How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost? (2024 Guide)
Typical Cost Range: $140 – $250
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The typical cost range for gutter cleaning is $140 – $250* with an average cost of $180 for 200 linear feet of gutters. The exact cost depends on numerous factors which we will provide in detail below.
Experts at the best gutter guard companies recommend cleaning your rain gutters at least twice annually. For many homeowners, cleaning their gutters isn’t safe or feasible, and they’ll need to hire professionals. In this guide, we will provide a thorough breakdown of average gutter cleaning prices, how costs are determined, and what to expect when hiring a professional gutter cleaning company.
Cost Range by Number of Stories of Your Home
Number of Stories of Home | Cost Range per Linear Foot | Total Cost Range |
1 | $0.70 – $1.30 | $70 – $120 |
2 | $1.25 – $2.50 | $100 – $350 |
3 | $1.25 – $2.50 | $160 – $500 |
What are the Cost Factors of Gutter Cleaning?
No two gutter cleaning estimates are the same; many variables affect costs. Severely clogged gutters, for example, may require more labor to clean, resulting in a greater total. Several other factors determine how much it will cost for a professional to clean your gutters, including the following
Gutter Length
The length of the gutters on your home is the primary determinant of your cost estimate, as most gutter cleaners price per linear foot. Gutter cleaning ranges from $0.70–$2.50 per linear foot. The longer your rain gutters are, the more labor it will take to clean them, so the higher the cost will be. Less commonly, gutter cleaners will price based on the square footage of your home. In this case, they’ll typically charge $0.40 per square foot for the first story and $0.80 per square foot for the second or higher story.
Number of Stories
The higher your gutters are from the ground, the more complicated and dangerous it is to clean them, so you should expect to pay more. Tall homes require special equipment, such as ladders, lifts, and scaffolding, that take extra time to set up and take down. As a result, a single-story home might cost around $150 for a full cleaning, whereas a two- or three-story home could cost around $350.
Gutter Condition
If, after installing gutters, you do not clean them regularly, debris will build up over time. This debris will become waterlogged, causing your gutters to hold more weight than they should. Left unchecked, they can detach from the roof and collapse. Repairs to damaged gutters, such as reattaching them to your roof or replacing fascia, will increase cleaning costs. Conversely, gutters in good condition will cost less to clean.
Slope
If your home is built on land with a steep slope, it adds to the difficulty of accessing your gutters with a ladder. This makes the work more dangerous and labor-intensive, and therefore costlier. Likewise, if your roof is sloped at a steep angle, cleaners must be extra careful when working alongside it. A steep roof can increase costs by as much as 15%.
Labor
Labor fees make up the majority of the cost to clean your gutters, with equipment and material also factoring in. Labor costs for gutter cleaning vary based on location, season, and scheduling. Hiring a company to clean your gutters when the service is in high demand will likely increase the overall price. Similarly, anything that makes the job more labor-intensive will increase costs.
Season
The peak time for this service is usually autumn when leaves are falling and plant debris is ever-present. High demand for labor will increase costs. Scheduling a gutter cleaning after demand slows down may decrease your rate.
Location
Location is another key factor in gutter cleaning costs. Areas with higher living costs, such as urban or suburban areas, will have higher labor rates. On the other hand, if you live in a remote location or outside a gutter cleaning company’s service area, it may charge you extra for travel costs.
Accessibility
If your gutters aren’t easily accessible, a company may charge you more. Gutters that can’t be reached through normal means, such as those obstructed by trees or gutters tucked into corners of your roof, can be more difficult to clean, increasing your bill.
Cleaning Frequency
Gutter maintenance is key to shaving costs. Gutters that haven’t been cleaned in a while will require more attention than gutters cleaned frequently. The more debris clogging your gutters, the higher the cost will be. You should have your gutters cleaned twice yearly at minimum, but if you live in a heavily wooded area, you may need to clean them more often.
What Are Potential Additional Costs When Cleaning Gutters?
Extra tasks that need to be completed with the gutter cleaning will also add to your overall project cost.
