By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Gutter cleaning tools for 2 story house gutters have to reach roughly 18 to 25 feet, which rules out most blower kits sold for the job: the Worx WA4092 gutter kit, for example, gives up to 11 ft of reach from 8 ft of tubes. The tools that do reach a second story are long telescoping vacuum or scoop poles (Gutter Pro Vac sells 20, 28 and 40 ft reach systems), telescoping pressure washer wands such as the 18 ft Craftsman CMZPWTW18, and an extension ladder set at the OSHA 4 to 1 angle. Some second story jobs still come down to a ladder or a hired pro, because from the ground you often cannot see whether the gutter is actually clear.
For ladder-free technique at any height, see our companion guide to gutter cleaning tools you run from the ground.
2 story gutter cleaning tools at a glance
| Tool (example model) | Published reach | Handles | Price seen (Oct 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuum pole kit (Gutter Pro Vac 20 ft aluminum poles, 2 in diameter) | 20 ft (2 story); 28 ft and 40 ft systems also sold | Wet and dry debris, captured | $449 sale, $479 regular, poles and nozzle kit | Gutter Pro Vac |
| Vacuum tube kit (Gutter Clutter Buster Kit for Two Story Homes) | “Almost 14 feet” with 3 pieces, per the maker, for flat, level lots | Wet debris, captured | $235.00 kit; $550.00 Kit Combo with vacuum | Gutter Clutter Buster |
| Telescoping pressure washer wand (Craftsman CMZPWTW18) | Up to 18 ft | Matted debris, rinsing | See retailer; 3 year limited warranty | Craftsman |
| Blower gutter kit, universal (Worx WA4092) | Up to 11 ft, 8 ft of tubes | Dry, loose debris | See retailer | Worx |
| Blower gutter kit, model-specific (ArloCatcher High Gutter Cleaning Kit) | Marketed for two-story gutters; no reach figure published | Dry, loose debris | $179.99, fits named EGO, ECHO, Toro, Ryobi models | ArloCatcher |
| Extension ladder and scoop | Any height | Everything, plus inspection | Varies by length and duty rating | OSHA 1926.1053 for setup |
How high are the gutters on a 2 story house?
Gutters on a typical two story house sit about 18 to 22 feet above grade, and up to 25 feet where the first floor has tall ceilings or the house sits on a slope. That height matters because a ground based tool has to cover more than the vertical drop: you stand 3 to 6 feet out from the wall to get a working angle, so the pole spans a diagonal, and you need the head to clear the gutter’s front lip.
A practical rule: add 3 to 5 feet to the gutter height to pick a pole or wand length that works from a comfortable standing position. Makers quote reach as the height the tool tip gets to, not the tube length; Worx turns 8 ft of tubes into “up to 11 ft” of reach by counting the blower and your arms.
| Gutter location | Height above grade | Ground tool reach you need |
|---|---|---|
| Single story eave | 8 to 12 ft | 12 to 16 ft |
| Two story eave | 18 to 22 ft | 22 to 27 ft |
| Two story with tall first floor or slope | 22 to 25 ft | 26 to 30 ft |
Measure your own eave before buying: a 25 ft tape run down from a second floor window, or a laser measure aimed at the gutter line, gives you the number to size against.
What tools actually reach a 2 story gutter?
Five tool types can reach a second story gutter, and each trades reach against what kind of debris it clears. Vacuum poles at 20 ft or more reach and capture wet debris; blower kits keep both feet on the ground but the universal ones top out near 11 ft; an 18 ft pressure wand breaks up matted debris; and a ladder reaches anything at the cost of climbing 18 feet or more.
