Minecraft wiki entry for Water_ladder, associated text: Another reason to use ladders rather than signs is resource efficiency. It costs 7 sticks to make three ladders, or 1.17 planks for one, while a sign is comprised of 2.16 planks. Ladders also stack in larger bunches in your inventory, so you can carry more of them, or have more room for other gear (64 of ladders versus 16 of signs).