A compiled reference of 20 verified statistics on residential gutter costs in the United States: what it costs to install gutters by material, what cleaning costs and how often it is needed, and what gutter guards cost by type. Every figure is drawn from a named cost source, This Old House and Bob Vila, and independently checked against the original before publishing.
Gutter guard cost by type
Installed cost per linear foot by guard type (This Old House).
Source: This Old House (thisoldhouse.com). Bars scaled to the $41.22 reverse-curve leader.
Key statistics
Key takeaways
Gutters are inexpensive to install and maintain relative to what failed gutters cost the rest of the house. The numbers below trace installation by material, cleaning cost and cadence, and the wide range in gutter guard pricing.
Gutter installation runs $12 to $62 per linear foot of material.
Installing 200 feet on a 2,000-sq-ft home runs about $2,303 to $12,067.
Copper is the priciest material, about $7,566 for a 200-foot job.
Cleaning averages about $163 to $360 per visit, depending on the source.
Gutters need cleaning at least twice a year; once a year with guards.
Gutter guards range from about $18.94 to $41.22 per foot by type.
How we built this report
Every figure was compiled in September 2026 from named cost sources and verified against the original before publishing.
- Compiled from named cost guides
Installation, cleaning, and gutter guard figures from This Old House; a second, independent cleaning-cost estimate from Bob Vila.
- Two sources, shown side by side
Where two guides disagree, as they do on cleaning cost, we show both rather than picking one, so the real spread is visible.
- Only explicitly stated figures
We include only numbers a named source states directly, and attribute each inline at the point it appears.
- Independent review
Written by one co-founder, reviewed by the other before publishing.
Scope note: these are national averages and ranges from consumer cost guides and vary widely by home height, roof complexity, region, material, and access; they are directional, not quotes. Material costs shown are for a 200-linear-foot job on a representative 2,000-square-foot home. This page covers gutter cost; the water-damage consequences of failed gutters are covered in our basement and foundation research, linked below.
Gutter costs, by the numbers
All 20 figures, grouped into three themes, each from a named cost source and independently verified against the original.
Installation cost, by material
Gutter installation cost turns almost entirely on the material chosen. According to This Old House (thisoldhouse.com), installation runs $12 to $62 per linear foot, from vinyl at the low end to copper at the top.
Statistic 1
Gutter installation costs $12 to $62 per linear foot of material (average about $37).
This Old House
Statistic 2
Installing 200 linear feet on a 2,000-square-foot home costs about $2,303 to $12,067.
This Old House
Statistic 3
Vinyl is the cheapest option, about $2,388 installed for a 200-foot job.
This Old House
Statistic 4
Aluminum runs about $3,352 installed for a 200-foot job.
This Old House
Statistic 5
Steel runs about $3,533 installed for a 200-foot job.
This Old House
Statistic 6
Copper is the most expensive, about $7,566 installed for a 200-foot job.
This Old House
Statistic 7
Downspouts add about $4 to $21 each.
This Old House
Statistic 8
Lifespan by material: vinyl 10 to 20 years, aluminum and steel up to 20 years, copper 50 years or more.
This Old House
What this means: The material decision is a lifespan decision. Copper costs three times aluminum but lasts more than twice as long, so on a property you plan to hold, the per-year cost can be closer than the sticker suggests. For most rental and hospitality portfolios, seamless aluminum is the default: cheap, light, and good for two decades if it is kept clear.
Cleaning cost and cadence
Cleaning is the recurring cost, and the two leading guides put it in different places. According to Bob Vila (bobvila.com) the average is about $163, while This Old House (thisoldhouse.com) puts it near $360, with height and access driving most of the gap.
Statistic 9
Gutter cleaning averages about $163, with most homeowners paying $119 to $228.
Bob Vila
Statistic 10
A separate estimate puts cleaning at about $360 per appointment, ranging $191 to $529.
This Old House
Statistic 11
A single-story home runs about $70 to $250; reaching second- or third-story gutters raises it to $100 to $500.
Bob Vila
Statistic 12
Per linear foot, cleaning runs about $0.95 to $2.25.
This Old House
Statistic 13
Gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year, with fall the most important time.
This Old House
Statistic 14
Bob Vila suggests cleaning as often as three times a year, or once each season, and twice a year in milder climates.
Bob Vila
Statistic 15
Gutters fitted with gutter guards typically need cleaning only about once a year.
This Old House
What this means: Cleaning is small money spent to protect large money. The full spread across the two guides ($119 to $529) is still a fraction of a single water-intrusion repair, and the recurring nature is the point: a missed fall cleaning is exactly how a clog becomes an overflow. For a portfolio, the useful control is a scheduled, documented cadence, not a reactive call after water shows up inside.
Gutter guards
Gutter guards trade a large one-time cost for far less cleaning. According to This Old House (thisoldhouse.com), installation averages about $39.71 per linear foot (roughly $7,941 for 200 feet), with wide variation by type.
Statistic 16
Gutter guard installation averages about $39.71 per linear foot, or roughly $7,941 for 200 linear feet.
This Old House
Statistic 17
Brush-style guards are the cheapest, about $18.94 per linear foot.
This Old House
Statistic 18
Foam inserts run about $21.58 per linear foot.
This Old House
Statistic 19
Screen guards run about $38.12 and micro-mesh about $40.50 per linear foot.
This Old House
Statistic 20
Reverse-curve surface-tension helmets are the priciest, about $41.22 per linear foot.
This Old House
What this means: Guards are a maintenance-labor trade, not a set-and-forget fix. At roughly $7,941 for a full home, they pay back slowly against $163 to $360 cleanings, and even the best still need an annual check. The case for them is strongest on tall or hard-to-access rooflines, exactly where cleaning is most expensive and most likely to get skipped, which is where clogs turn into water on the foundation.
Cite this study
Academic or press use: copy a ready-made reference. RapidEye is the publisher.
Quick FAQ
How much does it cost to install gutters?
Gutter installation costs $12 to $62 per linear foot of material, or roughly $2,303 to $12,067 to install 200 linear feet on a 2,000-square-foot home, according to This Old House (thisoldhouse.com). By material for a 200-foot job, aluminum runs about $3,352 installed, vinyl about $2,388, steel about $3,533, and copper about $7,566.
How much does gutter cleaning cost?
Estimates vary by source: Bob Vila (bobvila.com) puts the average at about $163 (roughly $119 to $228), while This Old House (thisoldhouse.com) puts it at about $360 per appointment ($191 to $529). Per linear foot, cleaning runs about $0.95 to $2.25. Reaching second- or third-story gutters raises the price to $100 to $500.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
At least twice a year, according to This Old House (thisoldhouse.com), with fall the most important time; Bob Vila (bobvila.com) suggests as often as three times a year or once each season. Gutters fitted with gutter guards typically need cleaning only about once a year.
How much do gutter guards cost?
Gutter guard installation averages about $39.71 per linear foot, or roughly $7,941 for 200 linear feet, according to This Old House (thisoldhouse.com). By type, brush guards run about $18.94 per foot, foam $21.58, screen $38.12, micro-mesh $40.50, and reverse-curve surface-tension helmets $41.22.
Data sources
Every figure traces to one of these named sources, each checked against the original before publishing. We name each source and show its root domain, but do not hyperlink external sources; internal links stay live.
This Old HouseGutter installation, cleaning, and gutter guard cost datathisoldhouse.com
Bob VilaGutter cleaning cost and cadence databobvila.com