Gutter-Cleaning Costs at a Glance

• Total-cost range: $120-$240
• One-story house: $80-$220
• Two-story house: $100-$240
• Three stories or higher: $180-$440
• Average for one-, two-, three-story house: $150, $170, $310, respectively
• Price per linear foot of gutter: $1-$2
• Downspout cleaning: $50-$100
• Average price for gutter repair: $350, seamed gutters; $1,000, seamless
• Gutter-guard installation: $8-$10 per linear foot
• Downspout installation: $5-$10 per installation
• Downspout-extender installation: $6-$15 per installation
• Additional work: $12 an hour

Cleaning gutters is an important part of exterior home maintenance. Learn how much it costs to clean your gutters and what variables affect that cost.

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On average, cleaning your gutters can cost between $120 and $240 for a one-story or two-story home, with the cost increasing for every additional story. Cleaning gutters for a single-story home costs $80 to $220 on average, and $100 to $240 on average for a two-story home.

The easiest and most accurate model for estimating how much it costs to clean your gutters is calculating the total length, in feet, of your gutters. Traditionally, many gutter-cleaning service providers charge $1 per linear foot for single-story houses and $2 per linear foot for a two-story home.

At HomeServe, we recommend cleaning your gutter system at least three times every year on the transitional month of the season. Doing so ensures that your gutters remain in good condition. Cleaning gutters also helps you save on repair costs you may have otherwise spent on poorly maintained gutters.

Now, let’s look at the cost of gutter cleaning in more detail.

How Much Should I Pay to Have My Gutters Cleaned?

The cost of cleaning your gutters ranges from $120 to $180 per job. Several factors affect the cost, including the number of floors your home has, the length and condition of your gutters, any modifications you may have made to them, and any repairs that may be necessary alongside the cleaning job.

The estimated cost for gutter cleaning on a 2,000-square-foot home is $80 to $220 for a single story, $100 to $240 for a two-story home, and $180 to $440 for a home with more than three stories. The cost of cleaning downspouts ranges from $50 to $100.

When estimating how much you should pay for cleaning your gutters, consider both the length of your gutters and the total square footage of your home.

When calculating the length, in feet, of your gutters, multiply it by $1 for a single-story home and $2 for a two-story home. Otherwise, when considering the total square footage of your home (excluding the areas with no gutters), multiply the total square footage by 50 cents for a single-story home and 90 cents for a two-story home.

If your home is more than two stories high, the cost of cleaning your gutters may include an extra $80 to $200 for the additional equipment required, such as extended ladders, as well as risk factors, including a steeper roof incline.

Of the two methods most useful for estimating gutter-cleaning costs — linear length and square footage — the square footage method is less accurate because some areas of the home (such as pool enclosures, decks and patios) may not have gutters.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how different variables impact the cost of cleaning your gutters.

Height of Your House

Height is among the main factors that influence the cost of cleaning your gutters. The average cost for a one-story home is $150, $170 for a two-story home and $310 for a three-story home.

Seamed Vs. Seamless Metal

The cost of cleaning seamed and seamless gutter metal is about the same, at $150 per job. The difference comes in the accompanying repairs that may be necessary. Repairing seamed gutters costs about $350 on average. The cost of repairing seamless gutters is considerably more, at about $1,000, because these gutters comprise larger sections.

Gutter Length and Condition

As previously mentioned, you can use either linear length or square footage as the basis for your cost estimate. Whichever method you choose, the size of your home will be directly proportional to the cost of cleaning your gutters.

Likewise, the less frequently you clean your gutters, the higher the cost will be because dirt, debris and leaves build up in the gutters over time. Removing a heavy buildup will require more extensive work, which translates to a higher cost. For that reason, we recommend hiring a professional to clean your gutters each season — or being consistent about doing it yourself.

Additional Work

In addition to cleaning, your gutters may need some repair and maintenance work. For example, a cleaning professional may tighten fasteners for sagging gutters. They may also replace gutter guards and reseal some outlets. This additional work may involve the purchase of new parts in addition to a labor cost of about $12 an hour.

You can install gutter guards so that you don’t have to clean your gutters as frequently. On average, you may have to spend about $8 to $10 per linear foot on gutter guards.

Here, you may want to do your own personal cost-benefit analysis, weighing between the price (material and labor) of replacing gutter guards and the price of repairing gutters that don't have gutter guards.

Cleaning and Installation of Downspouts

The most expensive aspect of a gutter-cleaning job tends to be cleaning downspouts. On average, the price of unclogging your downspouts ranges between $50 and $100 per job. Depending on the materials you choose, the installation of downspouts and gutter may cost $5 to $10 per installation.

Likewise, depending on the materials chosen, it may cost you $6 to $15 to install downspout extenders. This aspect of gutter cleaning is well worth the investment because it ensures that water drains into the yard rather than into the foundation of your home.

How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned?

You should clean your gutters after every season — meaning at least three times every year. Naturally, much of the heavy cleaning work will be in the spring and fall, with summer cleaning usually involving only light work. Cleaning your gutters three times a year ensures they remain in good condition and saves you money in repairs.

What Month Should You Clean Gutters?

Clean your gutters in the last month of the fall season to make sure they’re ready for the buildup that occurs during the winter months. Doing so prevents the accumulation and subsequent freezing of dirt, debris and leaves. As a result, you prevent your draining system from becoming blocked during the spring.

What Is the Best Gutter Cleaning Tool?

Here are the tools you need for a good gutter cleaning job:

• A sturdy ladder to hold you securely as you access gutters
• A heavy-duty bucket to collect dirt, debris and leaves
• Puncture-resistant gloves to protect your hands
• A gutter scoop to collect debris
• A cleaning wand that can attach to your garden hose and extend its reach
• A gutter leaf blower attachment for blowing off dry leaves in the summer
• Gutter exterior metal cleaner to clean gutter covers
• A cleaning “smop” (sponge and mop combination) to use with the exterior cleaner

Learn more gutter cleaning tips from HomeServe.

Hiring a professional frees you up to do other important things. More importantly, you don’t have to worry about the risk of falling and getting injured as you clean high gutters, especially if you live in a multistory home. Visit HomeServe and learn which plan from HomeServe provides the best gutter cleaning services for your home.