pool ladder should feature a lockout feature to curtail pool access, especially when children are involved.
2. Durability
An above ground pool ladder should serve you for a prolonged time in order to save you money in the long run. For this reason, you should watch out for pool ladders made of cheap metal and plastic materials as such do not last long and besides they can also be dangerous.
Invest in a product that features heavy-duty construction and materials like coated stainless steel and resin enhance the longevity of an above ground pool ladder. Moreover, ensure that the product is rust and corrosion-resistant because it will constantly be exposed to air and moisture.
3. Size
Here is another major point of consideration when buying the best above ground pool ladder. You should be keen on the product’s size to ensure that it is compatible with your pool’s depth.
Otherwise, you might have to interfere with the deck, which will take a lot of time and effort to make sure that it fits in the pool.
4. Weight
Since an above ground pool ladder is meant to sink in the pool, it is important to ensure that it’s heavy enough to remain grounded, otherwise you might end up with a ladder that only floats in water.
Numerous models allow you to add sand or pea gravel in an attempt to counterbalance the buoyancy. However, this is not necessary for each above ground pool ladder because some options are heavy enough to remain grounded.
You must also consider the weight capacity of the above ground pool ladder you are about to buy. This is very important because the weight capacity determines how heavy the pool users should be to prevent any avoidable accidents.
Being careful about the weight capacity also boosts the product’s durability as it cannot break when used as advised.
Conclusion
Here is a list of the best above ground pool ladders on the market. The products reviewed above feature high quality, affordability, and durability. They will definitely give you value for your money.
To ensure that you keep your children away from the pool whenever alone, it is wise to buy an above ground pool ladder that is lockable to control entry.