# Telescopic loft ladders > Telescopic loft ladders fitted in Cambridgeshire. The answer when the landing is tight, from a 520 x 600mm opening, with the hatch enlarged if it needs it. Source: https://completeloftservices.co.uk/loft-ladders/telescopic/ Generated: 2026-09-21 --- - [Home](/) - [Loft ladders](/loft-ladders/) - Telescopic # Telescopic loft ladders For the landing that has no room for a ladder to swing into. A telescopic closes into itself like a set of aerials, so it needs the least space of the four and fits openings the others cannot. [Book a free survey](#enquire) [How it compares](#compare) ## When this is the right one We fit all four types, so this is not a pitch for the compact one. Telescopic is a specific answer to a specific problem, and it is worth knowing whether yours is that problem. [All four types](/loft-ladders/) - ### The landing is tight This is the whole point of them. A folding ladder needs floor to unfold into. A telescopic comes almost straight down, so a narrow landing or a door in the wrong place stops being a problem. Fit - ### The hatch is small From a 520 x 600mm opening, which is smaller than most timber ladders will accept. Often it means the ceiling does not have to be touched at all, which keeps the price down. Feel - ### You want it out of sight Closed, it is a stack barely longer than a suitcase, sitting in the roof space rather than filling the hatch. Who ## What it means for your hatch Telescopic ladders ask the least of your ceiling. Published minimums start at 520 x 600mm, so if your hatch is on the small side this is usually the type that saves you the cost of enlarging it. Worth knowing the trade off: the smaller opening is harder to climb through carrying anything bulky, so if you are storing suitcases rather than boxes we will talk you through it before you choose. Hatches and enlarging an opening ## What it is like to live with The trade offs are small and they are all about space. Here they are before you choose rather than after. - ### Least space in the room It comes down in its own footprint. Nothing swings out across the landing. - ### A firmer push to close Each section clicks into the next. It is not difficult, but it is a more deliberate action than folding a ladder away. - ### Best for a lower ceiling Most models suit a floor to ceiling height up to about 2.6m, which covers the majority of houses but not a tall Victorian landing. - ### Keep the runners clean Dust and grit are the enemy of a telescopic section. A wipe once a year is the entire maintenance schedule. ## How the four compare Telescopic against the other three, on the makers' own published numbers. The column that matters here is the opening, because that is where it wins. Type Smallest opening published Reaches Rated load Landing needed Aluminium Varies by model, measured at the survey Up to 3.58m on the tallest models 200kg maximum loading About 128cm of landing for a folding ladder Telescopic From 520 x 600mm Up to 2.6m 150kg, the standard minimum Least of the four, it collapses into itself Timber From 1110 x 550mm Up to 2.80m 160kg per step About 128cm of landing Electric From 750 x 530mm made to measure Up to 4.6m 200kg per step About 150cm, it drops almost straight down Published manufacturer figures, read September 2026: the timber and metal ranges via [Fakro](https://www.fakro.co.uk/products/all-products/loft-ladders/metal-folding-section-loft-ladders/) and [Premier Loft Ladders](https://www.premierloftladders.co.uk/product-range/wooden-loft-ladders/lwk/), the concertina figures from the [Supreme](https://www.premierloftladders.co.uk/product-range/aluminium-loft-ladders/supreme-loft-ladder/) and [Piccolo](https://www.premierloftladders.co.uk/product-range/aluminium-loft-ladders/piccolo-loft-ladder/), the telescopic minimum opening from [Loftshop](https://www.loftshop.co.uk/products/loft-ladders/aluminium-steel-loft-ladders/Telesteps-Telescopic-Loft-Ladder), and the landing figures from [Fakro's own guide](https://www.fakro.co.uk/blog/how-to-choose-a-loft-ladder/). The exact ladder we fit depends on what your supplier stocks, and we measure your loft before we quote. ## Questions about telescopic loft ladders **How small an opening will a telescopic ladder fit?** Published minimums start at around 520 x 600mm. That is smaller than a timber folding ladder needs, which is why a telescopic is often the answer when the alternative is cutting the ceiling about. **Is it as sturdy as a folding ladder?** Yes, when it is fitted properly. The sections lock as they extend and the frame is what carries the load, which is why we fix into timber rather than plasterboard. **What ceiling height can it reach?** Most suit up to about 2.6m floor to ceiling. Above that we would point you at a concertina or a metal folding ladder, both of which reach further. **Can it be used every day?** For a loft, yes. If you are up and down it daily, say so at the survey, because a concertina or an electric ladder is the better long term answer. ## The other three If space is not actually your constraint, one of these will serve you better, and we fit all of them. Ask about [boarding](/loft-boarding/) while the hatch is open. - [AluminiumLight, and the usual choice](/loft-ladders/aluminium/) - [TimberWarmer, and quieter underfoot](/loft-ladders/timber/) - [ElectricDown at the touch of a button](/loft-ladders/electric/) ## Book a free survey this week It takes about twenty minutes and you get a written price with nothing hidden in it. If the job is not worth doing, we will tell you that too. [01223 000 000](tel:01223000000)