How Much Does Gutter Installation Cost in 2023?

*All cost data was sourced from HomeAdvisor unless otherwise noted. 

Here are the typical labor and material costs for installing 200 linear feet of 5-inch, K-style gutters on a one-story home.* The table also includes prices for additional components, such as downspouts and splash blocks.

 *Material costs in the table were sourced from Gutter Supply and The Home Depot; labor costs were sourced from HomeAdvisor.

**Low- and high-end gutter prices are for 5- and 6-inch K-style gutters.

Your gutter contractor will base your gutter installation cost estimate on the following factors.

Material

You can choose from several gutter materials, but aluminum is the most popular option for modern homes. Vinyl is the cheapest material, and copper is among the most expensive. Gutter contractors base material costs on the total linear footage of gutter sections needed for your home. On average, this is around 200 linear feet.

Vinyl Gutters

Vinyl is an abbreviated term for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a type of plastic. Vinyl gutters are the most budget-friendly option, costing between $3 and $5 per linear foot. Durability is a known issue with this material, so you should only expect vinyl gutters to last from 10 to 20 years in moderate climate conditions.

Aluminum Gutters

Aluminum gutters are lightweight, rust-resistant, and easy to install. Expect to pay between $6 and $12 per linear foot. Aluminum is fairly durable, so these gutters should last 20 or more years under ordinary conditions. Their lightweight design, however, is susceptible to damage from falling debris. 

Galvanized Steel Gutters

Galvanized steel is coated in zinc to improve its resistance to rust and corrosion. This metal gutter material is stronger than aluminum but also heavier, making it more difficult to install. Expect to pay from $6 to $14 per linear foot for galvanized steel gutters. The zinc coating will eventually deteriorate, but a galvanized steel gutter system can withstand the elements for 20 years or more.

Copper Gutters

Copper gutters are not very common but offer an attractive look and a long life span. This material often lasts more than 50 years with regular gutter cleaning and maintenance. You’ll pay between $25 and $40 per linear foot for copper gutters from most suppliers. A green-blue patina develops on copper materials over time, but this is often seen as a desirable aesthetic quality. 

Zinc Gutters

Another high-end option is pre-weathered zinc, an extremely low-maintenance material that doesn’t rust and forms a self-healing patina that will obscure scratches and scrapes. These gutters can last for 80 years or more and cost from $10 to $30 per linear foot.

Sectional vs. Seamless Gutters

Sectional gutters are the traditional style and are still installed on many homes today. These gutters come in pre-cut lengths that attach together at the joints. The gutter installer must seal the resulting seams with waterproof caulk. Sun and weather exposure can deteriorate the caulk over time and cause leaks, which is one of the major pitfalls of sectional gutters. 

Seamless gutters require professional installers to bring a custom form-rolling machine to your home. The installers will form the gutter to your home’s specifications from one piece of vinyl or metal. The seamless design is less prone to developing leaks. Expect seamless gutters to cost more per linear foot than sectional gutters, adding hundreds to thousands of dollars to your bill.

Style

K-style and half-round gutters are the most common residential gutter styles. There are, however, some nontraditional styles available from gutter suppliers. 

• K-style: K-style gutters are the standard option for most modern homes. These gutters are easy to install and can withstand heavy rainfall. K-style gutters look similar to crown molding from the front and match many architectural styles.
• Half-round: These rounded gutters appear similar to a pipe cut in half. Many people favor half-round gutters for their elegant aesthetic, making them popular for historic and upscale homes. Half-round gutters are more difficult to install and hold less water than identically sized K-style gutters.
• Box: Box gutters are more popular for large commercial buildings than homes. Their wide and deep design can handle heavy water flow, but they lack the decorative look of other contemporary styles.
• Fascia: Fascia gutters have a large design that can withstand heavier water flow from steep roofs. These gutters attach directly to the home’s fascia board. Fascia gutters cost more than K-style or half-round gutters and are difficult to clean.

Size

The most common gutter width is 5 inches, though it’s possible to find 4- and 6-inch gutters in most styles. If you need larger or smaller gutters, you may have to look into custom fabrication. Generally, the larger the gutter size, the more you will pay for materials.

