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Gutters Cost

How Much Do Gutters Cost?

low cost Vinyl: small, $360-$600; medium: $750-$1,250
low cost Aluminum: small, $500-$1,200; medium, $1,050-$2,400
low cost Copper: small, $1,800-$3,000; medium, $3750-$6,250

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Uncontrolled water can cause structural damage to a home's walls or foundation. Rain gutters (also called eaves troughs or guttering) provide an important channel to collect water from the roof and divert it away from the foundation or basement.
 
Typical costs:
  • The average residential home has anywhere from 120 to 250 feet of rain gutters, depending on the number of stories and the amount of roof line. (Sprawling single-story homes have more roof edges and therefore more feet of rain gutters than more-compact two- or three-story houses.)
  • Expect to pay around $3 -$5 a lineal foot to have someone install vinyl (PVC) gutters, or about $360 -$600 for 120 feet and $750 -$1,250 for 250 feet. Vinyl gutters are a fairly simple do-it-yourself project; material alone run about $50 -$100 for 120 feet and $90 -$180 for 250 feet. Vinyl gutters maintain their color well, are flexible and dent-resistant and don't rust or corrode but they do get brittle with age and extreme cold.
  • Having aluminum gutters installed averages about $4 -$9 a foot plus downspouts at $5 -$8 each, or $500 -$1,200 for 120 feet and $1,050 -$2,400 for 250 feet. Do-it-yourself materials average $350 -$500 for 120 feet and $450 -$850 for 250 feet. Aluminum is fairly easy to maintain but it dents more easily than other gutter materials and expands (moves due to temperature changes) significantly more than other metals.
  • Mainly used in restoration projects, wood gutters are heavy to install and cost about $12 -$20 a foot, depending on the type of wood used, or $1,450 -$2,400 for 120 feet and $3,000 -$5,000 or more for 250 lineal feet.
  • Galvanized steel gutters are about $4 -$8 installed, for a total cost around $500 -$1,000 for 120 feet and $1,000 -$2,000 for 250 feet. Steel runs $8 -$10 a foot, or $960 -$1,200 for 120 feet and $2,000 -$2,500 for 240 feet. Stainless steel gutters--which are strong, rust-free and keep a high sheen for years--average $20 a foot, or $2,400 for 120 feet and $5,000 for 250 feet.
  • Copper gutters are low maintenance and do not rust; they tend to be a custom project at a $15 -$25 a foot or $1,800 -$3,000 for 120 feet and $3,750 -$6,250 for 250 feet. Copper develops a patina as it ages.
What should be included:
  • Generally a contractor will remove the old gutters and downspouts and install new ones. The gutters must be slightly sloped so the water will flow into the downspouts.
  • The two main types of gutter systems are sectional and seamless; sectional gutters are easier to install and more likely to be a do-it-yourself project, but are more prone to developing leaks. Usually seamless gutters are professionally installed.BobVila.com provides a quick overview of the different types of gutters. DoItYourself.com gives do-it-yourself instructions for vinyl rain gutters and BobVila.com does the same for the aluminum variety.
Additional costs:
  • Hauling away old gutters and downspouts can add $40 -$100 to the total cost; check to see if this is included in a project estimate.
  • Downspouts can be replaced by decorative Japanese-style rain chains which start around $20 -$50 for basic models and can run $50 -$200 or more.
Discounts:
  • Ask neighbors if they also want new rain gutters, and see if you can get a discount for several nearby projects.
Shopping for gutters:
  • Installing gutters is an inexpensive start-up business, so ask contractors about their training and experience -- make sure they're not new to the field. Request and verify references from satisfied customers, and check for complaints at the Better Business Bureau. Get several estimates, and be sure the quotes are for the same type and quality of materials.
Article updated November 2007
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Recent Posts
Amount: $0.00 Gutter replacement
Posted by: Mel in Glen Burnie, MD.Purchased: 2008
Sq Ft of Home: 3000Linear Feet of Gutters: 38 ft
Material: aluminum
I am in the est. phase. I had a 38 ft section removed in high wind. My first est. was $2,527.00 to replace the 38 ft section and one downspout. I sent him packing. Thank you for the info because it will help me keep from lining the pockets of bad weather profiters!
