The best roof jacks and ladder stabilizers of 2026.
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Anything over a 6/12 pitch is a slip waiting to happen without roof jacks — and a rooftop ladder needs a real stabilizer, not luck. These are the brackets and stand-offs that keep you (and your gutters) safe on 2026's jobsites.
Roof jacks give you a level platform on a pitched roof; a ladder stabiliser keeps the ladder off the gutter and stops it sliding sideways. Between them they are what makes work above about 7/12 practical rather than dangerous.
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What to look for
An adjustable jack that sets to several pitches, so one set covers most roofs.
A stated load rating and a clear nailing pattern — the jack is only as good as its fixing.
Steel over aluminium for jacks that will see hard use; aluminium is lighter for occasional work.
A stabiliser with standoff arms wide enough to span a window and rubber feet that grip the wall.
Gutter-clearing geometry on the stabiliser, so the ladder never rests on the gutter itself.
Plank supports sized for the board you actually own — a 2x10 is the usual choice.
What is not worth paying for
Jacks without a rating stamp. This is load-bearing equipment.
Very wide stabilisers if your ladder work is all straight runs with no windows.
Improvised standoffs. A stabiliser is cheap next to the alternative.
Common mistakes
Nailing jacks into the sheathing only, missing the rafter underneath.
Spanning too far between jacks, so the plank flexes underfoot.
Leaning the ladder on the gutter, which crushes it and gives the ladder nothing solid to sit on.
Setting the ladder at the wrong angle — roughly one foot out for every four feet up.
Removing jacks by prying, tearing the shingles the jack was nailed through. Slide them out and seal the holes.
Frequently asked questions
At what pitch do I need roof jacks?
Most people want them from about 7/12 upward, and from 9/12 they are not really optional. Below that, proper footwear on a dry roof is usually enough.
How far apart should roof jacks be?
Close enough that the plank does not flex underfoot — commonly 4 to 6 feet with a 2x10, but follow the jack manufacturer's span table and the plank rating rather than eyeballing it.
How do I fix roof jacks without leaking?
Nail through the shingle into a rafter, high enough up the course that the nail hole is covered by the course above once the jack is removed. Slide the jack out rather than prying it, and seal the holes.
What does a ladder stabiliser do?
It holds the ladder off the gutter and widens the contact with the wall, which stops the ladder sliding sideways and stops it crushing the gutter it would otherwise rest on.