Gutters can quickly become clogged with nasty debris such as waterlogged leaves, pine needles and pests. While you can grab a scoop and clean your gutters by hand, gutter guards are a popular alternative option for gutter maintenance as they reduce the frequency and difficulty of gutter cleaning.
Also called gutter covers or leaf guards, the best gutter guards add a layer of protection to your gutter system by keeping debris out. Many gutter guards are effective, but they come at a cost.
“You can spend a lot of money on gutter guards,” said Kevin Brauer, owner of Storm Guard Roofing and Construction in St. Louis. Gutter guards range from lower-end products sold at home improvement stores to professionally installed brands. Stainless steel gutter guards “will get just about any type of debris,” according to Brauer, but they’re more expensive.
Some brands advertise that you’ll never need to clean your gutters again after you install their guards. But this claim is too good to be true. No gutter guard can completely eliminate the need for regular upkeep and maintenance, even stainless steel guards.
That doesn’t mean gutter guards won’t work, though. Guards can reduce how often you need to clean your gutters if you find a product that suits your home’s needs. Brauer recommends talking to a local expert about the best type of guard to install, as “not all gutter guards are created equal.”
Are gutter guards worth the money?
Your location, the surrounding foliage and the type of guard you choose affect how well your gutter guards work and whether they’re worth your money.
When gutter guards are worth your money
The main benefit of installing gutter guards is the time, energy and money it can save you. If you live in a region with heavy foliage, gutter guards can simplify gutter cleaning each year. Gutter guards generally have a raised, flat surface where debris collects or rolls off. Rather than scooping out debris from trough-like gutters, you can use a hose or brush for a quick cleaning.
Gutter guards improve the function of your gutters, which can save you money by preventing more expensive problems. Clogged gutters lead to overflow that can soak into walls and fascia. This, in turn, can compromise the integrity of your exterior and lead to mold and mildew.
Overflowing gutters can also lead to water pooling around your foundation. One or two overflows from a bad storm likely won’t cause serious damage, but consistent overflow and pooling water can cause foundation damage.
When gutter guards aren’t worth your money
Gutter guards’ primary purposes are to filter out leaves, pollen and other plant matter and to maintain water flow through your gutters. Thus, you won’t get as much mileage out of a gutter guard system if you live in an arid climate or in a home without nearby foliage.
You may not need gutter guards or even a gutter system in general, depending on your home’s landscaping or drainage system. For example, if your home is located atop a hillside with a steep incline, the natural slope of the ground will direct water away from the foundation.
Brauer shared the example of homes in the Wyoming mountains that don’t require gutters: “The water evacuates down the hill so quickly that they don’t have a lot of problems with foundational water issues.”
Adding gutter guards to your home won’t have a big benefit if your foundation and soil are protected based on your local climate or your yard’s drainage system.
Do gutter guards work?
Yes, generally gutter guards can help reduce the frequency with which you need to clean your gutters to prevent clogs and overflowing water.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s home protection guidelines, gutters should be cleaned at least twice yearly. With a mid-grade gutter guard system, you need to clean your gutters once every year or two, according to Brauer.
That means gutter guards can reduce how often you need to clean your gutter system by at least half.
The effectiveness of your gutter guards depends primarily on the material and design and the types of clogs it’s guarding against. Gutter guards work best if you choose the appropriate one for your home.
Micro-mesh
Micro-mesh gutter guards sit on top of the gutter and use finely woven mesh screens to block large and small debris. They connect to your gutters via uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) or aluminum frames. The mesh is typically made from high-end materials, such as surgical-grade stainless steel.
We installed DIY micro-mesh guards on a model roof as a part of our brand testing. The micro-mesh guards protected against the widest variety of materials in our testing, including pine needles, shingle grit and seedpods.
Although effective against a broad range of debris, micro-mesh guards are more expensive and may require additional work to install compared to other types. For example, the installation took careful attention to detail as we had to snip the solid tin frame to prevent gaps between the gutter guard sections.
Reverse curve
Also known as gutter helmets, reverse-curve gutter guards are extremely durable. These guards resemble a large, curved plastic cap that sits atop your rain gutter system. They use water flow to push debris off and onto the ground while allowing water to enter your gutters.
These gutter guards block debris but often overflow in heavy rain. “The water comes off so fast that you end up overshooting,” said Brauer. “It keeps your gutter clean, but it doesn’t get the water away from your foundation.”
Screen
Gutter screens are thin sheets of perforated metal or uPVC. These guards work well for large debris, such as twigs, seedpods and leaves, but they won’t stop small debris from entering your gutters. They provide a secure connection and are very durable.
Foam, brush and micro-mesh guards have a tendency to bend, but a well-made screen gutter guard is more rigid and can better withstand impacts.
