Gutter hangers help to keep your gutters firmly and securely attached to your roof, helping to keep your roof safe from water damage if you need to either replace or fortify your existing system. With packs of gutter hangers costing just $10 to $50, this is one of the most affordable home improvement upgrades you can make for potentially saving your home from thousands of dollars in damage.
After looking at popular gutter hangers in all styles, we selected the Quick Screw 6 Inch Gutter Hangers as our top choice for the best gutter hangers due to a heavy-duty design and deep engagement that offer high performance with very simple installation. Be sure to measure your gutters before purchasing gutter hangers so you purchase the right amount for your home.
Best Gutter Hangers: Our Top 5 Picks
- Quick Screw 6 Inch Gutter Hangers: Best Overall
- AMERIMAX HOME PRODUCTS Hidden Hanger and Screw: Best Hidden Hanger
- NACETURE 50 Pack Metal Gutter Hooks: Best Hooks
- Premium Wear 50 Pack Hidden Rain Gutter Bracket: Best Price
- AMERIMAX 7-Inch Spike/5-Inch Ferrule: Best Spike and Ferrule
Compare Top Gutter Hangers
| Product | Hidden? | Gutter Size (Inches) | Material | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Quick Screw 6 Inch Gutter HangersCheck Price | Yes | 6” | Aluminum | Bracket |
AMERIMAX HOME PRODUCTS Hidden Hanger and ScrewCheck Price | Yes | 5” | Aluminum | Bracket |
NACETURE 50 Pack Metal Gutter HooksCheck Price | No | Any with gutter guards | Steel | Hooks |
Premium Wear 50 Pack Hidden Rain Gutter BracketCheck Price | Yes | 5” | Aluminum | Bracket |
AMERIMAX 7-Inch Spike/5-Inch FerruleCheck Price | No | 5” | Aluminum Spike, Plastic Ferrule | Spike and Ferrule |
Terms To Know for Gutter Hangers
- Style: Gutter hangers come in three common styles: brackets, spike and ferrule, and hanger and strap. Brackets provide a strong attachment directly to the fascia and are usually not visible from the ground. Spikes and ferrules, an older method, involve a spike driven through a tube in the gutter, which can loosen over time, making longevity and stability their critical metrics. Hanger and strap systems are ideal for homes without fascia boards; however, they are partially visible and are not compatible with most gutter guards.
- Size: Refers to the gutter width in inches that the gutter hanger is compatible with.
Best Overall
Quick Screw 6 Inch Gutter Hangers
Good for: Making quick gutter repairs after sagging.
Preassembled with a large #12 screw with Type 17 point thread, this quick-screw bracket design fits all 6-inch aluminum gutters. A heavy-duty, low-profile design with screw-retention dimples allows for firm seating, deep engagement, no stripping of the screw head, and less slipping.
Pros and Cons of Quick Screw 6 Inch Gutter Hangers
- Stays hidden below the lip
- Split-less clip offers fast installation into the rafter end with no sagging
- Self-bracing design supports stress points
- The thick design can be highly visible on some rooflines
- The tool that comes free with the hangers isn’t the best tool for the job
What People Are Saying About The Quick Screw 6 Inch Gutter Hangers
Overall, people who have installed these gutter hangers are impressed with the great fit, easy installation, and sturdiness. Several reviewers shared that they gave up on using the tool that is provided with the pack pretty quickly.
Best Hidden Hanger
AMERIMAX HOME PRODUCTS Hidden Hanger and Screw
Good for: Providing rain protection for historic or architectural homes.
Made for 5-inch gutter systems, this refurbished aluminum hanger eliminates visible screws and hardware. A 1/4-inch hex head screw is included for easy installation into the fascia board. The factory-mounted metal screw provides easy and fast single-person installation.
Pros and Cons of AMERIMAX HOME PRODUCTS Hidden Hanger and Screw
- Hidden design allows for a clean look
- Offers easy installation without any special tools or attachments
- Doesn’t interfere with gutter guards
- Screws are sensitive to overtightening
- While hidden, these hangers aren’t as thin as other hidden designs
What People Are Saying About The AMERIMAX HOME PRODUCTS Hidden Hanger and Screw
People who have used these gutter hangers generally like the easy installation. Some customers did feel that the design was very sensitive during installation.
