The Best Gutter Guards of 2024 | Expert Reviewed
All products and services featured are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
We’ve researched major gutter guard companies to help you find the best option to protect your home’s gutter system. We analyzed gutter guard products, customer reviews, and costs and rated each provider against our objective rating system. We also installed and tested more than a dozen gutter guards to rate their performance, materials, and durability.
We recommend LeafFilter, LeafGuard, and Gutter Guards America for professional gutter guard installations. If you’re looking for a DIY alternative, products such as Raptor, FlexxPoint, and Amerimax are excellent choices. In the guide below, we share our findings on each of these gutter guards and explain what to consider before choosing the right gutter guard for your home.
The Top Gutter Guards of 2024
Here are our top picks for gutter guards:
- LeafFilter: Our Top Pick
- LeafGuard: Best Reverse Curve
- Gutter Guards America: Best Customer Reviews
- All American Gutter Protection: Best Customization Options
- HomeCraft: Best Add-On Services
- Raptor: Best DIY Mesh Design
- FlexxPoint: Best DIY Color Palette
- Amerimax Home Products: Best Low-Profile DIY Guard
Compare the Best Gutter Guard Brands
Company | Star Rating | Best For | BBB Rating | Link |
---|---|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick | A+ | VISIT SITE | ||
Reverse Curve | A+ | VISIT SITE | ||
Customer Reviews | A+ | VISIT SITE | ||
Customization Options | A | VISIT SITE | ||
Add-On Services | B | VISIT SITE |
The Top Professional Providers
Gutter guards requiring professional installation are often unique, proprietary designs that emphasize different attributes. One gutter guard company may underscore the debris types restricted from entering the gutter while another highlights how its gutter guard impacts the home’s curb appeal.
We’ve considered these factors and many more to rank our top five picks for the best professional gutter guards:
Best DIY Gutter Guards
You can install gutter guards yourself if you don’t want to hire a professional. This is a cost-effective solution that is sensible for many homeowners. However, DIY gutter guards often come with more limited warranties, and design quality can vary considerably among brands. Below our our top picks for DIY gutter guards:
What Should You Look for in Gutter Guards?
When choosing the best gutter guard for your home, select one that is well-suited to your local climate and surrounding foliage. Consider your budget and how comfortable you are working on ladders. DIY guards can save money on labor costs, but you’ll need to install them yourself.
Gutter Guard Types
The following table lists the main types of gutter guards and explains their materials, designs, installation process, and benefits and drawbacks. We recommend choosing a guard that best fits the needs of your home and then selecting a brand or provider that suits your budget.
Foam Gutter Guard
- Material: Foam
- Design: Sponge-Like
- Debris Filtration: Blocks most large and small debris
- Installation: Fits inside gutter system
- Not Good For: Durability
Screen Gutter Guard
- Material: Plastic and Copper
- Design: Metal or plastic with many openings
- Debris Filtration: Blocks most large debris
- Installation: Attaches by snapping on hardware
- Not Good For: Blocking small debris
Mesh Gutter Guard
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Design: Metal or plastic with tightly spaced openings
- Debris Filtration: Blocks large and small debris
- Installation: Often requires hardware
- Not Good For: Ease of installation
Brush Gutter Guard
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Design: Bristled
- Debris Filtration: Underperforms with small debris
- Installation: Fits inside gutter system
- Not Good For: Reducing cleaning frequency
Reverse Curve Gutter Guard
- Material: Aluminum
- Design: Curved metal or plastic with liquid adhesion
- Debris Filtration: Sheds most large debris
- Installation: May require replacing existing gutter system
- Not Good For: Low profile appearance
Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard
- Material: Stainless Steel and Copper
- Design: Metal or plastic with extremely small openings
- Debris Filtration: Blocks large and the smallest debris
- Installation: Often requires hardware
- Not Good For: Inexpensive installation
DIY vs. Pro Gutter Guards
There are many kinds of gutter guards available for DIY installation. Brush, foam, and snap-in guards are easy to work with and require the fewest tools to install. However, these guards don’t block small debris and have shorter longevity. Micro-mesh DIY products such as Raptor require more time and effort to install but boast better performance and durability.
If you want to learn more about installing DIY gutter guards, you can read our comprehensive installation guide. No matter which product you choose, you’ll need the following tools to install a DIY product:
- Bucket with an S-hook
- Circular or miter saw
- Drill and drill bit
- Gloves
- Hose with spray nozzle
- Ladder
- Safety glasses
- Screwdriver
- Self-tapping metal screws
- Tape measure
- Tin snips
Professional gutter guard companies offer higher-end and longer-lasting products. They also provide additional services such as gutter and downspout installation and gutter cleaning and repair. Gutter guard companies back up their products and services with long-lasting warranties. This protects your purchase and ensures you get the most out of your installation.
Cost
The cost of a gutter guard installation can vary by provider and by type, however, a typical range for a professional installation is $1,000 – $2,000. Professional installers often offer gutter and downspout replacement, repair, and cleaning as additional services. Most will require you to schedule an inspection before providing any pricing information.
The following table provides examples of the average costs for each type of gutter guard. Cost data in this section was sourced from Angi and internal data.
Gutter Type | Cost Per-Linear Foot | Professional Installation Cost (200-foot system) |
---|---|---|
Micro-mesh | $10–20 | $2,000–$4,000 |
Mesh | $3.5–$9.50 | $700–$1,900 |
Screen | $2.50–$7.50 | $500–$1,500 |
Reverse curve | $12.50–$50 | $2,500–$10,000 |
Warranty
A warranty provides additional security and peace of mind with your gutter guards. DIY gutter guards may have warranties that extend up to 25 years. Professional installation companies provide transferable lifetime warranties in most cases.
