Expect to pay anywhere from $650 to $2,500 for gutter guard installation, with most homeowners landing around $1,500. The final price depends on your gutter system, roof type, home height, and whether you go DIY or hire a pro.
Professional installation costs more, but you get expert setup and solid warranties — a smart tradeoff if you want a system that lasts. DIY is cheaper, but it takes time and effort, and mistakes can leave you with leaks, clogs, or worse.
Gutter guards do one job: keep debris out so water can flow freely. That means fewer clogs, less time spent on a ladder, and better protection against water damage, pests, and mold. But not all guards are equal. Micromesh is the best at blocking fine debris but costs more. Cheaper options like brush guards need frequent cleaning and wear out faster.
Before choosing, think about your location, budget, and how much maintenance you’re willing to do. In this guide, I’ll break down the costs, what affects pricing, and my top picks for gutter guard brands so you can make the right call for your home.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Average Gutter Guard Cost
The national average cost of gutter guards is $1,514, but most homeowners can expect to pay between $652 and $2,462. Many gutter guard installers charge by the total number of linear feet of gutters, ranging from $6 to $13 per linear foot on average.
However, various factors affect the total cost of gutter guard installation, including the brand, type, material, style, and home height. According to Kevin Brauer, owner of Storm Guard Roofing and Construction in St. Louis, one-piece gutter helmet systems could cost $50 per linear foot, while a mesh screen costs only $6 per linear foot.
You’ll also pay more for professional installation than DIY. For example, LeafFilter charges $15 to $45 per linear foot, while DIY micromesh guards from Raptor are $125 to $150 for a 48-foot stainless steel kit—or $2.60 – $3.13 per linear foot.
How Do Gutter Guards Work?
Gutter guards, also known as screens, covers, and helmets, sit on top of gutters. They have small holes that allow water to pass through while blocking debris and pests from entering the system, preventing clogs. The filtered material will either fall to the ground or rest on top of the screen, which homeowners will then need to wash off on occasion.
Guards with smaller holes will block more. For example, micromesh often keeps pine needles out of the system. Other metal mesh screens keep large leaves out, but might allow shingle grit to pass through.
This video from LeafFilter shows how their three-piece gutter guard system works:
Gutter guards can also refer to brush and foam inserts, which rest inside the gutter and collect debris. Homeowners generally need to remove these guards to clean them once or twice a year.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Gutter Guards?
The cost of gutter guard installation depends on several details, such as the gutter length, climate, type, and material.
Type
Homeowners can choose from several different types of gutter guards. Covers made of less durable materials, including foam, tend to be the most inexpensive gutter guards.
This table shows the price points you can expect for various types of gutter guards per linear foot of gutter. With some designs, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) screens, you may pay slightly more for professional installation.
| Gutter Guard Type | Average Cost per Linear Foot | Average Cost per 150 Linear Feet |
| Micromesh | $6.67 – $9 | $1,000 – $1,350 |
| Metal mesh screen | $1 – $4 | $150 – $600 |
| Foam | $1.33 – $2.67 | $200 – $400 |
| Brush | $2.67 – $3.33 | $400 – $500 |
| Reverse-curve/gutter helmet | $3.50 – $6.50 | $525 – $975 |
| Plastic screen (PVC) | $0.40 – $1 | $40 – $150 |
The best type of gutter guard for your home depends on the climate, local foliage, and more.
“If you live in an area that has pine needles, you need a really thin mesh [gutter guard] versus an area where it’s oak trees, where you don’t have to worry about the thin items getting in,” said Docia Boylen, owner of Handyman Connection in Golden, Colorado.
Here’s a quick look at each type of gutter guard:
- Micromesh: Micromesh guards use minute stainless-steel mesh screens to protect gutters from the tiniest debris, including pine needles and shingle granules. Durable and resistant to corrosion, dents, warping, and weathering, they’re often pricier than other options. They also require professional installation and could void your roof warranty.
- Metal mesh: Similar to micromesh, metal mesh screens are made of stainless steel and aluminum. However, they have larger holes than micromesh, so tiny debris may slip through.
- Foam: Good foam gutter guards block large debris from entering the gutters while leaving space for water to flow through. Low-cost and easy to install, they don’t prevent small materials. As debris rests on top of the foam, it builds up and creates clogs, so homeowners have to brush the guards once a year.
- Brush: Brush gutter guards resemble large pipe-cleaning brushes with bristles that keep sticks, leaves, and other materials out of the gutter system. However, the bristles trap debris, which can cause clogs. Homeowners need to clean them yearly.
- Reverse-curve: Also known as gutter helmets or surface tension gutter guards, reverse-curve gutter guards are a single, solid cover that uses the surface tension of water flow to slide debris away. They’re usually expensive and require professional installation. Since they’re attached directly on to the fasteners between the gutters and fascia board, they’re impossible to DIY and could void roof warranties.
