Gutter Cleaning

How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost (in 2024)?

Updated

March 9, 2024

Author

Maureen Beard

Read Time

14 minutes

Gutter cleaning is messy, dirty, and just plain gross, but it is necessary for a properly maintained home.

Your gutters do an essential job of moving water away from your home’s foundation. Even though its costly, it’s best to clean your gutters at least twice a year for maximum efficiency.

So how much does gutter cleaning cost? Gutter cleaning costs run about $162 on average.

The price will fluctuate depending on factors, including gutter length, where you live, and more.

In This Article:

How Much Does Professional Gutter Cleaning Cost Near You?
Factors that Influence the Cost of Gutter Cleaning
Why is It Important to Clean Gutters?
How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?
What Time of Year is Best for Gutter Cleaning?
What to Ask When Hiring a Gutter Cleaning Service
What is Included in Gutter Cleaning?
Gutter Cleaning: DIY vs. Professional
How to Save Money on Gutter Cleaning
Gutter Guards: The Solution to Gutter Cleaning
Frequently Asked Questions
In Conclusion: Is Cleaning Your Gutters Worth the Cost?

How Much Does Professional Gutter Cleaning Cost (Near You)?

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Like most things, where you live plays a big factor in how much you’ll pay for gutter cleaning. Depending on your state, living costs, labor costs, the climate, and how many trees are near your home all factor into gutter cleaning costs.

Here are some average costs you may pay for professional gutter cleaning in the following states:

State	Average Gutter Cleaning Cost (2024)
California	$140 to $370
Connecticut	$100 to $320
Florida	$90 to $260
Georgia	$80 to $240
Illinois	$90 to $260
Kansas	$80 to $230
Maryland	$100 to $300
Massachusetts	$110 to $320
New Jersey	$180 to $230
New York	$120 to $390
North Carolina	$80 to $240
Oregon	$90 to $280
Texas	$80 to $230
Virginia	$100 to $290
Washington	$90 to $270

*You can contact your nearest LeafFilter office to get your local gutter cleaning cost estimate.

6 Factors that Influence the Cost of Gutter Cleaning

The cost of cleaning gutters will depend on various factors, with square footage being the most significant factor. On average, U.S. homeowners should expect to pay between $119 and $227 in 2024 for a single gutter cleaning.

Additionally, gutter type, the number of levels of your home, and even travel time can impact the cost of hiring a gutter cleaning professional.

1. Gutter Length & Home Height

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The length of your gutters will affect the gutter cleaning cost. A single-story home runs between $70 to $120 for gutters that encompass about 200 square feet.

In comparison, a two-story home will cost anywhere from $95 to $200 per 200 square feet. When you get to three stories or more, it costs nearly double, between $170 to $425 per 200 square feet. Additional services like cleaning downspouts will add $50–$100 to the cost.

If your gutters are seriously clogged from being neglected over time, you could be looking at a cost upwards of $500 for the extra time and effort it takes.

2. Your Roof’s Slope

It’s pretty simple, the steeper your roof, the higher the gutter cleaning cost. Typically, you’ll see a 15% increase in gutter cleaning cost for a home with a steep roof. There are a few reasons for this, most notably an increase in time, energy, and risk to complete the job.

3. Condition of Your Gutters

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Expect to pay more if it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your gutters. Your gutters will most likely be dirty and filled with debris. Cleaning out branches, soggy leaves, animal nests, and other debris takes more time.

Additionally, if your gutters are older, you may need to replace your worn-out guards, caps, or fascia.

4. Accessibility to Roof & Gutters

Cleaning on a ladder always comes with some level of risk. If your gutters are easy to access, then you’ll be charged less for gutter cleaning costs.

On the other hand, if trees or other objects hinder access to the roof or your home is on a hill, it becomes more difficult to reach the gutters. Therefore, the gutter cleaning cost will increase.

5. Cleaning Frequency

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As stated, you should clean your gutters at least twice a year. If you have lots of trees near your home, you’ll want to schedule a cleaning three to four times a year.

A good reminder is to clean your gutters at the start of each season. Also, anytime there is a heavy storm with high winds and lots of flying debris, you want to inspect your gutters to see if they need cleaning.

6. Labor & Travel Costs

The cost of labor will always factor into gutter cleaning costs. Gutter cleaning services typically charge by the hour or linear square foot. If labor costs are higher in your area, expect to pay more.

