{
  "slug": "gutter-cleaning-cost",
  "title": "Gutter Cleaning Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Gutter Cleaning Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gutter-cleaning-cost",
  "summary": "Linear footage, story height, and debris level priced into one gutter cleaning quote.",
  "description": "Gutter cleaning cost is typically quoted per linear foot of gutter, with story height and debris severity as the main multipliers — a two-story home with heavy pine needle buildup costs meaningfully more to service than a single-story home with light leaf debris. 2026 US national averages run roughly $1-$2.50 per linear foot for single-story homes and $1.75-$4 per linear foot for two-story or steep-roof homes where ladder safety and access take more time, with most companies also charging a trip/minimum fee for small jobs. This calculator applies a story-height multiplier and a debris-severity multiplier to a base per-foot rate, then adds any minimum service fee, so you can sanity-check a quote against typical national ranges. Getting gutters cleaned twice a year — typically spring and fall — is standard for most climates with deciduous trees nearby; homes without overhanging trees can often go annually.",
  "formula": "Total = max(Minimum Fee, Linear Ft × Base Rate × Story Multiplier × Debris Multiplier).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=gutter-cleaning-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "linearFt",
      "label": "Total gutter length",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 180,
      "unit": "linear ft",
      "min": 20,
      "max": 600
    },
    {
      "id": "baseRate",
      "label": "Base cleaning rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1.4,
      "unit": "$/ft",
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 4
    },
    {
      "id": "stories",
      "label": "Building height",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "1",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "1",
          "label": "1 story"
        },
        {
          "value": "1.4",
          "label": "2 stories"
        },
        {
          "value": "1.9",
          "label": "3+ stories"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "debris",
      "label": "Debris level",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "1",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "1",
          "label": "Light (leaves only)"
        },
        {
          "value": "1.3",
          "label": "Moderate (leaves + twigs)"
        },
        {
          "value": "1.6",
          "label": "Heavy (pine needles/packed)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "minFee",
      "label": "Company minimum fee",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 125,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 300
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "totalCost",
      "label": "Total cleaning cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "computedCost",
      "label": "Rate-based cost (pre-minimum)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perFoot",
      "label": "Effective cost per linear ft",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Total gutter length: 180 linear ft",
      "Base cleaning rate: 1.4 $/ft",
      "Building height: 1 story",
      "Debris level: Light (leaves only)",
      "Company minimum fee: 125 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Total cleaning cost: $252",
      "Rate-based cost (pre-minimum): $252",
      "Effective cost per linear ft: $1.40"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter total gutter length (linear ft).",
      "Enter base cleaning rate ($/ft).",
      "Enter building height.",
      "Enter debris level.",
      "Enter company minimum fee ($).",
      "Read your total cleaning cost on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "linearFt": 110,
        "baseRate": 0.84,
        "stories": "1",
        "debris": "1",
        "minFee": 75
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "linearFt": 180,
        "baseRate": 1.4,
        "stories": "1",
        "debris": "1",
        "minFee": 125
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "linearFt": 290,
        "baseRate": 2.2399999999999998,
        "stories": "1",
        "debris": "1",
        "minFee": 200
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How often should gutters be cleaned?",
      "a": "Twice a year — typically spring and fall — is standard for homes near deciduous trees; homes with heavy pine coverage may need quarterly cleaning, while homes with few overhanging trees can often go once a year."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why do two-story homes cost more to clean?",
      "a": "Ladder setup, safety equipment, and slower, more careful work at height take significantly more labor time on two- and three-story homes, which is why most companies apply a per-story multiplier rather than a flat per-foot rate."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does gutter cleaning include downspout clearing?",
      "a": "Most standard quotes include flushing downspouts to confirm free flow, but a fully clogged downspout requiring snaking or disassembly is often billed as an add-on — confirm what's included before booking."
    },
    {
      "q": "Are gutter guards worth it to reduce cleaning frequency?",
      "a": "Gutter guards reduce but don't eliminate the need for cleaning — most guarded gutters still need a check once a year, but the interval between full cleanings often stretches from twice a year to once, offsetting some of the guard's upfront cost over time."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gutter-guard-installation-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/roof-cleaning-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ice-dam-removal-cost"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Gutter Cleaning Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gutter-cleaning-cost)"
}