Gutter cleaning in Portland costs $185 to $475 for most homes in 2026. A single-storey home typically runs $185–$325, and a two-storey home $300–$475. Priced per linear foot, expect $1.25–$2.75 in the Portland metro and $1.00–$2.25 in Columbia County. Hourly rates run $50–$110 per technician. Steep roof pitch, compacted moss, and gutter guards push a quote toward the top of the range.
If your gutters are spilling over the front edge every time it rains, the first question isn’t whether to clean them, it’s what a fair price actually looks like. And gutter cleaning is one of those services where quotes swing wildly for the same house, which makes it hard to tell a good deal from a cheap one.
This guide breaks down real 2026 gutter cleaning prices across Portland and Columbia County: per linear foot, by number of storeys, by roof pitch, and by the hour. You’ll also see the nine things that move a quote up or down, how Portland pricing compares to St. Helens and Scappoose, and how to spot a quote that’s too cheap to be real.
In This Guide
Average Gutter Cleaning Cost in Portland (2026)
The average cost of gutter cleaning in Portland is $185 to $475, with most homeowners paying around $275 for a standard single-visit clean. That’s above the national average, and there’s a straightforward reason for it: Oregon gutters fill faster and stay wetter than gutters almost anywhere else in the country.
Douglas fir needles, big-leaf maple, and alder drop debris for months, not weeks. Then the rain packs it into a dense mat and moss grows on top of it. Scooping a compacted, waterlogged gutter takes considerably longer than clearing a dry one, and that time is what you’re paying for.
| Service | Typical Portland-area price (2026) |
|---|---|
| Single-storey gutter cleaning | $185 – $325 |
| Two-storey gutter cleaning | $300 – $475 |
| Three-storey or steep / complex roofline | $450 – $750 |
| Heavily neglected (2+ years, moss-packed) | $400 – $900 |
| Most homeowners pay | ~$275 |
Ranges reflect 2026 market pricing across the Portland metro and Columbia County. Your actual price depends on gutter length, roof height and pitch, access, and condition, always get a written quote.
Gutter Cleaning Cost Per Linear Foot
Most professional crews price gutter cleaning by the linear foot, because gutter length is the truest measure of how much work a house represents. A 2,000 sq ft ranch with one long roofline is a very different job from a 2,000 sq ft home with six roof planes, dormers, and three separate gutter runs, even though the square footage matches.
| Job type | Cost per linear foot (2026) |
|---|---|
| Single-storey, standard 5″ K-style gutter | $1.00 – $1.75 |
| Two-storey | $1.75 – $2.75 |
| Three-storey or steep-pitch access | $2.75 – $4.00 |
| Oversized 6″ or commercial gutter | Add $0.25 – $0.50/ft |
| Gutter guard removal & reinstall | Add $0.50 – $1.25/ft |
How much gutter does a typical home have? A rough rule: gutter length runs close to the perimeter of the roofline. Most Portland-area homes fall between 120 and 260 linear feet.
| Home size | Approx. gutter length | Estimated cost (single storey) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 1,500 sq ft) | 120 – 160 ft | $150 – $250 |
| Average (1,500 – 2,500 sq ft) | 160 – 200 ft | $200 – $325 |
| Large (2,500 – 3,500 sq ft) | 200 – 260 ft | $275 – $425 |
| Very large / multi-roofline (3,500+ sq ft) | 260+ ft | $375 – $550 |
One thing worth knowing before you compare quotes: smaller jobs cost more per foot, not less. Fuel, insurance, and drive time are the same whether a crew cleans 120 feet or 280 feet, so the per-foot rate drops as the job gets bigger. A $1.75/ft quote on a small cottage and a $1.15/ft quote on a large home can represent identical pricing logic.
