What's actually wrong with your gutters?
An independent homeowner guide to diagnosing the problem, knowing what the fix should cost, and checking that whoever you hire is licensed for the work.
Diagnose your gutter problem
Original research · All 50 states
Does a roofing license cover gutter work?
In most states, no. Gutters are frequently classified as sheet metal work, carved out of the roofing license by regulation, or left out of the statutory definition of a roof system — so a roofer may be working outside their licensed scope when they hang your gutters.
14
states separate gutter work from roofing
Against just 2 that fold gutters into a roofing credential — so a contractor licensed to roof may not be licensed for the work you are actually hiring them to do.
Why it matters after a storm: most storm-damage consumer protections are written around roofing. Where a state defines a "roof system" in a way that excludes gutters, its deductible-waiver ban and cancellation rights may not reach the gutter portion of your claim at all.
39 states with a determined verdict, each cited to the issuing authority
Costs
What gutter work actually costs
Ranges below span every US state we've researched — the low end is the cheapest state, the high end the priciest. Your own number sits somewhere inside, and which state you're in moves it more than most quotes admit.
| Job | Range across states |
|---|---|
| Gutter cleaning, single story | $90–$320 |
| Gutter cleaning, two story | $135–$475 |
| Seamless aluminum replacement | $5–$22 / ft |
| Gutter guards, installed | $6–$24 / ft |
| Ranges reflect published pricing and marketplace averages, not a quote. See our cost methodology. | |
Same job, different state
Seamless aluminum replacement runs $5 / ft in the cheapest states and $22 / ft in the priciest — a 4.4× difference driven by labor costs, climate, and how far a crew has to travel. A single national average hides all of it.
Every state page carries its own cost bands, the climate that drives them, and the licensing rules worth knowing before you hire.
Compiled from 50 researched state pages.
Want a pro to handle it?
Compare quotes from local contractors — free, no obligation, and worth doing even if you fix it yourself, because it tells you what the work is worth.
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Find your state
What gutters cost, what fails first, and the licensing rules worth knowing before you hire — by state.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona1
- Arkansas
- California1
- Colorado1
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida1
- Georgia1
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois1
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts1
- Michigan
- Minnesota1
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina1
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma1
- Oregon1
- Pennsylvania1
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas1
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington1
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
All US coverage. Outside the US? We also cover Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Start here
Gutter costs, maintenance, safety, and materials
Buying guides
Best products, by category
Matched to your debris, climate, and roof access rather than ranked — we haven't tested these, and say so.
Process
How this site works
Step 1
Diagnose
Use the diagram above or browse problems to figure out what's actually wrong.
Step 2
Compare fixes & costs
See what a fair price looks like and what your realistic options are.
Step 3
Buy smart or get quotes
Pick the right product yourself, or compare local pros for the job.
Why you can check what we tell you
Every legal claim is sourced
87 state-law facts across 50 states, each citing its issuing authority with the date we checked it.
We haven't tested these products
So we don't rank them. Our buying guides match a product to your debris, climate, and roof access instead.
Paid listings are labeled and separate
Sponsored contractor listings never appear in editorial guides, and never influence what we recommend.
We're not a contractor
This is an independent homeowner guide with no stake in who you hire. Here's how it makes money.