Loft ladder installation costs

If you’ve got a loft but the access isn’t good, you should definitely think about getting a loft ladder installed. A loft ladder gives you easy access to your loft space so you can use it for storage or even as an additional office space or chill-out area.

The average timber loft ladder installation will cost around £390, but what factors make up this cost? We’ll go through it in our guide.

How much does it cost to install a loft ladder in the UK?

How much it costs to install a loft ladder in the UK depends on the type of ladder you choose, whether you want it installed in an existing opening or not and where you live in the country. But here are the average costs to expect:

These costs are taken from UK-wide averages. Labour costs differ around the country, with professionals in London and the south east charging the most.

To get a more accurate idea of how much labour will cost in your area, take a look at our table further down the page. HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates from across the UK and we’ve compiled them to produce labour estimates for most towns and cities in the country.

What affects the cost of installing a loft ladder?

Type of ladder

As you’ve seen in the table above, the type of ladder you choose will increase the cost of installing a loft ladder. 2-section ladders are the cheapest, coming in at £55-£240, while an electric loft ladder will set you back the most – up to £3,000.

Folding ladders are a good middle ground as they are easy to use and store, and cost between £100-£140.

Ladder material

The material you choose for your loft ladder also impacts the cost. Aluminium ladders are generally the cheapest, and they’re lightweight and durable. Timber ladders cost a little more but they have a great look and are also very durable.

Whether you need changes to your loft hatch

Most homes will have a loft hatch installed in the ceiling already, but in old houses you’ll often find them in odd or unsafe places. There’s also a possibility that your existing loft hatch might not be big enough for your new ladder, so you might have to have it widened or lengthened.

It typically costs between £180-£300 to move a loft hatch to a new place. An example of why you might want to move your hatch is if it’s installed in a cupboard where there is little room to pull a ladder out or move around.

Making good

If you are having a new loft hatch installed or your carpenter needs to make adjustments to your existing opening, you will need to factor in the cost of making good.

Most loft ladder companies will board over the old loft hatch opening, but they won’t plaster it. You’ll need to factor in the cost of hiring a plasterer to skim your ceiling and potentially a decorator to paint your ceiling to make everything look neat and tidy again.

Whether you want to board your loft

Lots of people choose to have their loft boarded at the same time as installing a loft ladder. Many carpenters and loft ladder companies will offer this service, so you might get a cheaper rate by doing the two jobs together rather than separately.

It generally costs around £55 per square metre to have your loft boarded, including materials and labour.

Loft ladder installation video

How long does it take to fit a loft ladder?

It doesn’t take very long to fit a loft ladder. If you don’t need a new hatch and your carpenter can install the ladder within the existing opening, it should take them around 2-3 hours.

If you do need a new loft hatch, this will take your carpenter a little longer. It will take up to 5 hours to install a new loft ladder and hatch.

Does a loft ladder add value?

Yes, a loft ladder could add value to your home. Most people want to have a usable loft space to store things like Christmas trees, suitcases and out-of-season clothes, so if they can access it easily it’s bound to drive up the offer they make on your home.

Like anything, how much value your loft ladder adds will depend on the type of ladder and how well the ladder and hatch has been finished. If the work looks messy or the ladder looks unsteady or of low quality, this could even reduce the value of your home as potential buyers will be put off.

Is a loft ladder a legal requirement?

Whether a loft ladder is a legal requirement depends on what you’re going to use your loft for. If you’re simply using your loft for storage, you’re under no obligation to install a loft ladder – but it makes access much harder if you don’t have one.

If you’re planning on having a loft conversion to use your loft space as an extra bedroom or living room, there are stricter rules around loft access. Building regulations state that you need to have a proper loft staircase installed in order to make it easier to escape if there is a fire.

Is it easy to install a loft ladder?

It isn’t that easy to install a loft ladder, which is why we never recommend installing one yourself. You need to work at height, and if you don’t have the correct training, you could put yourself in danger.

Carpenters train for a long time to learn how to make cuts to joists, timbers and boards. You could make a costly mistake if you don’t have this training.

Furthermore, loft ladders are heavy, so you’ll need help to lift the ladder above your head and keep it in place while you’re fitting it.

There’s a lot that could go wrong with installing a loft ladder yourself, so we’d recommend leaving it to the professionals.

Now you know the rough cost of installing a loft ladder, post your job on HaMuch for a more accurate quote from trusted carpenters and loft ladder installers in your area.

Estimates for common carpenter and joiner jobs;

Rates for other trades