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Gutters and downspouts, both necessary components of most homes, cost around $3,000 for the average-sized U.S. home of just under 2,400 square feet when the gutters are professionally installed. With that said, you can bring the cost down significantly if you’re willing to take on the job yourself and install your own gutters.
Aluminum gutters and downspouts—the most frequently installed type of gutter system—cost about $3,000 per home, on a national average, translating to about $20 per linear foot.
Costs can begin as low as $1,000 for the project total, or $7 per linear foot, and peak around $5,000, or $33 per linear foot.
The cost estimates below are based on 150 linear feet of gutters on a single-story home. Downspouts are required every 40 feet, so four downspouts are included in the estimate.
Gutters are either seamless or sectional. Seamless gutters are made of metal. They are fabricated and installed only by professional companies. Meanwhile, sectional gutters are made either of metal or vinyl and can be installed either by professionals or by DIYers.
Nine out of 10 metal gutters are made from aluminum rather than steel because aluminum is rustproof and lightweight.
Seamless gutters, sometimes called continuous gutters, are metal gutters formed by extruding large coils of aluminum through a fabricating machine. The gutter can be created to the exact length needed without having to piece together gutter sections. The only joints are at the corners.
Seamless gutters are highly popular because leakage along the gutter mid-run is nearly eliminated. Since they can only be formed with a large, truck-mounted machine, seamless gutters are installed by professionals.
Coils of 600 feet of white-finish aluminum gutter coil cost around $2 to $3 per linear foot. The individual cost of materials for seamless gutters is never broken out in an estimate for homeowners.
Aluminum gutters in 8- or 10-foot premade sections can be pieced together on the house to the desired length. Sections are seamed with screws or rivets and with gutter sealant. At the ends, the sections are cut to length to fit into the corner pieces.
Aluminum sectional gutters can be installed by a professional gutter company, a contractor or a homeowner. One benefit of sectional gutters is individual sections can be removed and replaced in the event of damage. Meanwhile, seamless gutters require that the entire run be replaced.
An 8-foot section of white-finish aluminum gutter costs about $2.50 to $3 per linear foot, materials only. White is usually the cheapest color. Other colors can cost another $0.20 to $0.30 per linear foot.
Vinyl sectional gutters are newer to the market than metal gutters. Vinyl gutters have the same size and side profile as metal gutters.
Vinyl sectional gutters are simple to install because the material is easy to cut and drill. Vinyl gutters are also far heavier than aluminum gutters, making them heavier on your house—especially when they are filled with water and leaves.
Vinyl gutters are the least expensive gutter at about $2 per linear foot, materials only.
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Though aluminum and vinyl are by far the most frequently installed gutter materials, some homes aesthetically call for other materials.
Copper begins bright and shiny and then oxidizes to a rich green hue. Unlike steel, copper does not rust. Copper’s green patina is a good match for older or more traditional homes.
Because raw copper is expensive, copper gutters are expensive, too. Copper gutters cost about $20 to $30 per linear foot, installed. To purchase just the materials, copper gutters cost about $10 to $12 per linear foot.
Galvalume gutters are made of steel with a coating that’s roughly half aluminum and half zinc. The steel base gives galvalume gutters a strength that surpasses aluminum gutters, and the neutral gray aluminum-zinc coating provides a tough shell that protects against rust. Galvalume gutters are often paired with modern or contemporary homes.
Galvalume gutters cost about $20 to $30 per linear foot, installed. On a materials-only basis, galvalume gutters cost $2 to $3 per linear foot.
Gutter replacement can add another $2 or more per linear foot to the total cost of the project. The extra cost covers labor for removing the existing gutters and disposal fees. Check with the gutter replacement company you choose to work with ahead of the job, as removal and disposal fees may already be included in their estimate.
If the fascia board or soffit are damaged or rotted away, you’ll also need to have the affected sections replaced. These repair costs run from $6 to $20 per linear foot, for an average of about $13 per foot.
The table below breaks down the range of the cost of gutter replacement if the company charges extra for gutter removal and disposal, plus 15 feet of fascia repair or replacement.
Average Cost$3,500 Highest Cost$5,500 Lowest Cost$1,500 Featured PartnerAdvertisementTHIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary.1 MyGutterGuardTask Type Gutter GuardsEstimation Fee None, Free EstimatesResponse Time Excellent1 MyGutterGuardGet Free Estimates On MyGutterGuards' Website
Water deposited to the ground by a downspout can be as damaging to your home’s foundation as having no gutters or downspouts. The fix is a downspout extension, above- or below-ground tubing that moves the water anywhere from 3 feet to 40 feet away from the house.
Basic above-ground plastic extensions cost between $5 and $20 per downspout to move the water 3 to 4 feet away from the home.
Nearly invisible below-ground 4-inch sewer pipes start at a catch basin and end at a dry well or discharge vent. These extensions are more expensive but offer a more thorough water management system. They cost between $1,000 and $4,000.
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The lifespan of gutters depends on your area and on how much rain, snow and debris end up in the gutters. Also important is the frequency and level of maintenance. You can expect most well-maintained aluminum gutter systems to last up to 20 years.
Generally, it will be less expensive for you to install your gutters by yourself. You cut out all labor costs and any markup fees associated with hiring professionals. However, you may need to buy or rent some tools.
The cost of materials to self-install 150 linear feet of gutters with four downspouts cost about $450 to $500. Adding accessories, such as screws, gutter sealant, corners and downspout straps, will bring the total cost up to about $550 to $650.
Having seamless aluminum gutters professionally installed on your home will cost around $7 to $33 per linear foot. The average per-foot cost is about $20, but second-story vs. a first-story installation, and the type and style of gutter material you choose are a few factors that may raise that cost.
Lee is a home improvement writer and content creator. As a professional home expert and an avid do-it-yourselfer, he has decades of experience at fixing up and writing about houses. When he’s not wielding a drill or hammer, Lee loves to untangle difficult home topics for readers across a range of media outlets.
Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros.