Step Stools > Arms

A step stool is a small one- or two-step platform built to help you reach the top of a filing cabinet, a tall storage shelf, or overhead supply closet shelving that sits just past comfortable arm's reach. It is not a seat — it is a safety stepping tool, plain and simple. If your office has tall storage cabinets, high shelving, or a stockroom, you need at least one on hand today. Skip it and your team improvises with chairs or boxes, which is exactly how workplace injuries happen. Browse [step stools](https://www.findofficefurniture.com/step-stools) and grab one before someone climbs a chair instead of asking for help.

Single-step stools add 6 to 8 inches of reach, and two-step stools add 12 to 18 inches — enough to reach the top shelf of a 72 to 84-inch bookcase or the top of a 4- or 5-drawer file cabinet in your office. If you need to go higher, like warehouse racking above 8 feet, a two-step folding stool or a rolling library ladder is the right call for you instead. For standard office use, a 2-step model covers nearly everything you will run into day to day, so start there unless your shelving says otherwise.

Look for a rating of 225 pounds or more, ideally with an ANSI or OSHA-relevant tested capacity backing it up. Residential-grade stools often top out at 200 pounds or less and are not built for the repeated commercial use your office will put them through. If your office or stockroom has multiple people of different builds stepping on the same stool all day, go with a commercial-grade model that states its tested capacity clearly on the label. Do not gamble here on a stool that was never rated for the traffic you are about to send its way.

Non-slip rubber step surfaces and rubber feet are your two must-haves on any step stool you buy. The step surface needs a grip texture or rubber coating that holds even with smooth-soled shoes, and the feet need rubber pads that grip the floor so the stool does not slide the moment you put weight on it. Skip any stool with smooth metal steps and no rubber — that is a slip hazard waiting to happen on a polished office floor, and it is not a spot where you want to cut corners for your team.

Folding stools win on space for you — they collapse flat and slide into a closet or under a desk when you are done using them. Non-folding models typically win on stability and durability under frequent heavy use throughout the day. If your office only reaches for the stool occasionally, grab a folding model and reclaim the storage space you were losing. If your stockroom or warehouse leans on it daily, go non-folding with a wider base for the extra stability you will actually need under that kind of constant traffic and use.

Commercial step stools run powder-coated steel or aluminum, and both hold up to years of daily use in your office or stockroom. Aluminum keeps things light for easy carrying around the building, while steel runs a bit heavier but just as durable over time. Some models add a top handle for one-hand carrying, which helps if you are moving it often. Either material works fine indoors; for a wet or outdoor storage spot, aluminum or plastic-step models resist rust better than steel, so factor your actual environment into the decision before you buy.

Technically yes, but it is not built for that use — the seat area is small, hard, and sits at an awkward height for most people. Step stools are for stepping up, not extended sitting, so if you need extra seating, grab a folding chair or a stool instead for that purpose. Sitting on it loads the frame differently than stepping does, and depending on the model, it may actually be less stable as a seat than as a step. Use it for what it was designed for and save yourself the wobble and the risk.

Step stools are one of the easiest deliveries in office furniture — they typically ship in a single compact carton, often nearly fully assembled or needing just a few steps like inserting hinge hardware on folding models. Plan 5 to 15 minutes for any assembly required on your end once the box arrives. They are light enough that standard parcel delivery handles it, so you will not be waiting on a freight truck to get your stool where it needs to go in your building, unlike a lot of heavier commercial furniture.

You get our Free Lifetime Warranty unless specifically noted on every step stool we sell — the frame, steps, and anti-slip hardware are all covered under that promise. A commercial-grade stool used safely every day should last you many years without issue or a single failed weld. That coverage goes well beyond the minimal or nonexistent warranty you get on residential or hardware-store step stools, which is exactly why buying commercial here is the smarter long-term move for your office budget and your team's safety.

Step stools require you to step up and bear weight on one leg mid-step, which means they are built for ambulatory users only in your workplace. If mobility limitations, balance issues, or lower-limb impairments are a factor for someone on your team, a step stool is not the right tool for that person under ADA thinking — a rolling ladder with handrails or a height-adjustable storage system that keeps items within accessible reach works better. For an accessible workspace overall, aim to keep frequently needed items within the ADA forward-reach range of 15 to 48 inches so a step stool is not required in the first place.