How Much Does it Cost to Repair a Gutter?

Reviewed by Joe Roberts remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

How much does it cost to repair and replace gutters?

On average, U.S. homeowners spend somewhere between $218 and $396 to fix damaged rain gutters. However, these are just the average prices to repair small portions of your gutter system. If you need to replace your entire gutter system, the average price range for this home improvement project jumps to between $2,582 and $4,699.

The price ranges for gutter repair and replacement are so wide because many factors can impact this project’s costs. Chief among these are the gutter type you choose, how many linear feet of gutter you need to replace in total, and the size of your home.

Despite the high repair costs, you shouldn’t let gutter maintenance wait. Damaged gutters and downspouts leave your home’s exterior vulnerable to water damage like warping, mold, and mildew. This means that procrastinating on gutter repairs could result in even more costly wall and roof repairs down the road. It’s cheaper to fix gutters early than to fix gutters and replace shingles once they’re damaged.  

If you’ve noticed sagging sections or cracks in your gutters, schedule an appointment with a gutter repair company today. They’ll be able to give you a free quote for repairs after inspecting your home’s gutter system.

We can give you an idea of what you might pay, though. Keep reading, and we’ll break down the different pricing factors to help you approximate a cost estimate. We’ll also provide some helpful tips and resources to save money on your gutter repairs and make your new gutters last longer. 

Factors that affect gutter replacement and repair costs

Gutter material

Gutters are made from various metals, woods, and plastics. Each of these options has unique benefits and drawbacks, each coming at a different price point.

Gutter installation costs by material

Aluminum gutters are a popular option because they’re lightweight and they don’t rust. When properly maintained and kept clean, aluminum gutters can last 20 years. Best of all, they’re quite affordable. However, they’re far from the only type of gutter available to you. 

You can opt for steel or wood if you want something more heavy-duty and impact-resistant. Both of these options will be a little more high-maintenance than aluminum, but when properly cared for, they can last a while longer.

If you’re in the market for something especially durable and aesthetically pleasing, go with copper, copper-clad steel, or zinc. Each option can easily last 50 to 100 years if properly maintained, and they’re second to none regarding curb appeal. 

If affordability is a bigger priority than style, though, then you may also want to consider vinyl gutters. They tend to cost about the same as aluminum gutters, and both materials last about as long in ideal conditions. However, depending on who you hire for your gutter replacement, vinyl may prove more affordable than aluminum.

Of course, the most affordable option will always be to replace broken segments of your gutters with new sections of the exact same material instead of completely swapping out your entire gutter system. Even if your current gutters are made from copper, replacing a few broken segments of your gutters with this expensive material will probably still be more affordable than replacing the whole system with a cheaper option like aluminum. 

Gutter design

Gutters come in three different shapes: box, half-round, and K-style. Each offers a few unique benefits.

Gutters come in several different designs, and the design of your gutters will partially determine how much you pay when you repair or replace them. 

The most affordable gutter design tends to be K-style because they’re the most widely manufactured. This style features a uniquely-shaped profile that roughly looks like a K, which is where it gets its name from. This design gives them a little more capacity than half-round gutters, making them less likely to overflow and leak.

Half-round gutters are usually a little more expensive than K-style options. They feature a rounded bottom, making them a little easier to clean than K-style options with more hard-to-reach corners.

Box gutters are usually the most expensive gutter style, and they’re also the most rarely installed on modern homes. They feature a perfectly rectangular design, giving them a uniquely large bottom that can allow for greater water flow and wider downspouts. This outdated design is a bit of a rarity, though, so you may not find an installer who carries box gutters. 

Sectional vs. seamless gutters

In addition to their different shapes, gutters also come in two different formations: sectional and seamless. If your existing gutters have a sectional design, you’ll probably pay less for your gutter repairs than if they were seamless.

A sectional gutter system is made up of many small, interconnected segments, and each segment can be removed and replaced independently of the rest of the system. The gaps between the segments are glued shut with gutter sealant to prevent leaks. This isn’t a foolproof system, though, and sectional gutters can leak if any of this sealant breaks.

