How Long Does It Take to Clean Gutters?

How long gutter cleaning takes depends mostly on your house: how tall it is, how much gutter it has, how steep the roof is and how much debris has built up. As a rough guide, HomeAdvisor says to plan on about an hour for an average single-story home and two to three hours for taller houses, plus extra time if gutter guards have to come off or clogs are packed in. Your house could land on either side of that.

If you’re trying to work out how often to have your gutters cleaned rather than how long a cleaning takes, see our guide to how often gutters should be cleaned, and when.

What makes gutter cleaning take longer or shorter

How many stories your house has

A second or third story means taller ladders and safety harnesses, so each section takes longer to reach safely.

How steep your roof is and what’s around the house

A steep roof, or gutters that are hard to get to, makes the work slower and riskier. So do obstacles that get in the way of setting a ladder safely, like dense plantings, a slope, or a deck built right up against the house.

How much gutter you have

The total length of gutter matters more than the size of the house. HomeAdvisor puts the average home at 125 to 200 linear feet of gutter, with larger houses often over 200. The shape of the roof matters too: a small single-story home with a complicated roofline and a wraparound porch can have more gutter than a larger, simpler two-story home.

How long it’s been since the last cleaning

Heavy buildup takes extra time to clear. Gutters cleaned on a regular schedule usually hold one season’s worth of leaves and needles. Gutters left for a few years can be packed solid, sometimes with plants growing in them.

Whether your downspouts are clogged

A downspout that clears with a quick flush is routine. One that’s packed tight takes more work to clear, and it’s worth doing, because a clean gutter still overflows if the water has nowhere to go.

Whether you have gutter guards

Guards keep out a lot of the larger debris, but leaves, pine needles, seeds and smaller particles can still collect on top of them or work their way underneath. If the guards have to come off to clean the gutter underneath, that adds time.

Whether your gutters are seamed or seamless

Seamed gutters have more spots where debris can catch than seamless gutters, which can make them slower to clean.

The weather on the day

Ladder and roof work depends on conditions. Here’s more on how weather can affect gutter cleaning.

Faster isn’t always better

A short visit on a straightforward house is normal. A short visit on a tall house with packed gutters is worth a few questions. Were the downspouts checked to make sure they drain? Was the debris cleaned up, or left on the lawn and the roof? Here’s how to tell whether your gutters were actually cleaned.

How you can shorten the visit

• Clear the path around the house. Moving patio furniture, toys and other obstacles away from the walls lets a crew set ladders and move around faster.
• Keep to a regular schedule. Gutters that are cleaned regularly don’t build up the heavy clogs that take the longest to clear.
• Mention anything unusual when you book. A downspout you know is blocked, gutter guards, or a hard-to-reach section are all worth mentioning up front.

If you’re adding other work to the same visit

Having the roof or windows cleaned on the same day adds time to the visit, but it means one appointment instead of several. Here’s more on cleaning your roof and gutters at the same time.

How to find out how long your house will take

The most reliable answer comes from someone who has looked at your house. When you get estimates, ask whether downspouts are included and what happens to the debris.

Clearly Amazing offers free on-site estimates. Our crews are fully insured, with general liability and workers’ compensation on every crew. You can read more about our gutter cleaning service, or request a free estimate for your house.

Gutter cleaning time FAQ

How long does it take to clean gutters?

It depends on the house. HomeAdvisor’s rough guide is about an hour for an average single-story home and two to three hours for taller houses. Steep roofs, long runs of gutter, heavy buildup, clogged downspouts and gutter guards that need to come off all add time.

Does a two-story house take longer?

Usually, yes. Taller houses need taller ladders and more safety equipment, and each section takes longer to reach. The total length of gutter matters too, so a sprawling single-story home can take as long as a compact two-story one.

Do gutter guards make cleaning faster?

Not always. Guards reduce how much gets into the gutter, so you may need cleanings less often. But when a cleaning is due, guards that have to come off add time.