Unlike some gutter guards that sit in your gutters or snap on, most perforated screen gutter guards screw directly onto the gutter’s edge. Secured gutter screens could be a good fit if you have tree limbs over your house. “If a limb falls off, it can come down and knock an unsecured guard out,” said Brauer.
We tested both metal and plastic screen guards as part of our testing process. These guards were the most difficult to install, requiring drilling holes and resizing. That said, they provided the most secure attachment and durability. The screen guards kept out most materials and only allowed shingle grit, pine needles and small seedpods through.
When it comes to performance and price, I found these guards to be the best “middle of the road” option. They are more expensive and perform better than brush and foam guards but are less costly than micro-mesh screens. Micro-mesh keeps out smaller materials, such as shingle grit and pine needles, and is typically made from longer-lasting materials.
Foam
Foam gutter guards can be easy to install and use because they are simply placed inside your gutters. That said, they aren’t as effective as most alternatives. Foam guards don’t allow water to pass through quickly enough to handle heavy rainfall, and they’ll eventually break down in sunlight and require replacement.
“Are they super easy to install? Absolutely,” said Brauer. However, he ultimately isn’t a big fan of foam inserts because they can break down in a number of ways.
We evaluated foam guards and noted that these products can block most debris, even small particles such as shingle grit. They are a great short-term solution for gutters that frequently clog but require replacement more often.
I was surprised to find that these guards can be tricky to install if you have hidden hangers. Hidden hangers block access to the gutter from the inside, so we had to force the foam guard down between each hanger.
Brush
Brush gutter guards resemble large pipe cleaners, using large plastic bristles to catch debris. They are the simplest and least expensive gutter guards you can buy but are the least effective. The bristles on these guards can stop large debris, such as leaves and twigs, but allow smaller debris to pass through.
“What makes these really handy is that any homeowner can put them in,” said Brauer. However, brush guards require more frequent cleaning, as they catch and hold debris instead of pushing it off — especially pine needles.
Like foam guards, brush guards slide right into the gutter. We noted that they’re even easier to work with than foam but block fewer materials. During testing, these guards failed to block pine needles, shingle grit and other small plant matter. They were also much harder to clean and required us to completely remove them to adequately clear debris.
Are DIY or professionally installed gutter guards better?
Some gutter guards must be installed by a professional, and others you can install yourself. The better pick for your home depends on your needs and preferences.
Installing gutter guards yourself is much less expensive, allows for complete control of the process and lets you move at your own pace. However, DIY products don’t offer the same quality as professionally installed guards. DIY guards are made from lower-quality materials and typically don’t last as long as professional gutter guards. Even top-of-the-line DIY options often have thinner micro-mesh screens than their professional counterparts, such as LeafFilter.
Professional installations offer high-end products, timely installations, long-lasting warranties and additional services. You benefit from their training and experience when working with a pro. Professional gutter guard companies can spot damaged gutter sections or overlooked roof problems. Many gutter guard installation providers also offer gutter repair or replacement services.
What are the best gutter guard brands?
You can choose from numerous high-end gutter guard brands. We recommend LeafFilter as a top gutter guard provider. We like that it offers a 275-micron stainless steel micro-mesh guard and a lifetime warranty. LeafFilter has strong customer service scores across independent review sites, such as the Better Business Bureau.
Raptor stands out among DIY brands. This micro-mesh gutter guard blocked the most materials of the DIY guards we tested. We found Raptor to be effective at blocking pine needles and other small debris. However, it is expensive for a self-installation brand, with a price of $125 for 48 feet when we purchased it from Amazon.
If you’re more concerned about leaves, pine cones and seedpods, products such as Gutter Brush work well. Gutter Brush lasts longer than foam, is relatively inexpensive and blocks most large debris. Keep in mind that it requires more maintenance than other guards and may need to be removed to clean it.
We recommend requesting multiple quotes when choosing a company for your gutter guard installation. Compare gutter guard brands and request quotes in the table below.
| Provider | Our Rating | Average Cost | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|
| $4,484 | Start quote | ||
| $4,014 | Start quote | ||
| $3,546 | Start quote |
Average costs are based on our October 2023 survey of 865 homeowners.
Final take: Gutter guards can reduce clogs and maintenance
Although no gutter guard can completely remove the need for regular cleaning, guards can cut down on the time you spend cleaning your gutters by reducing debris buildup and blockages. Your home will likely benefit from guards if you live in a rainy climate or have mature trees near your home.
Consider investing in gutter guards if your gutters clog frequently, require burdensome maintenance or are difficult to clean. Note that some gutter guards perform better than others. Stainless steel micro-mesh has the best design for blocking large and small debris.
We recommend speaking with a local expert to obtain gutter protection. Industry professionals can help you find the best solution to pair with your home’s drainage system.
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