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Amount: $1,093.00 Replacing Former Owner's DIY
Posted by: SavvyCat in Euless, TX.Purchased: February, 2009
Sq Ft of Home: 1190Linear Feet of Gutters: 105
Material: Aluminum
The former owner did a strange construct of plastic gutters with 2"x2" downspots in illogical places, visible brackets hung lower than the flashing with droops and leaky seams. The new project was seamless aluminum 5" gutter with hidden hangers placed every 2 feet. I opted for four 3"x4" downspouts for fast emptying and debris flush because when it rains here, it rains hard, and they're less likely to clog with my crepe myrtle debris. Comes with a lifetime warranty from a company that's been around about 20 years. I don't think I got the lowest price around, but I didn't want to devote a bunch of time to estimates that were probably going to be within a couple hundred dollars of each other for good work (not cheesy handyman style like I already had). I think I got a fair price. This site was very helpful.
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Amount: $650.00 Replacing Gutters
Posted by: a user in Orange, CT.Purchased: March, 2009
Sq Ft of Home: Linear Feet of Gutters: 40 ft
Material: Aluminum
Great info thanks - we had the jub done maybe on the high side but the area where the gutters had to be relaced required a 3 story ladder because of the slope of the land.
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Amount: $0.00 Gutters
Posted by: walter in cornwall on hudson, ny, NY.Purchased: 2009
Sq Ft of Home: Linear Feet of Gutters: 50
Material: aluminum
had a guy from home depot give me an estimate of 13-15 hundred. I almost laughed. A regular local contractor gabe me an estimate of 371.00. Pays to shop around.
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Amount: $400.00 gutters
Posted by: Scooobs in Barnegat, NJ.Purchased: May, 2009
Sq Ft of Home: 1800Linear Feet of Gutters: 60
Material: aluminum
Had the 2nd floor of my homes gutters installed. I agree Home depot is a RIPOFF!!! they gave me an $1100.00 estimate I had no idea what they should cost and called a seamless gutter business and they did them downspouts and all for $400 !! DEFINILY shop around!!!!!
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Amount: $1,600.00 Seamless Gutter Replacement
Posted by: Bear Man in Oklahoma City, OK.Purchased: May, 2009
Sq Ft of Home: 2354Linear Feet of Gutters: 202
Material: Seamless Aluminum
10 each,3x4 Downspouts,
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Amount: $0.00 gutters
Posted by: Rich McCoy in Monroe, NY.Purchased: 2009
to Walter in Cornwall on the Hudson. Thanks for the report. I live in Monroe and have recieved several silly quotes as well. Can you forward the contractor info with a phone # from the folks who did your install. Thanks for any help you can offer, Rich in Monroe
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Amount: $0.00 gutters
Posted by: Earl Quashie in Brooklyn, NY.Purchased: 2009
Sq Ft of Home: Linear Feet of Gutters: 20 ft
Material: Aluminum
Hi,
Walter on the Hudson. Can you give me your contact on who replaced your gutters.
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Amount: $2,400.00 Replacement Aluminum Gutters vs steel or vinyl in Wisconsin Winters
Posted by: Josh G. in Madison, WI.Purchased: July, 2009
Sq Ft of Home: 4000Linear Feet of Gutters: 400
Material: Aluminum
Had the steel gutters removed because they were galvanized but with some inevatable debris sitting at the bottom they rusted through. Do not buy steel! Aluminum should cost $6.00 - $8.00/ft along with the downspouts in the midwest if you want seamless. My father put vinyl on his house and he hates them, they seem to break in the winters when icecicles hang from them. Don't cheap out and don't buy the thinner Aluminum sections from HD or a hardware store as they will leak and bend easily in winter when they fill with ice and snow. I shopped 3 seamless installers, and even got the quote over the phone if you know how many feet and how many downspouts (buy the 3x4 not the 2x3 because 3x4 drain 2x as fast) and how far apart they put the hangers, should be 16" and do they use heavy duty hangers or the light duty that snap off in the winter due to the weight of them full of ICE.
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