Free homeowner tool
Gutter and downspout count by roof size
How many feet of gutter, how many downspouts, and 5-inch or 6-inch? Enter your eave length and roof area and plan it in a minute — from the ground.
Your gutters, for planning
Enter the eave length to see linear feet, downspouts and hangers.
Rather we measure it?
Phones answered 24/7
How the calculator works
- Step 1
Measure the eaves
Seamless gutter is formed to the length of each eave, so the linear feet are simply the edges you want guttered, added up.
- Step 2
Count the downspouts
Two rules, and the bigger answer wins: at least one downspout for every 30 to 40 feet of run, and enough of them for the roof area draining in — roughly 600 to 800 sq ft each for 2×3-inch downspouts, about 1,200 sq ft for 3×4-inch.
- Step 3
Pick the size
5-inch gutter is the standard. On a large or steep roof, water arrives fast enough in a Florida downpour to shoot over a 5-inch gutter, which is why we lean to 6-inch there.
- Step 4
Hang it right
Hidden hangers every 24 inches keep the run straight and pitched toward the outlets. Closer spacing on long runs or where the fascia is weak.
Need the roof area first? Use the roof size calculator, or read about our seamless gutters.
Gutter questions
- How many downspouts does my house need?
- As a planning rule, at least one for every 30 to 40 feet of gutter, and never fewer than one per run. Then check it against the roof area draining in: a 2×3-inch downspout handles roughly 600 to 800 square feet of roof, a 3×4-inch about 1,200. Whichever rule gives more downspouts wins — in Florida rain, more outlets is the safer mistake.
- 5-inch or 6-inch gutters?
- 5-inch is standard and handles most runs. 6-inch carries noticeably more water and is worth it on a big roof, a steep roof, or any run that already overshoots in a hard rain. Water against the foundation costs far more than the step up in gutter size.
- Do I need gutters all the way around?
- Not always. Gutters earn their keep where roof water is hitting a walkway, pooling against the foundation, washing out landscaping or staining the walls. Many Florida homes only gutter the eaves where that happens.
- What about gutter guards?
- Where trees drop leaves and needles into the gutter, guards cut down on cleaning. They are a separate line on the estimate, and they still need an occasional look — nothing is maintenance-free.
- Why doesn't the tool show a price?
- Because gutter pricing depends on things the tool can't see: corners, outlets, the number and height of the downspouts, the condition of the fascia and the color you choose. The tool gives you the quantities a quote should list. The free estimate puts the price on them in writing.
Get a free gutter estimate
Tell us where the water is causing trouble and we come measure the runs and put a flat rate price in writing.