How much does gutter cleaning cost? What changes the price, and how to compare quotes
No two houses cost the same to clear. Here's what decides it, and what to check before you agree.
What changes the price
| What we look at | Why it makes a difference |
|---|---|
| Height | A bungalow can be cleared from short ladders. A three-storey house needs longer ladders and takes longer |
| How much gutter there is | A detached house has gutters on every side; a mid-terrace may have just a front and a back run |
| Valleys, back gutters and bays | These have to be cleared by hand, piece by piece, and they're often the fullest |
| What's underneath | Conservatories, glass roofs and extensions mean working around them rather than leaning against them |
| Getting to the back | Side passages, gates and rear access all affect how long the job takes |
| How full the gutters are | A gutter cleared last year takes far less time than one with plants growing in it |
| Downpipes | A blocked downpipe is extra work to clear |
Why we don't publish a price list
Because a price list would be wrong for most houses. Two semis on the same street can take very different amounts of time if one has a conservatory below its back gutter, an oak in the garden, or a gutter that hasn't been touched for five years. Photos let us give you a price for your house, not an average that someone else's house set.
What a quote should include
Ask every company the same questions, so you're comparing like with like:
- Every run, front and back, including valleys, back gutters and gutters over bays or porches.
- Every downpipe tested, and what happens if one's blocked.
- What happens to the debris once it's out of the gutters.
- Before and after photos of each run, so you can see the work was done.
- Anything not included, written down.
- Proof of insurance.
- A written quote before the work starts.
How to compare quotes
Bromley Trading Standards, after a resident lost thousands to a trader who started with a gutter clean, gave this advice:
- Get at least three written quotes, and give each company the same detailed description of the job.
- Check references, reviews and previous work.
- Check the trader's insurance.
- Don't pay large sums upfront. Spread payments across the job.
- Get a written contract before work starts, and check its terms.
On a job as small as a gutter clear, most of that comes down to two things: a written quote that says what's included, and paying once the work is done.
The cheap quote that grows
The cheapest price isn't always the cheapest job. In that Bromley case, a cheap gutter clean turned into a demand for £26,000 in roofing work, and the resident lost £13,000. Hertfordshire Trading Standards warned in January 2026 to be wary when:
- a small job grows into a bigger one, or the price rises because materials or VAT weren't "included";
- an expensive quote drops quickly on condition that work starts immediately;
- you're asked for a large deposit, or told the job is urgent.
If someone up a ladder tells you the roof needs urgent work, ask for photos, say you'll think about it, and get a second opinion.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Clear at the right time. One clear after the leaves have fallen does more than two at the wrong time. Our tree-by-tree guide has the timing.
- Don't leave it for years. A gutter with plants rooted in it takes far longer to clear than one done annually.
- Have the gutters and downpipes done together, and ask for photos of your roof while someone's up there, so you only pay for one visit.
- On a terrace with shared gutter runs, it can make sense for neighbours to book at the same time.
- A yearly plan means you're booked in at the right time without having to chase anyone.
How to get a price from us
Send us photos of the front and back of your house, and a close-up of any problem area. We'll come back with a written price for clearing every gutter by hand, testing the downpipes and photographing each run before and after. No pressure, and no surprises once we're up the ladder.
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Sources
Written by Hawkes Roofing, roofers based in St Albans who clear gutters by hand across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and north-west London. Last reviewed 26 October 2026.