Abstract: A ladder stabilizer comprises a central section and two side sections extending in substantially the direction from opposed ends of the central section. When the stabilizer is placed with the free ends of the side sections in contact with a vertical wall of a building and the side sections and the central section lying substantially in a horizontal plane, the central section provides a substantially planar surface facing away from the vertical wall and lying at an angle of from about 12 to about 23 degrees, and desirably about 17.5 degrees, to the vertical. This enables the side sections to extend horizontally even when the ladder is used at its normal inclination to the vertical.