Average cost to replace gutters and downspouts

Read our guide on gutter installation costs to learn how much the project costs on average and get recommendations to protect your home’s structural integrity.

Your gutter system is the guardian of your home. Gutters direct water and snowmelt away from your house’s foundation, keeping sinking, settling, and other damage at bay. Plus, they help give your home a clean-looking roofline. That is, if you keep them clean.

If your gutters need some TLC but you don’t know what it will cost, this detailed guide will cover the average cost of gutter installation and recommend some of the best gutter guard companies that install new gutters and ways to keep them debris-free.

Gutter installation costs between $1,000 and $5,600 for 200 linear feet for a brand-new, single-story home. The national average is around $3,234, though the gutter materials influence the price. Low-end options like vinyl cost around $3 to $6 per linear foot, and high-quality options like steel might cost around $10 to $20. These prices also include labor. 

Read the breakdown below of the average cost for each type of gutter for linear feet and a standardized 200-foot project for a single-story home.

*This cost data was based on the national average for the linear foot price of gutters from multiple sources.

Gutter Replacement Cost

Replacing only a portion or component of your home’s old gutters will cost less than installing an entirely new gutter system. Replacing gutters often costs around $600 to $1,400.** Professional gutter replacement costs $3 to $10 per linear foot on average. This price range includes labor. 

Often, you will need to replace gutters when you replace a portion of your roof. Other reasons you may need to replace gutters include these: 

• Peeling paint: In addition to being an eyesore, peeling paint is a sign that water isn’t emptying from your gutters quickly enough.  
• Pooling water: Noticing pools of water around your home’s foundation is a sure sign you need new gutters. Pooling water may lead to mildew, mold, and settling in your foundation. 
• Sagging and warping: If you notice that some of your gutters are sagging or warped into an odd shape, you should get them replaced. 
• Cracking: Small cracks can eventually turn into bigger cracks. This issue leads to possible damage to your home’s fascia boards and shingles. 

**Based on HomeAdvisor data

Gutter Guard Cost

Installing gutters is an excellent time to also invest in gutter guards. Gutter guards help you avoid clogs and limit the need for gutter cleaning. 

The average cost for gutter guard installation is between $900 and $2,000. High-end professionally installed gutter guards cost more, typically between $1,500 and $5,000. However, you may self-install gutter guards with materials like PVC or plastic for around $100 to $200 per linear foot.

Types of Gutters

One of the most significant influences on gutter installation cost is the type of gutters. Gutters come in various materials and styles to accommodate different home needs. Read over the major types of gutters and their average cost below. 

Aluminum Gutters

Aluminum gutters are an excellent option for your gutter system. They tend to cost around $5 to $20 per linear foot with an average lifespan up to 20 years. In addition to being lightweight, aluminum gutters are rust-resistant. However, aluminum gutters are more susceptible to cracking than other metal gutters because they are lightweight. 

Copper Gutters

These long-lasting gutters can add a unique style to your home. With an average lifespan of 50 years, copper gutters tend to cost around $18 to $35 per linear foot. Copper gutters also require fairly routine maintenance, so they do not develop a patina, or a thin film, from a lack of polishing. 

Galvanized Steel Gutters

Galvanized steel gutters function well with heavy rainfall and are more durable than aluminum, featuring a longer average lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Because they are heavier than other metals, they typically require a professional installer to solder them. However, they may experience rust if not correctly maintained. On average, galvanized steel gutters cost between $5 to $15 per linear foot. 

Vinyl Gutters

Made from PVC and plastics, vinyl gutters are one of the most common types of gutter and are the most budget-friendly. These gutters typically cost between $3 and $6 per linear foot, and they are easier to self-install than other types of gutters. But vinyl gutters are not durable, with an average lifespan of 10 to 20 years depending on your local climate. In wetter climates, vinyl gutters tend to deteriorate faster.  

Wood Gutters

Wood gutters can add character to your home, especially if you live in a historic home. However, wood gutters will rot if not maintained adequately. As a result, they require yearly treatment with wood stain or paint on the exterior. In addition, the interior should be treated with water-resistant oil. Wood gutters tend to cost around $15 to $25 per linear foot. 

Zinc Gutters

Pre-weathered zinc gutters are an excellent choice if you are looking for a low-maintenance gutter system. These gutters do not rust, and they feature a self-sealing patina to avoid the formation of any scratches or cracks. This feature means you get better-looking gutters for longer, as zinc gutters can last 80 years. Zinc gutters cost around $15 to $40 per linear foot.