Single-Storey vs. Two-Storey Gutter Cleaning Cost
Height is the second-biggest price driver after length. A two-storey home typically costs 40–60% more than the same-size single-storey home. That isn’t a surcharge for the sake of it, it reflects real differences in how the job is done.
| Single storey | Two storey | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total price | $185 – $325 | $300 – $475 |
| Per linear foot | $1.00 – $1.75 | $1.75 – $2.75 |
| Ladder used | 24 ft extension | 32–40 ft extension, more repositioning |
| Typical time on site | 45 – 90 minutes | 1.5 – 3 hours |
| Crew size | 1 – 2 technicians | 2 technicians (one footing the ladder) |
| Insurance / risk loading | Standard | Higher — fall risk rises sharply above 15 ft |
At two storeys, ladder setups get repositioned every 8–10 feet, each one has to be levelled and stabilised on ground that’s often soft or sloped, and a second technician usually has to be present for safety. That’s where the extra hours go.
Ranch Roof vs. Steep Pitch: How Roof Type Changes the Price
Two houses can have identical gutter length and identical height, and still get quotes $200 apart. Usually the difference is pitch and access.
On a low-pitch ranch, a technician can often work safely from the roof surface, move quickly, and clear long runs with minimal ladder work. On a steep roof, nobody is walking on that surface, every foot of gutter is reached from a ladder, and on the steepest homes a roof anchor and harness setup is required before work begins.
| Roof type | Pitch | Access method | Price effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranch / low pitch | 3:12 – 5:12 | Walkable; fast ladder work | Baseline (lowest per-foot rate) |
| Standard gable | 6:12 – 8:12 | Ladder-only, limited roof access | +15% – 25% |
| Steep pitch | 9:12 – 12:12 | Ladder + fall protection, slower pace | +30% – 50% |
| Complex / multi-plane | Any | Valleys, dormers, multiple runs | +20% – 40% |
| Restricted access | Any | Decks, slopes, dense landscaping, fences | +$50 – $150 flat |
Steep roofs also tend to hold more debris in their valleys, which feeds straight into the gutter below. If your roof carries moss as well, it’s worth handling both at once — removing roof moss in Oregon before a gutter clean means the gutters stay clear far longer, and bundling the two visits is cheaper than booking them separately.
Hourly Gutter Cleaning Rates
Some contractors — particularly handyman services and smaller operators — price by the hour instead of by the foot. In the Portland area, expect $50 to $110 per technician-hour in 2026.
| Scenario | Typical duration | Cost at hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Single-storey, maintained annually | 45 – 90 min (1 tech) | $50 – $165 |
| Two-storey, maintained annually | 1.5 – 2.5 hrs (2 techs) | $150 – $550 |
| Two-storey, neglected 2+ years | 3 – 4 hrs (2 techs) | $300 – $880 |
| Emergency / storm response | 1 – 2 hrs + call-out | $150 – $400 |
Hourly pricing carries an obvious risk: you don’t know the final number until the crew leaves. It can work in your favour on a clean, well-maintained home, but on a neglected one it’s usually the more expensive option. For most homeowners, a flat written quote is safer. If a contractor will only quote hourly, ask for a not-to-exceed cap in writing.
Add-On Costs: Guards, Downspouts, and Heavy Debris
| Add-on service | Typical 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| Downspout flushing (per downspout) | $10 – $25 (often included) |
| Clearing a fully blocked downspout | $45 – $125 |
| Gutter guard removal & reinstall | $75 – $250 (or $0.50–$1.25/ft) |
| Heavy moss / compacted debris surcharge | +25% – 50% |
| Gutter face brightening (exterior whitening) | $0.75 – $1.50/ft |
| Roof debris blow-off | $75 – $150 |
| Same-day / emergency call-out | +$50 – $125 |
| Minor repairs (resealing seams, re-securing hangers) | $15 – $50 per fix |
Gutter guards are the add-on that surprises people most. Guards reduce how often you need cleaning, but they don’t remove the need for it — fine grit, fir needles, and shingle granules still get through, and the guards have to come off and go back on. If you’re weighing the trade-off, our breakdown of whether gutter guards are worth the cost runs the numbers over a ten-year window.
9 Factors That Change Your Gutter Cleaning Price
- Linear feet of gutter. The single biggest driver. Perimeter beats square footage every time.
- Number of storeys. Two storeys adds 40–60%; three adds more again.
- Roof pitch and walkability. Steep roofs mean ladder-only work and fall protection.
