If you want to paint your gutters, expect to pay an average of $360, but the price can be anywhere between $160 and $960 depending on the type of paint and the length of your gutters.
On average, the cost to paint gutters is roughly $320 for 125 linear feet, or just over $2.50 per linear foot. If your gutters are looking a bit worse for wear, a fresh coat of paint in the right color will do your home wonders. Painting gutters is an affordable project with a huge curb appeal boost. Learn how factors like gutter material and paint type impact gutter painting costs.
The biggest factors in gutter painting cost are the type of paint you use and the type of gutters you're working on. The labor costs in your area will also impact your final bill.
Generally speaking, there are three main types of home exterior paint: latex, acrylic, and oil-based. You can use any of these on your gutters, but your chosen type will affect your costs and performance. It's usually best to go for the highest-quality paint that your budget will allow for in order to get the best long-term results. Pro exterior house painters typically get discounts on paint, so reach out to your painter to see if they can get you a deal.
| Exterior Paint Type | Cost per Gallon |
|---|---|
| Latex | $20 – $50 |
| Acrylic | $20 – $50 |
| Oil-based | $20 – $80 |
Latex paint costs $20 to $50 per gallon. It's water-based, making it less toxic and easier to clean than the other paint types. Latex paint is also exceptionally durable and able to expand and contract with the material you paint it on. This makes it ideal for wood gutters, which require extra maintenance and repainting every few years.
Acrylic paint also costs $20 to $50 per gallon. It can be water-based or use a blend of chemicals as a solvent. It tends to be more flexible and elastic as well as more weatherproof. Acrylic paint is often recommended for aluminum gutters, while water-based acrylic latex works best for vinyl gutters.
Oil-based paint costs $20 to $80 per gallon. This type works well on aluminum and other metals but dries harder than the other paint types, making it more difficult to clean and prone to cracking over time.
Gutter painting costs are determined partly by the length of the gutters you want to paint. The average cost to paint gutters, including labor and materials, is just over $2.50 per linear foot, and most homes in the U.S. have 150 to 200 linear feet of gutters.
Gutter painters may charge different rates for labor based on the gutter material. Average labor cost ranges for painting gutters of different materials are listed in the table below.
| Gutter Material | Cost per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| Aluminum | $1 – $1.50 |
| Steel | $1 – $1.50 |
| Copper | $2 – $3 |
| Wood | $2 – $3 |
| Vinyl or PVC | $3 – $4 |
You may see variations in the cost to paint gutters depending on where you live. Labor costs tend to be lower in rural parts of the country and higher in coastal metropolitan areas with higher costs of living. The table below breaks down average gutter painting costs in several major cities across the U.S.
| City | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | $275 – $585 |
| Miami, FL | $280 – $595 |
| Scranton, PA | $295 – $630 |
| Boise, ID | $305 – $665 |
| Hartford, CT | $330 – $710 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $340 – $740 |
| Chicago, IL | $350 – $765 |
| San Francisco, CA | $380 – $840 |
| New York, NY | $415 – $915 |
| Honolulu, HI | $430 – $955 |
Painting materials and labor will make up the bulk of your gutter painting costs. However, there are a few other costs to account for when budgeting for your project.
Before you can paint your gutters, you should probably account for the cost of gutter cleaning, which is around $160 on average for most people. Gutter paint should last many years when applied properly, but this requires the removal of any debris or rust on the surface. Trying to paint gutters without cleaning them first can cause paint to peel prematurely and require you to repaint them after just a year or two.
Gutter cleaning may be included as part of your professional gutter painting service, but it’s also possible that you’ll need to clean them yourself or hire a local gutter cleaning pro.
Regular gutter cleaning helps keep gutters in good shape. Many pros bundle in a full gutter inspection before cleaning. This inspection ensures that your gutters and downspouts are working properly. If they find any damage, gutter repairs or replacement may be necessary. Expect the cost of gutter replacement to be between $4 and $30 per linear foot.
When it comes to tipping painters, it’s never required and rarely expected. However, most painters will appreciate a tip, and some people choose to give each painter $20 cash to show appreciation for a job particularly well done. If you’re not comfortable with this but still want to go the extra mile, offer to buy your painters lunch or bring them coffee in the morning.
If you paint your own gutters, you'll spend $100 to $500 on paint and supplies. However, you may spend a bit more if you need to clean your gutters (think pressure washer rental and ladder) or repair them. A pro already has all the tools to get the job done.
Learning how to paint gutters is relatively simple if you're comfortable with heights and take proper safety precautions. If you have a one-story home and a tall enough ladder, you may be able to reach your gutters to paint them yourself. Second-story gutters are out of reach for most ladders and are typically unsafe for DIYers to paint, remove, or reinstall.
If you'd prefer to save time and energy or simply don't want to take the risk of working on a ladder, you can hire an exterior painter near you for as little as $160 or as much as $960. Some prices may even fall outside of this range; the price depends mostly on the length of your gutters and the cost of living in your area.
DIYing will probably save you the most money on the overall cost to paint gutters. However, if you still want to hire a pro but need to keep the job as wallet-friendly as possible, here’s what you can do:
Do the prep work yourself. Clean the outside and inside of your gutters before your pro arrives. This will cut down on their time spent preparing, therefore saving you on labor costs.
Reach out to multiple pros to find the best quote. Pro tip: The best quote isn’t always the cheapest one; always take experience, insurance, and licensing into consideration.
Know your gutter material. Different materials are better suited for different types of paint, and choosing the right paint can decrease maintenance costs in the long run.
If you're unsure whether you should paint or replace your gutters, consider their condition. If your gutters aren’t performing properly due to structural issues, a fresh coat of paint won’t solve the problem. The cost to replace gutters is typically higher than the cost to paint them, but protecting your home from water damage caused by faulty gutters is always worthwhile.
Most gutter painting pros also specialize in complete home exterior painting. You may save by making your gutter painting part of the cost to paint the exterior of a house in its entirety. Many people have all parts of their home exterior painted simultaneously to keep everything looking equally fresh. Consider having walls, trim, porches, shutters, and doors painted as well.
You can remove your gutters before painting, but it's rarely required. It can be easier to paint gutters on the ground once you or a pro have removed them, but replacing them afterward can be challenging. In these cases, removing gutters may be impractical. Make your decision based on your comfort level and abilities.
It can be worth painting gutters if they look worn and old but are still functioning properly. Gutters should define and complement your roofline, not detract from the look of your home. Rust can be treated and potentially removed before repainting, but severely rusted gutters may need to be replaced instead. If your gutters simply aren't functioning, try cleaning them out.
