Clogged rain gutters can present a significant problem for your home, which is why gutter guards exist. But which gutter guards are right for your house? We reviewed the products out there to rank the five best gutter guards.
To rank the best gutter guards, we looked at cost, quality (durability), warranty, and customer reviews.
Two of our best gutter guard options you can install yourself, and three require professional installation. Because price is a big factor in our ranking, we’ve listed the DIY gutter guard options first.
The question to ask yourself is whether installing gutter guards is something you really want to do yourself. This is a job that most people outsource to the pros. (More on the pros and cons of DIY vs. professional installation and the types of gutter guards in our Buyers Guide below.)
Now let’s take a closer look at the five best gutter guards:
Top 5 Gutter Guards – Reviews
Top DIY Gutter Guards
The big names in gutter guards – you’ve no doubt seen their TV commercials – have to be installed by professionals. And that professional installation dramatically increases the cost of their gutter guards.
Top Professionally Installed Gutter Guards
- 1. LeafFilter Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
- 2. LeafGuard Gutter Protection System
- 3. HomeCraft Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
1. Raptor Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard by GutterGlove
Raptor Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard by GutterGlove
Raptor Gutter Guards are made from aluminum and stainless steel and are backed by a 25-year warranty. They don’t offer professional installation, but it’s an easy DIY project.
GutterGlove’s Raptor micro-mesh gutter guards are the top pick for DIY gutter guards, along with being a solid choice for one of the best gutter guards, period.
These gutter guards are made from heavy-duty-type 304 stainless steel and resist corrosion, rust, and warping. They’re also easy to install.
Product details
- Style: Micro-mesh gutter guards
- Material: Stainless steel/aluminum
- Cost: About $125 for 48 feet of gutter guard
- Installation: DIY
How they work: The Raptor micro-mesh gutter guards consist of 30 mesh, meaning that there are 900 holes per square inch woven into the stainless steel. With such a fine weave, these gutter guards can stop even small debris.
And thanks to GutterGlove’s patented V-bend technology, any debris that the gutter guards catch is elevated to dry and blow away while water filters through.
Installation: Installing the Raptor gutter guards is simple. They come in easy-to-handle 4-foot lengths and can be cut or bent to fit any type of gutter, from half-round to K-style gutters. You can attach the gutter guards to your fascia with self-tapping screws, which come packaged with the gutter guards.
Warranty: GutterGlove backs Raptor gutter guards with a 25-year warranty against manufacturing defects. However, the warranty is reduced to five years for homeowners who live in coastal areas.
What Do Customers Say?
Pros: Customers consistently praise the quick and straightforward installation process. Many customers also mention how sturdy the gutter guards are, citing their ability to hold up under heavy rain and sun exposure.
Cons: Negative comments focus on how challenging it can be to cut the gutter guards to size, even with the proper tools. And some customers still struggle with overflow issues during heavy rainstorms.
2. Amerimax Home Products Lock-In Gutter Guard
Amerimax Home Products Lock-In Gutter Guard
The Amerimax Lock-In Gutter Guard works with 4-, 5-, and 6-inch metal K-style gutters. Installation is easy and they come with a 10-year warranty.
Amerimax offers several options for gutter protection. However, their metal lock-in gutter guard is one of the top picks for mesh gutter guards. These flexible gutter guards will fit 4-inch, 5-inch, and 6-inch half-round and K-style gutters. Customers say DIY installation is simple.
You can purchase these gutter guards from Amazon or Home Depot, and reviews on both sites are generally positive. They have a 4.5/5 rating on Amazon.
Product Details
- Style: Mesh gutter guards
- Material: Powder-coated steel
- Cost: Roughly $1-$1.25 per foot, depending on the retailer
- Installation: DIY
How they work: These lock-in gutter guards get their name because they slip under the first row of your roof shingles and snap onto the front of your gutters, locking them into place with no need for tools.
Made from powder-coated steel to resist rusting, corrosion, and warping, the mesh weave is fine enough to keep large and medium debris out of your gutters. At the same time, water can flow through it without issue, even in a heavy rainstorm.