Downspout Installation
If you need to install or replace downspouts, several material options are available at varying prices. The average cost for downspout installation is between $5 and $15 per linear foot, with a national average cost of $480.** Vinyl downspouts are the most affordable, and solid copper downspouts can run more than $1,000 for a complete installation.
**Cost data sourced from Fixr.
Downspout Cleaning
A downspout is a pipe that connects to your gutters and redirects water away from your roof and home. Downspouts can get clogged with debris and need cleaning. Clogged downspout cleaning requires specialized tools that add to total gutter cleaning costs. Expect to pay $50 to $100 more on your bill for downspout cleaning.
Gutter Guard Installation
Installing gutter guards can help keep debris out of your gutters and reduce the frequency at which you need them cleaned. Gutter guards act as filters that allow water to flow into your gutters while keeping leaves, twigs, and other debris out. Gutter guard installation costs vary widely—from $80 to $4,300, depending on the type.
Other Services and Repairs
A professional gutter cleaning service may notice additional problems with your roof or gutters while on-site. Be prepared to pay extra for services such as re-attaching gutters or repairing fascia, soffit, or roof damage.
How Can You Reduce Gutter Cleaning Costs?
Compare Professional Gutter Guard Installers
Should You Choose DIY or Professional Cleaning?
If you’re physically strong and can climb a ladder safely, you may want to try cleaning your gutters yourself. Below are some positives and negatives to a DIY gutter cleaning job versus hiring a professional.
DIY Gutter Cleaning
Professional Gutter Cleaning
What Questions Should You Ask a Gutter Cleaning Professional?
When hiring a professional, always do your research. Supplement online research with recommendations from neighbors and friends. Always get quotes from multiple providers and compare costs against quality when deciding.
Further, asking the right questions can help ensure the gutter cleaning company you’ve chosen is transparent and straightforward. Look for a company with up-front pricing and good online reviews. You could ask the following questions:
- Do you include downspout cleaning in your estimate?
- Can you repair roofing, fascia, and soffits?
- Can you install gutter guards?
- What do you charge for replacing downspouts?
- What is the cost per linear foot by story?
Is the Cost of Gutter Cleaning Worth It?
Cleaning your gutters is necessary to keep them functioning and to protect your home and roof from damage. You can tackle the job yourself if you have the tools and ability, but hiring a pro can save you time, trouble, and potential injury if your gutters are hard to reach, high off the ground, damaged, or severely clogged.
If you choose to have your gutters consistently cleaned, we recommend finding a company whose prices are within the national averages, accounting for your location, home’s height, and any obstructive landscaping. Get multiple quotes and ask each provider you’re considering key questions to make sure you aren’t being overcharged and are receiving the service you require.
For the majority of homeowners, we recommend investing in gutter guards to greatly reduce the frequency of gutter cleanings and to provide your gutter system with the best ongoing protection from debris and buildup.
FAQ About Gutter Cleaning
How often should you have your gutters cleaned?
You should have your gutters cleaned at least twice a year, especially in the fall and spring. You should have them cleaned more often if you live in an area with heavy tree coverage or if you do not have gutter guards installed.
Is gutter cleaning worth it?
Gutter cleaning is worth the trouble. Not cleaning your gutters can lead to damage to your roof and home, so hiring a professional or doing it yourself is necessary.
What happens if you don’t clean your gutters?
If you don’t keep your gutters clean, debris can build up and block water from flowing down and away from your home, possibly causing water damage.
What are the benefits of getting your gutters cleaned?
The benefits of getting your gutters cleaned include avoiding roof leaks, foundation damage, water damage in your walls, fascia, and soffit damage, or damage to the gutters themselves. You’ll save time and avoid potential injury by hiring professionals. Plus, they’ll be able to identify and repair any damage to your roof or gutters.
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our gutter guard recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each gutter guard product and provider. We conduct research by reviewing product specifications and provider website information, speaking with customer representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score each provider against our review standards for gutter guard design, customer support, the quote process, services, and reviews to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
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