The average cost for faux copper gutters is around $1,500. Most U.S. homeowners spend between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on the size, length, and location.
Faux copper gutters cost around $1,500 on average, but you could spend anywhere between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on your location and the size of your home. If you can't afford to splash out the coins needed for copper gutters, faux copper is a dapper choice that can give your home the prestige of copper without the heavy price tag. Keep reading to see how much you might pay to have faux copper gutters installed on your home.
Several components determine how much faux copper gutters cost, including the size, material, labor, prep, and location. Here’s what you need to know about the most common cost factors for installing your new gutter system.
Faux copper gutters cost between $5 and $10 per linear foot on average. To put that into perspective, the average household needs approximately 200 linear feet of gutter material to get the job done. This puts average prices between $1,000 and $2,000. Since home sizes can vary greatly, let’s break this down a little further to account for different-sized homes.
| Faux Copper Gutter Size (Linear Feet) | Price Range |
|---|---|
| 50 | $250–$500 |
| 100 | $500–$1,000 |
| 150 | $750–$1,500 |
| 200 | $1,000–$2,000 |
| 250 | $1,250–$2,500 |
| 300 | $1,500–$3,000 |
The size of your faux copper gutters can also impact the cost. Most gutters are four to six inches wide. Homes in areas with high rainfall may need specialized gutters that are seven inches wide. The larger the gutter size, the more you’ll spend to have them installed. In some cases, you can measure your current gutters to see what size you need.
If you’re installing gutters for the first time, you might want to speak with a gutter specialist to determine what gutter size is best for your home.
You have three types of gutter materials to choose from when deciding on faux copper gutters: aluminum, vinyl, and steel. Which option you pick will determine your upfront and long-term costs, as all three materials have pros and cons that might make one material come out on top.
| Faux Copper Gutter Material | Average Cost (per Linear Foot) |
|---|---|
| Aluminum | $7–$13 |
| Vinyl | $3–$7 |
| Steel | $5–$20 |
Aluminum gutters cost between $7 and $13 per linear foot to install on average. Because aluminum can be painted to look like copper, this material is a popular choice for having that copper gutter look without the high cost of copper gutters, which, for comparison, falls anywhere from $15 to $40 per linear foot. Though it won’t last 50 to 100 years like copper gutters, aluminum has a decent lifespan of around 25 years.
Vinyl gutters cost between $3 and $7 per linear foot on average and offer a slightly cheaper price tag compared to aluminum gutters. As with aluminum, you can paint vinyl gutters to match the appearance of real copper gutters. These gutters have a shorter lifespan of between 10 and 15 years with proper gutter maintenance, making them a good short-term gutter drainage solution for homeowners on a tight budget.
Galvanized steel gutters cost between $5 and $20 per linear foot on average. These gutters have a normal lifespan of 20 to 30 years, but mild climates with minimal rainfall and no saltwater may give steel a life expectancy of 50 years. These gutters are also paint-friendly, but they tend to cost more than the other two materials. Steel also weighs more, so keep that in mind when factoring in labor costs.
Speaking of labor, most gutter installation companies charge either a flat fee or an hourly rate for installing faux copper gutters. Here are some of the most common fees for hiring a local gutter installation contractor:
Contractors cost: 10%–20% of your overall project cost
Hourly rate: $75 per hour
Cost per linear foot: $3 to $10 per linear foot
Prepping your home is key to having a smooth start to your project. Before you can install new faux copper gutters, you'll need to remove and toss out your old gutters. Removing your existing gutters costs around $1 to $2 per linear foot if you decide to have a professional do the job. Junk removal costs add another $150 to $350 to your total.
Hard-to-reach roofs or roofing with an unusual layout may require more time and care to correctly install faux copper gutters. If you have a two-story home, a flat roof, or a home with lots of pitches or shapes, it can be hard to put your gutter in the right place. More difficult installations can add hours to your project’s estimated completion time, which can mean $75 more per every extra hour.
Your location can play a major role in the cost of the project. Homes that receive lots of heavy rainfall may need a gutter system that can accommodate this higher amount of precipitation. Instead of going for a four-inch gutter system, you might want to choose a six-inch gutter width to handle the additional rainwater. This can increase the cost of your gutter installation project.
While tipping a contractor is optional, some homeowners tip contractors with outstanding services as a sign of appreciation. Most professionals are fairly compensated in their industry, but if you want to tip for a job well done, consider tipping between 10% to 20% of the job estimate.
Most faux copper gutters cost between $5 and $10 per linear foot, but you can see a major increase, or even a decrease, in the cost of your gutter system depending on the type of gutter style you choose. For example, there are three popular gutter styles on the market, and each one has its own price range. Let’s take a closer look at each gutter style.
K-style gutters cost between $3 and $37 per linear foot, including installation, with most faux copper gutters coming in toward the lower end. As the name suggests, K-style gutters have a K-like shape from the side. They’re easier to install than other gutter styles and tend to be the most popular style in newer homes. The only downside to faux copper gutters with a K-style shape is that it’s harder to clean these gutters due to their angular shape.