Best Hooks
NACETURE 50 Pack Metal Gutter Hooks
Good for: Decorating and hanging lights without destroying gutters.
These multipurpose rust-resistant, stainless-steel hooks are designed to work with gutter guards to easily display strands of LED lights or other decorations. They are sized to slip between most mesh-style leaf guards for easy installation and removal without the need for any drilling or snapping. Each pack comes with 50 individual hooks.
Pros and Cons of NACETURE 50 Pack Metal Gutter Hooks
- Anti-rust and anti-corrosion design makes these hooks suitable for rain, snow, and inclement weather
- Made of durable 304 stainless steel
- Designed to be reused season after season with quick installation and removal
- Without a fastening method, hooks can move and twist
- The design makes getting lights flush to the house difficult
What People Are Saying About The NACETURE 50 Pack Metal Gutter Hooks
Overall, customers are impressed with the heavy-duty material and easy installation of these hooks. However, their freewheeling installation style leaves some users frustrated.
Best Price
Premium Wear 50 Pack Hidden Rain Gutter Bracket
Good for: Providing heavy-duty performance when replacing or fortifying weak hangers after failure.
Designed for 5-inch non-plastic gutters, this design screws into fascia boards easily using a cordless drill and 1/4-inch nut driver. It offers superior strength in a rigid design. Brackets can be used as hanger replacements or for extra strength between existing hangers.
Pros and Cons of Premium Wear 50 Pack Hidden Rain Gutter Bracket
- Brackets screw into place easily for quick installation
- Solid design that doesn’t bend like many other brackets
- Made in USA
- Requires an impact drill for proper installation
- Difficult to install on an existing gutter that is resting tightly against the fascia
What People Are Saying About The Premium Wear 50 Pack Hidden Rain Gutter Bracket
Customers are impressed by how durable and easy to install these brackets are. Several shared that they were able to fortify their gutters with this product to get a few more years out of their gutter systems instead of paying for replacement. A few commenters did warn about bending during torquing if you’re not paying attention.
Best Spike and Ferrule
AMERIMAX 7-Inch Spike/5-Inch Ferrule
Good for: Updating gutters with existing spike and ferrule hangers.
These galvanized 7-inch gutter spikes with 5-inch black plastic ferrules are durable and easy to use. The ferrule-wrapped spike fits into the wood sub-fascia easily to secure a gutter system through all weather. The ferrules block moisture from reaching the insertion point of the spike into the underlying fascia.
Pros and Cons of AMERIMAX 7-Inch Spike/5-Inch Ferrule
- Maintains gutter shape and width
- Made from high-quality, rust-free aluminum
- Baked-on white enamel finish is easy to maintain
- Pre-drilling is required for successful installation
- Spikes are prone to bending under heavy force
What People Are Saying About The AMERIMAX 7-Inch Spike/5-Inch Ferrule
Customers think this set is good for replacing existing ferrules. However, a recurring complaint is that the spikes in this set bend too easily.
What To Know Before Buying Gutter Hangers
While they represent a seemingly small and inexpensive aspect of a home’s gutter system, gutter hangers should not be looked at as afterthoughts. The role of a gutter hanger is to ensure that a home’s gutters are stable and supported. Choosing an incorrect hanger can put your home at risk for severe water damage that can lead to extensive home and gutter repair costs. Here’s a look at what you need to know before selecting gutter hangers. Some professional installers will include gutter hangers as part of your installation. If you have your gutters installed, you should ask about gutter hangers when you get a quote for your gutter installation.
What types of gutter hangers are available?
Gutter hangers are available in several styles that attach to roofs in different ways. When deciding which style to choose, you’ll need to consider your comfort level with drilling holes into the fascia or roofline versus using a method that hangs externally. Here’s a look at popular gutter hanger options.
