Gutter cleaning cost: An in-depth guide

Though you can scale a ladder and clean out full gutters as a do-it-yourself chore, a safer option is to hire a gutter cleaning company. The national average gutter cleaning cost ranges from $120 to $235 for an average home with 200 linear feet of gutters but can cost anywhere from $75 to over $450. Here’s a closer look:

Factors that affect gutter cleaning prices

Dennis Siggins, owner of professional gutter cleaning service Cape Cod Gutter Monkeys, said he uses several factors to determine how much they charge customers. “We price our cleanings and tune-ups per linear foot of gutter and factor in things like height, geographic location and other environmental factors.”

Geographical location

Labor makes up the bulk of the cost of a gutter cleaning service. Because labor rates vary from market to market, where you live largely determines how much you’ll pay. Markets in Kansas and Ohio may be among the most affordable, but you’ll spend more to have your gutters cleaned in places with a higher cost of living, such as California and New York.

The table below shows what you might pay to have your gutters cleaned in the following states.

Gutter cleaning cost by region

*Costs may vary depending on the service provider, location and type of home. Get quotes for the most accurate prices.

Gutter type

Whether you have seamless or seamed (sectional) gutters on your home can significantly impact cleaning costs. Seamless gutters consist of one continuous piece that stretches the length of your roof, while seamed gutters have individual sections that connect. Because seams between these sections trap more debris than seamless gutters, they’re more time-consuming to clean. Expect to pay 10% to 25% more to clean seamed gutters.

Gutter length and condition

The length and condition of your gutters also affect the cleaning price. Gutter cleaning companies usually charge about 35 cents to 50 cents per linear foot for the first story of your home and about twice that to clean gutters on the second story.

Of course, the amount of gutter debris also affects the price. You might pay as much as 50% more if your gutters are overflowing with leaves, gunk and other material.

Gutter width

The width of your gutters may also affect the cost of cleaning them. Most homes have gutters that are 5 inches wide, but it’s common to find 6- or 7-inch gutters or even 4-inch gutters.

Wider gutters have more capacity and can hold more debris. You shouldn’t pay more to clean wider gutters if you have them cleaned regularly, but you will if you wait until they fill up with leaves and other debris.

House height

House height also affects the cost of having your gutters cleaned. Gutters closer to ground level are easier to reach and present less of a safety risk than two- and three-story homes. You’ll pay more to have second- and third-floor gutters cleaned out. Expect to pay between $85 and $225 for gutter cleaning on a single-story home and between $120 and $370 for a two-story house.

Roof slope

Steeply-pitched roofs are more hazardous to work on and can make accessing gutters more difficult. Gutter cleaners will add between 5% and 15% to the cleaning price for houses that have roofs with steep pitches.

Additional services related to gutter cleaning

Downspout cleaning and installation

Most gutter cleaning services don’t include downspouts as part of a gutter cleaning. If you have a clogged downspout, you might pay as much as $100 more to clear it. Your existing downspouts may not be enough to handle the water directed to them. In that case, you may need to install another downspout, adding $5 to $25 per linear foot for the new gutter.

Gutter guards and accessories

Investing in gutter guards is one way to reduce the debris that ends up in your gutters. This gutter accessory keeps twigs, leaves, berries, pinecones and other stuff out of your gutters, making them easier (and cheaper) to clean. Gutter guards cost between $700 and $2,000 if installed professionally.

Gutter repair

After cleaning gutters, you should repair leaking or sagging ones. Many cleaning companies make these repairs, but they cost more. The average cost to repair gutters ranges between $150 and $600.

Roof cleaning and repair

If you clean your gutters and see that your roof has algae, moss or mold growth, consider also having your roof cleaned. A roof cleaning will extend the life of your roof and improve your home’s curb appeal. Some roof cleanings include minor repairs to damaged shingles.

How to know when it’s time to clean your gutters

There are plenty of signs that your gutters need cleaning. If you see any of the following signs, it’s time to have them cleaned.

Mold, stains and mildew growth

Pollen, dirt and other debris can eventually lead to black stains on your gutters’ exterior. In some cases, you might also notice mold and mildew growth on your gutters. Don’t delay. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to remove these unsightly stains.

Pests

Gutters full of debris make perfect nesting areas for carpenter ants, termites and wasps. If you see insect activity in your gutters, it’s time to have them cleaned.

Plant growth

When enough debris collects in your gutters, weeds and other plants grow out of them, indicating that your gutters are overdue for a cleaning.

Sagging Gutters

Gutters that bow downward from the weight of the leaves and debris are another sign that it’s time for gutter cleaning. “Unmaintained gutters will almost always become loose and pull away from the fascia board that they are anchored to,” Siggins said.

Overflowing water

One of the most obvious signs that your gutters should be cleaned is when they overflow during a heavy rainstorm. “When a gutter is overloaded with debris, it forms a barrier where the water cannot go any further,” said Korey Gregory, superintendent of ASAP Restoration LLC, a company based in Tempe, Arizona, that restores homes damaged by water, fire and mold.

Exterior Damage

If you put off gutter cleaning for too long, you may notice damage to the house’s exterior. “Blockages force the water up onto the roof or onto the siding where it isn’t meant to stagnate,” Gregory said. “If water lingers in these areas for too long, it always causes damage.” Damage can include peeling paint and warped siding, among other issues.

DIY gutter cleaning vs. hiring a professional

You can save hundreds of dollars if you clean your gutters yourself.  If you own (or can borrow) an extension or 10-foot step ladder, you can probably complete the job without spending any money.

Whether you should take on this job depends on a few things. Cleaning gutters from a single-story home in which the gutters are less than 10 feet off the ground is a reasonable DIY job. Cleaning gutters from a much higher 20-foot tall second-story roof line presents a much more significant fall hazard and is usually best left to the pros.

How to save money on gutter cleaning

There are a few ways to get the best deal on gutter cleaning.

Bottom line

Whether you do this chore yourself or hire someone else to do it, cleaning your gutters is an essential part of maintaining your home. How much you’ll pay to hire a gutter cleaning company depends on various factors, including where you live, the length of the gutters on your home, and how far they are from the ground.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)