Custom library ladder, in wrought iron or brass
A rolling library ladder that glides on a rail along your shelves, forged to order by a partner workshop and sized on the real height of your bookcase.
- Wrought iron
- Brass
- Exposed or recessed rail
- Made in France
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Quote within 48 h
A ladder forged to order, guided on a rail and calculated for your bookcase: rail height, length to serve, shelf depth.
The ladder in numbers
Reference points taken from our price grid and length table: orders of magnitude to prepare your project, not audience statistics.
How it works
One rail, two hooks, a ladder that follows your books
On a rail system the ladder is hung and guided: it moves sideways without leaning on the shelves. That is what sets it apart from a simple step stool, and what lets you climb with both hands free.
Wrought iron holds the ladder in place with its mass, keeps a slim profile that does not crowd the shelving, and ages without degrading. Brass comes in where the hand and the eye rest: wheels, handrail, end caps, sometimes the whole rail. More on the finishes page.
- Wrought-iron uprights and rungs
- Exposed or recessed rail
- Delivered across mainland France, fixing plan supplied
What we make
Three choices that define the ladder
Ladder on a rail
From €1,900 →Two hooks, a horizontal rail, wheels: it glides from one end of the shelving to the other.
02 Sloped or vertical
Angle table →70° or 75° for a gentler climb, vertical for corridors: it all depends on the floor space available.
03 Brass, black iron, patina
3 finishes →Matt black wrought iron melts into the room, brass warms it, a patina ages it.
Key figures
Ladder length by rail height
For a rail at 2.80 m and a ladder sloped at 75°, expect about 2.90 m of ladder and 75 cm of floor set-back; length is the height divided by the sine of the angle.
| Rail height | Length at 75° | Floor set-back | Price range with rail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.20 m | 2.28 m | 0.59 m | from €1,900 |
| 2.80 m | 2.90 m | 0.75 m | €2,200 – €3,000 |
| 3.60 m | 3.73 m | 0.97 m | €3,300 – €4,200 |
From survey to installation
A project in four steps
- Your dimensions. Ceiling height, rail height, shelving length and photos, entered in the form.
- The estimate. The workshop replies within 48 hours with a detailed price: ladder, rail, fixings.
- Manufacture. Six to eight weeks after plan approval, ladder and rail delivered together.
- Installation. By your carpenter with our fixing plan, or on site as an option.
Delivery across mainland France, priced in the quote.
Specifiers
Interior architects and joiners
A made-to-measure bookcase is drawn together with its ladder: the rail is planned at the same time as the uprights, not afterwards. We work from your drawings, supply the rail fixing plan and the loads to be carried, and can match finishes to the shades of the scheme.
Send a drawingHelp & advice
Frequently asked questions, craftsman's answers
Another question about the rail, the angle or the finish? The quote form is all you need.
Ask my questionHow long does it take to make a library ladder?
Allow six to eight weeks after the plans are approved, plus a week for the site survey. Each ladder is forged for one project; nothing is kept in stock.
Can a ladder be added to a bookcase that is already installed?
Yes, if the uprights or the wall can take the rail fixings. Send two photos and your dimensions: the workshop tells you which rail to use and where to fix it.
What is the difference between an exposed and a recessed rail?
An exposed rail is a round tube on brackets, sturdy and visible; a recessed rail sits inside the cabinet and disappears, but the cabinet has to be designed with it.
Is the ladder really wrought iron?
Yes, uprights and rungs are wrought iron, bent hot and finished by hand. Brass is used for accent parts such as wheels or the handrail.
Direct workshop contact
Let's talk about your bookcase
The form alongside is enough to start the conversation: expect a first estimate from the workshop within 48 h.
Free quote