Abstract: A stepladder of the folding freestanding type has steps only toward the upper end thereof and has a step deficient region toward the lower end thereof for receiving a smaller stepladder in nesting relation therewith so that the steps of the smaller stepladder provide user access to the steps of the larger stepladder. A nested sequence of such stepladders with all except the smallest one of that sequence being step deficient in a lower region may include several such ladders thereby providing the user with the option of selecting a ladder of a desired height from among several possible heights with the required storage space for the several ladders being the same as the required storage for space for a single ladder of the greatest height. Braces, supports and locking arrangements for fastening each ladder within the step deficient region of the next larger ladder are also disclosed.