Worth noting: The mesh stops large debris efficiently, but smaller debris like pine needles can get into your gutters. However, none of the reviews mention that enough small debris gets in to cause a significant clog.
Installation: These lock-in gutter guards have a pre-notched design that overlaps to eliminate gaps. So even a home improvement novice won’t have difficulty with a DIY installation. And despite their durability, cutting these gutter guards to help them fit your gutters is not difficult.
Warranty: Amerimax backs its gutter guards with a 10-year limited warranty against any product failure. The lock-in gutter guards require minimal upkeep.
What Do Customers Say?
Pros: Customers consistently praise the easy installation, the clarity of the instructions, and the sturdiness of the lock-in gutter guards.
Cons: The only negatives we found in the reviews were that the lock-in installation makes removing the gutter guards challenging. In addition, some customers have experienced warping over time due to extreme debris accumulation.
1. LeafFilter Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
LeafFilter Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
LeafFilter protects your home from water damage due to overflowing, clogged gutters. They’re professionally installed and guaranteed to last a lifetime.
LeafFilter offers a micro-mesh gutter guard that solidly belongs near the top of the list for gutter protection. The company constructs its gutter guards with a proprietary three-piece system that ensures high-quality performance.
LeafFilter’s gutter guards are professionally installed via its associated contractors.
Product Details
- Style: Micro-mesh
- Material: Stainless steel/uPVC
- Cost: $15 to $45 per linear foot, according to online pricing guides. Your price will vary depending on many factors, including the size of your roof and any specials or discounts.
- Installation: Professional
How they work: LeafFilter’s micro-mesh gutter guard screen is surgical-grade stainless steel with holes that are only 275 microns fine, keeping out even roof grit.
Beneath the screen sits a durable frame made from uPVC that resists warping and puts your gutter guards at the perfect angle to shed debris while allowing surface tension to draw in water effectively.
Finally, the entire system anchors to your fascia boards via a set of structural hangers so well hidden that your gutter guards will be virtually invisible from the ground.
Installation: LeafFilter’s gutter guards are professionally installed. When you contact LeafFilter, an inspection will be scheduled and the resulting quote will be good for up to one year.
Warranty: LeafFilter’s gutter guards come with a transferable lifetime warranty. If the gutter guard doesn’t perform as expected and your home sustains water damage as a result, LeafFilter will repair the problem or refund you 100% of the material cost.
What Do Customers Say?
LeafFilter is one of the most well-reviewed companies on our list, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.5 rating across over 100,000 reviews on TrustPilot.
Pros: Customers praise the gutter guard’s durability and capacity for withstanding heavy rainfall. In addition, many customers mentioned being pleased with the company’s professional installation.
Cons: The only negative issue to come up consistently was a problem with debris buildup on the micro-mesh screen. However, this problem seemed to come up because of issues unrelated to the gutter guard. Debris buildup is something to keep in mind, though.
2. LeafGuard Gutter Protection System
LeafGuard Gutter Protection System
LeafGuard keeps debris out of your gutters so you never have to clean them again. They’re custom-fit by professional installers and have a lifetime no-clog warranty.
The Beldon LeafGuard gutter protection system is unique because it consists of a solid one-piece system integrated into your gutters.
These reverse-curve gutter covers are heavy-duty aluminum hoods built from a single piece of aluminum that uses surface tension to pull water into the gutter while keeping debris from clogging your downspouts.
Because the seamless one-piece system requires new gutters, a DIY installation process is out of the question.
Note: This may not be the best gutter guard for your needs if you don’t want to replace your existing gutters.
Product Details
- Style: Reverse-curve gutter guards
- Material: Aluminum
- Cost: $9 to $33 per linear foot for materials and $2 to $4 per linear foot for installation, according to Forbes
- Installation: Professional
How they work: Reverse-curve gutter guards are well-known for being highly effective at preventing large debris like leaves and twigs from causing gutter clogs.
A set of sturdy, corrosion-resistant hidden internal hangers keeps the entire gutter system firmly attached to your fascia boards.
Installation: The company’s professional contractors handle installations in 32 states. This installation includes non-chipping finishing paint in a color of your choice, typically matching the gutter guard to your home’s current colors.
