How much does gutter replacement cost in 2025?

Cleaning out your gutters is one of the least glamorous jobs you can do around the home. However your gutters—that network of mini canals that wriggles around your roof—can play an important role in protecting your home from water damage, particularly during periods of heavy rain. In some instances, the condition of your gutters may even be taken into account if you need to make a home insurance claim related to flooding. It can be sensible to proactively have them cleaned, repaired or replaced when necessary.

If you need to do a full or part replacement, how much of a drain will it be on your finances? Let’s climb up our ladder and take a look.

How much does gutter replacement cost?

Gutter replacement costs in Australia are typically estimated either on a per hour or per linear metre basis. On an hourly basis, gutter replacement professionals can charge around $60 to $70 per hour, according to the online trade job listing platform Hipages. On a per metre basis, the cost can range from $30 per metre up to $160 per metre for more expensive materials. Bear in mind that if you receive a quote from a guttering company on a per hour basis, this may not include the cost of materials. Be sure to clarify this so you have a firm idea of the overall cost before progressing.

While these estimates may give you an idea of the cost of a job, in reality what you pay could vary significantly depending on a variety of factors, such as those summarised later in this article. It’s also important to obtain quotes from a variety of suppliers in order to gauge costs and find out if the prices you’re being quoted stack up against the average.

What determines the cost of replacing a gutter?

The cost of replacing the gutters on your home could vary based on factors such as the material used, length of guttering required, your location, the accessibility of the work area and whether or not any other parts will be needed.

Material used

The material used to replace your gutters could well be the most important factor in determining the cost. The table below gives you an idea of what you may end up paying for materials commonly used for gutters. It’s good to know that Zincalume (a mix of aluminium and zinc) and stainless steel tend to be more durable than vinyl.
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Choosing a cheaper material may reduce the cost in the short term, but it’s worth considering how long the gutters are likely to last and whether it could be more cost effective in the long term to go with something more durable. Of course, the style of your home and the climate in your area may also impact the material and type of gutter that suits best.

Length of guttering required

With the price of guttering often quoted on a per metre basis, the size of the area to be replaced will have an impact on the cost. Even for jobs charged hourly, there’s a good chance a larger space would take longer to complete and cost more as a result. Consider measuring the length of any existing gutters before seeking out quotes for replacing them, to help ensure you get as accurate an estimate as possible.

Accessibility of work area

If the job requires scaffolding or extra materials to be used to enable access to the roof area, this could well bring the gutter replacement cost up.

Other parts included

If you choose to add additional accessories and fittings such as downpipes, extensions, gutter guards or wire mesh screens to keep debris and nesting animals out, this could also add to the overall cost.

Your location

The cost of replacing gutters can vary depending where you are in the country, due to differing labour rates and material costs. Factors such as local market demand and business competition may also affect this overall cost. It’s important to note that if you live in an area with specific weather conditions (e.g. heavy rain or snow), you may require specialised gutters, which could be more costly.

Average gutter replacement labour costs in Sydney are about $60 per hour, whereas in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne it’s $55 per hour, according to the New South Wales based roofing company, Sydney Roofing and Gutters. Average prices in Perth are currently listed at $50 per hour and no prices were supplied for Canberra, Darwin or Hobart.

What are the options to finance roof gutter replacement?

You can finance gutter replacement costs in different ways. Some options to consider include using your savings or an emergency fund, taking out a personal loan, or using a credit card.

Savings

Using your savings to fund the project will almost certainly be the cheapest option, as you will avoid any potential interest costs that other finance routes could involve. You will also avoid taking on any debt, which could have an impact on your wider finances, depending on how the debt is managed. However, one factor to consider is whether eating into your savings could leave you short if another unexpected cost comes up. You may find it helpful to create an emergency fund, and build up your savings, possibly in a dedicated savings account, over time to cover costs such as unexpected repairs.

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Personal loan

Depending on your personal circumstances and the cost of the job, you may consider using a personal loan to fund the work. This could be a secured loan, or an unsecured loan. It’s worth keeping in mind that interest rates are generally higher for personal loans than for home loans. If you have a home loan with a line of credit or redraw facility, this may be another financing option worth considering. It’s also a good idea to read the lender’s terms and conditions first, which can be found in a loan’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

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Credit card

It may also be possible, depending on the cost and your ability to repay the debt quickly, to pay for the job on a credit card. There could be some fringe benefits for doing so, such as extra insurance cover or purchase protection in some cases. Keep in mind that credit card interest rates are typically much higher than home or personal loans, and interest can quickly accumulate on large balances. It’s a good idea to weigh up your options and consider them carefully. If you don’t think you’ll be able to pay off the card’s balance in full each month, it may be worth re-considering whether a credit card is the right option for you.