- Plastic: PVC covers, such as vinyl gutter guards, sit on top of your existing gutter system. Even the best plastic gutter guards are affordable, but they don’t always keep small debris out. They’re also prone to cracking and warping.
- Copper: Copper gutter guards tend to be the most expensive material, partly due to the higher installation difficulty. Its appearance and durability make it a popular choice. If you’re only interested in the appearance and not the material, you can save money by choosing a copper-colored guard instead.
Gutter Length
Gutters are measured in linear feet. Many gutter guard installers base their quotes on this measurement. The more gutters you have, the more labor hours and materials a company needs to install the guards.
Most homes in the United States have between 150 and 250 linear feet of gutters—on average, a 2,000-square-foot home has 200 feet.
This table highlights the average cost of installations for different lengths of gutter systems based on type:
| Gutter Guard Type | 100-Foot | 150-Foot | 200-Foot | 250-Foot |
| Micromesh | $667 – $900 | $1,000 – $1,350 | $1,334 – $1,800 | $1,668 – |
| Metal mesh screen | $100 – $400 | $150 – $600 | $200 – $800 | $250 – $1,000 |
| Foam | $133 – $267 | $200 – $400 | $266 – $534 | $333 – $668 |
| Brush | $267 – $333 | $400 – $500 | $534 – $666 | $668 – $833 |
| Reverse-curve/gutter helmet | $350 – $650 | $525 – $975 | $700 – $1,300 | $875 – $1,625 |
| Plastic screen (PVC) | $40 – $100 | $40 – $150 | $80 – $200 | $100 – $250 |
Gutter Width
Gutter guards come in various widths to easily attach to different gutter systems. The most common sizes for residential homes are 4, 5, and 6 inches. You can also find 7- and 8-inch gutters, but these are usually for commercial buildings.
Larger 6-inch gutter guards tend to cost more than 4-inch guards since there is more surface material in the guard, according to Boylen.
Roof Type
Different types of roofs can impact gutter guard installation costs. For example, complex roofs can have multiple tiers of gutters, numerous bends, and additional downspouts, all of which require special preparation and work by an installer.
A roof pitch can also increase the installation time. Brauer explained it takes two to three hours to install guards on a typical home. Homes with steep roof pitches can take up to an entire day.
Home Height
Gutter guard installation on single-story homes typically costs less than double- or triple-story homes, largely due to the increased risk of working at heights and the lack of special equipment needed. Contractors may require a boom lift to access the roof of a home with three or more stories.
Gutter Condition
Gutters in poor condition or ones filled with debris increase installation difficulty. You may need new gutters. Some professional gutter guard companies include cleaning, repair, and replacement in their quotes after the home inspection, but others bill for the increased labor.
Boylen suggested cleaning your gutters before the gutter guard contractor arrives to avoid being charged extra.
You can help keep your gutters in good condition by cleaning them twice per year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Doing this will help reduce the total buildup of debris and keep your gutters flowing properly. Thankfully, a good set of gutter guards can drastically reduce how frequently you need to clean your gutters and make cleaning them easier.
Region
Your home’s location, foliage, and climate can impact the type of guards you need. If you live in an area with heavy rain, you need a cover that traps debris while providing ample water flow. If your home is surrounded by pine needles, you’ll benefit more from micromesh guards than someone who lives in an arid region.
In addition, some U.S. locations have inherently higher costs of materials and maintenance, interest rates, and taxes. Installers in locations with higher amounts of vegetation, like the East and West coasts, routinely charge a premium for gutter services. You might also pay more if you live in a rural area.
Accessibility
Trees, tall shrubs, sloped terrain along foundations, and structures too close to a house make access to gutters more difficult. In these cases, installers might need special equipment, additional crew members, and more time. Homes with difficult-to-access gutters will always incur higher labor and service fees than standard homes.
Gutter Heaters
Gutter guards can freeze over in the winter. Some homeowners apply gutter heating tape along their covers to help prevent these ice dams. If you live in a cold and wet climate, you may want to use gutter heaters or heated gutter guards.
Is DIY Worth the Cost Savings of Installing Gutter Guards?
You can generally save money by installing your own gutter guards, but I recommend hiring a professional in most cases. Installing covers is complex as well as difficult and dangerous, especially if your home is two stories or more.
While you can DIY install some guards, namely foam and brush types, we recommending hiring a professional.
Homeowners have three options when choosing how to install their gutter guards—direct from the manufacturer, direct-to-installer, and DIY.
Direct manufacturers create gutter guards to be installed by their in-house professionals. These covers tend to use higher-end materials and designs, so they’re more expensive. These brands also usually offer robust product warranties, especially compared to DIY options.
With direct-to-installer gutter guards, third-party contractors purchase new gutter guards from wholesale manufacturers and offer installation services without oversight from the manufacturer. They’re often less expensive than direct-from-manufacturer options, but you could find the quote similar to DIY estimates or just slightly higher. Warranties depend on the installer and gutter guard brand.
For DIY projects, the more linear feet of gutter guards you purchase, the less you pay per linear foot. Homeowners can find these gutter covers at major home improvement and retail stores.