Warranty: LeafGuard gutter guards are guaranteed not to clog. The company’s transferable lifetime warranty states that it will clean your gutters for free if they do clog for any reason. The Beldon LeafGuard system is also guaranteed not to pull away or fall off due to ice or snow accumulating on top of it.
What Do Customers Say?
Pros: The positive reviews for the Beldon LeafGuard system cite the gutter guard’s ability to keep debris out of your downspouts. Though some small debris can get past the hood, it typically isn’t enough to present a significant issue.
Many customers also praise the gutter guard’s longevity, with a few mentioning that they’ve had their LeafGuard gutter guards for 20+ years.
Cons: There were two widespread negative complaints. The first was that the system doesn’t handle heavy rain very well. Customers mentioned that excessive amounts of water would simply fly off the top of the hood without being pulled in.
The other complaint is about the sales process. Customers were generally dissatisfied with how some representatives presented themselves and the product. In addition, they felt that some sales reps were pushy, trying to pressure homeowners into deciding.
3. HomeCraft Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
HomeCraft Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
HomeCraft Gutter Protection uses super-fine mesh with raised diamonds to keep even the smallest debris out. They fit onto your current gutters and are professionally installed.
HomeCraft’s stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guards are designed to be exceptionally sturdy with an aluminum frame. However, the gutter guards still maintain enough flexibility to fit any gutter.
Product Details
- Style: Micro-mesh gutter guards
- Material: Stainless steel/aluminum
- Cost: HomeCraft lists price ranges for its different types of gutter guard offerings, but not its micro-mesh gutter guards. One online pricing guide says the price likely will range from $4.50 and $7.75 per linear foot.
Tip: Visit the HomeCraft site for an online coupon for 30% off. You may find even steeper discounts online around holidays.
Note: HomeCraft offers free quotes that are good for up to a year. - Installation: Professional
How they work: HomeCraft’s micro-mesh gutter guards are designed with a 304 marine-grade stainless steel mesh featuring a patented raised diamond pattern. This pattern helps lift and push off large debris like leaves.
Meanwhile, the sturdy powder-coated aluminum frame supports the gutter guards enough to allow them to hold up under heavier debris and rainstorms.
While these gutter guards are sturdy, they don’t include any substructures beneath the mesh screen. The lack of these substructures means that HomeCraft’s gutter guards can bend to fit any roof material or gutter style.
In addition, reinforced stainless steel hangers keep the gutter guards firmly attached to your fascia while their slim profile prevents them from being seen from the ground.
Installation: HomeCraft gutters are professionally installed.
Warranty: HomeCraft stands by its gutter guard product with a lifetime transferable warranty that states the company will handle any maintenance issues that may come up.
What Do Customers Say?
HomeCraft boasts overwhelmingly positive reviews across multiple customer review sites and platforms.
- Better Business Bureau: The company has a B rating, but customers gave the company a 3.3 rating across over 90 reviews.
- TrustPilot: Customers gave HomeCraft a 4.7 rating across over 230 reviews, with only 4% of reviews being negative.
Pros: Customers mainly gave the gutter guards positive marks for their ability to block small debris and their versatility in fitting any roofing style.
Cons: The only consistently negative reviews mention that the gutter guards may warp over time due to temperature changes in some climates. But the company’s warranty covers repairs brought on due to warping.
For gutter installation or gutter repairs, we’ve got you covered.
Buyers Guide
What are gutter guards and should you install these yourself or let a pro handle that job for you?
Gutter guards prevent debris like leaves, shingle grit, and pine needles from getting stuck in your gutters and downspouts, causing clogs. (But you already knew that. I mean, why would you be checking out the best gutter guards if you didn’t already know what they are, right?)
Should you DIY or go pro for your gutter guard installation? That is your choice, and that is the bigger question.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each:
DIY installation: Installing your own gutter guards is definitely cheaper, but it is riskier (you could fall from your ladder, for example). And what if you don’t install your gutter guards correctly or run into some problems along the way?
