LeafGuard costs about $21.67 per linear foot installed on average, or roughly $4,334 for a typical 200 foot home, according to a nationwide This Old House cost survey. Most homeowners pay between $20 and $70 per linear foot depending on home size, access, and region. The number that matters more than the per foot rate: LeafGuard is not a screen you clip onto your existing gutters. It replaces your whole gutter system, which is why real quotes usually land between $5,000 and $10,000, and why a LeafGuard price cannot be compared straight across to a $2 per foot mesh guard. See how brands stack up in our best gutter guards roundup.
How much does LeafGuard cost?
LeafGuard runs about $21.67 per linear foot on average and $4,334 for a standard 200 foot home, per This Old House. Because the price includes tearing off your old gutters and installing a brand new one-piece gutter with a built-in hood, full-house projects commonly quote between $5,000 and $10,000. Homeowner reviews report a wider real-world spread of roughly $3,600 to $16,000 once larger homes, steep roofs, and fascia repairs are figured in.
Use the table below to estimate a starting point by home size. These are averages before local labor rates and add-ons, so treat them as a floor, not a final quote.
| Home size | Approx. gutter length | Average LeafGuard cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 100 linear ft | $2,167 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 150 linear ft | $3,251 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 200 linear ft | $4,334 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 250 linear ft | $5,418 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 300 linear ft | $6,501 |
| 3,500 sq ft | 350 linear ft | $7,584 |
| 4,000 sq ft | 400 linear ft | $8,668 |
Source figures are from the This Old House LeafGuard survey (2026). LeafGuard’s own financing page assumes a sample installed cost near $7,883, which lines up with a mid-size to larger home.
Why a leaf guard gutter costs more than a clip-on guard
LeafGuard is a full gutter system, not an add-on guard, and that single fact explains most of the price gap. Made by Englert, it is a one-piece aluminum gutter formed on-site in one continuous run with a curved hood built into the top. You are buying and installing a new gutter, so the quote bundles removal of your old gutters, fabrication of the new system, the hood, downspouts, and installation. A per foot LeafGuard price therefore includes hardware that a screen guard never touches.
The design uses surface tension: water clings to the curved hood and follows it into the gutter slot while leaves shed off the front edge. LeafGuard forms its gutters from .032 inch aluminum, thicker than the .025 or .027 stock many standard gutters use, and finishes them with a baked-on ScratchGuard coating. Those material choices add cost but are also why the system carries a lifetime paint and no-clog warranty.
LeafGuard cost per linear foot vs other options
The honest comparison separates full gutter replacements from guards that install on the gutters you already own. Put in the same table, the price ranking makes sense: replacement systems cost the most because you get new gutters, and retrofit screens cost the least because you keep your gutters. Comparing LeafGuard’s $22 per foot to a $2 per foot screen is comparing a new gutter to a lid.
| Option | What it is | Installed cost per linear ft | Keeps your gutters? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeafGuard | One-piece covered gutter system (replacement) | $20 to $70 | No, full replacement |
| Gutter Helmet | Reverse-curve hood, retrofit | $18 to $40 | Usually yes |
| LeafFilter | Micro-mesh screen, retrofit | $17 to $43 (avg $22.66) | Yes |
| New gutters, no guard | Aluminum gutter replacement | $6 to $13 | No, replacement |
| DIY mesh or foam guard | Add-on you install yourself | $1 to $4 | Yes |
So LeafGuard and a plain gutter replacement cost are the fair comparison. LeafGuard adds roughly $8 to $20 per foot over bare new gutters for the built-in hood, thicker metal, and no-clog guarantee.
What drives your LeafGuard price
Two homes with the same gutter length can get very different LeafGuard quotes. These factors move the number most, in rough order of impact:
- Total gutter length. Price scales almost directly with linear feet, so a 300 foot home costs about triple a 100 foot home.
- Number of stories. Two-story and three-story runs need taller ladders or lifts and more labor time, adding a premium over single-story work.
- Roof pitch and complexity. Steep roofs, many corners, valleys, and dormers slow installation and raise the per foot rate.
- Fascia and soffit repair. If the crew finds rotted fascia behind the old gutters, that repair is billed on top of the gutter price.
- Downspouts. The count, size, and any underground or long runs add material and labor beyond the gutter footage.
