The number that decides whether a dock ladder is easy or miserable is how many steps sit below the waterline. Here's how to measure your dock and get it right.

Every summer, the same scene plays out on docks across cottage country: someone swims up to a ladder with one skinny rung underwater, grabs the rails, and hauls themselves out with a grunt that scares the loons. It doesn't have to be that way. The right ladder — with the right number of steps in the water — turns climbing out of the lake from an upper-body workout into walking up a staircase. Here's how to get it right.

The rule that matters: steps below the waterline

Forget total step count for a second. The number that decides whether a ladder is easy or miserable is how many steps sit below the water at your typical summer level. You want at least two, ideally three. One underwater rung means your first move is a chin-up. Three underwater steps means your feet find footing while your shoulders are still floating — that's the difference kids, grandparents, and tired swimmers actually feel.

Measure your dock in five minutes

1. Measure from the top of your dock deck to the water surface (do it mid-summer if you can — water levels drop through August).
2. Add how deep you want your lowest step: 24–36" below the surface is the comfort zone.
3. That total tells you the ladder length you need. As a rule of thumb: a lower deck close to the water suits a 5-step; a higher deck, a floating dock in chop, or a lake that drops late in the season is the case for the 6-step — the extra step buys depth insurance. Full dimensions are on each product page.

Why steps beat rungs

Traditional ladders give you 2–3" round rungs — fine for boats, brutal for bare feet, and slippery the moment algae shows up (ask anyone who's "fixed" theirs with grip tape or truck-bed liner). A stairway-style ladder with wide, deep treads set at a climbing angle changes the physics: your weight goes down through your legs instead of hanging off your arms. It's the reason people describe The Edge as "walking out of the lake." If a family member has cranky knees or you've got a dog that swims, this isn't a luxury — it's the whole point.

The checklist before you buy any ladder (ours or anyone's)

• Climbing angle — vertical ladders are for lifeguards. Angled = stairs.
• Tread size — look for real step dimensions in inches, not "wide steps" hand-waving.
• Weight capacity — 350 lb is common; more is better for peace of mind.
• Welded vs bolted construction — welds don't loosen and rattle after two seasons.
• Seasonal removal — can one adult take it out in October without kneeling off the dock edge?
• Warranty — most ladder makers offer none; the best US brand offers 10 years. The Edge carries a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

Where to go from here

The Edge comes in 5-step ($1,249) and 6-step ($1,399) versions — welded aluminum stairways designed and built in British Columbia, shipped across Canada and the US. The current batch is spoken for and the next arrives in November, ahead of spring installs — details on the dock ladder page. Measure your dock now (it takes five minutes and one August afternoon), and you'll know exactly what to order when they land.

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buying guide dock ladders sizing

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