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We recommend the best products through an independent review process, and advertisers do not influence our picks. We may receive compensation if you visit partners we recommend. Read our advertiser disclosure for more info.

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How Much Does A Gutter Guard Installation Cost?

Average National Cost
? Based on 200 linear feet of gutters, which is the gutter length of the average home
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$900–$2,000

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Updated On

February 7, 2024

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There are few home maintenance chores as unpleasant as cleaning out gutters. Over a season, gutters fill up with unpleasant gunk and debris, such as leaves, twigs, shingle granules, and pests.

But keeping them clean is a must, as clogged gutters can lead to overflows, ice dams, water damage, and foundation erosion. A good set of gutter guards helps keep your gutter clean with minimal maintenance.

This article reviews how much gutter guard installation costs, including material prices, labor rates, and other important factors. We’ll look at some of the very best gutter guard brands on the market and see if DIY installation is worth it.

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Gutter Cleaning Service
The national average price of gutter cleaning is $160, assuming you have about 200 feet of gutters.
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Gutter Guard Installation
In general, the national average cost of gutter guards ranges from $650 to $2,000.
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Gutters Installation
In general, it costs somewhere between $1,000 to $7,000 to get a full set of gutters installed on your home.
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How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost?

The national average cost of gutter guards ranges from $900 to $2,000. While the range is wide, it makes sense when you consider the array of available gutter guards, which come in numerous designs and materials. Each has a different price. Overall, gutter guards fall into one of three price categories: low, average, and high. The price ranges for each are:

Low AverageHigh
$200 – $850$900 – $2,000$2,500 – $4,000+

How Do Gutter Guards Work?


What Factors Affect the Cost of Gutter Guards?

The cost of gutter guard installation depends on details like gutter length, climate, and guard material. Here is a complete list of the key factors that affect the final expenditure of your gutter guard installation:

  • Gutter guard type
  • Roof type
  • Gutter condition
  • Region of the country
  • Accessibility
  • Gutter length and width
  • Gutter heaters
FactorTypical Price Variation
Gutter guard type$200 – $300
Roof type$250 – $600
Gutter condition$300 – $800
Region of the country$100 – $200
Accessibility$250 – $650
Gutter length and width$300 – $600
Gutter heaters$500 – $800

Gutter Guard Cost Calculator

Curious about the total investment for gutter guards for your specific home? Use our calculator below to get a price estimate and connect with local professionals.

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Cost of Gutter Guards by Type

The first two major factors in installation cost are gutter guard materials and type. Gutter guards made out of less durable materials tend to be the most inexpensive gutter guards, while guards made out of more durable materials are generally more expensive. Gutter guards come in various designs and materials with their own pros, cons, and associated costs. Here is a quick breakdown of the price range for all of the different types of gutter guards (minus the top vinyl gutter guards) on the market.

Gutter Guard TypeAverage Total Cost
Micromesh$900 – $1,550
Foam$400 – $650
Brush$600 – $850
Reverse-curve or gutter helmets$1,150 – $4,300
Plastic screen (PVC)$80 – $200

Micromesh Gutter Guards

As their name implies, micromesh guards use minute stainless steel mesh screens that protect your gutters from the tiniest debris. These guards are pricey, but they offer some of the best protection, keeping even pine needles and shingle granules out. They’re durable and resist corrosion, dents, warping, and weathering. However, this type of guard has downsides, like warranting professional installation and potentially voiding your roof warranty.

Foam Gutter Guards

These guards are large foam inserts on top of your gutters. Good foam gutter guards block large debris from entering while leaving space for water to flow through. These guards are a low-cost, easy-to-install option, but they don’t prevent the smallest debris from getting through. Debris can also sit on top of these guards more easily, creating build-ups and clogs. If you install these, you’ll need to brush off the debris once a year, which is easier than a twice-yearly gutter cleaning

Brush Gutter Guards

These guards are a middle-of-the-road option in cost and performance. Brush gutter guards resemble large pipe-cleaning brushes with bristles that keep debris like sticks and leaves out of the gutter system. The major downside is the bristles can trap debris and lead to clogs — they require yearly cleaning.

