What size gutters do I need?
Sizes your gutters and downspouts for your roof and your area's heaviest rain, then counts the parts. Pick from the drop-downs and enter the house size.
Gutter size
5 inch K-style
Estimated material cost
Gutter
11 x $$12.00 per 10 ft section
$132
Downspout pipe
5 x $$10.00 per 10 ft piece
$50.00
Elbows
15 x $$5.00 per elbow
$75.00
Hangers
52 x $$1.50 per hanger
$78.00
Typical store prices before tax and delivery. Change any price to match your store.
How to measure
Measure the house length and width at the walls. Pick the roof shape: a gable roof has gutters on the two long sides, a hip roof slopes down on all four sides. Use the drop-downs for pitch, overhang, and how hard it rains where you live.
Tips from the field
- Sized by the largest roof face, its pitch, and your heaviest rain. Steeper roofs shed water faster, so they need more gutter.
- Most houses use 5 inch K-style. Go to 6 inch for big or steep roofs and heavy-rain areas like the Gulf Coast. 4 inch gutters are only for sheds and small porches.
- Plan a downspout about every 35 feet, and slope gutters about 1/4 inch per 10 feet toward each one.
What you'll need
Common questions
Are 5 inch or 6 inch gutters better?
5 inch K-style handles most houses. 6 inch carries about 40% more water and is the better choice for large or steep roofs and heavy-rain areas like the Gulf Coast.
How much water comes off a roof?
Every inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof is about 623 gallons. In a heavy storm that can be well over 50 gallons a minute on a typical house.
Should I use 2x3 or 3x4 downspouts?
2x3 is standard. 3x4 carries about twice the water and clogs less, which is worth it with 6 inch gutters, steep roofs, or lots of trees.
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