How Much Does Gutter Installation Cost in 2026?
National ranges, materials + labor · Pricing data updated · Reviewed annually
New gutters cost $10–$20 per linear foot in seamless aluminum, materials and labor included, plus $30–$75 per downspout. For a whole house that means $1,700 to $3,500 on an average single-story home (160 linear feet) and $2,250 to $5,000 on a two-story (200 linear feet). The spread runs from about $600 for sectional vinyl on a small ranch in a low-cost area to $15,750 for copper on a large two-story in an expensive metro.
Four things set the price: how much gutter you need, the material, seamless or sectional, and how hard the roofline is to work on. Guards are a separate decision that can cost as much as the gutters. To measure your own run, the free gutters calculator returns length, downspouts, hangers and elbows, and the gutter size calculator checks whether you need 5-inch or 6-inch.
Gutter cost by material (per linear foot)
Installed K-style gutters, including hangers, corners, end caps, outlets and labor. Downspouts are extra. Aluminum is the default for good reason: it doesn't rust, takes any color, and lasts 20–30 years.
| Material | Installed / LF | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | $10–$20 | The default — rust-proof, 20–30 year life |
| Vinyl / PVC | $8–$12 | Cheapest; brittle in hard freezes, 10–20 years |
| Galvanized steel | $10–$35 | Takes snow and ice loads; can rust at cuts |
| Copper | $25–$40 | Patinas, lasts 50–100 years, no painting |
| Zinc | $35–$45 | Premium, 80+ year patina, specialist install |
These are seamless rates, the market default. Sectional runs $3–$5 per foot less, and a half-round profile adds $1–$2.
Cost by home size
Seamless gutters with downspouts, national average, before height or complexity add-ons. Downspout counts follow the rule that one drop drains at most 50 feet of gutter. Most homes have 100 to 200 feet of gutter, roughly a tenth of the home's floor area.
| Home | Aluminum | Vinyl | Copper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small single-story~120 LF, 3 downspouts | $1,300 – $2,750 | $1,100 – $1,700 | $3,000 – $5,000 |
| Average single-story~160 LF, 4 downspouts | $1,700 – $3,500 | $1,400 – $2,250 | $4,000 – $6,750 |
| Average two-story~200 LF, 5 downspouts | $2,250 – $4,500 | $1,800 – $2,750 | $5,250 – $8,500 |
| Large two-story~250 LF, 6 downspouts | $2,750 – $5,500 | $2,250 – $3,500 | $6,500 – $10,500 |
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What the add-ons cost
Priced against an average single-story home (160 linear feet, seamless aluminum) at the national average. Each is priced once and added, not stacked on the others.
| Add-on | What's involved | Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Two-story height | Taller ladders, staging and fall protection (+$1–$3/LF) | +$200 – $500 |
| Complex or steep roofline | Many corners, valleys and peaks — adds 10–30% | +$300 – $750 |
| Poor access | Landscaping or tight lots force hand-carrying — adds 15–25% | +$300 – $750 |
| Tear off and dispose old gutters | Remove and haul the existing system ($50–$200) | +$100 – $250 |
| Fascia board repair | Rotten fascia cannot hold hangers ($5–$12/LF) | +$800 – $2,000 |
| Gutter guards (contractor-installed) | Screen or micro-mesh fitted with the new gutters ($15–$45/LF) | +$2,300 – $7,250 |
| 6-inch gutters | For big roof areas or heavy rainfall (+$1–$2/LF) | +$200 – $250 |
| Half-round profile | More material to form and special brackets (+$1–$2/LF) | +$200 – $250 |
| Custom color or paint | Color match beyond stock finishes (+$1–$4/LF) | +$200 – $750 |
| Extensions and splash blocks | Carry water away from the foundation ($10–$50 per drop) | +$100 – $250 |
| Permit | Required by some jurisdictions ($50–$200) | +$100 – $250 |
Rotten fascia is the classic surprise: it only shows once the old gutters come down, and new hangers cannot hold in soft wood. Budget for it on any system that has been sagging or overflowing.
Gutter guard cost by type
Guards range from a few dollars a foot to more than the gutters themselves. The spread is mostly about what you're buying — bare material, guards fitted by your gutter installer, or a brand program with its own sales process and warranty — not about how well the mesh keeps leaves out.
| Guard type | Installed / LF | DIY-friendly? |
|---|---|---|
| Foam insert | $2–$4 | Yes |
| Brush | $2.50–$5 | Yes |
| Screen / basic mesh | $4–$8 | Yes |
| Micro-mesh (non-brand) | $7–$15 | No — installed |
| Reverse curve (non-brand) | $5–$12 | No — installed |
| Brand program (LeafFilter, LeafGuard, Gutter Helmet) | $18–$70 | No — installed |
On a brand micro-mesh quote, the mesh itself is a small share of the price. If a quote comes in near the top of that range, price the same mesh fitted by your gutter contractor before signing.
Cost by region
Labor is roughly 40–60% of a gutter bill, so region moves the total less than on a pure-labor trade, but it still matters. Northeast and West Coast metros run well above the national average; the rural Plains, Midwest and Southeast run below it.
| Region | Typical areas | Single-story | Two-story |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower-cost area | Rural Plains, Midwest, Southeast | $1,500 – $3,000 | $2,000 – $4,250 |
| National average | Most metros | $1,700 – $3,500 | $2,250 – $5,000 |
| High-cost metro | Northeast and West Coast metros | $2,500 – $5,000 | $3,250 – $7,000 |
Gutter repair and cleaning cost
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| Reseal a leaking joint | $100 – $225 |
| Re-pitch a sagging run | $75 – $250 |
| Replace a section | $200 – $600 |
| Replace a downspout | $30 – $75 |
| Cleaning (per visit) | $100 – $275 |
Our rule of thumb: replace once repairs would run past about 25% of a full replacement, or when rust and sagging appear in several runs at once. No cost guide publishes a firm threshold, so this is judgment rather than a standard. Sagging that returns after re-hanging usually means the fascia behind it has gone soft.