Reverse-curve Guards or Gutter Helmets

Also called “surface tension gutter guards,” these models have a single, solid cover that uses the surface tension of water flow to slide debris away. The best surface tension gutter guards repel the most debris and are the most durable of all guards. The downsides to reverse-curve guards are that they’re expensive and they require professional installation. Because they’re installed directly onto the fasteners between your gutters and fascia board, they’re impossible to DIY — and this process may void some roof warranties.

Plastic or Steel Screen Gutter Guards

Like micromesh guards and our top metal gutter guards, plastic screen gutter covers sit atop your existing system. You can buy metal guards or even the best plastic gutter guards at a medium-low price range. While an economic option, these guards aren’t great at keeping small debris out, and the plastic models are prone to cracking and warping.

Cost of Gutter Guards by Length and Width

The next important factor in gutter guard installation costs is the length and width of your gutters. The more gutters you have, the more labor hours and materials a company needs to install them. The average home in the United States has between 150 and 250 feet of gutters. Using the national average cost of each type of gutter guard, here is a table that lays out the expected cost of installations for different lengths of gutter systems:

Gutter MaterialBase Cost Per Linear Foot of Gutters100-Foot Gutter System150-Foot Gutter System200-Foot Gutter System250-Foot Gutter System
Micromesh$4.50 – $7.75$450 – 775$675 – $1,163$900 – $1,550$1,125 – $1,938
Foam$2 – $3.25$200 – $325$300 – $488$400 – $650$500 – $813
Brush$3 – $4.25$300 – $425$450 – $638$600 – $850$750 – $1,063
Reverse-curve guards or gutter helmets$5.75 – $18.50$575 – $1,850$863 – $2,775$1,150 – $3,700$1,438 – $$4,625
Plastic screen$0.40 – $1$40 – $100$60 – $150$80 – $200$100 – $250

Cost of Gutter Guards by Roof Type

Different types of roofs and roofs with complex configurations increase the expense of a gutter guard installation. Complex roofs can have multiple tiers of gutters, numerous bends, and additional downspouts, all of which require special preparation and work by an installer. Complex roofs need more materials, more labor hours, and sometimes more services to install correctly, all of which can increase your initial investment.

Cost of Gutter Guards by Gutter Condition

Gutters in poor condition, or ones filled with debris, can be difficult for installers to manage. Poor condition and excess debris are potential signs you need new gutters. Technicians sometimes need to repair or replace sections to install guards safely. Or, they must clean out entire gutter portions, adding labor hours and increasing service fees.

Today’s Homeowner Tips
You can help keep your gutters in good condition by cleaning them twice per year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Doing this will help reduce the total buildup of debris and keep your gutters flowing properly. Thankfully, a good set of gutter guards can drastically reduce how frequently you need to clean your gutters and make cleaning them easier.

Cost of Gutter Guards by Region

Some U.S. locations have inherently higher costs of materials and maintenance, higher interest rates, and higher taxes. Installers in locations with higher amounts of vegetation, like the East and West coasts, routinely charge a premium for gutter services.

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Accessibility

Trees, tall shrubs, sloped terrain along foundations, and structures too close to a house make access to gutters more difficult. In these cases, installers must take extra care to install your gutters, and they may need special equipment, additional crew members — and more time. Homes with difficult-to-access gutters will always incur higher labor and service fees than standard homes.

Gutter Heaters

While gutter guards keep debris out of a gutter system, they can freeze over in the winter. Many homeowners apply gutter heating tape along their gutter guards to help prevent these ice dams. If you live in a region with a cold and wet climate, you may want to consider gutter heaters or heated gutter guards to prevent ice buildup.

brick home with lots of icicles handing off gutters
Image Credit: Canva

Is DIY Worth the Cost Savings of Installing Gutter Guards?

There are DIY ways to install gutter guards, but we recommend homeowners hire a professional to install them. Many guard types, like micromesh, gutter helmets, and screens, require the help of a professional, as an expert will have to remove your gutters first.

Today’s Homeowner Tips
While you can DIY install some guards, namely foam and brush types, we recommending hiring a professional.

Working on gutters is a difficult and dangerous job that can cause physical injury and damage to your home. And many homes have second and third stories, which are especially tricky to navigate. Hiring a professional is the best route.


