How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost?

Gutter guards are a great way to increase the longevity of your home’s gutters and keep them from getting clogged by protecting the openings from everything except water. The average cost of gutter guards, including installation, is around $1,450 but there are a lot of options on either side of that price. The lowest cost is just $200 while the highest is up to $4,300 for the top-of-the-line versions. 

Average Gutter Guard Costs

Average Cost	$1,435
Highest Cost	$4,300
Lowest Cost	$200

Gutter Guard Prices Per Foot

Plastic Screen

Plastic screen gutter guards are the least expensive type on the market and can be a good solution if you live in an area that doesn’t have a lot of foliage. They can also usually be installed on your own without professional help, which takes even more money off the final cost. Plastic gutter guards can be bought for $0.40 to $1.00 per linear foot. 

Perforated Aluminum 

Perforated aluminum guards are a step up from plastic screens in that they use the same principle of catching debris but are made of more durable materials. For $0.50 to $1.50 per linear foot, you can put perforated aluminum gutter guards on your gutter system. If you have a home that is larger than two stories, though, it may be a good idea to have a professional install them for safety purposes. 

Steel Screen

Steel screens are a great way to keep debris out of your gutters due to their high level of durability and simple installation. Unlike perforated aluminum, they can withstand heavier levels of debris and water and will hold up longer under more brutal weather conditions. They can be purchased for between $1.50 and $3.50 per linear foot. 

Foam

Foam gutter guards work by letting water pass through the pores of the material and leaving anything non-liquid on the top and out of the gutter itself. They can be very effective, although they need to be cleaned regularly to prevent them from disintegrating after a long period of use. Foam gutter guards cost between $2.00 and $3.25 per linear foot. 

Micro-Mesh

Micro-mesh is a great, high-end solution to foliage in your gutters and will prevent the collection of debris in them as well as keep pests out. The mesh is incredibly fine and it is good for areas that have a lot of trees with large leaves that can clog otherwise unprotected gutters easily. They usually cost between $2.00 and $4.00 per foot. 

Brush

One of the most elegant ways to keep debris out of your gutters is to use brush guards. These guards cost between $3.00 and $4.25 and use metal rods with nylon bristles that sit inside the gutters and catch debris as it falls into the opening. This prevents the debris from building up and blocking the flow. These guards do, however, need to be cleaned fairly regularly and may allow smaller debris like dirt and pine needles to flow with the water and cause clogs. 

Gutter Helmets

If you live in an area that has a lot of foliage and sees a lot of rain, gutter helmets could be the solution you need. They cover the entirety of the gutter and let water fall in due to surface tension while other debris slides right off. They are the most expensive option and can be purchased for between $3.50 and $6.50 per linear foot. 

Gutter Guard Installation Cost

DIY

The upside to installing your gutter guards yourself is that it won’t cost you anything aside from the price of tools such as ladders and screwdrivers. However, it is important to consider your safety, and installing guards yourself can be dangerous, especially if your home is more than one story. 

Professionally-Installed

Getting your gutter guards installed by a professional can add to your costs but it is a much safer solution. Not only will a professional installer be able to do the job safely, but they will also make sure that the guards are installed correctly and won’t cause any damage to your roof. Professional gutter guard installation will cost anywhere between $2.50 and $12.00 per linear foot. 

Gutter Guard Prices By Brand

Rhino 

Rhino gutter guards are stainless steel micro-mesh-type guards and are approved for both commercial and residential installation. They cost around $2.18 per linear foot and come in packages that cover 39 feet worth of gutter. Not only are they some of the highest-quality guards on the market, but they also come with a 25-year limited warranty. 

Raindrop

Raindrop gutter guards are flexible polypropylene micro-mesh guards that are also blended with UV stabilizers so they can withstand all kinds of weather and rain volumes. They cost around $4.42 per linear foot and come in three-foot lengths.  

Englert Microguard

The micro-mesh guards made by Englert are incredibly high-quality and designed to last for many years. They cost around $4.00 per square foot and will provide excellent protection, especially if you live in an area that has a lot of foliage or vegetation. 

Factors That Affect Gutter Guard Prices

Materials 

The materials that gutter guards are made of will heavily impact their cost. Plastic guards will be much cheaper than guards made of stainless steel. However, you may end up having to replace plastic guards much more often than you would if they were made of more durable materials, which can be more expensive in the long run. 

Design

The design of the gutter guards you choose will affect how expensive they are. Guards that have a more complex design will be more expensive and have a complicated installation process. Simple plastic screens are very inexpensive to manufacture and install, which allows them to have a lower cost overall. 

Mounting Method

How your gutter guards are attached to the gutters themselves will play a large part in their final cost. Guards that only need to be snapped on will be less expensive compared to guards that require screws and mounting brackets. This is due to the increased cost of manufacturing them as well as the more complex installation. 

Home Size 

Perhaps the biggest factor that decides how expensive your gutter guards will be is the size of your home. Since guards are sold by the linear foot and large homes have bigger gutter systems, you will end up paying more for the guards themselves as well as the installation. 

FAQs 

Is there a downside to gutter guards? 

The downside of gutter guards is that they still need to be cleaned just like your gutters do. Leaves and debris can build up on top of the guards and sooner or later they will become completely blocked. This can be especially problematic in regions that regularly get temperatures below freezing since the debris can freeze to the guards and cause issues like deterioration. 

Should I remove gutter guards in winter?

As long as your gutter guards are properly maintained and cleaned before the snow and ice begin to form on the roof, they are safe to use in the winter. While it is true that guards can cause problems if they are allowed to freeze, this is only true if they are not cleared of debris ahead of severe weather.