Spikes and Ferrules
This hanger design is composed of a metal tube called a ferrule that is fastened to fascia using metal spikes. While this option provides a secure fit, it can make fascia more vulnerable to deterioration. Additionally, contact with wood can increase risks for contraction that’s caused by the freeze-thaw cycle.
Hanger and Strap
This style features a half-round design that wraps around the gutter before fastening to the fascia. In addition to being known for performing well in harsh weather, this option adds strength and structure to gutters.
Hidden Hangers
Made to be fitted within the gutter horizontally, hidden hangers disappear after being screwed into the fascia. You won’t see them when you look up at a house. In addition to being attractive, these hangers have high water-handling capacity.
Hooks
Designed to allow string lights to be placed along the gutters by being looped into gutters or gutter guards, this design offers an aesthetic benefit without the need to drill holes. However, they are not meant to provide support to the gutter itself.
Brackets
Often used to replace or fortify weak gutter hangers, brackets screw into fascia boards.
What material are gutter hangers typically made from?
Most gutter hangers are made from rust-resistant aluminum. Certain components of gutter hangers may be made from plastic.
How do you choose the best size for gutter hangers?
Gutter hang size is based on the gutter diameter. The traditional gutters sizes are 5-inch and 6-inch gutters. In order to determine your gutter diameter, measure the distance from the inside wall of the gutter to the outside. Choosing gutter hangers that are the appropriate size is important for ensuring a proper fit that will prevent gutters from sagging.
What external factors affect gutter hangers?
The biggest threat to gutter hangers is moisture from snow, rain, and ice. This is why it’s important to look for gutter hangers that are made from rust-resistant materials. Typically, this means high-quality aluminum. When gutter hangers aren’t able to resist the elements, they can begin to rust and disintegrate. Unfortunately, that means that they may not be able to support the weight of heavy rainfall, debris, snow, and ice when it counts.
Mistakes To Avoid When Installing Gutter Hangers
Installing gutter hangers incorrectly can be worse than not having gutter hangers at all. Here’s a look at the common gutter mistakes to avoid.
Not Spacing Gutter Hangers Evenly
It’s important to space gutter hangers at even intervals to ensure that your gutter system is firm and secure. One common mistake that people make when attempting a quick DIY gutter hanger installation is to simply “eyeball” gutter placement. This can create instability by creating too much “slack” in some parts of the gutter. The result is sagging.
Spacing Gutter Hangers Too Far Apart
In addition to being consistent with gutter hanger spacing, it’s important to know how to space gutter hangers. The general rule is to space hangers 2 inches to 3 inches apart. Stick to 2 inches in colder climates that experience ice in order to ensure that your gutter system can handle ice and snow building up in the winter.
Relying Too Much on Gutter Hangers
While gutter hangers can fortify a gutter system, they can’t make up for other mistakes that are made during installation. In order to ensure that your gutter hangers can work properly, it’s important to use proper downspout placement. Skipping downspouts should never be used as a way to bring down gutter installation costs. When installing or updating gutters, verify that there is a downspout at least every 40 feet.
Gutter Hanger FAQs
How much does it cost to repair a gutter?
The average cost to repair a gutter system that has cracks or sagging ranges from $300 to $600.
What type of gutter hangers work best with gutter guards?
When installing gutter guards, bracket-style gutter hangers are commonly used. Hidden hangers can also work with gutter guards. Hooks are also generally designed to slip between gutter guards. Strap hangers are considered the most challenging hangers to use with gutter guards.
How far apart should gutter hangers be?
Gutter hangers should be placed every 2 feet to 3 feet in order to create stability. Adding hangers every 2 feet is recommended in northern climates that experience ice.
What are sagging gutters?
Sagging gutters are gutters that have started to droop from the weight and pressure of rainwater and debris. Sagging is almost guaranteed to happen when a clog within a gutter goes unaddressed. While some sagging gutters may need to be replaced, fortifying a gutter system with new gutter hangers can help to create a tighter fit.
Our Methodology
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of gutter hangers with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final short list, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.