Our Top Gutter Guard Recommendations

With the best gutter guards, you’ll want the right provider and installer. Although you can install gutter guards yourself, doing so is a difficult, hazardous, and time-consuming project.

We recommend LeafFilter because of its fair pricing, expert installation, and effective filtering design that blocks out almost everything besides water.

Below, we’ll share three of our favorite gutter guard companies and examine their pros, cons, and prices.

LeafFilter

LeafFilter Gutter Protection has served more than 800,000 customers in 43 states. The company installs an effective three-piece gutter guard system that filters pine needles, shingle grit, seed pods, and other debris as small as 275 microns.

LeafFilter offers homeowners a lifetime warranty, giving them peace of mind that their investment is protected. LeafFilter has costs that range on the higher end, between $15 and $45 per linear foot, with the average installation total costing $2,600 and $6,300.

Best Professional Installation & Cost

4.1

Limited Time:
Get 15% Off Your Full-Service Gutter Installation

HomeCraft

HomeCraft Gutter Protection provides quality gutter protection services to homeowners across the South and Midwest. Its three-piece gutter guard system — with a diamond micromesh set in a powder-coated aluminum frame — offers increased filtration of debris.

Homecraft is a cost-efficient option, with a price range of $4.50 to $7.75 per linear foot. A full installation would mean an investment of between $900 and $1,550.

Best-Designed Gutter Guards

4.4

Limited Time:
New Customers Save 50% On Gutter Guards & Labor

LeafGuard

Unlike many other gutter guard systems that attach to the top of a gutter, LeafGuard replaces the entire gutter system. LeafGuard uses aluminum K-style gutters that can be 5 or 6 inches wide with a reverse curve gutter guard. Installers measure and cut them for a custom fit, removing and disposing of old gutter systems. LeafGuard gutters withstand heavy rain, debris of all sizes (including roof shingles), and impacts from branches and hail.

These gutter guards are some of the most expensive on the market but also count as a set of new gutters, making the overall expenditure reasonable for the level and quality of service. But because these guards replace your standard gutters, you can’t do a DIY installation. Expect to pay between $17 and $34 per linear foot for LeafGuard gutters, with the total project ending up between $2,200 and $7,400.

Most Durable

3.5

Limited Time:
75% Off Installation

So, Are Gutter Guards Worth the Initial Cost?

Gutter guards are a useful investment for any home. They keep gutters from filling with gunk and debris, prevent clogs, reduce the risk of water damage, and even help prevent the spread of fires. While some gutter guards claim you’ll never need to clean your gutter again, it isn’t true. But all gutter guards work to make cleaning your gutters easier, increasing the time between cleanings.

While gutter guards can be a steep investment, the time and money they save you are well worth it. On average, you can expect to pay between $650 to $2,000 for a gutter guard installation. If you want a specific price for your gutters, fill out this quick form below to find top-rated gutter companies in your area.

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FAQs About Cost of Gutter Guards

Can you buy gutter guards and install them yourself?

You can buy gutter guards directly from some manufacturers. Others you can buy at big-box and home improvement stores. But installing gutter guards alone can be difficult, imprecise, and dangerous, especially for people not used to working on gutters and roofs.


Does adding gutter guards increase home value?

Some gutter guard companies claim their specific increase the value of your home, but there’s little direct evidence to support this. However, functioning gutters, in general, can increase home value, and broken gutters (specifically the damage caused by non-functioning gutters) decreases home value. In this sense, gutter guards increase the functionality of your gutters and decrease the upkeep needed to keep them working properly, making them a long-term investment.


What is the cost of gutter guards?

Gutter guards cost anywhere from less than $100 to more than $4,000. The average cost around the country is $650 to $2,000.


How often should you clean gutter guards?

How often you should clean your gutter guards depends on the type of guard and the level of leaf litter your area gets a year. Most gutter guards should be cleaned about once per year. This is about half as much as traditional gutters — and some guards need cleaning even less.


Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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photo of Lora Novak

Lora Novak

Senior Editor

Lora Novak meticulously proofreads and edits all commercial content for Today’s Homeowner to guarantee that it contains the most up-to-date information. Lora brings over 12 years of writing, editing, and digital marketing expertise. She’s worked on thousands of articles related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, plumbing, lawn/garden, pest control, insurance, and other general homeownership topics.

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