Professional installation: You’ll pay more – often substantially more – for professional installation of your gutter guards. You will get peace of mind, though, that the job most likely will be done correctly.
So now ask yourself whether installing gutter guards is a project you want to tackle yourself or let the pros handle that for you.
Types of Gutter Guards
Our five best gutter guards represent different types of gutter guards, made with different materials (aluminum, plastic, stainless steel, and copper), and screens that filter out different sizes of debris.
Here is a look at some key differences in gutter guards that will help you decide which of our best gutter guards is the right choice for your home:
Gutter Screens
Gutter screens are generally made of durable plastic or metal and look almost like netting that can be rolled across the top of your gutter.
These gutter guards are quite popular with homeowners because they are generally inexpensive, work well, and can be installed by a DIYer pretty easily.
The downside is gutter screens catch only large debris. Dirt, grit, pine needles, and other smaller material will get through.
Mesh Gutter Guards
Mesh gutter guards are similar to gutter screens except the holes are smaller and catch more debris.
Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
Micro-mesh gutter guards have even smaller holes than regular mesh gutter guards, allowing them to stop virtually all debris from entering your gutter.
Reverse Curve Gutter Guards
Reverse curve gutter guards consist of one solid piece of material that fits almost entirely over your gutters, leaving a small opening. These guards allow water to run along the top of them, then use surface tension to draw the water into your gutters.
Unlike other types of gutter guards, reverse curve gutter guards must be professionally installed, making them one of the most expensive gutter protection options.
Foam Gutter Guards
Foam gutter guards are long sections of shaped foam that fit inside your gutters. They work similarly to a sponge, taking in water and letting it pass through while stopping debris.
Because of their simple nature, foam gutter guards are among the easiest and most DIY-friendly to install.
Brush Gutter Guards
Brush gutter guards, like foam gutter guards, sit inside your gutter to filter debris. They are made of polypropylene bristles wrapped around a steel wire core. The bristles on brush gutter guards stop solid debris from entering your gutters while allowing water to flow through them.
How to Choose the Right Gutter Guard
What type of gutter guard you choose for your home depends on many factors.
Trees: If you live in an area with many pine trees around your home, you may want gutter guards that will keep out pine needles and insects.
Rain: If your location is prone to heavy rain, you should choose a gutter guard that can hold up under the downpour without allowing your gutter to overflow.
Roof design: Some roof configurations make installing some types of gutter guards far more complex.
Location: Some professionally installed gutter guard companies may not operate in your state, so you can scratch them off your list of possibilities from the start.
Price: Some gutter guards, especially those from the big brand gutter guard installation companies, may be out of your financial reach.
FAQ About Gutter Guards
No. While many gutter guards are highly effective at keeping debris out of your gutters, you may still need to do some gutter cleaning. This applies especially if you haven’t installed micro-mesh gutter guards.
Roof grit, dust, and pine needles can slip through some types of gutter guards.
Some micro-mesh gutter guards have a mesh so fine that snowfall simply accumulates on top of it. However, most gutter guards are sturdy enough to hold up to the extra weight.
Professional contractors typically use installation techniques and hangers that are designed to not void your roof warranty. For DIY gutter guards, installation rarely requires the kind of tools or fasteners that could damage your roof and void the warranty.
When to Hire a Gutter Guard Pro
We’ve reviewed the most consistently positively rated gutter guards on the market today to help you choose the best gutter guards for your home and budget.
Factors to consider in your choice are the gutter guard materials, common weather patterns in your area, tree cover around your home, and your particular roof. And your budget, of course.
Then it comes down to a choice: Do you want to install your gutter guards yourself?
Some jobs can be tackled easily by do-it-yourselfers. Installing gutter guards isn’t one of these, but if you’re used to getting on a ladder or your roof to clean out your gutters, the thought of installing gutter guards may not seem formidable.
If you go the DIY route, we’ve listed two great choices above.
If you choose to go with professional installation, you have three solid choices above.
In the end, you’ll make the right gutter guard choice for your home and family, and we hope our ranking of the best gutter guards helped you to make your decision.
You’ve got gutter and gutter guard questions. We’ve got answers.
