Why does a second story cost more for gutter cleaning?

Height is the single biggest driver of gutter-cleaning price. Two-plus stories mean taller ladders, more setup and repositioning, slower work, and real fall risk - so the per-foot rate rises and many pros add a flat height premium. This calculator applies a story multiplier so the price reflects the actual time and risk instead of a flat rate that loses money on tall homes.

Should I charge a minimum for gutter cleaning?

Yes. Small jobs still cost you a full trip - drive time, setup, and teardown - so most pros set a service minimum (commonly $100-$150 in 2026) below which a job isn't worth the windshield time. This calculator lets you set a minimum and flags when the calculated price falls under it.

Gutter cleaning

Gutter Cleaning Pricing Calculator

Q: How much should I charge for gutter cleaning?

Gutter cleaning is commonly priced by linear foot: roughly $0.95-$1.50 per linear foot on a single-story home and $1.50-$2.25+ per foot on two-plus stories where ladders and safety slow the job. A typical whole-home cleaning runs about $215-$470. The right number depends on your labor cost, height, debris level, and target margin - this calculator builds it backward from those costs.

Price every house by linear feet of gutter, the story height that decides the ladder work, debris level, labor, and drive time — so the quote clears your margin instead of the second story eating it. See where every dollar goes, then print a customer-ready estimate. Updated for 2026.

The house

Gutter length (linear ft) perimeter with gutters

Height

Debris level how packed are they

Downspouts to clear/flush

Your time & cost

Labor cost ($/person-hour) loaded wage

Cleaning speed (ft/hour) single-story pace, 1 person

Round-trip drive + setup (min)

Disposal / bags ($)

Your floor & margin

Service minimum ($)

Target profit margin

Price to quote

$ —

enter the house to see your number

Your cost

—

Your profit

—

Per linear foot

—

your implied rate

Effective pay rate

—

per labor-hour

Single-story gutter cleaning typically runs $0.95–$1.50 / ft; two-plus stories $1.50–$2.25+ / ft.

Prepare the customer's estimate

The customer sees a professional estimate — price and terms only. Your costs, margin, and breakdown stay private to this page.

Customer name autocompletes from your past estimates

Your business name remembered on this device

Your phone / email shown on the estimate

Extra line items optional — added below the calculated service

How to price a gutter cleaning job

Gutter cleaning is priced by the linear foot the customer can picture, but the number underneath comes from three things: the length of gutter, the height (a second story doesn't add a little — it changes the whole job), and how packed the gutters are. This calculator estimates your labor hours from your single-story cleaning pace, then multiplies time by a story factor for the slower, riskier ladder work up high and by a debris factor for neglected gutters. Add downspout flushing, your unpaid drive and setup time, and disposal, then mark the total to the margin you want to keep.

The result shows your implied price per linear foot so you can sanity-check it against your market. If the calculated price lands below your service minimum, the tool quotes the minimum instead — a small single-story house still costs you a full trip, and a $90 job two towns over loses to the windshield.

Typical gutter cleaning rates (2026)

Home	Typical price	Per linear foot
Single story, average debris	$115 – $230	$0.95 – $1.50
Two story	$195 – $375	$1.50 – $2.25
Three+ story / steep access	$300 – $500+	$2.25 – $3.00+
Whole-home (all heights, typical)	$215 – $470	—
Service minimum (small job)	$100 – $150	—

Ranges reflect common US pricing in 2026; heavy debris, gutter guards, and difficult roof pitch push prices up. Your market may differ — that's what the calculator's sanity check is for.

The second story is where the money is made or lost

The most common gutter-pricing mistake is quoting a flat per-foot rate regardless of height. A two-story home means taller ladders, constant repositioning, slower careful work, and genuine fall risk — easily 50–80% more time per foot than ground-floor gutters. Price the height in, set a real minimum so small jobs cover the trip, and never let an add-on like downspout flushing or gutter-guard removal ride for free.

Also try: pressure washing pricing · window cleaning pricing · handyman pricing.

FAQ

How much should I charge for gutter cleaning?

Commonly $0.95–$1.50 per linear foot single-story and $1.50–$2.25+ two-plus stories; a typical whole-home cleaning runs about $215–$470. Enter your length, height, labor, and margin above to get your number.

Why does a second story cost more?

Height drives the price: taller ladders, more setup, slower work, and real fall risk. The calculator applies a story multiplier so tall homes are priced for the actual time and risk, not a flat rate that loses money.

Should I set a minimum?

Yes — a small job still costs you a full trip. Most pros use a $100–$150 minimum in 2026. The tool quotes your minimum whenever the calculated price falls below it.

Pricing estimates for educational purposes only — not financial or accounting advice. Market rates, access difficulty, and disposal costs vary by region; always sanity-check against your own costs.