Home / Roofing and Exterior / Gutter Cleaning Cost
How much does gutter cleaning cost?
The short answer
Professional gutter cleaning typically costs $120 to $300 per visit for a single-story home and $200 to $450 for two stories, usually priced by linear foot at about $1 to $2.50. Most homes need it twice a year, spring and late fall. Gutter guards reduce frequency but never eliminate it, and they cost far more than years of cleanings.
Clogged gutters are not a cosmetic problem. Overflow rots fascia, stains siding, floods basements, and in winter builds the ice dams that force water under shingles. It is the cheapest insurance in exterior maintenance, which is why the honest comparison is not clean versus guards, but clean on schedule versus water damage off schedule.
Prices below are directional US ranges per visit, including downspout flushing and basic debris haul-off, which not every cheap quote includes.
What pros charge
| Home | Typical per visit |
|---|---|
| Single story, under 1,500 sq ft | $120 to $220 |
| Single story, larger or heavy tree cover | $180 to $300 |
| Two story | $200 to $450 |
| Three story or steep, complex rooflines | $350 to $600 |
Ask what the visit includes: downspout flushing, minor re-sealing of leaking corners, and photos of the cleaned runs are the marks of a thorough service.
How often, and the guard question
Twice a year covers most homes. Houses under heavy pine or oak cover may need three to four lighter visits. On guards: decent systems run $8 to $25 per linear foot installed and still need an annual rinse and check. The math works for hard-to-reach rooflines and mobility limits, not as a pure money saver.
- Never let a guard quote promise zero maintenance forever
- Fine mesh guards shed debris best but clog with pollen in some regions
- Reverse-curve guards struggle with heavy downpours at valleys
DIY safety rules
One story, a stable ladder on level ground, a helper footing it, and gloves for the sharp surprises in the muck: that is reasonable DIY. Two stories, steep ground, or any doubt, and the pro's price is cheaper than the fall. Never lean a ladder against the gutter itself.
Questions homeowners ask
What happens if I skip cleaning for years?
The fascia and soffit rot first, then water finds the foundation and basement. Repairs run into thousands against a few hundred a year of prevention.
Do clean gutters prevent ice dams?
They help drainage but ice dams are mainly an attic insulation and ventilation problem. Clean gutters are one part of the defense.
Should I tip or be home for the visit?
No tip is expected. Being home is optional; ask for before and after photos either way.