Seamless gutters, on the other hand, are made with much longer pieces that are cut down to size to fit a home’s shape. Basically, any straight length of seamless gutter along a home is made from one solid piece, whereas in a sectional design, that same length would be made from several pieces. 

This design makes seamless gutters much less likely to leak. Unfortunately, it also makes seamless gutters much more expensive to repair and replace than sectional options since you have to replace much bigger pieces at once. 

The shape and design of your roof

Depending on how your roof is shaped and sloped, you could end up paying more or less for your gutter repairs. Steeper roofs are harder to work on and access, adding additional labor costs to this project. Similarly, if your roof features multiple layered peaks, you likely have more total gutters that need to be maintained. 

If, on the other hand, you have a relatively simple roof style with a gradual grade that’s easy for the repair crew to access and walk on, you could pay less than average for this project. 

How many stories your home has

The more stories your home has, the more gutters it will require and the longer your downspouts will need to be. This means that if you have a two-story or three-story home, you’ll probably pay more for gutter replacement and repairs than someone living in a single-story home. 

Gutter repair pricing tiers

The budget option

To restore your gutters to working condition as affordably as possible, you should only get the minimum necessary repairs. Sometimes all a gutter needs to stop sagging is a new hanger to securely mount it to the roof’s fascia board. Similarly, small cracks and leaks can often be repaired with light patching. If you only need repairs like these, you’re in luck. You can probably get your gutters flowing again for around $100 or less. 

To save even more money, you can handle these easy repairs yourself if you’re confident in your home improvement skills and your steadiness on a ladder. Labor costs for professional gutter installation and repair average around $5 per linear foot, which adds up if you’ve got to make some substantial updates. 

We don’t recommend DIY gutter repairs, though. Even small mistakes can result in big leaks that damage your siding, soffits, and shingles, so it’s a job best left to the pros. Additionally, self-installation could void the warranty on your new gutters, so if they do fail before their time, you’d have to replace them again out of pocket instead of making a claim. 

If you need to replace whole sections of your gutter system, get replacement segments of the exact same material and style as what you already have. This will keep your entire system stylistically congruent. As we said earlier, replacing small sections with expensive materials is usually cheaper than swapping out an entire system for something more affordable per linear foot. 

If you have to replace your entire gutter system on a tight budget, we recommend replacing your old gutters with a cheap option, even if it’s a downgrade style-wise from your old gutters. Opt for materials like PVC and aluminum in K-style designs to save as much money as possible. 

To keep future repairs affordable, choose gutters with sectional instead of seamless formations. That way, if parts of your system fail down the road, you can simply swap out the broken segments instead of replacing large seamless sections. 

The mid-range option

If you can afford to invest in some high-end gutter repairs and replacements, get your gutters thoroughly cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional and replace everything showing early signs of failure. This might mean replacing some rusty gutter segments, reapplying all your sealant, and getting better gutter hangers.

If you need to replace the whole gutter system, you can still use aluminum replacements to keep costs relatively low. Opt for materials like treated wood or galvanized stainless steel if you can afford something better. These tend to last longer than aluminum but require a little more routine maintenance. 

Lastly, we recommend getting some gutter guards installed. These devices keep your gutters clear of leaves, branches, and ice that can slide off your roof, thereby preventing clogs. Installing gutter guards will likely add a few hundred dollars to this project, but this investment will help your gutters last much longer. 

The high-end option

If you’ve got some old, ugly gutters you’ve been waiting for any excuse to replace and you have the money to do a wholesale replacement, then that leak you’ve noticed might be your best friend. Now’s your chance to swap out those old gutters and downspouts with something more stylish and durable.

If you want the hardiest and most long-lasting gutters that money can buy, go for seamless copper or zinc gutters. If installed properly and kept clean, these gutters will be nearly impervious to leaks for a long time. They could realistically last the rest of your life.

We still recommend getting gutter guards installed with this option. They will help ensure your fancy new gutters last as long as possible. 