- Old gutter removal. Tear-off and disposal of your existing gutters is part of the job and part of the cost.
- Region and season. Labor rates and demand vary by market, so identical systems price differently by state.
Is LeafGuard worth the cost?
LeafGuard makes the most financial sense when your existing gutters are already worn out or failing, because you were going to pay for new gutters anyway and the hood is the upgrade. If your current gutters are sound, a retrofit guard like a micro-mesh screen delivers most of the clog protection, and our take on are gutter guards worth it weighs that trade-off for a fraction of the price, since you are not paying to replace working gutters.
Run the break-even against cleaning. Professional gutter cleaning runs roughly $150 to $300 per visit, or about $300 to $600 a year for two cleanings. At an average $4,334 system, LeafGuard takes roughly 7 to 14 years to pay back on avoided cleaning alone, before counting the value of a new gutter, reduced ladder risk, and the no-clog warranty. That math favors LeafGuard for older homes, heavy tree cover, and owners who cannot safely clean their own gutters, and favors a cheaper guard for newer homes with sound gutters.
Can you negotiate LeafGuard pricing?
Yes, and you usually should. LeafGuard sells through in-home sales appointments, and buyers routinely report a high opening quote that drops after negotiation or a decline. Treat the first number as a starting point, not a fixed price. The same pattern shows up across the branded gutter guard companies, so a firm budget and a willingness to wait are your best tools.
Three moves protect you: get at least three written quotes, including one from a local gutter company, so you know the market rate. Compare against our by-type gutter guard installation cost guide. Ask for the price broken down per linear foot and per downspout, not a single lump sum. And never sign the same day. A real price holds for a few days, and same-day-only discounts are a pressure tactic, not a deal.
LeafGuard warranty and no-clog guarantee
LeafGuard backs its system with a lifetime no-clog guarantee: if the gutter ever clogs, the company will clean it at no charge. It also carries a lifetime warranty on the ScratchGuard paint finish against peeling, cracking, and flaking. These warranties are part of what you pay for and are a reason the system prices above a bare gutter replacement.
Read the transfer terms before you buy. Warranty coverage and how much transfers to a new owner can vary by dealer and by the version of the agreement, so confirm the specifics in writing, especially if you may sell the home.
Frequently asked questions
How much does LeafGuard cost per linear foot?
LeafGuard averages about $21.67 per linear foot installed, with most quotes landing between $20 and $70 per foot. The range is wide because the price covers a full gutter replacement, not just a guard, and because home height, roof complexity, and region all move the rate. A single-story home with simple runs sits near the low end.
How much does LeafGuard cost for a whole house?
A typical 200 foot home averages about $4,334, and most full-house LeafGuard quotes fall between $5,000 and $10,000 once access and add-ons are included. Smaller 100 foot homes can start near $2,167, while large 400 foot homes average around $8,668. Steep roofs, fascia repair, and extra downspouts push individual quotes higher.
Why is LeafGuard so expensive?
LeafGuard costs more because it replaces your entire gutter rather than adding a screen to existing gutters. The price includes removing your old gutters, fabricating a new one-piece .032 aluminum gutter on-site, the built-in hood, downspouts, and installation. You are paying for a new gutter system plus the covered design, not just a lid, so it prices above retrofit guards.
Is LeafGuard cheaper than LeafFilter?
Per linear foot they are close, about $21.67 for LeafGuard versus $22.66 for LeafFilter. Total project cost usually favors LeafFilter, as our LeafFilter review breaks down because it is a micro-mesh screen installed on your existing gutters, so a job commonly runs $3,000 to $7,000. LeafGuard is a full gutter replacement, so full-house jobs more often run $5,000 to $10,000.
Can you negotiate the price of LeafGuard?
Yes. LeafGuard is sold through in-home appointments, and buyers frequently report that an inflated opening quote drops after they negotiate or decline. Get three written quotes, ask for a per foot and per downspout breakdown, and avoid signing the same day. A legitimate quote holds for several days without a same-day-only discount.
Does LeafGuard include new gutters?
Yes. LeafGuard is a one-piece gutter with the hood built in, so the price always includes new gutters and removal of your old ones. You cannot buy the LeafGuard hood by itself to add to gutters you already own, which is the main way it differs from retrofit guards like micro-mesh screens or reverse-curve hoods.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.