How Much Does It Cost to Clean Your Gutters?

Are you wondering how much it costs to clean your gutters? With every other home maintenance task, you might be putting off cleaning them. It can cost as little as eighty cents per linear foot all the way up to $2.20 per linear foot, depending on where you live. We’re taking a deeper dive into the knowledge you need to plan and budget your home’s gutter cleaning.

Gutter Cleaning Cost

For most homeowners, gutter cleaning costs eighty cents per linear foot of gutter. The average two-story home's national average cost is $160, assuming you have 200 feet of gutters. Gutter cleaning for single-story homes costs around forty cents per linear foot. However, gutter cleaning can cost as much as $2.20 per foot, depending on several factors.

Within each state, the total cost varies significantly. The significant factors affecting the price are the square footage of your home, access to gutters, and the region in your state. For example, gutter cleaning in Erie, PA, usually costs less than the same service in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Considerations for Calculating Gutter Cleaning Cost

The price for gutter cleaning can vary depending on several factors, with your house's square footage being the most significant key factor. Gutter cleaners will generally charge more to clean the gutters of a large home than they will to clean the gutters of a smaller home. The type of gutter you have can also affect the cost of gutter cleaning.

DIY  

You can save money on rain gutter cleaning by doing it yourself. However, there are some risks and costs associated with DIY gutter cleaning. First, you must invest in a ladder or other equipment to reach the gutters.

Second, you will need to be comfortable working on a ladder. Looking up at your roof from the ground versus looking at the ground from your roof is a different perspective and frightening to some. You could fall and injure yourself if you’re not comfortable working on a ladder. Finally, if you don’t clean the gutters appropriately, you could damage your gutters or your home.

Hiring a Professional to Clean Your Gutters

Hiring a professional gutter cleaner is generally the best option for most homeowners. Gutter cleaners have the experience and equipment to clean your gutters quickly and safely. They also know how to properly dispose of the debris they remove from your gutters. And most importantly, during the gutter cleaning job, they will ensure your gutters drain properly – away from your foundation and landscaping – to prevent costly damage to your home.

Roof Slope

The steeper your roof, the more difficult it is to clean your gutters. Gutter cleaners will typically charge more to clean the gutters of a steep roof than they will for cleaning a home with a gentle slope.

Gutter Condition

The condition of your gutters will also affect the cost of gutter cleaning. Gutter cleaning companies will typically charge more to clean gutters in poor condition than they will clean gutters in good condition.

If you have never had your gutters cleaned, or if it has been more than a year since you cleaned them, they might be in poor condition (depending on how much debris got in them). Gutter cleaners will also charge more to clean gutters clogged with leaves since it takes more time to clean than those that are only slightly dirty.

Gutter Type

Gutter cleaners will also charge more to clean certain gutters than others. For example, they will typically charge more to clean copper gutters than they will to clean vinyl gutters. Copper gutters need a special cleaner, so they don’t get damaged and take longer to clean.

In comparison, seamless gutters take less time to clean and cost less. Seamless gutters are gutters that have no seams or joints. They are made from one piece of extruded material (usually aluminum) and are custom fit to your home.

Length of Gutters

The length of your gutters also affects the cost of gutter cleaning. Most cleaners charge by linear foot. As you can imagine, cleaning a longer gutter takes more time than a shorter one. Moving ladders, the entire length of the gutters takes extra time, so the costs go up with added length. 

Home Height

The height of your home will also affect the cost of gutter cleaning. Gutter cleaners need to be very careful when working on tall houses. They often require special equipment, such as scaffolding or lifts, to reach the gutters.

Not only does this equipment cost money to rent, but it also takes extra time to set up and take down. As a result, gutter cleaners will typically charge more to clean up the gutters of a tall home than they will to clean the gutters of a shorter home. For example, an old Victorian home with 3-stories and a full-height attic will have more expensive gutter cleaning than a modern home with a standard attic and lower roof line.

Accessibility to Roof and Gutters

If the roof and gutters are easy to access, then gutter cleaners will charge less to clean them. They will charge more if they use special equipment or take extra time to reach the gutters. If trees or other buildings block access to the gutters, the cost of cleaning them will increase.

For example, if your home has a 2nd story with no balcony, the gutter cleaners need to use a ladder to reach the gutters. However, if your home has a 2nd story with a balcony, they can walk out onto the balcony and clean the gutters. Since they won’t need a ladder, it will save time and money.

Downspout Cleaning

Most gutter cleaners will also clean the downspouts as part of their service. Downspouts carry water away from your gutters and down to the ground. They can get clogged with leaves, dirt, and other debris, just like the gutters. Generally, most gutter cleaners include downspouts in their cost. However, some gutter cleaners will charge an additional fee to clean the downspouts with lots of buildup.

Labor Costs

The cost of labor will also affect the price of gutter cleaning. Gutter cleaners typically charge by the hour or linear foot of the gutter. If the labor rates are high, you should expect to pay more for a gutter system cleaning service. For example, labor rates are higher in California than in Iowa, so gutter cleaning is less expensive in the Midwest.

Additionally, some gutter cleaners charge a travel fee to cover the costs of traveling to your home. This additional cost is usually flat, regardless of how far they travel.

Time of Year

The time of year also affects the cost of gutter cleaning. Gutter cleaners are in high demand when leaves fall from the trees during the fall.

They are also in high demand during the spring when melting snow and ice carry debris that can clog gutters. Gutter cleaners typically charge more during these times of high demand. If you need your gutters cleaned during high demand, you may need to pay more for the service.

Keep all these things in mind when planning to get your gutters cleaned. If you plan ahead, you can keep costs down and protect your home.