| If your gutter and debris are | Tool that fits | Threshold to check |
|---|---|---|
| Eave 12 ft or lower, dry leaves | Universal blower kit (Worx WA4092) | Rated reach of 11 ft covers it |
| Eave 12 to 20 ft, dry leaves, flat lot | Model-specific blower kit or a 20 ft vacuum pole | Tool reach at least eave height plus 3 ft |
| Eave 12 to 20 ft, wet or packed debris | Vacuum pole kit, or an 18 ft pressure wand at low pressure | Wand rating within your washer’s PSI and gpm (Craftsman: 3,000 PSI, 1.7 gpm) |
| Eave above 20 ft, or a sloped lot | 28 ft or 40 ft vacuum pole system, or a ladder | Ladder working length about 1.03 x eave height at the 4 to 1 angle |
| Gutter guards, clogged outlets, setbacks over a lower roof | Ladder and scoop, or hire a pro | TOH’s 2 story cleaning range: $180 to $360 |
Telescoping gutter poles and tongs
Telescoping gutter poles, often listed as telescopic gutter cleaners or 2nd story gutter cleaning tools, are the main ground tool that truly reaches a two story run when they are long enough. Gutter Pro Vac’s 20 ft kit uses 2 in diameter aluminum poles and the company also sells 28 ft and 40 ft reach systems for taller eaves, while the Gutter Clutter Buster two story kit claims almost 14 ft with three pieces and is aimed at two story homes on flat, level lots. Some heads add a claw or tong so you can grip and drop clumps; a vacuum head pulls wet debris down the tubes instead.
Weight is the limiter at full extension. A pole held out at 20 ft or more flexes and gets heavy fast, so most people clear a two story gutter in short sessions. Look for a model rated to your measured eave height plus 3 to 5 ft, not exactly at it, and note that a 14 ft tool on a 20 ft eave leaves a 6 ft gap your arms cannot make up.
Leaf blower gutter kits
A leaf blower gutter kit clips curved extension tubes onto a blower you may already own so you can blow a gutter clear from the ground. The universal kits are first floor tools: Worx rates the WA4092 at up to 11 ft of reach with 8 ft of tubes, which falls 7 ft or more short of an 18 ft second story eave. ArloCatcher sells $179.99 High Gutter Cleaning Kits matched to specific blowers (for example EGO LB8800, ECHO DPB-2500 and Toro 51820) and markets them for two-story gutters, but it does not publish a reach figure, so measure before you buy.
The trade off is that a blower only handles dry, loose debris. Wet leaves, roof grit, and packed sludge do not blow out, and you are moving material into the air rather than capturing it, so after a wet season the gutter still needs a vacuum pass, a rinse with an 18 ft wand, or a ladder clear.
Wet/dry vacuum and hose wands
Wet/dry vacuum gutter kits and telescoping hose wands handle the wet debris a blower cannot, but reach depends on the tube set. Consumer shop vacuum kits with a few extension wands and a hooked nozzle cover a single story; to reach a full two story eave you need a pole system such as Gutter Pro Vac’s 20 ft aluminum set ($449 sale price in October 2026) or a 28 ft system. A garden hose wand is really a rinsing tool at first floor height.
For a second story, a telescoping pressure washer wand extends further: the Craftsman CMZPWTW18 reaches up to 18 feet and is rated for washers up to 3,000 PSI and 1.7 gpm. Use the lowest pressure that moves the debris and keep the stream angled along the gutter, because high pressure can dent aluminum, drive water under the shingles, or open seams. A power washer gutter cleaner carries real risks on a two story run where you cannot see the result.
Extension ladder and scoop
An extension ladder with a gutter scoop reaches any height and clears any debris, which is why pros still use it on packed or wet second story gutters. The cost is the climb: you are working 18 feet or more up and moving the ladder every few feet of run. OSHA 1926.1053(b)(5)(i) sets the angle: the foot sits about one quarter of the working length out from the top support, the 4 to 1 rule, and (b)(1) has the rails extend at least 3 feet above an upper landing. Use a standoff arm so the rails bear on the roof or wall, not the gutter.
- Measure the eave: say 20 ft to the gutter.
- Find the working length: at 4 to 1, height is about 0.97 of working length, so 20 / 0.968 = about 20.7 ft of ladder between foot and top support.
- Set the foot: one quarter of 20.7 ft puts the base about 5.2 ft out from the wall.
- Buy for overlap: check the maximum working length on the label, not the nominal size, since overlapping sections lose length.
Ladder falls are the reason this job is dangerous, so match the ladder to the work and the OSHA 1926.1053 setup rules above. Our guide to the right ladder for gutter cleaning covers duty ratings and sizing for two story height.
The problem ground tools do not solve on a 2 story
From the ground on a two story house you cannot see inside the gutter, so you are cleaning blind. A pole or blower may push debris around, clear a visible clog, and still leave the outlet packed or the far side untouched. On a single story you can glance up and confirm; at 20 feet you often cannot, which is why a ladder check of the outlets once or twice a year still matters.
