Is a $99 gutter cleaning real?

Sometimes, for a small single-story home with light debris. Check whether downspouts, the second story and debris removal are included before relying on the headline price.

Does gutter cleaning include the downspouts?

Not always. Many companies charge per downspout for flushing or clearing a blockage, so ask.

Is it worth paying for gutter cleaning instead of doing it myself?

For two-story homes, steep roofs or anyone uneasy on a ladder, yes. Ladder falls are a common cause of serious home injuries.

How much does it cost to clean gutters on a 2 story house?

Two-story homes cost more than single-story ones in every guide cited above, because of longer ladders, more setup and more risk. The table at the top gives the published ranges.

What is the average cost to clean rain gutters?

The public guides cited on this page put a typical visit in the low hundreds of dollars, with the total rising for height, heavy debris and downspout clearing.

Pricing

Gutter Cleaning Cost: Prices by Story, Foot and Add-On

A routine gutter cleaning usually costs a few hundred dollars or less. The number of stories, how full the gutters are and the extras you add decide where in that range you land.

Updated 2026-10-26 · Gutter Fixing Editorial Team

Gutter cleaning is one of the cheapest regular home maintenance jobs, and one of the most skipped. Housecall Pro, writing in January 2026, puts most residential cleanings between $125 and $320. Inch Calculator gives a similar picture, with an average around $300 and a range of about $170 to $425. Thumbtack reports $100 to $400.

Gutter cleaning cost by number of stories

Home height	Typical range (Housecall Pro)
Single story	$100 to $180
Two story	$150 to $275
Three story	$250 to $400 or more

Height is the biggest single factor because it changes the equipment, the setup time and the risk. Steep roofs and homes on slopes add to the price for the same reason.

Gutter cleaning cost per foot and per hour

Some companies price by length instead of by house. Housecall Pro reports residential rates of about $0.80 to $2 per linear foot, and $1.25 to $3.50 per foot for commercial buildings. Others charge by the hour, commonly $50 to $100 an hour depending on the market and crew size. Per-house flat rates are the most common for ordinary homes, because they are simplest for both sides.

Add-ons and extras

Extra	Typical price (Housecall Pro)
Downspout flushing or unclogging	$25 to $75 per downspout
Heavy or compacted debris	$50 to $150
Roof debris blow-off	$75 to $200
Minor repairs or resealing	$50 to $150
Gutter guard check or adjustment	$25 to $50
Exterior gutter brightening	$1 to $3 per linear foot

These extras are why a $99 advertised cleaning can turn into a $250 invoice. Ask which of them are included before you book, especially downspout flushing, which is what actually makes the system drain.

How much should gutter cleaning cost for your house?

Time since the last cleaning: gutters left for several years can be packed solid and growing plants.
Tree cover: pine needles and seed pods take longer to clear than dry leaves.
Gutter guards: guards that must be removed and refitted add time.
Access: fences, decks, steep slopes and planting beds slow ladder work.
Location and season: prices are higher in expensive metro areas and in late autumn.

How often you pay matters more than the price of one visit

Most homes need cleaning twice a year, and homes under heavy tree cover can need three or four visits. Over a year, the difference between a $150 and a $250 cleaning matters less than whether the gutters are cleaned often enough to avoid overflow damage. Many companies offer a lower per-visit price for a seasonal plan or for neighbors booked on the same day.

Commercial gutter cleaning prices

Commercial buildings are usually priced per foot or by custom quote, because roof size and access vary so much. Housecall Pro gives an example of a 180-foot commercial building at about $1.60 per foot for a one-off clean and $1.30 per foot on a recurring plan. Multi-building and HOA contracts are almost always quoted individually.

What a basic cleaning price should include

Clearing the full length of every gutter by hand or with a scoop.
Bagging and removing the debris rather than leaving it in beds.
Checking that each downspout drains, at least from the top.
A quick look for loose hangers, leaks and damage, with photos if possible.
Cleaning up any mess on paths, decks and windows below.

If a quote does not mention these, ask. A cheap visit that leaves debris on the lawn or downspouts still blocked is not a saving.

Gutter cleaning and roof cleaning bundles

Some companies sell gutter cleaning together with roof moss treatment, window washing or pressure washing. Bundles can save money because the crew is already on site with ladders, but compare the bundled price with the cost of each service alone. Roof treatments are usually a soft wash rather than pressure washing, and the runoff ends up in the gutters, so book the gutter cleaning after the roof work, not before.

Seasonal plans and repeat visits

Many cleaning companies offer a seasonal plan with two to four scheduled visits a year at a lower price per visit. A plan makes sense under heavy tree cover where debris builds quickly. For homes with few trees, one or two booked visits a year may be all that is needed, and paying per visit keeps it flexible. Ask whether a plan locks in the price for the year and whether missed visits roll over.

DIY cost compared

Doing it yourself costs the price of gloves, a scoop, bags and a sturdy ladder with a standoff if you do not own one, plus your time. For a single-story home with easy access, that can be reasonable. For anything higher, the cost of a professional visit is small compared with the risk of a fall.

Why prices rise in the autumn

Demand for gutter cleaning peaks once the leaves have fallen, and many companies book up weeks ahead. Some raise prices or stop offering discounts at that time. Booking early, or choosing a late-summer clean plus a post-leaf-fall clean, spreads the work and can keep the price lower.

Underground drain cleaning

Clearing a downspout from the top is part of many cleanings. Clearing a blocked underground drain line is different work that may need a drain snake, a jetter or a camera, and it is usually quoted separately. If water backs up at the bottom of a downspout that feeds a buried pipe, mention it when booking so the right equipment comes.

Cleaning gutters that have guards

Guarded gutters still need occasional attention, and servicing them can cost more per visit than open gutters. Screens and mesh may have to be lifted, brushed and refitted, and fine debris that slipped through has to be flushed out. Ask whether the price covers removing and reseating the guards, and check that the guard warranty is not voided by the cleaning method.