Materials and equipment are also included in your overall gutter cleaning cost. Some gutter cleaning services also charge a travel fee depending on their service area.

For more, check out “How Much Does Gutter Installation Cost?”

Why is It Important to Clean Gutters? 12 Reasons

Clogs inside your gutters can become a costly issue for any homeowner. So there are a number of reasons why you should clean out your gutters routinely, which range from preventing water damage to avoiding pest infestations.

Let’s look closer at the 12 main reasons homeowners should routinely clean out their gutters.

1. Prevent Water Damage

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Keeping your gutters clear of debris is critical for protecting your home from water damage. Clogs inside your gutters can cause water to overflow and seep into your attic, walls, and foundation. This can lead to mold growth, damaged roofing, flooded basements, and many other costly repairs.

Cleaning out your gutters periodically throughout the year prevents buildup of leaves, sticks, and other debris. It ensures rainwater and melting snow will flow away from your house properly.

It also helps to avoid water damage to your home by preventing excess water from traveling into your home through crevices and cracks in the siding.

2. Prevent Foundation Damage

Clogs inside your gutters cause water to pool around the foundation of your home. This excessive moisture causes settlement and cracks in the foundation. Water can seep into basements and crawl spaces, resulting in flooded areas, mold growth, and damage to contents stored in these spaces.

Regularly cleaning out your gutters prevents overflow and diverts water away to protect your home’s foundation.

3. Avoid Roof Damage

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Debris in gutters leads to water backup under roof shingles during rainfall. This traps moisture against the roof structure and decking. Over time, this causes wood to rot, shingles to lift, and roof leaks.

Proper gutter maintenance allows for adequate roof drainage to prevent costly structural damages.

4. Prevent Mold and Mildew

Clogs inside your gutters may cause them to overflow during storms, soaking exterior walls and windows. This creates damp conditions ideal for mold and mildew growth on siding, trim and other areas.

Regular gutter cleaning removes debris from inside your gutters so water can flow away from the home properly.

5. Avoid Costly Home Repairs

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Neglected gutters allow moisture issues to cause all types of expensive repairs — from landscaping restoration to full roof replacement.

Regular gutter cleaning is a necessary home maintenance task that prevents thousands in repairs from water damage over time. But hiring professional gutter cleaners several times each year can be costly.

Installing gutter guards keeps all debris from entering your gutters, allowing only water to flow through. This reduces the need to clean out your gutters several times per year.

6. Fire Prevention

Clogs inside your gutters are a fire hazard, especially in areas with pine trees and leaves. Debris traps moisture creating dry rot in fascia, roof decks and other wood. This decayed wood is highly flammable.

Proper drainage from clean gutters reduces this fire danger.

Additionally, flying embers may ignite built-up debris inside your gutters, so keeping your gutters free of debris is especially important for homeowners who live in wildfire-prone areas.

A gutter guard protection system can greatly reduce the risk of fire by keeping flammable debris buildup out of your gutters.

7. Ensure Proper Water Flow

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Gutter cleaning ensures proper pitch and water flow. Clogs make water pool in certain areas rather than drain fully. This stresses systems and contributes to leaks.

Proper flow from clean gutters extends the lifespan of the gutter system.

8. Avoid Insects and Pests

Standing water and debris attract mosquitoes, carpenter ants, termites and other pests. They nest in clogged areas and can enter through fascias into attics and ceilings.

Keeping gutters clean and flowing averts infestations.

9. Prevent Ice Dams

Photo by RonnyPixel from Pixabay

When melting snow cannot drain, it refreezes at night along eaves and gutters. Layers of ice buildup, called ice dams, trap more water causing leaks and roof damage.

By keeping gutters clear, ice dams are less likely to form.

10. Keep Rodents and Critters Away

Rodents like squirrels are attracted to debris-lined gutters as prime areas to nest and feed. Blockages also enable access onto roofs and into attics.

Routine cleaning removes this appetizing habitat and entry point for rodents.

11. Preserve Landscaping

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Clogged gutters lead to overflow and water runoff which erodes soil around foundations. This damages landscaping via washout of topsoil, plants, and trees.

Properly draining and well-maintained gutters prevent loss of curb appeal and expensive repairs.

12. Keep Up Curb Appeal

Clean gutters are visually more appealing and enhance a home’s curb appeal. Buyers notice deferred maintenance like peeling paint or gutters overflowing with debris. Regular cleaning makes a great impression for a faster, higher value sale.

