10 min read
How much does eavestrough cleaning cost in Ontario?
What eavestrough (gutter) cleaning costs in Ontario in 2026, plus repairs, gutter guards, replacement by material, warning signs, ice dams and Toronto's downspout rule.
UbaFounder, Zulma
Cleaning the eavestroughs on a typical Ontario home usually costs $150 to $350, before HST. A two-storey detached house with about 120 feet of eavestroughs averages around $275 in the Toronto area, while a townhouse or bungalow can be under $250 and a large home with 200 feet or more can pass $450. These figures come from three Ontario companies' published prices and a national price guide, which we checked on 20 October 2026.
Key points
- The length of your eavestroughs and the height of your house set most of the price.
- Most homes need cleaning twice a year, in late spring and after the leaves fall.
- Gutter guards make cleaning take longer, not shorter, so it usually costs more.
- A proper cleaning includes flushing every downspout, not just scooping the troughs.
- Most repairs cost $75 to $500; replacing all the eavestroughs on a two-storey home runs about $2,800 to $5,600 in aluminum.
Price by home type (Toronto area, 2026)
| Home type | Typical eavestrough length | Price per cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Townhouse or semi | Up to 80 ft | $149 to $229 |
| Bungalow | Up to 100 ft | $179 to $249 |
| Backsplit or sidesplit | 80 to 120 ft | $199 to $299 |
| Two-storey detached | 100 to 150 ft | $249 to $349 |
| Large detached | 150 to 200 ft | $349 to $449 |
| Executive or estate | 200 ft or more | $449 to $549 or more |
Prices are before HST.
iSource: Mantle, "How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost in Toronto? (2026 Prices)".
Prices from other Ontario sources
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Professional Roofers (Toronto, 2026) | $150 to $350 |
| D&D Home Services (Kitchener-Waterloo, reviewed October 2026) | From $125 for a typical home, including hand clearing, downspout flushing and debris removal |
| A national price guide | $150 to $550 or more for a house; about $150 on average |
Toronto-area prices start higher than the Kitchener-Waterloo company's starting price.
What moves the price
Length of eavestroughs
This is the biggest factor. A bungalow often has 80 to 100 feet; a large two-storey home can have 150 to 200 feet, counting the garage and dormers.
Height
Second- and third-storey eavestroughs need taller ladders and more time. Mantle puts a bungalow at about 30% faster to clean than a two-storey home with the same length.
How clogged they are
Eavestroughs that haven't been cleaned in a few years can be packed with rotted leaves. A first cleaning often takes 30 to 50% more work than a regular one.
The trees nearby
Pine and spruce needles add about 15 to 25% to the price, because they wedge into seams and stay year-round. Maple keys and leaves are standard. Oak leaves fall late, often into November.
Gutter guards
Guards have to be lifted or removed, cleaned under and put back, so expect about 20 to 30% more than eavestroughs without guards.
What a proper cleaning includes
Ask for all of these:
- Every section cleared by hand, not just the ones you can see from the ground
- Every downspout flushed with water to check it drains
- Debris on the roof edge above the eavestroughs swept off
- All debris bagged and taken away
- A note of any damage, such as loose brackets or separated seams
- Before and after photos
A very low price for a two-storey home can mean the crew only blows leaves off the top. Ask: "Do you clear by hand and flush every downspout?"
How often to clean eavestroughs
Most Ontario homes need it twice a year: in late spring, after seeds and blossoms fall, and in late fall, after the leaves are down. Homes under pine, spruce or fruit trees may need a third cleaning.