Half-round gutters cost between $3 and $34 per linear foot to install. Faux copper gutters tend to fall at the lower end of the price range, whereas more expensive materials like copper and zinc fall at the upper end. Half-round gutters offer an attractive appearance to your gutter system, but they tend to be flimsier than some of the other options.
Fascia gutters are one of the most durable types of gutter styles and have a higher price tag to show for it, costing somewhere between $6 to $40 per linear foot. These gutters are custom-built, offer the best protection against rust and leaks, and may or may not be seamless. Seamless gutters cost anywhere from $4 to $40 per linear foot—but you can expect your seamless fascia gutters to have higher starting costs than gutters with seams.
After installing faux copper gutters, there may be a few ongoing expenses to consider, like regular maintenance and repairs. Here’s what to expect.
Maintaining your gutters means routinely cleaning them. The cost to clean gutters ranges from $75 and $400 per cleaning, with larger, longer, dirtier, and more complex gutter styles coming in at the high end of the price range. Gutters with seams cost between 10% and 25% more than seamless gutters to clean on average. You should clean your gutters at least twice a year, especially in autumn, when leaf debris builds up.
If you don’t know how to clean the outside of your gutters, hiring a gutter cleaning company near you can help cut time on maintenance, allowing you to focus on other Saturday activities. Installing a gutter guard for around $6 to $8 per linear foot can help decrease the amount of cleaning you’ll need to do to have your gutters in mint condition.
Being exposed to the elements can cause your gutters to become damaged over time. With faux copper gutters, aluminum and vinyl gutters are more prone to dents and warpages, respectively. For some gutter damages, a professional can repair a loose gutter system or small cracks. This will come at the cost of their hourly rate, which is $75 per hour on average.
Installing faux copper gutters takes anywhere from 10 to 12 hours for a trained professional to complete. Since the average cost to hire a pro is around $75, you’re looking at a total cost of $750 to $900 in labor fees. While it may be tempting to install faux copper gutters yourself, it's easy to make costly mistakes during this type of installation if you don’t know how to install gutters.
For example, installing too many seams and using the wrong slope are two common mistakes when installing gutters that could lead to siding, foundation, landscaping, and roofing damage. Being on a ladder and handling heavy or bulky items while trying to install something you've never installed before can also prove to be a challenging task. Not to mention, you can void your roofing warranty by trying to DIY a gutter installation.
All things considered, we recommend working with a licensed gutter installation company near you to safely and correctly install your gutter system.
If you hire a gutter pro to install faux copper gutters, they may offer additional services that can boost your home’s functionality or aesthetics. Common gutter add-ons include:
Gutter cleaning cost: $75 to $400
Gutter guard installation cost: $650 to $2,400
Downspout installation cost: $5 to 20 per linear foot
Rain chains cost: $50 to $200 each
Rain barrel installation cost: $200 to $5,000
Siding repair cost: $350 to $1,450
Trim replacement cost: $650 to $2,250
House painting cost: $1,800 to $4,500
Everyone likes saving money when it comes to their purchases. With that said, here are several ways you can save on the cost of installing faux copper gutters:
Install vinyl faux copper gutters, which cost the least out of all gutter materials.
If you’re hoping to cut material costs, consider installing gutters in the most important sections of your home, where rainfall is most likely to cause issues.
Don’t go for a larger gutter size, like 6 inches, if you live in an arid climate that can get by with 4-inch or 5-inch gutters.
Install gutters with seams rather than costlier seamless gutters.
If you have the skills, install the gutters yourself.
If you don’t have the skills but still want to save in labor costs, clear the way to make your roof more accessible and consider removing old gutters yourself.
Regularly clean and inspect your gutters to prevent costly replacements.
You have several other options when choosing gutters beyond faux copper made from vinyl, aluminum, or galvanized steel. You can also install real copper gutters, zinc gutters, wooden gutters, or vinyl, aluminum, or steel gutters that don't mimic the appearance of faux copper. Some homeowners prefer to forgo gutters entirely and instead opt for gutter alternatives like rain chains, box gutters, rain dispersal systems, or French drains.
Just how long your faux copper gutters last depends on several factors. The material of choice can really impact the cost, with steel lasting the longest, followed by aluminum, and lastly, vinyl. Overall, your gutters will last between 10 and 30 years.
Your climate and level of maintenance also affect the lifespan of your gutter system. Harsher climates can shorten the lifespan of faux copper vinyl gutters, while salty climates can shorten the lifespan of faux copper metal gutters. Meanwhile, homeowners who stay on top of repairs and cleanings can give their gutters the longest chance of staying in shape.
Whether or not it's worth it to install faux copper gutters depends on your personal preferences, lifestyle, and environment. Many homeowners enjoy the customization of vinyl and metal gutters because they can paint them to look like copper and change their mind later on with a fresh, new can of paint. However, other homeowners may prefer authentic copper gutters, which oxidize over time and turn into a stunning, light green that faux copper simply can’t mimic.
