How tall a ladder do I actually need for a two-story house?

Reviewers across r/HomeImprovement note that working height is roughly four feet above the top of a step ladder, and for extension ladders you lose three to four feet to the required lean angle and the overlap between sections. For typical two-story gutter or soffit work, owners commonly recommend a 22-foot multi-position or 24-foot extension; an 8-foot step ladder generally tops out at interior ceilings and one-story exterior tasks.