How to Price Gutter Cleaning Jobs
Most gutter cleaning jobs are priced flat by story count and linear footage — a single-story home typically runs $75–$150, a two-story $100–$250, rising toward $300+ for steep roofs, heavy debris, or homes over 3,000 sq ft. Downspout flushing and gutter-guard cleaning are usually quoted as add-ons, not folded into the base price, because they add real time the base quote didn't account for.
Flat rate by story count is the standard
Linear-foot pricing sounds precise, but almost nobody quotes it out loud. Most solo operators price flat by story count, because a homeowner can picture “$120 for your house” and can’t picture “$1.60 a foot.”
- Single story: $75–$150
- Two story: $100–$250
- Three story or steep/complex roofline: $250–$350+
Use linear footage as your own internal math — a typical home runs 150–200 linear feet of gutter — to sanity-check the flat number, not as the quote itself.
What actually moves the price
Story count is the headline, but four other things change how long the job takes:
- Roof pitch and access. A steep or complicated roofline means more ladder moves and more caution, which is time, not just risk.
- Debris load. A gutter packed with wet leaves and tree seedlings takes several times longer than one with light dust — quote from a look, not a guess, when you can.
- Downspout condition. Clogged downspouts need a separate flush or a plumber’s snake. Quote this as an add-on, because it’s not always visible from the ground.
- Gutter guards. Screens and guards have to come off (or be cleaned around) before you can actually clear the channel underneath.
Building your floor
Before any of this matters, know your own number below which a job isn’t worth taking: ladder and harness gear, insurance, drive time, and disposal if you’re hauling debris off-site. A quote that doesn’t clear your floor is a job you should say no to, regardless of what the story-count chart says.
Put it on the invoice the way you quoted it
However you price the job, the invoice should say it back the same way — story count and any add-ons (guards, downspout flush, extra debris) as their own line items, not folded into one number. That’s the difference between a customer who understands what they paid for and one who calls asking why it “seems high” next time you’re not there in person to explain it.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge per linear foot for gutter cleaning?
$1–$2 per linear foot is the common range, but most solo operators quote flat by story count instead — linear-foot pricing is more useful as your own internal floor than as the number you say out loud to a customer.
Should I charge extra for a second story?
Yes. A two-story job takes longer to rig for and carries more fall risk, so it should run noticeably above single-story pricing — many operators simply double the base rate rather than add a flat surcharge.
Do I charge extra for gutter guards?
Yes, as a separate line item. Cleaning around or removing guards to clear the channel takes real extra time, and folding it into the base price means you're doing that work for free on every guarded home.