Delxo Folding Step Stool 13 inch review: is this little step stool any good
The Delxo Folding Step Stool isn't a ladder, it's a compact folding platform 13 inches tall that genuinely holds the claimed 300 pounds and folds flat like a book. For reaching a jar on the top shelf or washing a window, it's ideal. For fixing a ceiling or changing a lightbulb upstairs — no, get yourself a real stepladder for that.
A familiar scene: the top shelf in the kitchen — the one holding the good china and the bags of grains you only reach for once a year — is always just a touch too high. The chair wobbles, the little stool from IKEA vanished somewhere during the last move, and standing on tiptoes with your arm stretched out isn't exactly great for your back. That's exactly the gap folding step stools like the Delxo Folding Step Stool were invented to fill.
What this thing actually is
Formally, this is a single step 13 inches tall (just over 33cm), built from a metal frame and a plastic platform. It folds completely flat — barely a couple of centimeters thick when collapsed, so you can wedge it between the fridge and the wall, slide it under the bed, or stand it upright in a closet next to the ironing board. In my own home, that's exactly where it lives — between a cabinet and the wall — and it comes out once or twice a week whenever I need to grab something off the top shelf.
The headline feature is a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds, nearly 136kg. That sounds like a marketing number, but in practice it means an average-sized adult can stand on it comfortably, not just a child or someone particularly light. The platform is ribbed and, in my testing, isn't slippery even in socks — I checked specifically, since at home in winter everyone runs around the floor in them exclusively. The feet end in rubber pads that don't scratch laminate and grip reasonably well on tile, though on very smooth glossy tile I'd still be careful.
Where it genuinely saves the day, and where it annoys you
The most common scenario is the kitchen and bathroom. Reaching something in the top cabinet, washing a window from inside, hanging a curtain, grabbing the vacuum attachment off the top shelf of the closet. For all of that, 13 inches of height is exactly the sweet spot — you're no longer straining on your toes, but you don't feel like you've climbed onto a pedestal either. Shorter people (myself included) will appreciate it instantly — the gap between "almost reached it" and "reached it" is decisive here.
Compared to a regular aluminum stepladder with 2-3 steps, though, this loses out clearly. If you need to paint a ceiling, change a lightbulb in a chandelier under a high ceiling, or climb up to a storage loft near the ceiling, 13 inches simply won't physically be enough, and buying this stool for that job isn't worth it. This is an everyday tool, not a substitute for a proper ladder.
One more thing that bothered me a little: the folding mechanism is entirely reliable, but not the quietest. It clicks fairly loudly both when unfolding and especially when folding it back up. Not a dealbreaker, but if there's a baby sleeping in the next room, I'd recommend doing it gently.
Compared to the classic wooden stool that sits in half of everyone's kitchens, this thing wins on one count — it takes up far less space when not in use. A wooden stool is either sitting out in plain sight or you have nowhere to put it. The folding model tucks away in seconds.
Materials, and why it's not about looking pretty
The frame is steel with a powder coating, so scratches and moisture aren't a concern. This isn't a design piece for an interior magazine — it looks functional, a bit garage-like, and that's exactly why it's inexpensive. If you're after a step stool that also dresses up the kitchen, this isn't the one; aesthetics are sacrificed for practicality here.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy it if: you live in an apartment with high cabinets or shelves, wash your own windows often, have older parents who struggle to reach things, or are simply tired of balancing on a chair. The price here is close to symbolic — on the US warehouse listing it runs around $11, and even once you add international shipping and import duty, the final total is nowhere near ladder money.
Don't buy it if: you need more than half a meter of height, you're planning ceiling or facade work, or you already own a proper stepladder at home and an extra stool would just be one more thing taking up closet space. Also, if your tile floor is very slippery and rug-free, the rubber pads will help but won't work miracles, so an extra non-slip mat under your feet wouldn't hurt.
Honestly, within its niche — "reach something in the kitchen or bathroom without wobbling on a chair" — this is a solution that does exactly what it promises. No more, no less.
שאלות נפוצות
It's rated for up to 300 pounds (nearly 136kg), and the frame genuinely feels rigid, with no noticeable flex. But if you're a heavier person and worried about stability, it's better to get a model with a wider base rather than the most compact one.
If you just need to reach a top shelf or wash a window, the folding stool is more convenient thanks to its compactness. If you're planning ceiling work or need to reach high storage, get a stepladder — this simply won't have the height for it.
No, the surface is ribbed and grips even without shoes. On very smooth tile flooring, though, it's worth playing it safe with a mat underneath — the rubber pads alone hold well but don't work miracles on gloss.
Yes, it's all done one-handed in seconds — press, click, done. The only catch is that the mechanism is fairly loud, so late at night near a sleeping baby, move gently.
If you need something else for the home or office in the same category, check out the picks below.
