Gutter Cleaning Cost (2026): Price per Foot, per Story and per Year

Gutter cleaning cost by number of stories

Height drives the price more than anything else: each extra story means longer ladders, more safety equipment and slower work. HomeGuide’s figures, for a home with 150 to 200 feet of gutters:

Home	Typical job	Per linear foot
One story	$70 to $200	$0.50 to $1.50
Two stories	$100 to $275	$0.75 to $2.00
Three or more stories	$130 to $400	$1.25 to $2.50

For the 180 feet of gutters on a typical 2,000 square foot home, the per-foot rates work out to $90 to $270 on one story, $135 to $360 on two and $225 to $450 on three or more. The typical length comes from HomeGuide’s gutter installation figures; most homes have 150 to 200 feet.

The two columns do not quite agree at the top end: multiplied out over 200 feet, the per-foot rates reach $300 on one story, $400 on two and $500 on three or more, above the typical-job figures. The calculator uses the per-foot rates because they scale with your gutter length, so its high end can run above the typical-job range.

Gutter cleaning cost by home size

HomeGuide also prices by floor area. Larger homes cost more in total but less per square foot:

Home size	Cost to clean
Up to 1,000 sq ft	$70 to $100
1,000 to 1,500 sq ft	$70 to $150
1,500 to 2,000 sq ft	$75 to $200
2,000 to 2,500 sq ft	$100 to $250
2,500 to 3,000 sq ft	$125 to $300
3,000 to 3,500 sq ft	$150 to $350
3,500 to 4,000 sq ft	$175 to $400

How gutter cleaners charge

Companies quote one of three ways: a flat rate of $100 to $250, a price per linear foot of $0.50 to $2.50, or by the hour at $40 to $80. A crew usually takes 30 to 90 minutes, or up to 4 hours on a large multi-story home. On top of the base price:

Clogged downspouts: $60 to $150 extra to flush them out, so gutters and downspouts together run $160 to $400.
Gutter guards: $30 to $80 extra to remove the screens for cleaning.
Debris disposal: some companies charge $20 to $35 to haul it away; others include it.
Roof cleaning: $250 to $600, often discounted when booked with the gutters.

A standard cleaning removes leaves and debris, flushes the system, scrubs off algae and moss, and includes a look at the gutters, roof and fascia. Ask whether a quote covers downspouts, cleanup and travel, since those are where prices differ. Seamless and sectional gutters cost the same to clean.

How often to clean, and the cost per year

Most gutters need cleaning 2 to 3 times a year, or before the rainiest seasons, more often under trees. Spring and late fall are the usual times and the busiest; booking in early winter or midsummer tends to be faster and cheaper. Gutters with guards still need cleaning about every 2 years, because small debris gets through. The calculator multiplies one cleaning by the number of cleanings a year, or by one every 2 years when guards are fitted.

Signs that gutters need cleaning now include water spilling over the edge, downspouts that do not drain in rain, sagging sections, stains on the siding, plants growing in the gutters, and water pooling near the foundation.

Are gutter guards worth it?

Guards cost $15 to $45 per linear foot installed. They do not end cleaning, but they stretch it to about once every 2 years, at $30 to $80 extra each time for removing the screens. The payback below is our arithmetic on those figures for 180 feet of gutters on a one-story home: the cost of the guards divided by the cleaning bill they save each year.

Cleanings without guards	Cleaning cost a year	Guards pay back in
1 a year	$90 to $270	85 to 90 years
2 a year	$180 to $540	22 to 23 years
3 a year	$270 to $810	about 13 years

On cleaning bills alone, guards take 13 to 90 years to pay back on a one-story home, depending on how often you would otherwise clean. They look better on tall homes, where each cleaning costs more and needs taller ladders and safety equipment, and the arithmetic leaves out the water damage that clogged gutters can cause. Prices for new guards are on our gutter installation cost page.

What this page does not give

Local prices. Metro areas cost more than rural ones; the figures are national averages.
Minimum charges. Many companies have one. The calculator scales by length, so a very short run can come out below what you will be quoted.
Brand-name services. Prices for named companies are not in our sources.
Damage avoided. The guard payback counts cleaning bills only.

Sources

HomeGuide gutter cleaning cost guide, dated November 7, 2025: prices by story, per foot, by home size and by the hour, extras, guard screen removal, frequency and timing.
HomeGuide gutter installation cost guide, dated October 28, 2025: typical gutter length by home size and gutter guard prices.
Both read on November 2, 2026. Per-cleaning, yearly and payback figures are our arithmetic. Every source is listed on the methodology page.

Gutter cleaning cost FAQ

How much does gutter cleaning cost?

Gutter cleaning costs $100 to $250 on average, with a national average of $175, according to HomeGuide. A one-story home runs $70 to $200, a two-story home $100 to $275 and three stories or more $130 to $400, for 150 to 200 feet of gutters.

How much does gutter cleaning cost per foot?

$0.50 to $2.50 per linear foot: $0.50 to $1.50 on a one-story home, $0.75 to $2.00 on two stories and $1.25 to $2.50 on three or more, where cleaners need taller ladders and more safety equipment.

How much does it cost to clean gutters on a two-story house?

$100 to $275 for a typical job, or $0.75 to $2.00 per linear foot. For the 180 feet of gutters on a typical 2,000 square foot home that is $135 to $360 per cleaning.

How much do gutter cleaners charge per hour?

HomeGuide puts hourly rates at $40 to $80. Most companies quote a flat rate or a price per linear foot instead, and a typical home takes a crew 30 to 90 minutes, or up to 4 hours for a large multi-story house.

How much does it cost to clean gutters with gutter guards?

The same base price plus $30 to $80 to remove the screens. Gutters with guards still need cleaning about every 2 years, more often under trees, because small debris gets past the guards.

How often should gutters be cleaned?

Two to three times a year, or before the rainiest seasons, depending on the climate and nearby trees. Spring and late fall are the usual times and the busiest for cleaners; HomeGuide suggests booking in early winter or midsummer for faster service and lower rates.

How much does roof and gutter cleaning cost?

Roof cleaning costs $250 to $600 on its own, depending on size, pitch, material and method, on top of $100 to $250 for the gutters. Many companies discount the two when they are done in the same visit.

How much does it cost to unclog downspouts?

Flushing heavily clogged downspouts adds $60 to $150 to a gutter cleaning, so gutters and downspouts together run $160 to $400 on average.

Are gutter guards worth the cost?

Not on cleaning savings alone, in most cases. Guards cost $15 to $45 per foot installed, $2,700 to $8,100 for 180 feet, and they cut cleaning from twice a year to about once every 2 years. On a one-story home that takes 22 to 23 years to pay back. The case is stronger on tall homes, where each cleaning costs more and needs taller ladders.