Repairs
Cleaning and repairs are separate jobs, and a good cleaner will tell you what they found. Typical Ontario repair prices from Custom Contracting (October 2026), before HST:
| Repair | Price |
|---|---|
| Clear a blocked downspout | $75 to $150 |
| Fix a corner or end cap | $100 to $200 |
| Reseal one or two leaking joints | $150 to $250 |
| Re-hang and re-slope a sagging section | $175 to $300 |
| Replace a 10 to 20 ft section | $250 to $500 |
| Replace or reattach a downspout | $150 to $275 each |
| Underground drain extension for a downspout | $200 to $400 each |
| Work needing scaffolding or fascia repair | $400 to $800 or more |
Signs your eavestroughs need work
| What you see | What it can mean |
|---|---|
| Water spilling over the edge in rain | Clogged troughs or downspouts, or troughs too small for the roof |
| Sagging, or troughs pulling away from the house | Loose hangers or rotting fascia behind them |
| Drips at corners and seams | Failed seals |
| Rust, cracks or peeling paint | Worn-out metal |
| Water pooling near the foundation, or a damp basement | Water not being carried away from the house |
| Ice dams and icicles in winter | Water backing up and freezing at the roof edge |
| Stains, mould or mildew on the siding below | Long-running overflow |
One overflow after a big storm can just mean a clog; the same problem coming back after a cleaning points to a repair.
iSources: Green Peaks Roofing and Custom Contracting, 2026.
Repair or replace?
Custom Contracting suggests replacing rather than repairing when:
- The system is 15 to 20 years old or more (vinyl over about 12 years)
- There are leaks or rust in three or more places
- You've repaired the same system more than once in three years
- A repair quote passes about 40% of the price of new eavestroughs
- The fascia board behind them has rotted
Eavestrough types and replacement prices
| Material | Installed price per foot | How long it lasts | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $4 to $9 | 10 to 15 years | Cheapest, shortest life |
| Aluminum, sectional | $8 to $13 (5-inch) | 15 to 20 years | Joined in pieces, so more seams |
| Aluminum, seamless | $12 to $18 (5-inch), $14 to $22 (6-inch) | 20 to 30 years | The most common choice in Ontario |
| Steel, galvanized | $12 to $22 | 25 to 35 years | Sold as an upgrade for heavy snow and ice |
| Copper | $35 to $55 | 50 years or more | Longest life, highest price |
Prices are before HST. Another Ontario roofer quotes seamless installs at $25 to $40 a foot, so get more than one quote. Ontario's freeze-thaw winters can shorten any of these lifespans by 5 to 10 years.
iSources: Custom Contracting, prices as of October 2026; Green Peaks Roofing, September 2026.
Seamless or sectional? Seamless eavestroughs are made to length on site, so the only joints are at the corners. They cost about 15 to 30% more up front but leak less and need less upkeep.
5-inch or 6-inch? Most homes have 5-inch eavestroughs. A 6-inch trough carries more water from a large or steep roof and costs about $2 to $4 more a foot.
Full replacement by home size
Typical totals in Ontario, including standard downspouts and removing the old eavestroughs (Custom Contracting, October 2026, before HST):
| Home | Eavestrough length | Aluminum | Steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bungalow | 80 to 120 ft | $1,200 to $2,200 | $1,600 to $2,900 |
| Average one-storey | 120 to 180 ft | $1,800 to $3,400 | $2,400 to $4,400 |
| Average two-storey | 200 to 300 ft | $2,800 to $5,600 | $3,600 to $7,200 |
| Large two-storey | 300 to 400 ft | $4,200 to $7,800 | $5,400 to $9,600 |
Booking between November and April can cost 10 to 20% less, and the busiest months, May to August, 10 to 20% more. Replacing eavestroughs at the same time as a roof or siding job can also save 5 to 15%.
Gutter guards
Guards keep most leaves out, but not all, and they make each cleaning take longer. Typical installed prices (Custom Contracting, October 2026):
| Guard | Price per foot | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Foam inserts | $3 to $5 | The cheapest; the source does not recommend them |
| Basic mesh screen | $4 to $7 | A screen over the trough |
| Micro-mesh in an aluminum frame | $8 to $14 | A much finer mesh |
| Reverse curve (helmet) | $15 to $25 | Covers the trough; water curls in, leaves slide off |
With guards, most homes go from two or more cleanings a year to about one, but each cleaning costs about 20 to 30% more (Mantle).
Ice dams
An ice dam forms when snow melts on a warm roof and refreezes at the cold edge, blocking the eavestrough and pushing water under the shingles. Heat cables along the roof edge cost about $12 to $25 a foot installed and help water drain. The lasting fix is usually in the attic: better insulation ($1,500 to $4,000) and venting ($500 to $1,500), so the roof stays cold (Custom Contracting).