These warranties often have limitations, though. In particular, any tampering with the roof or structure around the guards will likely void your warranty.
What Are the Qualities of a Good Gutter Guard?
As we have mentioned, gutter guards are made from various materials and have many different designs. However, not all gutter guards are created equal. We’ve detailed the qualities that make a gutter guard effective and long-lasting so you can find the best solution for your home.
Durable Materials
Effective Design
Secure Installation
Our Recommendation
Our research and firsthand testing showed that micro-mesh guards are the most effective overall. These guards filtered out the most debris (more than 90% in some cases) and allowed water to pass through to the gutters easily. Stainless steel and aluminum perform the best, last the longest, and offer corrosion resistance
DIY gutter guards may be the right solution for homeowners who have the equipment and comfort level to install gutter guards. We recommend Raptor Gutter Guard for its durable micro-mesh screen and superior debris filtration compared to many other DIY products. Keep in mind that Raptor requires a more involved installation than simple drop-in or snap-on gutter guards.
Professional gutter guard installation leaves the work in the hands of a specialist. We recommend LeafFilter for its comprehensive service, high-quality materials, efficient design, and outstanding customer reviews. LeafFilter’s screen uses a 275-micron stainless steel mesh that blocks even the smallest materials, such as pine needles, seedpods, shingle grit and pollen.
Gutter Guard FAQ
What style of gutter guards works best with heavy leaves?
Micro-mesh, mesh, surface tension, and screen gutter guards block leaves and push them off your gutters. Because leaves are large and are blocked by most gutter guard styles, focus more on the guard’s construction and build quality when shopping. Steel is one of the strongest gutter guard materials. Some gutter guards also have hangers to support the mesh screen or the gutter itself.
Which gutter guards work best in snow and ice?
Any gutter guard with a heating element is best for snow and ice. Without this, ice dams may form inside your gutters, as well as dangerous icicles. Heated gutter guards typically feature a cable running through them, dispersing heat to prevent liquid from freezing. If you encounter seasonal ice and snow, you will also encounter sharp temperature changes. Metal gutter guards are best for this application because they won’t warp or crack like less durable vinyl or plastic construction. Aluminum and stainless steel have the added benefit of inherent corrosion resistance, but powder-coated or painted steel can work too.
Are gutter guards effective?
While no gutter guard keeps gutters completely free of debris, they drastically reduce how often homeowners need to clean their gutters. The effectiveness of gutter guards varies by style. Temporary solutions such as foam and brush guards are less effective than high-end options such as reverse-curve and micro-mesh.
How do I clean gutters with gutter guards?
Your strategy for cleaning gutters with gutter guards will depend on the type of gutter guard you have installed. Brush and foam gutter guards are easily removable, allowing you to clean the gutter as normal. Snap-in gutter guards can also be removed easily for cleaning, but for gutter guards installed professionally with hardware, you may need to contact your gutter guard provider for instructions.
How do I measure for gutter guards?
Homes commonly use K-style gutters. To measure the width, place your tape measure on the gutter edge that touches your roof and extend it to the outside face of the gutter. The most common size for gutters in the United States is 5 inches in width, but homes in rainier regions may require 6- or even 7-inch systems. This measurement is the size you will need for your gutter guard.
What are ice dams?
An ice dam forms when snow and ice go through cycles of thawing and refreezing. This process can trap meltwater on your roof behind refrozen ice, potentially causing leaks. A clean and undamaged gutter guard should not contribute to the development of an ice dam. However, if you live in an area prone to harsh winter weather, you should routinely check your gutters for signs of ice damming.
Is a plastic gutter screen a good option for my home?
Plastic gutter screens can be effective at filtering debris from your gutter system for a period of time but come with many pitfalls. Namely, this material does not hold up well to extended sun exposure and breaks down more quickly than aluminum or steel gutter guards.
How We Chose the Top Gutter Guard Providers
We researched and analyzed dozens of gutter guards and gutter guard companies to create an in-depth review methodology. We formulated a rating system based on the factors homeowners find most important. We evaluated each provider based on the following criteria:
- Gutter guard design and aesthetics (up to 30 points): We evaluated each guard’s construction, rating it based on the quality of its filter material and design. We also considered aesthetics, color options, and visibility from the ground. Guards received additional points in this category for being made of eco-friendly materials.
- Service offerings (up to 15 points): Companies receive points for additional service offerings, including gutter guard installation, gutter replacement, gutter repair and cleaning, and downspout installation. The wider the variety of services provided, the more points they earn in this category.
- Customer service and communication (up to 25 points): We looked at each company’s available methods of communication, including phone, email, and online chat. The more means of communication and the better the customer experience, the more points providers earn.
- Quote process and warranty (up to 20 points): Providers earned points for having a clear and transparent quote process with free inspections and quotes that are good for one year. They also earned points by offering longer, more comprehensive warranties.
- Financing options (up to 15 points): Companies that provide multiple financing options to customers earn high points in this category.
We created a separate rating system for DIY-installed gutter guards sold on retailer sites. This system’s categories and point breakdowns are similar, but we substituted factors that only applied to professional installations, such as “quote process,” with categories relevant to DIY products. We evaluated each DIY guard based on material quality, aesthetics, communication, warranty, customer reviews, and cost.
We evaluated each provider’s reputation using independent, third-party sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Google My Business pages. For products, we analyzed the customer reviews on whichever online retailer primarily hosts the product.