Watch a gutter in the rain
Micro-mesh fitted
This is a simplified model of how each guard behaves, not a lab test. It reflects the general pattern installers report: fine mesh stops almost everything, while screens and brushes let pine needles through.
Gutter guard types and prices
The guard you choose sets most of the price. Labor stays fairly similar across types; what changes it is how high your roof is.
Why name-brand quotes are much higher
These are prices for standard guards fitted by a local contractor. National brands such as LeafFilter, Gutter Helmet and LeafGuard sell their own patented systems with lifetime warranties, and typically quote $18 to $60 a foot installed. That is often two to four times this estimate. It is not a mistake in either number: they are different products, so compare quotes for the same guard type.
How the estimate is built
Four things make up the price. The calculator shows each one separately so you can check a contractor's quote line by line.
Price ranges are compiled from published cost guides by HomeGuide, Angi, Fixr and HomeAdvisor, and checked every three months.
The guards
Priced per linear foot, from about 50 cents for plastic screen to $10 for reverse curve.
Labor
Around $2 to $6 per foot on a one-story house. Two stories adds about 30 percent, three adds about 60, for ladder work and safety setup.
Cleaning
Guards have to go on clean gutters. If yours are full, expect roughly $0.80 to $1.60 a foot to clear them first.
Repairs
Sagging gutters or soft fascia boards must be fixed before guards go on. That usually adds $200 to $600.
Measuring your gutters
Most American houses have between 150 and 200 feet of gutter. To measure your own, walk the outside of the house and add up every roof edge that has a gutter, including garages and porches.
If you'd rather not measure, the house-size estimate in the calculator does the maths for you. It works out your ground footprint, treats the gutter run as about four times the square root of that footprint, and adds extra for L-shapes and multiple rooflines.
Install them yourself, or hire it out?
Doing it yourself removes the labor line, which is often half the bill. Whether that's worth it depends mostly on the guard type and how high your gutters are.
Reasonable to DIY
- Screen, foam and brush guards on a one-story house
- Most push or clip into place with no fasteners
- Plan on a full weekend and a sturdy ladder
Worth paying for
- Anything above one story, where falls are the real risk
- Micro-mesh, which often fixes under the shingles and can void a roof warranty if fitted badly
- Reverse curve systems, which most makers only sell through installers
Common questions
How much does gutter guard installation cost?
For a typical two-story house with 180 feet of gutter, guards fitted by a local contractor usually run from about $560 to $3,200 depending on the type. Screen and foam sit at the low end, micro-mesh and reverse curve toward the top. Name-brand systems such as LeafFilter cost considerably more.
How much are gutter guards per foot?
Materials run from about 50 cents a foot for plastic screen to $10 for reverse curve. Professional installation adds $2 to $6 a foot on one story, and more on taller houses.
Are gutter guards worth the money?
They cut how often you clean your gutters rather than ending it. If you pay $150 to $250 twice a year for cleaning, mid-range guards usually pay for themselves in three to six years. If you clean your own and don't mind the job, the case is much weaker.
Do gutter guards work with pine needles?
Only the fine ones. Needles slip through standard screen and get caught in brush guards. Micro-mesh is the type that reliably keeps them out, which is why it costs more. The simulator above shows the difference.
How long do gutter guards last?
Foam breaks down fastest, often in two to five years. Plastic screen lasts five to ten. Aluminum or stainless micro-mesh can last twenty years or more, and reverse curve systems usually come with long warranties.
Why is my LeafFilter quote so much higher than this?
LeafFilter, Gutter Helmet and LeafGuard sell their own patented systems, installed by their own crews, with lifetime warranties. They typically quote $18 to $60 a foot installed, often two to four times what a local contractor charges for a standard guard of the same type. Neither price is wrong. If you are comparing quotes, make sure they are for the same kind of guard.
Can gutter guards be installed in winter?
Yes, as long as the gutters aren't iced over. Contractors are busiest in the fall, so booking in late winter or early spring often gets you a better price and a sooner date.