How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost? [2025 Data]
The average U.S. homeowner spends $167 on gutter cleaning, and most cleanings cost between $119 and $234, depending on type, length, and location.
Factors that impact gutter cleaning costs include home height, gutter type, and length.
Clean gutters one to two times annually to prevent costly home damage.
DIY saves money, but hiring a pro ensures safety.
You can save money on gutter cleaning costs by cleaning off-peak or by using gutter guards.
The average gutter cleaning cost is $167, but most homeowners spend between $119 and $234. You can expect to pay between $0.95 and $2.25 per linear foot for gutter cleaning, but the number of stories your home has and your gutter condition all play a factor in the total cost.
Fall leaves are beautiful to look at, but they’ll start clogging your gutters sooner or later. You’ll want to clean your gutters at least twice a year to keep them clean and flowing properly, otherwise, you risk roof and foundation damage. Use the following guide to estimate your gutter cleaning costs and keep your gutters clear and working.
Hiring a pro to clean your gutters can help you discover if they have any unnoticed damage. Damaged gutters can cost thousands down the road if not addressed ASAP.
Gutter Cleaning Cost Factors
Your total gutter cleaning cost can depend on factors like house height, the length and type of gutters you have, and the overall condition of your gutters. While we look at the different cost factors of gutter cleaning below, it’s recommended that you contact a local gutter cleaning pro to give you an exact quote.
Gutter Type
There are two main types of gutters: seamed and seamless. Seamed gutters are the more traditional (and costlier) option, while seamless gutters are popular for new gutter installations and are easier to clean.
| Seamed Gutters | Seamless Gutters |
|---|---|
| $165–$250 to clean | $120–$175 to clean |
| Clog more easily | Don’t clog easily |
| More affordable to install | More expensive to install |
| Shorter life span | Longer life span |
| 2–3 hours to clean | 1–2 hours to clean |
| Often found on older homes | Popular for new home builds |
Length of Gutters
Gutter cleaning pros often charge by the linear foot, so the longer your gutters, the more you’ll pay. On average, expect to pay $0.95 to $2.25 per linear foot of your gutters, though this price can be higher on a multi-story home. Most homes have about 125 to 200 linear feet of gutters, though larger homes could have more.
That said, some contractors write an estimate based on the square footage of your home rather than the length of your gutters. In this case, they’ll charge around $0.40 per square foot for the first floor and $0.80 per square foot for the second floor.
House Height
Because gutters on single-story homes are easier and safer to reach, they’ll cost less to clean. The higher the roofline, the more cleaning gutters costs, especially since maneuvering ladders into position will make your project take longer. You’ll pay about $0.95 to $1.25 per linear foot for a one-story home or $1.00 to $1.85 per linear foot for a two-story home. Here’s a look at what you can expect.
| House Height (Stories) | Average Cost (per linear foot) | Average project cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.95–$1.25 | $145–$250 |
| 2 | $1.00–$1.85 | $180–$360 |
| 3 | $1.25–$2.25 | $210–$450 |
If you have gutters on different levels, a contractor will charge based on the length of each level. In other words, you won’t have to pay a premium on the whole job—just the higher gutters.
Roof Slope
A steeper roof slope often leads to an additional 15% increase in cost. Many gutter cleaning companies will access your roof and clean your gutters from above, which might not be possible on a steep roof. In that case, your professional has to use ladders to reach each part of your gutters, which takes significantly longer and drives up your labor costs.
Condition of Gutters
If you don’t clean your gutters regularly, expect to spend 10% to 50% more on the job. Severely clogged gutters take extra time to clean properly and therefore cost more in the long run. In some cases, your contractor may have to clean them by hand rather than flushing the debris out.
| Home Type | Gutter Cleaning Frequency (Per Year) |
|---|---|
| Average home | 1–2 (spring or early fall) |
| Homes near oak trees | 2+ |
| Homes near pine trees | 4 |
| Gutters with guards or screens | 1+ |
Whether or Not You Have Gutter Guards
Gutter guards help reduce the amount of debris that gets into your gutters and can prolong their life span. However, they don't eliminate all debris, so you’ll need to sweep them out periodically. Gutter guards add to your gutter installation cost, but they can lower your cleaning costs.
Installing a gutter guard can cost $6 to $8 per linear foot. For example, installing a 200-foot screened system would cost about $1,200 to $1,600. However, you reduce the risk of foundation damage from overflow, and you’ll reduce cleaning costs, sometimes by up to 50%, because of how straightforward cleaning is when you have gutter guards doing most of the work.
Travel Fees
If you live outside your gutter contractor’s typical service area, you may have to pay an additional travel fee. This fee compensates the professionals for their time and fuel spent reaching your location. Some contractors charge based on distance, often calculated per mile, while others charge a flat fee for areas beyond a certain radius. If you live in a rural area or a less populated exurb, you are more likely to incur a travel fee, since gutter cleaning pros have fewer jobs clustered together.
Seasonality or Time of Year
Gutter cleaning has two peak seasons: Autumn (when falling leaves can clog gutters) and spring (when melting snow can push roof debris into gutters). If you hire a pro who cleans gutters during a peak season, you could end up paying 10% to 50% more than you would for an off-peak job.
Tipping
Even though tipping your gutter cleaning pro isn’t necessary or expected, there are some circumstances where it could be a thoughtful gesture. If your pro goes above and beyond, like addressing a particularly difficult clog, you might find that you want to provide a tip as a way to say “thank you”. Additionally, if the job is more challenging than expected, or they end up working in unpleasant conditions (like a super hot or cold day), a tip can be a great way to acknowledge their extra effort and dedication.