- Condition and debris load. A gutter cleaned last year takes half the time of one packed with two winters of wet needles and moss.
- Tree canopy. Douglas fir and big-leaf maple over the roofline mean heavier loads and more frequent service.
- Access obstacles. Decks, sloped yards, fenced side runs, air-conditioning units, and mature landscaping all slow ladder placement.
- Gutter guards. Removal and reinstall adds labour every visit.
- Season and timing. Late autumn (October–December) is peak demand across Oregon. Booking in late summer or early spring often gets you a better rate and a faster slot — here’s why autumn is the best time for gutter cleaning and how to plan around the rush.
- Bundling. Adding roof cleaning, house washing, or window cleaning to the same visit raises the total but lowers the per-service cost, because setup and travel are shared.
Portland vs. Columbia County: Gutter Cleaning Price Comparison
Market rates aren’t uniform across the region. Portland-metro contractors carry higher labour and overhead costs, and pass them on. Columbia County rates run lower on paper, but the homes there tend to have longer gutter runs and heavier tree cover, which narrows the gap in practice.
| Portland Metro | Columbia County (St. Helens, Scappoose, Warren, Deer Island) | |
|---|---|---|
| Single-storey, typical | $185 – $325 | $150 – $275 |
| Two-storey, typical | $300 – $475 | $275 – $425 |
| Per linear foot | $1.25 – $2.75 | $1.00 – $2.25 |
| Dominant debris | Maple, elm, birch — heavy autumn leaf load | Douglas fir needles and moss — year-round load |
| Typical property | Smaller lots, older housing stock, complex rooflines, dormers | Larger lots, longer gutter runs, heavier canopy, rural access |
| Access challenges | Tight side yards, street parking, close neighbouring structures | Long driveways, soft ground, outbuildings |
| Recommended frequency | 1–2× per year | 2× per year for tree-shaded properties |
| Where NJM is different: we price by the scope of the job, not by your zip code. A Portland homeowner and a St. Helens homeowner with the same roofline, same gutter length, and same condition get the same quote. We’re based in St. Helens and we don’t charge a travel premium anywhere in our Oregon and Washington service areas. |
We serve homeowners across the whole corridor, with dedicated crews for gutter cleaning in Portland, gutter cleaning in Scappoose, and gutter cleaning in Deer Island, plus Warren, Columbia City, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville, and across the river into Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield, Woodland, and Kalama.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro: The Real Cost Comparison
Cleaning your own gutters looks like it costs nothing. It doesn’t — it costs equipment, a weekend, and a meaningful amount of risk.
| DIY | Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-pocket cost | $0 – $150 (ladder, scoop, gloves, gutter wand) | $185 – $475 |
| Time | 3 – 6 hours including setup and cleanup | 45 min – 3 hours, none of it yours |
| Downspouts flushed | Rarely — most DIY cleans skip this | Standard on every visit |
| Problems spotted early | Unlikely | Loose hangers, seam leaks, fascia rot, roof damage |
| Risk | Ladder falls are the leading cause of home-maintenance injury | Licensed, bonded, insured (NJM: CCB #252799) |
If your home is single-storey with easy ground access and you’re comfortable on a ladder, DIY is a reasonable call, our complete DIY guide to cleaning gutters walks through the safe way to do it. Above one storey, or on a steep roof, the maths stops working. A single emergency-room visit costs more than a decade of professional cleanings.
And the cost of skipping it entirely is higher still. Overflowing gutters send water straight down against your foundation, and the damage clogged gutters do to a home’s foundation runs into the thousands. Fascia rot, siding damage, and winter ice dams in Oregon all start the same way.
How to Save Money on Gutter Cleaning
- Book on a schedule, not in a crisis. Annual or twice-yearly maintenance is far cheaper per visit than a rescue job. Our maintenance plan pricing covers gutters and roof together at a discounted recurring rate.
- Bundle services. Gutters plus roof cleaning plus house washing in one visit typically saves 15–25% versus three separate bookings. If you’re pricing exterior work generally, our 2026 Oregon house washing cost guide covers the other half of the equation.
- Go off-peak. Late summer and early spring are quieter than the October–December rush.