Here’s a look at some of the best DIY gutter guards and their average prices:
| Brand | Average cost per linear foot |
| Raptor | $2.60 – $3.13 |
| Amerimax | $0.86 |
| GutterBrush | $4.91 – $5.83 |
Our Top Gutter Guard Recommendations
For professional gutter guard installation, I recommend LeafFilter because of its fair pricing, expert installers, and effective filtering design that blocks out almost everything besides water.
Below, I’ve listed three of my favorite gutter guard companies, along with their pros, cons, and prices.
LeafFilter
LeafFilter Gutter Protection serves customers in 47 states, installing an effective three-piece gutter guard system that filters pine needles, shingle grit, seed pods, and other debris as small as 275 microns.
LeafFilter offers homeowners a lifetime warranty, giving them peace of mind that their investment is protected. Its prices range on the higher end—$15 to $45 per linear foot—with the average installation total costing between $2,600 and $6,300.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
HomeCraft
HomeCraft Gutter Protection provides quality gutter protection services to homeowners across the South and Midwest. Its three-piece gutter guard system—with a diamond micromesh set in a powder-coated aluminum frame—offers increased filtration of debris.
Homecraft is a cost-efficient option at $4.50 to $7.75 per linear foot. A full installation costs between $900 and $1,550.
LeafGuard
Unlike many other gutter guard systems that attach to the top of a gutter, LeafGuard replaces the entire gutter system. The brand uses aluminum K-style 5- or 6-inch gutters with a reverse curve gutter guard. Installers measure and cut them for a custom fit, removing and disposing of old gutter systems. The gutters withstand heavy rain, debris of all sizes (including roof shingles), and impacts from branches and hail.
LeafGuard’s products are some of the most expensive on the market but also count as a set of new gutters, making the overall expenditure reasonable for the level and quality of service. Since these guards replace your standard gutters, you can’t do a DIY installation. Expect to pay $17 to $34 per linear foot for LeafGuard gutters, with the total project between $2,200 and $7,400.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
So, Are Gutter Guards Worth the Initial Cost?
Gutter guards are a strong investment for many homeowners, especially those who live in areas with thick foliage. They keep gutters from filling with gunk and debris, prevent clogs, reduce the risk of water damage, and even help prevent the spread of fires. While some companies claim you’ll never need to clean your gutter again, it isn’t true. Instead, gutter guards make cleaning your gutters easier and increase the time between cleanings.
On average, you can expect to pay between $652 and $2,462 for gutter guard installation. If you want a specific price for your gutters, fill out this quick form to find top-rated gutter companies in your area.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
FAQs About Cost of Gutter Guards
Yes, you can buy some types of gutter guards and install them yourself. Depending on the product, homeowners can purchase directly from manufacturers, online, or from local big-box and home improvement stores.
However, in most cases, I don’t recommend installing gutter guards yourself. Installing DIY covers is complex, dangerous, and risky, especially if you’re not comfortable at heights or working on a ladder. Mistakes can be costly—too many and you could end up paying more than you would have with a professional.
You should only tackle this DIY project if you have a one-story home and are confident in your abilities. If you live in a home with two stories or more, always go with the professionals.
Before selecting a DIY gutter guard, give thought to how they’ll be attached, the tools and materials you’ll need, and whether the product will affect your roof warranty.
Some gutter guard companies claim their products increase the value of your home, but there’s little direct evidence to support this. Instead, functioning, well-maintained gutters could increase a home’s value by boosting curb appeal.
However, our research shows that gutter replacement projects don’t have a strong return on investment (ROI). Homeowners might only recoup 61% of their investment.
That said, your gutter system shouldn’t be an afterthought, whether you’re selling your home or not. They do more than drain water away from the home, preventing it from dripping on your head should you step outside. By diverting water, they protect the home’s foundation, roof, and siding while keeping pests, mold, and mildew at bay.
As a result, while you may not see that ROI when you sell your home, you’re taking proactive steps to lower the risk of damage, saving money in overall maintenance and repair costs. Plus, dirty, old gutters lower a home’s curb appeal and could impact how potential buyers view the purchase, even if everything else in the house is perfectly maintained.
With gutter guards, you should expect to clean your gutters at least once a year. However, the cover’s design and the amount and type of debris in your area could call for more or less cleaning. For example, if you live in a heavily wooded area, you’ll have to rinse your gutter guards more often.
Most gutters and screen gutter guards are pitched so debris slides off the gutters and to the ground. However, material can collect on top. You’ll want to wash this debris off with a hose or soft-bristled brush at least once a year.
If you have a brush guard installed, remove it to clear any debris caught in the bristles at least once or twice a year.
For foam inserts, carefully remove the foam and gently rinse the guard and gutters with a hose to flush out any debris. Apply algaecide to the foam and reinstall them in the gutters. Repeat this process once or twice a year unless you live in an area with a lot of debris and foliage.