Overall, timely gutter cleaning is essential maintenance to extend the life of your roof and entire home.

How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?

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As you can see, hiring a gutter cleaner can be expensive. Expect to have your gutters cleaned several times yearly, as they can quickly fill up with dirt and debris. Over the lifetime of your home, this expense can add up to thousands of dollars.

Typically you’ll want to clean your gutters three times a year or at the change of seasons.

If you live in a milder climate or don’t have many (or any) trees near your home, you could have them cleaned twice a year. Installing gutter guards can reduce gutter cleaning to a simple wipe-down once a year.

Learn more about the cost to install gutter guards.

What Time of Year is Best for Gutter Cleaning?

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You can clean your gutters any time of the year. Experts advise the best time to clean your gutters is in the fall when leaves are falling and in the spring after snow and ice have melted. Since gutter cleaning services are in high demand in the fall and spring, expect to pay more.

To save on costs, have your gutters cleaned in the winter. With demand down in most parts of the country, you’ll find lower prices and, most likely, a few seasonal promotions.

Winter is also an excellent time to maintain your gutters, especially in colder parts of the country. Ice and snow build-up can quickly cause damage to your gutter system and roof.

For those living in areas more susceptible to wildfires, you’ll want to be mindful of keeping your gutters clean throughout the spring and summer. Regularly cleaning debris out of your gutters can help minimize the chances of flying embers from igniting in your gutters. Visit CalFire’s Ready for Wildfire website for more information on wildfire safety, preparation, and state codes.

3 Tips: What to Ask When Hiring a Gutter Cleaning Service

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When hiring a gutter cleaning service, you want to keep a few things in mind to avoid hidden costs. Like any business, gutter cleaning companies include different services in the price quote. The top three things to consider when hiring a gutter cleaning company are:

The quote should include cleaning out the leaves and debris clogging your gutters, bagging the waste, and flushing the entire system.
Ask if the removal of debris is included in the quote.
Check if they inspect for damage to your gutters and tighten your fasteners during the process. Some companies will throw this extra in for free!

What is Included in Gutter Cleaning?

Professional gutter cleaning typically includes the following steps:

Thorough removal of all leaves, sticks, and debris from gutters and downspouts
Flushing gutters with a hose to clear leftover sediment and dirt
Checking downspouts and drain pipes for blockages
Inspection of gutter system for any damage or leaks that need repair
Removal and disposal of all waste material

After cleaning is complete, a reputable gutter cleaning company will provide recommendations if any additional maintenance is needed to improve drainage and prevent future clogs.

However, you can reduce the cost of hiring professional gutter cleaners by installing a proven gutter guard protection system. Gutter guards are cost-effective, and are a proven barrier against debris, allowing only water through, preventing clogged gutters and the potential water damage to your home that they can cause.

Gutter Cleaning: DIY vs. Professional

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Cleaning yourself may seem the easiest and cheapest way to go about gutter cleaning. After all, the only costs are your time and equipment, like a ladder and trowel. But the truth is cleaning your gutters brings added risks. Falling off the ladder is the most significant risk.

Ladder falls are one of the top reasons for emergency room visits. This is especially dangerous for those with multi-level homes. That’s why it’s best to leave the gutter cleaning to the pros.

Professional gutter cleaners are more comfortable working on high ladders. In addition, they have the proper equipment to safely lean, reach, and clean out debris while on top of the ladder. A gutter cleaning pro will also be able to identify problem areas and damage to your gutter system.

Having your gutters cleaned regularly by a professional will ensure your gutters look good and work properly for years to come. You won’t have to worry about water leaks, clogs, pest infestations, or damage to your home, which is worth the cost.

How to Save Money on Gutter Cleaning: 7 Tips

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Professional gutter cleaning provides thorough results, but there are a number of ways to reduce your gutter cleaning cost. Here are 7 ways to save money on gutter cleaning.

Clean out the gutters yourself using a ladder, gutter scoop, garden hose or other gutter cleaning tools. This works for single-story homes.
Time your gutter cleanings for fall and spring when companies may offer discounts.
Ask neighbors for professional gutter cleaner referrals to find better rates.
Get quotes from at least 3 local companies and compare prices.
Inquire about discounts for first-time customers or packaged deals.
For 2-3 story homes, consider a boom lift rental for DIY cleaning vs. paying for professionals.
Install gutter guards to prevent debris from entering your gutters and reduce maintenance demands.