- Handle it before the lights go up. If you hang seasonal lighting, clean the gutters before the holiday lights go on — doing both in one visit avoids paying twice for the same ladder setup.
- Don’t wait for a storm. Emergency call-outs carry a premium. If you’ve already got water pouring over the edge, here’s what emergency gutter cleaning involves and what it costs.
- Ask about first-time discounts. NJM offers up to 10% off first-time bookings.
How to Spot a Quote That’s Too Cheap
A $99 whole-house gutter clean sounds great until you understand what gets skipped to hit that number. Watch for:
- No downspout flushing. Clearing the trough while leaving the downspout blocked solves nothing — the gutter fills again in the first heavy rain.
- Debris left on the roof or in the beds. A proper clean includes bagging and hauling.
- No proof of insurance or CCB licence. If someone is injured on your property uninsured, that exposure lands on you.
- Phone quotes with no site assessment. Nobody can price a roofline they haven’t seen. Expect the “final” bill to climb.
- No before-and-after photos. If they can’t show you the inside of the gutter, you can’t verify the work.
After any big blow, it’s also worth running through our post-storm gutter inspection checklist before you book — knowing what’s actually wrong helps you get an accurate quote instead of an open-ended one.
| Want a real number for your home? We give free, written, no-obligation quotes — usually same-day. Get a free gutter cleaning quote online or call (971) 328-2122.NJM Roof & Gutter Cleaning is licensed, bonded, and insured (CCB #252799), with 130+ five-star reviews and recognition as a Top 10 gutter cleaning service in Oregon for 2026. See our full professional gutter cleaning service for what’s included on every visit. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does gutter cleaning cost?
Gutter cleaning costs $185 to $475 for most homes in the Portland area in 2026. Single-storey homes typically run $185–$325 and two-storey homes $300–$475. The national range is slightly lower, but Oregon’s heavy fir-needle and moss debris load makes jobs here take longer. Most homeowners pay around $275 for a standard annual clean.
How much does gutter cleaning cost for a 2 story house?
A two-storey house costs $300 to $475 in the Portland area, or roughly $1.75 to $2.75 per linear foot. That’s about 40–60% more than a single-storey home of the same size, because two-storey work needs taller ladders, more frequent repositioning, a second technician for safety, and slower progress at height. Steep pitch or difficult access can push a two-storey quote to $500–$750.
How much does gutter cleaning cost per foot?
Gutter cleaning costs $1.00 to $1.75 per linear foot for a single-storey home and $1.75 to $2.75 per linear foot for a two-storey home in 2026. Three-storey or steep-pitch homes run $2.75 to $4.00 per foot. Oversized 6-inch gutters add $0.25–$0.50 per foot, and gutter guard removal and reinstall adds $0.50–$1.25 per foot. Most Portland-area homes have between 120 and 260 linear feet of gutter.
How often should gutters be cleaned in Oregon?
Most Oregon homes need gutter cleaning once or twice a year. Once a year is enough for homes with little overhanging tree cover. Homes shaded by Douglas fir, big-leaf maple, or alder should be cleaned twice — typically late spring and late autumn — because needle and moss buildup accumulates year-round in the Pacific Northwest climate.
Is gutter cleaning cheaper if I have gutter guards?
Not per visit. Gutter guards reduce how often you need cleaning, but they add $75–$250 in removal and reinstall labour when a clean is due, because fine grit, fir needles, and shingle granules still pass through. Guards usually pay off through reduced frequency rather than a lower price per visit.
Does gutter cleaning include the downspouts?
It should. A reputable gutter cleaning service flushes every downspout as standard and confirms water runs clear. Clearing the gutter trough while leaving a blocked downspout means the gutter overflows again in the next heavy rain. If a quote doesn’t mention downspouts, ask before booking.
What’s the difference between gutter cleaning rates by the hour and by the foot?
Hourly rates run $50–$110 per technician in the Portland area, while per-foot pricing runs $1.00–$2.75 depending on height. Per-foot or flat-rate quotes are safer for homeowners because the final price is known upfront. Hourly pricing can cost less on a well-maintained home but tends to cost more on a neglected one, since the meter keeps running.
