Head-to-head · Best Step Ladders

Gorilla Ladders GLX-5B 5.5 ft. Aluminum Dual Platform Ladder with Removable Project Bucket vs Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Gorilla Ladders GLX-5B 5.5 ft. Aluminum Dual Platform Ladder with Removable Project Bucket comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). Gorilla Ladders GLX-5B 5.5 ft. Aluminum Dual Platform Ladder with Removable Project Bucket is best for: Homeowners doing indoor and lower-reach outdoor jobs, like painting, window cleaning or light-fixture installs, who want a stable, comfortable standing platform and a place for tools, and who don't need a nonconductive ladder for electrical work. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Step Ladders

Gorilla Ladders GLX-5B 5.5 ft. Aluminum Dual Platform Ladder with Removable Project Bucket

4.5

3 sourcesall derived

Wirecutter names the Gorilla GLX-5B its top stepladder pick, Business Insider calls it the best overall ladder, and The Spruce ranks it as the runner-up for best overall. All three credit the two deep platform steps and the included project bucket. Wirecutter and The Spruce report noticeably less foot fatigue than on standard rungs, and the ladder folds to about 4 inches thick. The main caveat is the aluminum frame, which reviewers say isn't suitable for electrical work.

Strengths

— Top platform is 10 in deep and the step below is 8 in, versus about 3 in on a traditional stepladder, so the whole foot is supported (Wirecutter's measurements)
— Wirecutter and The Spruce both reported noticeably less foot and leg fatigue; Wirecutter testers rarely needed to brace a knee against the ladder
— Included removable project bucket, about 15 x 8 in with 3-in sides, clips to the top and stores between the rails when not in use (Wirecutter; also praised by Business Insider and The Spruce)

Watch-outs

— Aluminum rails conduct electricity, so it isn't for electrical work (flagged by Business Insider and The Spruce)
— The top cap and tool tray sit 6 in lower than on a comparable 6-ft ladder, so you bend further to reach tools (Wirecutter)
— At 17.6 lb it's about 6 lb heavier than the lightest single-platform stepladder Wirecutter considered

Buy at homedepot.com Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Step Ladders

Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001)

4.3

3 sourcesall derived$169.94as of Oct 24

Bob Vila named the 6-foot Flip-N-Lite its Best Lightweight step ladder after hands-on tests, and its tester called it "stable, portable, and super simple to use", though its feet slid a little on laminate. Business Insider's carpenter-tester also named it best lightweight, praising the 13-inch platform and the release handle, but noted the bare-bones top tray and plastic parts. A YouTube owner review (Reviews Unscripted) backs up the light weight and the locking handle. Wirecutter left it out without testing, citing the price and a single platform step.

Strengths

— Weighs about 14 lb, which Bob Vila called extremely portable and Business Insider called its lightest full-size ladder
— Type IA duty rating supports 300 lb; Bob Vila's tester bounced on it and found it perfectly stable
— Release handle at the back of the platform unlocks it for folding and keeps it shut while carried (Bob Vila, Business Insider)

Watch-outs

— Bob Vila found its nonslip feet slid slightly when the ladder was pushed on laminate flooring
— Top cap is a basic tray with no drill or screwdriver holes (Business Insider)
— Business Insider says its plastic components aren't as durable as metal

$169.94 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Gorilla Ladders GLX-5B 5.5 ft. Aluminum Dual Platform Ladder with Removable Project Bucket

The only dual-platform design here and the least expensive full-size pick. It weighs about 3.5 lb more than the Little Giant Flip-N-Lite, but its 10-in top platform plus 8-in second step give more standing room than the Flip-N-Lite's single platform. Unlike the fiberglass Little Giant King Kombo 2.0 it conducts electricity and has no extension mode; it reaches higher and carries more weight (300 lb vs 250 lb) than the Rubbermaid RMA-3XST step stool.

Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001)

The lightest full-size ladder here at about 14 lb, roughly 3.5 lb lighter than the Gorilla GLX-5B and 10 lb lighter than the Little Giant King Kombo 2.0, with the same 300-lb Type IA rating as the Gorilla. It has one 13-in platform where the Gorilla GLX-5B has two deep steps, and it currently costs more than the Gorilla. Choose the King Kombo 2.0 instead for electrical work.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Gorilla Ladders GLX-5B 5.5 ft. Aluminum Dual Platform Ladder with Removable Project Bucket	Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001)
Height	5.5 ft	6 ft (storage height 6 ft 3 in)
Max Reach	10 ft	10 ft 3 in
Platform Heights	3 ft 9 in / 2 ft 9 in	—
Load Capacity	300 lb	300 lb
Duty Rating	ANSI Type IA	ANSI Type IA
Material	Aluminum	Aluminum
Weight	17.6 lb	14 lb
Folded Dimensions	68.3 x 22.4 x 4.2 in	75 x 21 x 4 in
Warranty	Limited lifetime	1 year
Top Standing Height	—	3 ft 9 in (platform)
Platform/Top	—	13 x 13 in platform; tool-tray top cap

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