On average nationwide, gutter installation costs a total of $700 to $2,500, with most homeowners paying an average cost of $991. This price includes labor and materials, and varies according to the material you choose and the complexity of the installation job.
Gutters are an important part of your home because they keep water away from the foundation and channel rainwater runoff into city drainage systems. This keeps your from cracking, and protects the soil in your yard from erosion. Gutters prevent structural problems to your house and yard, so they're a smart investment that can save you money in the long term.
If you're a homeowner who needs to install a gutters, you'll want a professional to help. Before you hire a
What kind of gutter do you need?
There are two main types of gutters to choose from, sectional and seamless gutters.
Seamless gutters are one continuous piece of gutter rather than multiple pieces tied together. A gutter company will fabricate them onsite, custom to your house. Seamless gutters cost more because you pay more for labor, delivery, and materials. Seamless gutters resist leaks because they're a single, solid piece that's made to fit your roof.
Sectional gutters are when a contractor pieces together gutters for your house from pre-fab 5-, 10- and 15-foot sections of gutter. They're less expensive than seamless gutters, but they are more prone to leaks because there are gaps where the sections are tethered together.
Gutter width
Gutters come in 4-, 5-, and 6-inch widths. Wider gutters can handle more runoff and debris than narrower ones, but cost more. Houses with steep roofs in wet climates will need wide gutters with extra downspouts to drain water quickly.
A 5-inch wide is standard and will handle the rainfall in just about any area of the country, but a gutter professional can better calculate the width you need. Figuring gutter sizes and capacities involves a complex mathematical equation involving size and slope of your roof and the average maximum rainfall your area can expect to receive.
Gutter shapes
Gutters come in two shapes, K-style and half round.
A half-round gutter is an arc-shaped, a half-round tubejust like the name says. Half-rounds are used on older, historic homes because it's an old-fashioned looking style.
K-style gutters have flat bottoms and backs, and the front side of the gutter has a decorative shape like a curve or ogee. They're used on contemporary homes. K-style gutters generally have twice the water carrying capacity of half rounds, and can cost up two times more per linear foot.
What impacts the cost of gutter installation?
Your total gutter installation costs can be broken down into labor costs and the price to purchase new gutters. Gutter prices vary depending on the type, size, material, and downspouts. The height of your house and slope of your roof will also impact how much gutter you need and, therefore, the overall price.
Labor and installation costs
The average cost to hire a contractor to install gutters is $75 per hour, or between $5 to $10 per linear foot, nationwide.
Gutter prices by material
Gutter material comes in a range of types and prices. The most common materials are PVC/vinyl, aluminum, steel, and copper. Below is the average cost per linear foot for gutters in each of these four materials:
| Material | Cost per linear foot | Average lifespan |
| PVC/Vinyl | $3 to $5 | 10 years |
| Aluminum | $4 to $9 | 20 years |
| Steel | $9 to $20 | 30 years |
| Copper | $20 to $25 | 100+ years |
PVC or vinyl is the most affordable material for gutters, costing as little as $3 per linear footwhich is about half the cost of aluminum gutters. Vinyl gutters are a good choice for people on a budget and don't live in an extreme climate with a lot of rain or very high or low temperatures.
They only come in a few colors and may fade over time with exposure to the sun's UV rays. They also may crack in extreme cold weather. Vinyl gutters have a limited lifespan, only lasting about 10 years.
Aluminum gutters are the most widely used. Aluminum gutters are lightweight and able to carry water away from your home's foundation. They can be painted any color, so you can match your gutter system to your home, and they have a life expectancy of about 20 years.
Steel gutters are at least 35% more expensive than aluminum, but they stand up to extreme weather better than aluminum ones because it's a more heavy duty material. Steel gutters last longer than aluminum too, and have an average lifespan of 30 years.
Copper is the most expensive gutter material out there, costing at least four times as much as aluminum. Copper gutters don't channel any more water away from your home's foundation, but they're a gorgeous way to embellish your house and improve its curb appeal. Copper gutters will also develop a lovely green patina over the years, adding to their beauty.
Copper gutters are an investment: Even though they cost a lot more, they'll last a century or more, so you'll never need to replace them. If you want gutters that yell 'classic' and will last a really long time, opt for copper.
Downspouts
Downspouts, which you need to buy when you purchase new gutters, cost between $5 to $18 per linear square foot, depending on the material. Depending on the climate you live in, plan for one downspout for every 35 feet of gutter.
Downspouts can be round or square, and come in widths from 3 to 6 inches. You also may need to pay for splash blocks ($5), flashing ($10 per linear foot), and hangers ($2+) for each downspout, too.
Size and slope of roof
The bigger the roof, the more linear foot of gutter you need. If your roof is especially steep, you'll need to pay for wider gutters to handle the runoff. You'll also pay more for a home with multiple roof lines and multiple gables.
Number of stories in your house
The taller the house, the more you'll pay for installation. Installing gutters on multi-story homes requires taller ladders, experience, and linear square feet of gutter. In short, it will cost less to put gutters on a single-story house versus a two-story house.
Climate
Homes in areas with rainy, extreme hot, or extreme cold climates will need wider gutters of sturdier material than houses in milder, drier climates. Wider and sturdier gutters cost more money.
Removal and disposal of old gutters
Expect to pay $100 to $300 to have a contractor remove and dispose of your old gutters, depending on the amount of gutter and difficulty of the job. If you're replacing existing gutters with new gutters, you'll need to take the old gutters off your house and haul them away.
What are common additional gutter installation costs?
Not all gutter systems are made equal. Depending on your home and the area you live in, you may also want to add some enhancementswhich come at an additional cost. Below are some common gutter additions.
| Add-on | Cost | Description |
| Drainage system | $200 to $500 | These direct water away from the house after it comes out of the gutters and usually involves running an underground pipe from the downspouts into the yard. |
| Downspout extensions | $40 to $150 (materials and labor) | Downspout extensions channel water from the gutter downspout away from the house and come in a number of forms, like a vinyl chute, pipe, or a catch basin that's buried in the ground. |
| Gutter guards | $1.50 to $10 per linear foot | Guards keep leaves and other debris from clogging your gutters and come in many forms, ranging from metal mesh screens that snap on top of the gutters to foam inserts. |
| Wire mesh screens | $1 per linear square foot | These keep insects and other critters from crawling into your gutters. |
| Downspout screens | $8 each | Downspout screens keep debris from getting into your downspouts and clogging them. |
| Heat tape | $150 to $300 per 100 linear feet (labor and materials) | Heat tape is an electrical cord that generates heat and can stop gutters from freezing. It's a good investment if you live in an area where temperatures routinely dip below freezing, because ice in gutters can crack and damage them. |
Gutter cleaning
You'll need to clean out your gutters at least once a year to keep them working properly. Expect to pay $100 to $300 for gutter cleaning, depending on slope of your roof and the linear feet of gutters you have.
How long does a gutter installation project take?
A professional gutter installer can mount around 50 linear feet of gutter in seven hours. Installation will take about one to three days, depending on the size of the home, roof slope, and number of gables.
How do I hire a contractor to install gutters?
Most homeowners will want to hire a contractor to install their gutter system. Before you hire someone to install gutters on your home, be sure to:
A functioning gutter system is an essential part of any home, and not something homeowners want to install poorly. To make sure you get your gutters right, hire a
gutter installation pro near you to help.