DIY gutters: what's reasonable
Sectional aluminum runs $1–$4 per linear foot in materials and vinyl $2–$6, plus $50–$300 of tools (hand seamer, rivet gun, snips, sealant). On a single-story run that is a real saving, since labor is around half the bill. Two things decide whether it works: slope, about 1/4 inch per 10 feet toward the downspout, and solid fascia to screw into. Seamless is not available to homeowners at all — it is formed on site by a machine on the truck. Skip DIY on a second story, over an entry or patio, or where the fascia is already soft.
What these ranges don't include
National ranges, materials + labor combined. The per-foot price covers gutter, hangers, corners, end caps, outlets and installation; downspouts are priced separately per drop. Excludes roof work and drip edge, full fascia and soffit replacement, ice-dam remediation, foundation drainage, storm-sewer tie-ins and power washing.
- Roof work and drip edge: see the roof replacement cost page.
- Full fascia and soffit replacement: spot fascia repair is an add-on above; a full run is its own job.
- Ice-dam remediation: heat cable is priced above, but fixing the attic heat loss that causes ice dams is insulation work.
- Foundation drainage: burying downspout lines or adding a French drain is separate.
- Storm-sewer tie-in permits and power washing.
Where these numbers come from
Ranges reconcile national published data, led by HomeGuide's gutter cost guide (updated October 2025), with brand guard pricing from This Old House's 2026 homeowner survey and the Copper Development Association handbook for copper specs and the 50-foot-per-downspout rule. Totals are the installed rate times the gutter length plus downspouts per drop, so every table on this page agrees with the others and with our gutter calculators. Totals are rounded to the nearest $100 under $2,000 and $250 above. This page was last computed from data updated . Get at least three written bids, and make sure each one states the material gauge, whether it is seamless, and how many downspouts.
Ready to price the actual job?
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Don't forget disposal in the budget
A project this size usually needs a rolloff dumpster, and rental plus overage fees are a real line item. See the right container size and what disposal typically adds to the budget.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does gutter installation cost per linear foot?
Seamless aluminum, the most common choice, runs $10–$20 per linear foot installed. Vinyl is cheapest at $8–$12, steel runs $10–$35, and copper $25–$40. Those per-foot prices cover the gutter, hangers, corners, end caps, outlets and labor. Downspouts are priced separately, at $30–$75 per drop.
How much does it cost to replace gutters on a whole house?
An average single-story home with about 160 linear feet and 4 downspouts runs $1,700 to $3,500 in seamless aluminum. A two-story home at 200 linear feet runs $2,250 to $5,000 once the height premium is added. Copper on that same two-story home runs $5,250 to $8,500.
How many downspouts do I need?
One downspout drains at most 50 linear feet of gutter, per the Copper Development Association handbook, so a 160-foot home needs at least 4. Heavy-rainfall areas often need more, and sizing should also follow the storm-drainage tables in the plumbing code. The free gutter size calculator works out the count and the gutter size from your roof area, pitch and local rainfall.
Are seamless gutters worth it over sectional?
Seamless costs $3–$5 more per linear foot. It is roll-formed on site from a coil by a truck-mounted machine, so the only joints are at corners and outlets, which is where sectional gutters usually start leaking. Sectional uses stock lengths riveted and sealed together. Seamless is not a DIY option, because the forming machine is the whole point.
How much do gutter guards cost?
Fitted with new gutters by the installer, guards add $15–$45 per linear foot, or about $2,300–$7,250 on a 160-foot home. Brand programs such as LeafFilter and LeafGuard run far higher, averaging around $41 per linear foot. DIY foam or screen guards are $2–$8. The spread is about what is included, not mesh quality.
Does a two-story house cost more for gutters?
Yes, about $1–$3 more per linear foot for the taller ladders, staging and fall protection. A complex roofline with many corners and valleys adds another 10%–30%, and poor access (tight lots, heavy landscaping) 15%–25%.
Should I repair or replace my gutters?
Repair when the failed section is a small share of the run and the system is still within its service life: resealing a joint runs $100–$225 and re-pitching a sagging run $75–$250. Our rule of thumb is to replace once repairs would cost more than about 25% of a full replacement, or when rust and sagging show up in several runs at once. No cost guide publishes a firm threshold, so treat that as judgment, not a standard.
Can I install gutters myself?
Sectional aluminum or vinyl on a single-story run is a reasonable DIY job. Materials are $1–$4 per linear foot for sectional aluminum and $2–$6 for vinyl, plus $50–$300 of tools. What matters most is slope (about 1/4 inch per 10 feet toward the downspout) and hitting solid fascia. Skip DIY on a second story, over an entry or hardscape, or if the fascia is soft.
Do these ranges include labor?
Yes. National ranges, materials + labor combined. The per-foot price covers gutter, hangers, corners, end caps, outlets and installation; downspouts are priced separately per drop. Excludes roof work and drip edge, full fascia and soffit replacement, ice-dam remediation, foundation drainage, storm-sewer tie-ins and power washing. For a takeoff of gutter length, downspouts, hangers and elbows, run the free gutters calculator.