How Much to Charge for Gutter Cleaning?

Walk the perimeter and measure every run of gutter in linear feet. Count the stories, count every downspout, and note which ones drain underground. The footage and the height are the two numbers that set the price.

Per linear foot: single-story $0.95 to $1.50, two-story $1.25 to $2.25, three-story $2.00 to $3.25. Light seasonal debris runs toward the low end; a year of neglect runs 10 to 50 percent above it. Most operators quote a flat number, but the per-foot math is what keeps that number honest.

Line-item every downspout, any guard removal and reinstall, and any seam or hanger repair you spot from the ladder. Add the debris and height premiums, then check the total against your job minimum. Quote one clean number with the scope written out.

Downspouts are where a clogged system actually fails, so they are always a line item: $25 to $75 each to clear and flush, $75 to $200 when one drains underground and has to be snaked from the bottom.

Flushing downspouts for free is the top gutter-bid mistake. See Pricing mistakes.

Add $50 to $150 to remove and reinstall guards so you can clean underneath, more for screw-down or micro-mesh systems. Selling guards? Quote $5 to $15 per linear foot, or $10 to $25 for micro-mesh, as its own line - it is the highest-margin ticket on the ladder.

• Two-story: about 25 percent more, every ladder move is slower
• Three-story or steep roof: 50 to 100 percent more, standoff or roof access
• A year or more of neglect: add 10 to 50 percent for packed debris

You are already on the ladder, so price the small fixes you find: $75 to $200 to reseal a seam or re-secure a hanger, $50 to $100 per end cap, $8 to $15 per foot of replaced section. Mark sealant, hangers, and guard material up 30 to 50 percent.

• Price at market per foot for the height, not below it. Cheap gutter work signals a rushed ladder and skipped downspouts.
• Always line-item downspouts and guard removal. They are where small operators leak margin.
• Set a job minimum before you quote anything. A 60-foot ranch at per-foot math is a loss.
• Sell the spring return visit on the fall job. Two visits a year at a locked price is the margin model.

• A real overhead load and insurance cost in every per-foot price - ladder work carries liability.
• Standard quote template so every tech prices downspouts, height, and guards the same way.
• Homes-per-day targets so a tight route becomes margin, not just speed.
• Route density rules so a crew never drives across town for one single-story job.

A 60-foot ranch at $1.50 is a $90 ladder setup. Set a $150 to $250 floor and quote it without apology.

Four downspouts at $40 is $160 you either charged for or gave away. Each one is a line item, every time.

Every ladder move on a two-story is slower, and a three-story needs a standoff or roof access. Price the height instead of bidding it like a ranch.

Removing and reinstalling guards can double the time on the ladder. Add $50 to $150 and say so on the quote.

A handshake quote disappears the moment a customer changes their mind. Send the scope and price in writing, with the footage, the story count, and the downspouts listed, before you climb.