Ground tools, even a 20 ft vacuum pole, also stall on setbacks, dormers, gutter guards, and downspout outlets. Where a second floor is set back over a first floor roof, no pole reaches the upper gutter from grade, because the lower roof adds its full overhang depth to the horizontal distance. Guard covered gutters and clogged outlets usually need hands on them; in those spots a ladder or a pro is the honest answer, not a longer pole.
When to hire a pro instead
Hiring out makes sense on a two story house when the debris is wet or packed, the gutters have guards, the outlets are clogged, or you cannot safely reach and verify the run. This Old House’s gutter cleaning cost guide (updated June 17, 2026) puts two story cleaning at $1.00 to $1.85 per linear foot, or $180 to $360 per job, against a national average of $275 per appointment.
Weigh that against buying gear: a $449 vacuum pole kit costs about as much as 1.6 average professional cleanings at $275, and a pro also checks the downspouts and can spot a sagging hanger while up there. See what gutter cleaning costs and how often you actually need it to decide whether one or two annual cleanings are cheaper to hire than to equip and risk yourself. If you are weighing guards to cut the number of second story cleanings, our E-Z Gutter Guard review covers guard types, cost, and how they compare; guards still need an occasional hand cleaning. For broader upkeep basics, the roofing and gutter fundamentals hub puts this in context.
Which tool should you pick for a 2 story house?
Match the tool to your debris, your measured eave height and your comfort with height. For dry seasonal leaves on an eave up to about 20 ft, a 20 ft vacuum pole or a blower kit with a published reach above your eave height works, kept honest by a ladder check of the outlets once or twice a year.
- Dry leaves, open runs, want to stay on the ground: a pole or blower kit whose published reach is at least your eave height plus 3 ft; skip 11 ft universal blower kits on a second story.
- Wet or packed debris on reachable runs: a 20 ft vacuum pole, an 18 ft pressure wand at low pressure, or a ladder and scoop.
- Guards, clogged outlets, setbacks, or you cannot verify the result: an extension ladder set at 4 to 1 with a scoop, or hire a pro at $180 to $360.
- You will not climb an 18 foot ladder: plan on hiring the job out once or twice a year rather than forcing a ground tool past its limit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tool to clean gutters on a 2 story house?
For most two story houses the best ground tool is a vacuum pole long enough for the eave, such as Gutter Pro Vac’s 20 ft aluminum pole kit, because it reaches and captures wet debris. For dry leaves a blower kit works only if its published reach exceeds your eave height; universal kits like the Worx WA4092 stop at 11 ft. Packed debris or clogged outlets still call for a ladder.
How do you clean 2 story gutters without a ladder?
Use a long telescoping tool from the ground: a 20 ft or longer vacuum pole, a blower kit with a published reach above your eave height, or a telescoping pressure washer wand such as the 18 ft Craftsman CMZPWTW18. These work best on open runs. Wet, packed material, gutter guards or clogged outlets often still need a ladder or a pro.
How long of a pole do you need for 2 story gutters?
Plan on a pole that reaches 22 to 27 feet for a standard two story house, and up to 30 feet where the first floor is tall or the house sits on a slope. Two story gutters sit about 18 to 22 feet up, and you stand a few feet out from the wall, so add 3 to 5 feet to the gutter height. Measure your own eave before buying.
Can you clean 2 story gutters from the ground?
Yes, in many cases, with a vacuum pole of 20 ft or more, a long pressure wand, or a blower kit with enough rated reach, as long as the runs are open. The catch is verification: from 20 feet down you cannot see inside the gutter, so blind spots, setbacks, guards, and clogged outlets may still need a ladder or a hired cleaner.
Is it safe to clean 2 story gutters yourself?
Ground based tools keep your feet planted. The risk comes from ladder work at two story height. If you use a ladder, follow OSHA 1926.1053: set the foot about one quarter of the working length out (4 to 1), extend the rails 3 feet above any landing you step onto, use a standoff arm, and never lean past the rails. If any of that feels unsafe, hire the job out.
How much does it cost to clean gutters on a 2 story house?
This Old House puts professional two story gutter cleaning at $1.00 to $1.85 per linear foot, or $180 to $360 per job, with a national average of $275 per appointment (updated June 2026). DIY gear ranges from a $179.99 model-specific blower kit to a $449 vacuum pole kit, and a ladder adds fall risk.