How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost?

Gutters are designed to catch rainwater and channel it away from your home’s roof and foundation. Over time, though, debris such as leaves, twigs, and shingles build up in your gutters, clogging them and the downspouts that drain them. This can lead to soffit damage and water damage in your walls.

Experts at the best gutter guard companies recommend cleaning your rain gutters at least twice yearly. For some homeowners, cleaning their gutters isn’t safe or feasible, and they’ll need to hire professionals. In this guide, we at the This Old House Reviews Team outline average gutter cleaning prices, how costs are determined, and what to expect when hiring a professional gutter cleaning company.

Gutter cleaning prices vary based on gutter length, home height, gutter condition, geographic location, and more. That said, the average price range for gutter cleaning is $120–$225, with an average cost of $160 (given 200 linear feet of gutters).

Cost by length depends on a home’s number of stories. It costs an average of $0.70–$1.30 per linear foot to clean gutters on the first story of a home and $1.25–$2.50 per linear foot to clean those on the second story or higher. 

For a one-story home, costs can range from $70–$250; for a two-story home, prices average around $100–$325; and for a three-story or taller home, costs range from $150–$500, all given 150–200 linear feet of gutters.*

*Cost data sourced from home project aggregators Angi and HomeAdvisor.

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.

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.

If you’ve made the decision to hire a professional to clean and maintain your gutters, here are a few tips to keep costs down:

• Look for discounts for seniors, veterans, teachers, or first responders on company websites. 
• Look into annual contracts for gutter cleaning. Planning for the expense now might save you money in the end.
• Ask about a volume discount and inquire with your neighbors to see if they might also need the service.
• Check with friends, family, and neighbors for referrals on companies with low total costs. 
• Look for coupons or seasonal promotions online.
• Have your gutters cleaned regularly to keep them in good condition and lower costs.

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

Here are the pros and cons of DIY gutter cleaning:

✔ Is less expensive

✔ Does not require scheduling or waiting for service

✔ Does not require complex equipment

✘ Is potentially dangerous

✘ Does not allow for repairs to roof or gutter damaged

✘ Can be physically demanding

Professional Gutter Cleaning

Here are a few pros and cons to letting a professional handle your gutter cleaning:

✔ Takes less time

✔ Saves you from potential injury

✔ Identifies and repairs issues you may miss

✘ Costs more money

✘ Service is dependent on availability

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 cost 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?

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.

We recommend finding a company that prices 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.

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 specifications, services, reputation, warranties and discounts, payment options, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.  

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