How far back should the base of a 60ft ladder be?

How far back should the base of a 60ft ladder be?

• A. 5 ft
• B. 10 ft
• C. 20 ft
• D. 15 ft

Answer: (D)

Use the 4:1 rule for safe ladder setup: the base should be one quarter of the ladder length away from the wall to achieve a stable angle. For a 60-foot ladder, that distance is about 15 feet. This positioning yields roughly a 75-degree angle, which helps prevent tipping and slipping. If the base is much closer, the ladder becomes steeper and more prone to tipping backward; if it’s much farther, the angle is too shallow and stability decreases. So 15 feet back is the safest, most appropriate distance.

Use the 4:1 rule for safe ladder setup: the base should be one quarter of the ladder length away from the wall to achieve a stable angle. For a 60-foot ladder, that distance is about 15 feet. This positioning yields roughly a 75-degree angle, which helps prevent tipping and slipping. If the base is much closer, the ladder becomes steeper and more prone to tipping backward; if it’s much farther, the angle is too shallow and stability decreases. So 15 feet back is the safest, most appropriate distance.