Other Gutter Installation Cost Factors to Consider

We have listed some additional cost factors to consider when looking into gutter replacement and installation below. 

DIY vs. Professional Installation

You can elect to install your own gutters depending on the type you choose. Lighter-weight gutters like vinyl and aluminum are easy for a do-it-yourself (DIY) project. However, these gutters feature shorter average lifespans, and they require routine maintenance and cleaning. If you are looking for the most straightforward and most efficient system, DIY options are not the best. 

Higher-quality and more stylish gutters—like wood, steel, copper, and zinc—are more challenging to install and should be installed by a professional technician. Often a professional gutter installer can also assist with other gutter services, such as installing gutters guards, downspouts, and downspout extensions. Additionally, a full-service gutter contractor is more likely to include a warranty on the materials and the workmanship. Although a professional installation adds labor costs to your gutter project’s total cost, it tends to provide higher-quality gutters and more curb appeal. 

Sectional vs. Seamless Gutters

Gutters fall into two main styles: sectional and seamless. The traditional style of gutters is sectional. They come in pre-cut lengths of 5, 10, or 15 feet and are linked to line up with the edge of your roof. A significant downside to sectional gutters is that the attachment points between pieces become weak over time, leading to leaks or corrosion. Sectional gutters tend to cost less, with an average price of $3 to $20 per linear foot.

Seamless gutters provide a more appealing look and are typically aluminum, steel, zinc, or copper. However, they tend to require professional installation, which will require a piece of machinery that folds metal sheets to create a seamless gutter that matches your home’s dimensions. Seamless gutters cost between $5 to $40 per linear foot, depending on the material used. 

Downspouts and Other Materials

When you purchase new gutters or replace old ones, you will most likely need to get downspouts. Vinyl and aluminum downspouts cost about $5 to $8 per foot. Steel and copper downspouts tend to cost between $10 and $20 per foot. Other metals you may need to pay for include flashing, splash blocks, drains, and structural hangers.

Our Recommendation

We recommend you consider the information above to determine which type of gutter is best for you based on your home’s needs. We also recommend that homeowners look into gutter guards to improve their gutter system‘s efficiency, reliability, and longevity. Below are some of our top recommendations for gutter guard services that also assist with gutter installation.

LeafFilter

Fast Facts: 

• Material: Steel micro-mesh
• Warranty Length: Transferable lifetime 
• Get a Quick Quote: Visit LeafFilter site

What We Like: LeafFilter offers a three-piece micro-mesh gutter guard system. This guard utilizes surface tension to pull water through your gutters but push debris off. LeafFilter’s design can even catch small debris, such as pollen and shingle grit. In addition, LeafFilter also pitches the gutter cover so that it is flush with your roof. This installation leads to a more visually appealing gutter guard. 

LeafFilter’s guards also come in various colors to match your home’s scheme, such as off-white and beige. LeafFilter’s gutter guards cost between $15 and $45 per linear foot for both materials and installation. The company will also install gutters.

Read More: LeafFilter Review

HomeCraft

Fast Facts: 

• Material: Steel micro-mesh
• Warranty Length: Transferable lifetime
• Get a Quick Quote: Visit HomeCraft site 

What We Like: HomeCraft Gutter Protection helps with gutter installation and replacement, and it offers a marine-grade, stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guard with raised diamonds throughout its cover. This guard also features a powder-coated aluminum frame that allows it to fit almost any gutter size without hidden hangers. 

HomeCraft also further secures its gutter guard during installation by using hidden reinforced metal hangers attached to your fascia boards. The company does not offer information online about its pricing because it prefers to tailor each quote according to a home’s needs.

How We Chose the Top Gutter Guard Providers

We researched and analyzed dozens of gutter guards and gutter guard companies. Then, we formulated a rating system based on each gutter guard service’s several significant factors. Factors include the types of gutter guards they offer and their quality, customization with colors, warranty lengths and limitations, and additional features such as heating elements. 

Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined how each gutter guard company personalizes its installation process for each home. We also noted if the company guarantees its quote for a particular length of time, allowing customers time to make an informed decision.

We evaluated each provider based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to determine reputation. In addition, we analyzed the 100 most recent Google Reviews for each provider across various locations and branches.

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