Per-linear-foot pricing, decoded — compare materials and see what guards really add.
Quick answer
Seamless aluminum gutters cost $6–$14 per linear foot installed in 2026 — a typical 150–200 linear foot home runs $1,000–$3,500, averaging about $2,300. Gutter guards add $3–$12 per linear foot. Copper jumps to $25–$40 per foot; vinyl is cheapest at $4–$8.
Linear feet × material rate × stories multiplier + guards
Installed rates (2026): vinyl $4–$8, seamless aluminum $6–$14, steel $9–$18, copper $25–$40 per linear foot. Two-story homes multiply by 1.2x. Gutter guards add ~$7.50/lf (range $3–$12).
Measure eaves, not rakes
Only horizontal roof edges typically need gutters. One downspout per 30–40 feet of run.
180 linear ft, seamless aluminum, 1 story, with guards:
180 × $10 = $1,800
+ guards 180 × $7.50 = $1,350
Total = $3,150
Range: $2,430 – $3,870 installed.
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Gutters are the cheapest insurance against the most expensive home repair — foundation water damage. Yet they're quoted per linear foot in a way that makes comparison shopping painful: one bid includes downspouts and guards, the next treats them as add-ons.
This calculator uses 2026 per-linear-foot rates for all four materials, adjusts for stories, and prices gutter guards separately — so you can compare the "$1,800 gutter job" against the "$3,200 gutter job" and see exactly what the extra $1,400 buys.
| Material | Installed $/lf | Lifespan | 180 lf home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl (sectional) | $4–$8 | 10–20 yrs | $720–$1,440 |
| Seamless aluminum | $6–$14 | 25–30 yrs | $1,080–$2,520 |
| Steel (galvanized) | $9–$18 | 20–30 yrs | $1,620–$3,240 |
| Copper (seamless) | $25–$40 | 60–100 yrs | $4,500–$7,200 |
| Gutter guards adder | $3–$12/lf | — | +$540–$2,160 |
2026 installed ranges. Sources: legacyexteriorspro.com, ecostify.com, custom-contracting.ca.
180 linear feet, seamless aluminum, single story, with gutter guards:
~$3,150 for 180 lf of seamless aluminum with guards — vs ~$1,800 without. Guards pay for themselves in ~3 years of skipped cleanings.
Enter the total linear feet of gutter you need (measure roof eaves, not the rakes), pick the material, stories, and whether to add gutter guards. The calculator uses 2026 installed per-linear-foot rates — hangers, end caps, and downspouts included.
Total = linear feet × material rate × stories multiplier + guards. Material rates (installed, 2026): vinyl $4–$8, seamless aluminum $6–$14, steel $9–$18, copper $25–$40 per linear foot. Two-story homes multiply by ~1.2x. Gutter guards add ~$7.50/linear foot (range $3–$12).
Material is the 10x lever — copper costs 5x aluminum per foot. Then: linear footage (obviously), stories (ladder work + insurance), and guards. The quote-trap: fascia repair — rotted fascia behind old gutters is often a separate line item at $5–$10 per foot.
180 linear feet, seamless aluminum, one story, with guards: 180 × $10 = $1,800 gutters + $1,350 guards (180 × $7.50) = ~$3,150 mid, ranging $2,430–$3,870. Without guards: ~$1,800, ranging $1,080–$2,520.
Seamless ($6–$14/lf) is roll-formed on-site to exact lengths — joints only at corners, far fewer leak points. Sectional ($4–$9/lf) comes in 10-ft sticks from the home center; every joint is a future leak and it\'s DIY-friendly. For pro installation the price gap is small enough that seamless wins for almost everyone.
Gutters are the #1 roof-adjacent project — price both while the ladders are out.
OpenFascia boards come off with siding — coordinate gutter replacement with the siding crew.
OpenPaint the fascia before new gutters go up — you'll never get better access.
OpenBad gutters flood basements — fix drainage before finishing below grade.
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