Kidde 2-story ladder review
Kidde 2-Story Fire Escape Ladder, 13 ft
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Stories
- 2-story
- Length
- 13 ft
- Tested to (maker)
- 1,000 lb
A 13-foot ladder tested to 1,000 lb that hooks over the windowsill.
- Best for
- Second-floor bedrooms
- Skip it if
- Your bedroom is on the third floor
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Tested to 1,000 lb
- Tangle-free
Worth knowing
- Single use
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Our review
Kidde's two-story fire escape ladder, model KL-2S, is a 13-foot, single-use steel ladder that hooks over a window sill and gives a second-floor bedroom a second way out. Kidde rates it at 1,000 pounds spread over more than one rung, and it fits sills from 5.5 to 11 inches deep. This review covers the fit, the single-use rule, and how to build it into a family escape plan.
Who it is for
Every bedroom above the ground floor needs two ways out, and for most houses the second one is a window. Kidde's page quotes the National Fire Protection Association's recommendation to store one ladder in every occupied room above the main level, and Ready.gov says a second way out can include an escape ladder for rooms on an upper level. The KL-2S extends to 13 feet, which Kidde says is for second-story rooms; the three-story KL-3S is 25 feet.
It comes fully assembled and attaches to most common windows without tools, so there is nothing to build at 2 a.m. in smoke. Our home fire escape plan guide covers the rest of the plan this ladder is part of.
Fit and strength
Kidde says the ladder is compatible with window sills from 5.5 to 11 inches, with a maximum window frame depth of 11 inches and a minimum window width of 16 inches. Its help pages describe the 11-inch figure as the maximum thickness or depth of the escape window opening, which is the measurement to take before you buy: measure from the inside edge of the sill to the outside face of the wall. Thick-walled older homes and brick veneer can exceed it.
Kidde says the ladder can support up to 750 pounds on one rung or 1,000 pounds when the load is spread over more than one rung, and that it is load tested to 1,000 pounds. The rungs are anti-slip zinc-plated steel, and the design is tangle-free so it drops straight. The ladder weighs 8.6 pounds and stores in a box about 16 by 8 by 6 inches, which Kidde says fits under a bed or in a closet near the window. Warranty is five years.
The single-use rule
Kidde is blunt: its escape ladders are designed for one-time use only, should be discarded after a single use, and repeat use may result in injury or death. That means you cannot practice by climbing down it. Practice the rest instead: open the window, show each family member where the box is, hook the ladder over the sill with the window open, and talk through the climb. Ready.gov says that if a child needs to use an escape ladder, show them where it is kept and practice how to use it.
Kidde's page names no UL or other listing, only that the ladder is flame-resistant, so do not assume a certification. Keep the box where its label can be read, not buried under luggage.
Limits to know before you buy
A window ladder is for the able-bodied. Small children, older adults and anyone with limited mobility may not manage a 13-foot descent on a swinging ladder, and the plan for those rooms should be a ground-floor bedroom or a window a firefighter can reach. Check that the window itself opens fully and that the screen comes out; a ladder behind a painted-shut sash is no exit.
One ladder serves one window. A house with three upstairs bedrooms needs three, unless the rooms share a hallway window everyone can reach.
How it compares, and the verdict
On our fire escape ladder comparison, the Kidde three-story ladder is the 25-foot version for a third floor, the First Alert two-story ladder is the direct rival with its own sill limits, and the X-IT two-story ladder is the compact alternative. The KL-2S is the standard choice for a second-floor bedroom with an ordinary window.
Verdict: buy one for every upstairs bedroom, measure the sill depth first, and put it where the sleeper can reach it in the dark. Skip it if the room is on a third floor, if the wall is deeper than 11 inches at the window, or if the person sleeping there could not climb down a rope ladder.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Kidde: KL-2S two-story fire escape ladder, 13 foot, product page; Kidde help center: can my escape ladder be used on any type of window?; Ready.gov: home fire escape plan.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if your bedroom is on the third floor: get the 25-foot version.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A third-floor bedroom window with a deep enough sill
See the comparison →Best for Stabilizers that hold it off the wall
See the comparison →Questions
Can I reuse the Kidde escape ladder after a practice run?
No. Kidde says the ladder is for one-time use only and that repeat use may result in injury or death. Practice hooking it over the sill and talk through the climb, but do not climb it.
Will the Kidde KL-2S fit my window?
Kidde says it fits sills from 5.5 to 11 inches deep, with a maximum window frame depth of 11 inches and a minimum width of 16 inches. Measure before buying; thick walls can exceed the limit.
How much weight does the Kidde ladder hold?
Kidde says up to 750 pounds on one rung or 1,000 pounds spread over more than one rung, and that it is load tested to 1,000 pounds.
Is the Kidde ladder right for a third-floor room?
No. The KL-2S extends to 13 feet for second-story rooms. Kidde's KL-3S is the 25-foot three-story ladder.