Extras

The total material cost for a gutter system includes more than just rain gutters. Your installation estimate will factor in fees for components such as brackets, downspouts, elbows, gutter end caps, hangers, and splash blocks.* Each component must match your gutter material and style, and this will reflect in the final billing. You may also need gutter flashing installed on your home’s roof to help direct water into the gutter.

The following prices are for standard K-style aluminum gutter components:**

• Hangers: $0.22–$13.21 each
• Downspouts: $18–$58 per 10 linear feet
• Elbows: $1.88–$11.39 each
• Gutter flashing: $0.91 per linear foot
• Gutter end caps: $1–$9 each
• Splash blocks: $9.29 each

Optional gutter guards will incur an additional cost. The best gutter guards filter debris, large and small, and keep it from clogging your gutters, reducing the need for cleaning. You might also consider investing in heat tape if you live in a colder climate to prevent ice dams from forming in fall and winter.

Labor Costs

Installing your gutters yourself is possible if you’re using lightweight sectional materials, but many people prefer to hire a professional to do the work for them. Labor costs vary widely by material and geographical region. Here are a few additional factors that affect

labor costs:

• Home size: In terms of both materials and labor, gutter installation for a one-story home will be much cheaper than for a home with two or more stories.
• Gutter material and style: Some gutter materials, such as steel or copper, are heavy and difficult to install, so they will cost extra. Additionally, certain gutter styles may need specialized hangers or extra reinforcement, which will increase the cost.
• Roof accessibility: Gutter contractors may charge more to install gutters on a steeply pitched roof with eaves that are difficult to access. Homes with many corners require additional installation time, adding to the total cost.

Most gutter contractors provide free estimates for their services. This gives you the opportunity to compare estimates from multiple providers. Read the estimates thoroughly, ask questions about any fine print, and get familiar with each company’s general practices before making a decision.

*This is not a comprehensive list of the extra components potentially needed for gutter installation.

**Material cost data in this section was sourced from Gutter Supply.

Professional gutter installation is a convenient but costly option. Purchasing gutters and installing them yourself is a more affordable solution. However, it requires ladder safety knowledge and several tools, including a drill and tin snips.  You will also need to learn how to pitch the gutter correctly and fasten it to your home’s fascia. 

For a one-story home that requires 200 linear feet of sectional gutters, expect to pay between $1,114 and $1,531 for materials when installing the gutters yourself. This cost range is for a 5- or 6-inch K-style aluminum gutter system, the most common gutter style and material.

If you prefer the DIY approach, watch this video from the This Old House team to get started:

As with most home improvement projects, finding the right gutters for your home is usually a matter of balancing durability against budget. After determining which type of gutter is best for your home, call a few gutter installation companies to request free quotes and compare pricing. You may also want to talk to other homeowners in your area about their gutters and what’s worked best for them.

We also recommend adding gutter guards during your gutter installation or replacement. This additional layer of protection reduces gutter cleaning frequency and helps prevent clogs that can cause water damage to your home’s foundation, siding, and landscaping. We’ve recommended our top gutter guard options below.

LeafFilter

LeafFilter combines its innovative gutter guard product with professional services, including gutter installation, repair, and sealing. LeafFilter also provides gutter cleaning as needed before adding its patented steel micro-mesh gutter guards to your home. This solution is more expensive than most DIY gutter guard alternatives, but LeafFilter’s transferable lifetime warranty makes it an attractive option for many homeowners.

Key Features

• 275-micron steel micro-mesh filter
• Hidden hangers
• Professional installation
• Transferable lifetime warranty
• Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) frame

LeafGuard

LeafGuard offers a hybrid gutter and gutter guard solution. The one-piece design features a reverse-curve cover that directs water into the gutter and allows leaves and twigs to fall to the ground. The company provides professional installation and custom fits the gutters to your home. You will also benefit from a transferable lifetime finish warranty that covers repair or replacement if certain types of damage and deterioration occur.

Key Features

• All-in-one design combining a new gutter system with gutter guards
• Chip- and rust-resistant finish
• Financing options
• Reverse-curve technology
• Transferable lifetime finish warranty

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.  

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.