While a common non-necessary tip range is $10 to $20 per cleaner, there are other ways to acknowledge their excellence. Cold drinks on a hot day or coffee/tea on a cold day are always nice gestures. You can also leave a positive review for your pro if they did a great job, since this can be incredibly valuable for their business.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?
Knowing how often to clean your gutters is key to preventing common, costly issues like gutter damage, water leaks, and ice dams. On average, you should clean your gutters once or twice a year in the spring and early fall. However, if your home is near trees, particularly deciduous ones that shed a lot of leaves (like oaks or maples), or evergreens (like pines with their needles), you might need to increase the cleanings to two to four times a year. Homes in areas with frequent storms or high winds might also benefit from more frequent checks.
If you’d prefer to limit gutter cleaning, the best bet is to install gutter guards or screens. Since they prevent leaves from getting stuck in your gutters, you can potentially get away with just one annual cleaning, even if you have a heavily treed property.
Cost of Common Gutter Cleaning Add-Ons
While getting your gutters cleaned, it’s an excellent opportunity to request these add-ons. Many gutter professionals offer these services, and bundling them can often lead to a better overall price. This is because the crew and equipment are already on-site, saving the company time and resources, which they can then pass on to you as savings.
Gutter replacement cost: $630–$1,800
Downspout installation cost: $320–$1,100
Downspout cleaning cost: $50–$100
Gutter repair cost: $240–$480
Soffit and fascia repair cost: $600–$6,000
DIY Gutter Cleaning vs. Hiring a Pro
In the short run, cleaning your gutters on your own may seem less expensive and easier than hiring a service since labor makes up most of the cost of cleaning out gutters—about 70% or more. After all, DIYing the job will only cost you your time and necessary tools, like a small shovel and ladder (for $20 to $50). However, some risks come with tackling this maintenance—namely, falling off the roof or damaging your gutters or home in the process.
Beyond the immediate dangers, a DIY approach can lead to improper cleaning, leaving behind debris that causes future clogs and potential water damage to your roof, fascia, or foundation. You might also lack the right tools to efficiently remove stubborn blockages or safely access hard-to-reach areas.
It’s best to hire a gutter cleaning service near you to stay safe and avoid any injuries, especially if you need gutters on a second-floor roof cleaned. Also, consider hiring someone who cleans gutters if you have gutter guards installed. Removing and replacing them yourself could cause malfunctions and void your gutter guard warranty or performance guarantee.
For some roofs, cleaning gutters is a simple DIY. For others, safety concerns will definitely justify hiring a professional.
5 Ways to Save on Gutter Cleaning Costs
There are a few ways to save on this service that don’t require you to get up on that ladder yourself. Follow these tips to tighten your gutter cleaning budget:
Gutters with gutter guards require fewer cleanings, though you’ll eventually have to clean and replace the gutter guards. Some gutter guard companies will pay to clear any clogs that pop up, saving you money on cleanings.
By scheduling your cleanings during an off-peak season like early winter or summer, you can save 10% to 50%.
Try to clean your gutters at least once or twice a year to avoid an upcharge for a deep cleaning or catch-up cleaning.
Contractors may offer a special rate if you sign an annual cleaning contract. Before hiring a gutter contractor, ask about special deals and discounts.
You can save money on future cleaning costs by installing seamless gutters because they have fewer places where debris can accumulate and lead to clogs. Some contractors will offer a 10% to 25% discount to clean seamless gutters.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 30,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s best to schedule regular gutter cleanings before there’s a major issue, but sometimes life gets in the way. Luckily, a few telltale signs will let you know when to clean your gutters ASAP:
You notice built-up debris in your gutters.
Your gutters overflow with water when it rains.
Water doesn’t readily flow from your downspouts.
Your gutters are damaged or visibly leaking.
You notice evidence of leaking along your roof, siding, yard, or pavement.
Your gutters have pulled away from your roofing or exterior walls.
You see water damage on your soffits or fascia.
You have weeds growing in your gutters.
You start to see ants or other insects around your gutters or in your home.
You suddenly have issues with leaks in your crawl space or basement.
Not cleaning your gutters could lead to serious problems, including leaks, water-damaged siding and fascia, and foundation damage and leaking. The leaves and debris that clog your gutters create the ideal environment for mold and mildew, which can eventually rot the fascia board.
Water will start to leak and overflow, which could damage your roof or other areas of your home. You may notice pooling in your yard, which can freeze and damage your driveway or patio. Cleaning your gutters at least once or twice a year is best to avoid expensive repairs and replacements.
It takes around an hour to clean gutters on an average three-bedroom home, though it could take longer if the gutters aren’t maintained, if the roof slope demands ladders for cleaning, or if the gutters on second stories are more challenging to reach.
For larger homes with multiple stories, expect the job to take two to three hours. It will also take more time if you have gutter guards, as your professional will have to remove and replace them before and after cleaning.
No, you should never use a pressure washer on the inside of your gutters. It might seem like the simplest way to clean out clogs quickly, but gutters cannot withstand extreme force. You’ll damage your gutters, which could cause leaks and, in some cases, damage your home’s siding.
Instead, remove debris by hand or use a gutter cleaning tool, then rinse your gutter out with a hose. Choose a nozzle with a less intense water flow, similar to a heavy rainstorm, which your gutters can withstand.
Walking on the roof to clean gutters is unsafe. If you do your own gutter cleaning, use a ladder to reach the gutters rather than climbing on your roof. Walking on the roof is dangerous, especially if it has rained recently or if there are fallen leaves. You can also damage your shingles when walking on them, which can lead to water leaks.
Keep in mind that using a ladder has its risks, too. It can be difficult to keep your balance while doing the labor-intensive work of cleaning gutters. For safety reasons, hiring a pro to clean your gutters is the best choice.
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