Being proactive and smart about booking gutter cleanings can lead to big savings over time. A little effort goes a long way towards preventing costly gutter issues.

Gutter Guards: The Solution to Gutter Cleaning

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If you are looking for a hands-free alternative to cleaning your gutters – there is a solution! A gutter guard protection system, like LeafFilter, will protect your gutters from dirt and debris, allowing only water to get in.

When researching gutter guards, it is essential to keep a few considerations in mind. Gutter guards help reduce the amount of debris that gets in the gutter. Most gutter guards will allow some dirt and debris to enter and can tend to clog. LeafFilter, on the other hand, features a micromesh filter that does not let any debris get in while continuing to allow water to flow through.

No gutter is entirely maintenance-free, but a gutter guard can greatly minimize the cleaning required. With LeafFilter, you can go from climbing a ladder and cleaning your gutters multiple times a year to wiping off your gutters once or twice a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How much do most people charge to clean gutters?

The average professional gutter cleaning cost typically ranges from $80 to $250 for a single-story home, and $150 to $400 for a two-story or multi-level home. Pricing is based on several factors like home size, amount of gutters/downspouts, roof pitch, and difficulty of access.

What is the average cost to clean gutters per linear foot?

Most gutter cleaning companies charge by the linear foot of gutter cleaned. Expect to pay around $3 to $7 per linear foot on average. So for a typical single-story home with about 125 linear feet of gutters, you can expect to pay around $375 to $875 for a thorough cleaning.

What is the average cost of gutter cleaning in my area?

Gutter cleaning costs can vary quite a bit by zip code and by region. So it’s recommended to research and get quotes from at least three local gutter cleaning companies in your area to get an accurate estimate of average pricing.

Costs range higher in areas with more expensive labor, fuel, insurance and disposal fees for debris removal. Without knowing a specific location, the typical costs fall between $120-$350 for a full professional gutter cleaning service.

For more check out these locations:

Can I get gutters cleaned for $75?

If you have a small home, it’s possible to get your gutters cleaned for $75. However, most homeowners report paying between $150-$400 on average for standard gutter cleaning. Prices under $100 are rare even for small homes or ranch-style properties.

However, you may be able to find special discounts on Groupon for first-time cleanings around $75-$100. Or some companies offer new customer promotions for a one-time lower rate.

How often should gutters be cleaned?

Gutters should be cleaned at least twice per year – once in the spring and once in the fall. For homes with lots of overhanging trees or in rainy climates, more frequent cleaning every 3-4 months may be required.

We also recommend checking your gutters after severe storms and cleaning them out as needed if you notice any overflow.

Are gutter guards a good idea?

A proven gutter protection system is a smart investment because it reduces debris buildup and simplifies maintenance. High-quality gutter guard systems prevent most leaves and pine needles from entering gutters, directing water flow into the gutter instead. This allows for less frequent cleanings.

Consider factors like climate, trees on property, roof pitch and price when deciding if gutter guards are a good addition to simplify maintenance.

What should I look for when choosing a gutter guard installer?

It’s important to work with an experienced, trusted, local gutter guard company. Don’t try to DIY gutter guards.

To find the right professional, you want to confirm that:

The gutter guards they install use a micromesh screen, made of surgical grade stainless steel that prevents leaves, pine needles, and the smallest debris—like dirt, shingle grit, and even pollen—from entering gutters.
You want to choose a company that offers reliable year-round installation from a team of experienced local professionals.
The installers will also check, clean, and repair and realign your gutters before installation
The gutter protection system they install is backed by a lifetime warranty, which not only saves you money over time but also adds value to your home.

In Conclusion: Is Cleaning Your Gutters Worth the Cost?

Maintaining a clean gutter system is vital to protecting your home. If your gutters are clogged with debris, you increase the chance of water damage to your roof and foundation. A damaged foundation can cost you upwards of $5000 in repair costs. Annual gutter cleaning costs are much lower.

While you can clean your gutters yourself, it’s best to have a trusted professional do the work. A professional gutter cleaner has the experience and proper equipment to clean your gutters safely. In addition, they will be able to identify any potential problems and repair costs.

If you’d like more information on gutter cleaning cost or installing LeafFilter Gutter Guard, call us at 1-800-290-6106.

Editor’s Note: This post has been completely revamped with up-to-date gutter cleaning cost averages and current industry trends.

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