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If you’re considering a debt based finance option to cover some or all of the costs of replacing your gutters, it can be a good idea to read any relevant documentation, such as the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before making a decision. Read our guide on finance options for home renovations for more information on the pros and cons of home improvement.

When should you replace your gutters?

There are several signs you may want to look out for when considering the condition of your gutters and whether they need to be replaced. These can include:

• Cracks appearing in the guttering.

• Peeling paint (if your gutters are painted).

• Water pooling in your gutters.

• Mould, mildew or dirt building up.

• Gutter seams coming apart, sagging or pulling away from the house.

Even if you don’t need to replace your gutters, having them checked by a professional to see if any repair work is required could be a good idea. This could potentially address problems before they lead to more costly jobs down the road. Damage that’s caused by water leaking from your gutters if they aren’t properly maintained, may or may not be covered by your home insurance.

If rain sets in and overflowing gutters cause damage to your property, then this is a risk to consider. Some home insurance policies contain clauses that exclude claims for damage that could have been prevented if regular maintenance was performed. Damage that’s caused by gutters that are past their recommended lifespan may also not be covered by some home insurance policies.

DIY or a professional gutter installer?

If you’re looking to keep costs down, replacing the gutters yourself could be tempting, as you would avoid the labour costs of hiring a professional installer. But you would need to weigh up the cost savings against the time it would take you and the risks associated with installing the gutters incorrectly. That’s before you consider the potential safety implications of scaling a ladder to reach the gutters in the first place.

Costs could also be reduced by removing your old gutters yourself, but an installer may include this in their overall cost and be better suited to do this work. You may also require a licence to replace your gutters, depending on the scope of the job and which state or territory you live in.

If you do attempt to DIY your gutters, hipages suggests you would need the following supplies and equipment, in addition to the gutters themself:

• Downpipes and their elbows joints.

• Brackets to bear the weight of water (to be installed every 400mm).

• Stop ends to prevent water spilling out of the ends of guttering.

• A ladder or ladders (tall enough to reach the area you need to work on without having to stand on the top steps).

• Tools like a cordless drill and drill bits, hacksaw and tin snips (if you have aluminium gutters).

• Materials like string line and screws (preferably stainless steel, so they don’t rust).

Consider, also, any safety equipment you might need, like a hard hat or protective gloves. Be sure to pay attention to the official safety recommendations from the manufacturers of the materials and tools you use. Your local or state government may offer advice on regulations you will need to follow, plus tips on DIY safely.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also recommends never using a ladder if you’re alone and provides a number of safety tips for DIYers on its website. Falling from a ladder can lead to serious injury or fatality, so it’s important to follow safety measures if you opt to DIY instead of paying for a professional gutter installer.

How much does gutter cleaning cost?

According to Hipages, the cost of cleaning gutters in your home could vary from $100 to $600. This is based on a number of key factors like gutter length and home size, roof accessibility, roofing type and amount of debris. Cleaning gutters in a single-storey house can cost between $250 and $350, while cleaning gutters in a double-storey house can cost between $350 to $500.

Broken down by a selection of states, Hipages estimates the average gutter cleaning costs in 2025 to be as follows:
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Gutter cleaning is a proactive step that may help make your gutters last longer, so debris doesn’t accumulate and cause decay. It can also be sensible ahead of storm season to ensure your guttering has proper drainage in case there is heavy rain. In times of heightened bushfire risk, dry leaves and twigs should also be removed from gutters.

If you plan to clean your gutters yourself, it’s important to make sure you follow safety procedures, such as wearing protective gloves, not going above safety rungs on ladders and using tools as instructed by the manufacturers.

Could replacing gutters add value to your home?

As is the case with many jobs around the house, homeowners may well ask, “Will I see a return if I do this work?” As is often the case, whether or not replacing gutters will add value to your home depends on a number of factors.

If the guttering complements the overall appearance of your home and replaces existing gutters that were discoloured, visibly damaged or unpleasing to the eye, then the job could make your home more appealing to potential buyers down the track.

But gutters, while useful in many respects, are unlikely to be a major selling point for your home. It may be more realistic to consider value for money in terms of the functionality gutters provide and the potential problems that replacing them could help you avoid. This could include damage to your roof or other parts of your home, if they aren’t doing their job properly.

Additional reporting by Nick Whiting.

Cover image source: Aleksandr Finch/Shutterstock.com