How to pay for your new gutters

Compared to other home improvement projects, gutter repair is relatively inexpensive, though installing an entirely new gutter system can be fairly pricey. If you don’t have enough cash to do the job how you want to, here are a few ways to pay for this project:

• Make a warranty claim. If your old gutters started to leak before their warranty expired, you may be in luck. Contact the installer and the manufacturer to discuss their warranties and ask them how to make a claim. You may be able to get your gutters repaired or replaced at no cost to you.
• Finance through your installer. Your gutter installer may be able to work out a payment plan with you. When your contractor gives you a quote during your initial consultation, ask them about financing options. They may have the lowest interest rates or the most lenient payback plan of any of your other options.
• Take out a personal loan. You can always take out a personal loan to cover a home improvement project; gutter installation is no exception. However, this is only a good option if you have a decent credit score. If your credit is bad, you’ll likely have a high-interest rate, making your loan harder to pay back. 
• Take out a home equity loan. If you don’t have great credit but have a lot of equity in your home, then a home equity loan might work better for you. This type of loan bases your interest rate on how much home equity you have, so the interest could be much more favorable than that of a personal loan. However, there is also a significant downside to home equity loans. They use your home as collateral, so if you default, the lending agency could take your home from you.
• Open a HELOC. A home equity line of credit (HELOC) also uses your home as collateral, like a home equity loan. However, whereas an agency gives you one lump sum of cash to spend when you take out a loan, a HELOC works like a line of credit you open with a credit card. You can use your HELOC to pull funds repeatedly during the length of your contract as long as you keep making the necessary payments.

Other factors to consider

Your HOA’s bylaws

As with any updates to your home’s exterior, you usually have to get HOA approval before you make substantial changes to your gutter system. You may not have to jump through this hoop if you just need to patch up a leak or install a new hanger on one of your gutters. But your HOA should be notified if you have to replace even small sections of your gutter system.

This is because your HOA can force you to undo any changes to your home’s exterior that they object to. This means that if you did work your HOA didn’t first approve, you could end up paying to get the original work done, paying to get it undone, and then paying to get it redone according to your HOA’s preference. So, even though it’s a pain in the neck, getting approval before doing anything to your gutters is financially much safer. 

When in doubt about whether or not a project needs HOA approval, it’s safest just to ask a member of your HOA’s board beforehand. 

Gutter cleaning

One of the best ways to maintain your gutters is to keep them clean. Every spring, climb a ladder to your roof and clear out all the sticks and leaves that fell into your gutters the previous fall. If you’ve got several trees in your yard, it’s also a good idea to do this a few times in autumn.

This maintenance might be a hassle, but you’ve invested a lot of money into installing and repairing your gutters. You should take care of them to ensure they last as long as possible. You can minimize the inconvenience by hiring professionals for gutter cleaning instead. This service typically costs a few hundred dollars, but it will save you the trouble of doing it yourself. 

Gutter guards

One of the best ways to maintain your gutters is to install gutter guards. These handy add-ons keep your gutters clear of fallen leaves and other debris, preventing clogs and buildup. They are typically made from metal mesh or perforated plates, and they’re installed over the open tops of gutters. This design allows water into gutters while keeping debris out.

Installing gutter guards typically costs between $9 and $17 per square foot, so outfitting an entire gutter system with guards can cost anywhere from $1,885 and $3,430. If you shop around for some budget-friendly options or only install guards over your gutters that sit directly below trees, though, you could spend under $1,000.

If you want the benefits of gutter guards, but you can’t afford to get them for your entire system, install them on its most vulnerable segments. For example, if one-half of your roof sits under a tall tree, but the other half is far from any trees, you could affordably get good protection by just installing gutter guards on the half beneath the tree. 

The cost of good gutters

If your gutters are starting to leak or sag, you should be prepared to spend a couple hundred dollars on restoring them. If the damage requires replacing significant portions of your gutter system, you could spend over $1,000. However, keeping your gutters in good condition is an important part of maintaining your home’s exterior and structure, so you should repair even minimal gutter damage as soon as possible.

By installing gutter guards and cleaning your gutters regularly, you can ensure the repairs and replacements stay in good condition for years to come.