How Much Do Gutters Cost?

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If you’ve been a homeowner for a while — or even if you’re brand new to it — you’ve probably learned there are many small projects that need to be done and paid for. One of the projects you’ll have to budget for is gutter installation. Gutters serve a necessary function for your home, so it’s important they be properly maintained and replaced when needed. In this article, we’ll be answering the question of how much gutters cost so you can be prepared.

Gutter Installation Cost

The national average cost for gutter installation is anywhere between $600 and $2,500. This cost is dependent on a variety of materials and types of accessories needed in the installation.

That being said, it’s not uncommon for gutter installations to far exceed those rates. For example, it wouldn’t be unusual to install gutters for a price tag of $3,000 – $5,000. Many factors affect the cost of a gutter installation, including the materials used, the number of feet of gutters you need, labor costs and more.

Depending on the material, your costs could range from as low as $3 per linear foot to as high as $40 per linear foot. Using a high-quality material like copper can easily double or triple your installation costs.

Gutter Replacement Cost

The cost of replacing gutters is likely to be higher than the cost of installing them in the first place. This increased price tag reflects the labor required to remove and dispose of the existing gutters.

The cost also depends on the condition of the exterior of your home. Your fascia board runs along the roofline outside your home and the soffit board connects it to the main body of the house. Among other things, they help to hold up the gutters. If your fascia board or soffit is damaged or rotting, you’ll need additional work that will increase your costs anywhere from $6 – $20 per linear foot.

So what is the actual cost of replacing your gutters? Depending on the materials and labor costs, as well as whether there are any repairs needed on your home, your costs could range from $1,500 – $5,500, with the average falling around $3,500.

Factors That Affect How Much Gutters Cost

Now that you have the general costs for new and replacement gutters, let’s break the prices down by major contributing factors.

Gutter Materials

Gutters can come in a variety of materials. And as you’d expect, the quality of the materials can drastically impact your overall costs.

Vinyl and aluminum are two of the most common gutter materials, and they also happen to be some of the most affordable. According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of vinyl gutters can range from $3 – $5 per linear foot, while the cost of aluminum gutters can range from $6 – $12.

You can also choose to opt for higher-end materials such as steel, zinc and copper, but doing so can increase your costs considerably. Steel and zinc gutters generally range from $9 – $20 per linear foot. Although copper is more resistant to rust and is generally more durable than other choices it is the most expensive material, with gutters generally ranging from $25 – $40 per linear foot.

The table below shows the average cost per linear foot for various types of gutters, as well as what it would cost per 150 linear feet of gutters. Keep in mind that most homes need somewhere between 100 and 200 linear feet of gutters, but the number could be higher for very large homes.

Remember that the gutters themselves won’t be your only cost when it comes to installing gutters. You’ll also have the cost of downspouts, end caps and gutter guards.

Downspouts are a necessary part of the gutters on your home. They are vertical pipes that move water from your gutters and away from your home to prevent pooling or damage. They deposit the water in a safe place away from your home. And as with gutters, the material of your downspouts will affect your costs.

Downspouts generally cost between $25 and $75 per downspout. You’ll save the most money by purchasing aluminum or vinyl downspouts, which you can buy for closer to $25. However, for high-quality copper downspouts, it wouldn’t be unusual to pay nearly $100 per downspout. The number of downspouts you’ll need depends on the length of gutter your home requires since one is needed every certain number of feet.

Luckily, end caps are considerably cheaper than downspouts, no matter what type of material you choose. You can generally expect to pay anywhere from $2 – $15 per end-cap, again, depending on the material, with aluminum and vinyl being on the cheaper end and copper being the most expensive.

The final component you’ll have to consider in the cost of your gutters is the gutter guards, which go over the top of your gutters and protect them from damage and debris. Gutter guards, unlike the other pieces we’ve mentioned, aren’t entirely necessary, but they can be nice to have. The cost of installing gutter guards around your entire home could be as low as $400 or more than $1,000.

Square Footage Of The Home

As we’ve mentioned, the square footage of your home is a major factor in determining your gutter installation costs. Squares footage impacts how long it will take to install your gutters and how much material you’ll need.

Above, we discussed gutter materials in terms of the cost per linear foot. A home’s linear footage measures the outside of the home only, without including the interior space. The more linear feet of gutter you need, the more you can expect to pay overall. On the low end, 1,000-square-foot homes usually need about 125 linear feet of gutters. On the other end of the spectrum, a home exceeding 3,500 square feet could need as many as 250 linear square feet.

Labor And Installation

Labor is one of the most important factors in the cost of any home repair job, so it should come as no surprise that it will also help to determine your gutter installation costs. When you install gutters on your home or replace your existing gutters, you aren’t just paying for materials. You’re also paying for the time of the worker(s) who are doing the job.

Labor costs vary dramatically depending on your location, and you can expect them to be higher in higher cost-of-living areas. On average, you can expect to pay about $75 per hour for a gutter contractor. That rate will simply be added to your final price tag.

Location Of The Home

The cost of living in your area will be a major factor in determining the price of installing gutters on your home. If you live in an area with a higher cost of living, you’re probably already used to paying a bit more for everything, and gutters will be no exception. Both your materials and labor costs are likely to be higher.

But the cost of living isn’t the only reason your location may affect your gutter installation costs. It may also affect the type of gutters you should install. If you live in an area that has extreme weather, you’ll want to choose your gutter materials accordingly.

For example, someone who lives in an area that gets a lot of precipitation may want larger gutters to collect more rain. On the other hand, someone living in a cold climate that gets a lot of snow may want to opt for seamless gutters, which are one continuous piece of gutter instead of many pieces put together.

If you’re in the market for new gutters, the best way to determine your costs is to compare quotes from gutter contractors specifically in your area. Reading national average rates online can only help you so much since they don’t take into account local factors.

Removal Of Old Gutters

We’ve already touched on this, but it’s important to mention again that the removal of old gutters will increase your installation costs. When buying a new home, the home inspector should check the state of the gutters. If the report shows they’re damaged and you choose to take on the cost of repairing them, don’t delay. Gutters being clean and functional is essential to their efficiency, and gutter problems can lead to roof damage and other major issues down the line.

The cost of removing old gutters from your home can range from as low as $40 to as high as $200. Most of this cost will go toward paying the contractors for the labor to remove the old gutters. It will be added to the total cost of your gutter replacement job.

Cost Of DIY Gutter Installation Vs. Professionally Installed Gutters

Many homeowners like to save money where they can by DIYing home projects rather than hiring professionals. And while that certainly works in some areas, it may not be the best choice for your gutter installation.

Installing gutters on a home can be difficult, and if it’s not something you have experience with, it’s probably best left to the professionals. Not only is the job itself difficult, but you’ll also be responsible for sourcing and purchasing your own materials, which may be more expensive for an individual than it would be for a contractor.

Even if you DIY your own gutter installation, it won’t be cheap. The average DIY gutter installation costs around $700, and that doesn’t include any add-ons or high-end materials.

The Bottom Line

Gutters can be expensive to install, but they’re also critical to the function of your home. They help to move water away from your home and avoid damage. You can save money in the short term by choosing more affordable materials, and in the long term by ensuring everything is installed properly.

If you’re new to homeownership, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by everything there is to do and know. Visit our new homeowner guide that rounds up all of our best tips for homeowners.