What eavestroughs cost to keep up
Two cleanings a year cost about $300 to $500 for a typical home. With good guards, one cleaning a year is often enough. Seamless aluminum eavestroughs that are cleaned and checked can last 20 to 30 years.
Toronto: your downspout must not connect to the sewer
In Toronto, it is mandatory for all property owners to make sure their downspouts are disconnected from the city's sewer system, so roof water drains onto your property instead of into the sewer. Low-income seniors and people with disabilities (household income of $50,000 or less) can be reimbursed up to $500 for the labour and materials. Source: City of Toronto, "Mandatory Downspout Disconnection" (updated 22 July 2025).
In Mississauga, the basement flooding prevention rebate pays $125 per disconnected downspout, up to $500, with pre-approval before the work (City of Mississauga). Disconnected downspouts need an extension that carries water well away from the foundation.
Doing it yourself
Working on a ladder is the main risk. If your home is two storeys or more, the roof is steep, or the ground below is uneven, hire someone who carries liability insurance. If you do it yourself, use a steady ladder with someone holding it, clear the troughs by hand, and run a hose down each downspout to make sure it drains.
Questions people ask
Is $250 too much for gutter cleaning? Not for a typical two-storey house. In the Toronto area, a two-storey detached home with 100 to 150 feet of eavestroughs costs $249 to $349, and the average is about $275. For a bungalow or townhouse, $250 is at the top of the usual range.
How much should I pay to have my gutters cleaned? Usually $150 to $350 in Ontario, depending on the length of the eavestroughs and the height of the house.
How much does 200 feet of gutter cost to clean? To clean: about $349 to $449 for 150 to 200 feet, and $449 to $549 or more above 200 feet, in the Toronto area. To replace: seamless 5-inch aluminum at $12 to $18 a foot comes to about $2,400 to $3,600 for 200 feet of trough, and a full two-storey replacement of 200 to 300 feet, with downspouts, runs about $2,800 to $5,600.
How often should eavestroughs be cleaned? Twice a year for most homes, in late spring and late fall. More often if you have pine, spruce or fruit trees nearby.
How much does it cost to replace 40 feet of gutter? At $12 to $18 a foot for seamless 5-inch aluminum, 40 feet of trough is about $480 to $720 before downspouts and HST. If only a short stretch has failed, replacing a 10 to 20 foot section costs $250 to $500, so ask whether a section repair will do.
Should I replace 20-year-old gutters? Not just because of their age. Aluminum eavestroughs often last 20 to 30 years. Replace them if they leak or rust in several places, sag or pull away, keep needing repairs, or a repair would cost more than about 40% of new ones. Vinyl eavestroughs at 20 years are past their usual life.
How often do you need to replace eavestroughs? It depends on the material: vinyl about every 10 to 15 years, sectional aluminum 15 to 20, seamless aluminum 20 to 30, steel 25 to 35, and copper 50 or more. Ontario's freeze-thaw winters can shorten that by 5 to 10 years.
Do gutter guards mean I never have to clean my eavestroughs? No. Guarded eavestroughs still need cleaning, and it takes longer, so it usually costs about 20 to 30% more.
Find an eavestrough cleaner near you
Zulma Atlas lists home service businesses across 39 towns, from Niagara to Toronto, York and Durham, with the services each one publishes. Find a business in your town
Sources (checked 20 October 2026)
- Mantle, "How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost in Toronto? (2026 Prices)".
- Professional Roofers, "Gutter cleaning cost in Toronto" (2026 prices, from the page summary).
- D&D Home Services, "Eavestrough Cleaning Cost in Ontario" (reviewed 6 October 2026).
- A national price guide (cross-check only).
- City of Mississauga, "Apply for a basement flooding prevention rebate".
- Custom Contracting, "Eavestrough Cost Calculator Ontario 2026" (prices as of October 2026).
- Green Peaks Roofing, "Eavestrough Replacement Cost in Ontario" (3 September 2026).
- City of Toronto, "Mandatory Downspout Disconnection" (updated 22 July 2025).
Written by Uba, founder of Zulma. Last checked 20 October 2026. We re-check these prices every six months.
