Measure the run, not the roofline
Gutter estimates start with a tape measure, not a guess from the driveway. Walk the full perimeter and measure the linear feet of gutter on each elevation, and count the stories, because a ranch and a two-story colonial with the same footage are different jobs. Count the downspouts too; each one is a potential clog and each one takes time to flush and check.
While you walk, look at the roofline itself. Steep pitches, dormers, and valleys concentrate debris and complicate ladder placement. Note the ground as well: slopes, landscaping, decks, and anything else that decides where a ladder can safely stand.
- Linear feet of gutter per elevation, measured not eyeballed
- Stories and total working height
- Downspout count and whether they drain to grade or underground lines
- Gutter guards or screens that must be removed and reinstalled
- Roof pitch, ladder access, and obstacles on the ground
Judge the debris before you quote
Two houses with identical footage can be an hour apart in labor depending on what is in the gutter. Light leaves scoop fast. Compacted sludge, shingle grit, saplings growing out of the trough, and standing water take scraping, bagging, and patience. Rate the debris on your own scale, light, moderate, or heavy, and tie a labor allowance to each level so your quotes stay consistent from job to job.
| What you check | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Debris level | Scooping time and bag count |
| Guards or screens | Removal, cleaning underneath, reinstallation |
| Downspout condition | Whether flushing or disassembly is needed |
| Standing water or sagging | Possible repair scope beyond cleaning |
Decide the scope: cleaning, flushing, repairs
A gutter estimate is rarely just cleaning. Downspout flushing, guard removal and reinstall, minor resealing, re-securing loose hangers, and hauling debris away are all decisions the estimate should settle in advance. List each as its own line so the customer chooses with their eyes open, and so a casual request on job day does not become free work.
Price the work from your own costs
Estimate your hours from the footage, the debris level, and the access, then multiply by a labor rate built from your wage, overhead, and profit. Overhead here is the vehicle, ladders, insurance, and disposal runs. Some contractors quote per linear foot, some flat per job; either way, the number has to come from that math. Markup and margin mechanics are covered in the contractor markup guide.
EstimateBook turns a voice note from the yard into an itemized draft with cleaning, downspouts, and add-ons as separate lines. Treat the draft as a starting point: adjust quantities and prices to your real numbers before sending.
Pricing traps in gutter work
Gutter jobs go wrong in predictable ways, and nearly all of them trace back to scope that was never written down.
- Quoting per foot without adjusting for stories, which doubles ladder time at the same footage
- Ignoring guards, then spending an unpaid hour removing and reinstalling them
- Promising underground drains are clear without testing them
- Folding minor repairs into the cleaning price
- Leaving debris disposal out of the quote, then eating the dump run
Writing the estimate
Show cleaning as the base line with the scope noted, then downspout flushing, guard handling, repairs, and disposal as separate items. State plainly what cleaning does not include: fixing leaks, realigning sagging gutters, and clearing underground drain lines unless listed. Add the validity period and any prep you expect, like unlocking gates or moving vehicles from under the eaves.
Send it from the driveway if you can. EstimateBook runs on iOS and Android, applies regional tax presets for US states and Canadian provinces, and shares the estimate as a polished PDF through Messages, Mail, or WhatsApp. You review the draft first; nothing goes out until you approve it. For the document structure itself, see how to write an estimate.