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.
Full review
The Dual-Platform Idea
Gorilla's GLX-5B is a 5.5-foot aluminum stepladder built around one idea: the top two treads are wide platforms rather than ordinary rungs. Gorilla's own spec sheet lists the platforms at 3 ft 9 in and 2 ft 9 in off the ground, with the upper one measuring 13.75 by 10.25 inches. The company rates the ladder ANSI Type IA (300 pounds) and claims a 10-foot reach height, which is what you would normally expect from a conventional 6-foot stepladder. It weighs 17.6 pounds, folds to 68.3 by 22.4 by 4.2 inches, and carries a limited lifetime warranty. Gorilla says it is sold exclusively through The Home Depot. Three independent editorial teams have used this exact model number and named it at or near the top of their ladder roundups: Wirecutter (top stepladder pick), Business Insider (best overall), and The Spruce (best overall, runner-up).
What Wirecutter's Testing Found
Wirecutter's Doug Mahoney made the GLX-5B the outlet's top stepladder pick after using a field of stepladders for adjusting storm windows, changing bulbs, painting, hanging a ceiling fan, and work on a 2023 kitchen remodel and a 2024 porch addition, plus repeated 'wobble testing' by shifting body weight on different steps. The platform steps are the headline. On a traditional stepladder the treads are about 3 inches deep; on the GLX-5B, Wirecutter measured the top step at 10 inches and the one below it at 8 inches. That depth changed how the ladder felt to stand on. According to Wirecutter, testers could use their normal standing balance instead of the constant 'balance awareness' a regular stepladder demands, which 'significantly reduced the amount of strain on our feet and legs,' and they rarely felt the need to brace a knee against the rails. The review adds that the top step comfortably supported size-12 feet, and that turning sideways to reach a task was far less awkward than on narrow rungs.
Business Insider's Hands-On Take
Alex Rennie's Business Insider guide, built on hands-on testing plus interviews with contractors and PPG Industries staff, named the GLX-5B its best overall ladder. Rennie's first impression was operation: a plastic handle and smooth mechanics let the ladder 'pop right open, even one-handed,' which he points out matters when you are hauling paint and gear into a room. He also singled out the dual-platform layout, writing that two height options let you stand closer to the work and reduce the chance of losing your balance. Business Insider credits the slip-resistant, non-marring feet with keeping the ladder planted and protecting hardwood floors. The guide also quotes Brad Bolinger, a PPG Industries product manager, who said he picked this ladder mainly for 'its slim design when stored,' adding that it came with the project bucket and is lightweight. Business Insider's spec box lists four steps, a 300-pound capacity, and the same 17.6-pound weight Gorilla publishes, and its listed pros are affordability, ease of operation, and the included bucket.
The Spruce's Real-World Use
The Spruce placed the same model, linked to Home Depot item GLX-5B and listed at 17.6 pounds with a 10-foot reach and Type IA rating, as its best overall runner-up. The roundup draws on in-home testing of 37 ladders over two years. Its testers used the GLX-5B to remove an old ceiling fan and to power wash the exterior of a house, and reported that the steps and safety rail added stability in both jobs; even on uneven ground they could balance it and 'didn't experience any wobbling.' Comfort is The Spruce's main theme. The reviewers wrote that the wide platform steps were one of their favorite features and that they noticed a significant reduction in foot fatigue compared with other ladders they had used. They also praised the no-pinch close for one-handed operation, said the ladder can be carried with one hand, and measured its folded profile at a slim 4 inches. Note that The Spruce and Real Simple share a parent company; only The Spruce is counted here.
Project Bucket and Storage
All three publishers mention the removable project bucket, and Wirecutter goes deepest. It describes a tray of roughly 15 by 8 inches with 3-inch sides that clips into the top of the ladder and can hold 'a drill, hand tools, fasteners, a nail gun, really anything.' While cleaning and adjusting storm windows, Wirecutter's tester loaded it with window cleaner, paper towels, a cordless drill, a prybar, a hammer, and a handful of small storm-window screws, plus scraped-off caulk, and still had room left. When not in use, the bucket clips between the rails, a convenience the reviewer said they had never seen before. Storage is the other practical win. Wirecutter measured the folded ladder at 4.25 inches deep at the tool tray versus about 6 inches for a regular stepladder, and conceded that 1.75 inches won't matter to most people but could help in a closet or tight garage. Business Insider cites 4.2 inches and The Spruce about 4 inches, consistent with Gorilla's spec.
Reach and Footprint
The GLX-5B's 5.5-foot label undersells it. Wirecutter explains that Gorilla keeps the steps at the same heights as a 6-foot ladder and lowers the top cap by 6 inches, so most people reach about 10 feet, which the review says is enough for cleaning first-floor windows or installing a light fixture on a standard ceiling. Wirecutter also notes a smaller footprint than a typical stepladder, helpful when setting up in a tight hallway or small bathroom, and judged the 300-pound rating enough to hold most people even when loaded with tools and supplies. Gorilla sells a fiberglass twin, the GLXF-5B, which Wirecutter calls nearly identical except for its nonconductive rails, slightly greater weight and thickness, and a price usually about $40 higher. Bob Vila tested that fiberglass version rather than this one and found the upper platform slightly less stable than the lower when bouncing on it; that observation was not made on the GLX-5B and is not counted here, but the geometry is shared.
Where It Falls Short
The biggest limitation is the material. Business Insider lists its only con as 'aluminum frame is not recommended for use around electrical wiring,' and The Spruce likewise flags that it is 'not rated for electrical work.' If you swap fixtures or work near live circuits often, the fiberglass twin is the safer choice. Wirecutter's one flaw is the lowered top: because the cap sits 6 inches lower than on similar ladders, you bend further to grab tools from the tray, though the reviewer called it 'only a slight' inconvenience given the platform stability. Weight and availability are smaller caveats. At 17.6 pounds it is not the lightest stepladder; Wirecutter mentions a single-platform competitor about 6 pounds lighter, while concluding that the weight saving wasn't worth losing the second platform and the tray. Gorilla sells the GLX-5B only through Home Depot, and Wirecutter's buying box warned that it 'may be out of stock.' Business Insider's guide was last updated in 2023, so its prices are dated.
Who It's Best For
This ladder suits homeowners whose ladder work is mostly indoor and lower-reach outdoor jobs that keep you up there for a while: painting near a ceiling, cleaning first-floor windows, hanging a fan or light fixture, or power washing the lower part of a house. The deep platforms are the reason to buy it. Wirecutter and The Spruce both report less foot and leg strain than on narrow-rung ladders, which matters most on longer jobs and for anyone who feels unsteady on conventional steps. The included bucket pays off on paint and repair jobs with lots of small parts, and the roughly 4-inch folded depth helps in apartments and crowded garages. Skip it if you regularly do electrical work, since all three reviewers' guidance points you to fiberglass, or if you need more than about 10 feet of reach.
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)
- +Folds to about 4.2 in deep (Wirecutter measured 4.25 in vs 6 in for a regular stepladder) and opens one-handed (Business Insider) with a no-pinch close (The Spruce)
- +Type IA 300-lb rating and a 10-ft reach from a 5.5-ft frame; The Spruce saw no wobble on uneven ground while power washing a house
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
- −Sold only through The Home Depot, and Wirecutter's listing warned it 'may be out of stock'
How it compares
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.
Rating sources
“This stepladder excels because its top two steps are considerably larger than the rest and support the entire foot.”
“Another key feature I loved about the Gorilla GLX-5B was the dual platform design.”
“The comfort of the wide platform steps is one of our favorite parts of this ladder.”
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
