Gutter guards keep your gutters clean and clear, so you don’t need to climb a ladder to keep them flowing. The best gutter guards have metal mesh screens to block leaves, pine needles, and other debris.
Choose a gutter guard style designed to handle your home conditions. Think about the types of leaves and debris you get, your roof type, and the amount of rain you typically get.
“Mesh screens can block small debris but may require more frequent cleaning, while surface tension guards work well with heavy rainfall but may not be as effective against small debris,” says Josh Bruhn, owner of Skyview Roof Restoration.
After speaking with Bruhn, we recommend stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guards for most situations, because they effectively block most debris while allowing water to flow mostly unimpeded, which means less cleaning. Gutter guards still need to be inspected and cleaned regularly, but not as often as you would need to clean gutters without protection.
Our Top Picks
Best Budget:
Best for Leaves:
Best for Pine Needles:
Best Heavy-Duty:
Easiest to Clean:
Easiest Installation:
What We Like
Blocks most debris
Easy cleaning and maintenance
Durable construction
Sample available
What We Don't Like
Screws aren’t stainless steel
Installation difficulties with some shingles
These micro-mesh gutter guards from Raptor block all sorts of debris, even in heavy rain, which is why they are our favorite overall gutter guards. Rust-resistant stainless steel construction helps these gutter guards stand up to the elements year after year (with a 25-year warranty), and they’re available in two sizes to fit most gutters.
Installation is straightforward, but stiff shingles and high-pitched roofs can introduce difficulties because these guards are designed to slide under the outer shingles.
These guards use a stainless steel micro-mesh that’s fine enough to keep out tiny pests and even catch the grit that wears off roof shingles over time, which makes them the best multi-purpose gutter guard around. If you have a mix of pine needles, big leaves, and other debris that fall on your roof, these guards will block everything without blocking the flow of water.
If you live in an area that experiences long dry spells between rainy weather and a fair amount of wind, you’ll find that these guards require very little maintenance. In the right conditions, the debris will dry up and blow away. In damp climates and areas with little wind, you’ll need to sweep or vacuum the debris occasionally—a few times a season, or every couple of seasons, depending on how much debris drops on your roof.
These are high-quality gutter guards made from stainless steel, but Raptor missed the mark with the installation hardware. The gutter guards are rust-resistant, but the screws aren’t. That could lead to rust streaks or issues where the fasteners fail long before the guards. We recommend you buy stainless steel self-tapping screws for less than $0.10 each to eliminate that concern.
Style: Micro-mesh | Material: Stainless steel | Size Options: 5.5 inches x 4 feet, 7.25 inches x 4 feet | Gutter Type: K-style, half round | Warranty: 25 year
What We Like
Easy installation
Blocks debris well
Rust-proof
What We Don't Like
Lack of durability and strength
Difficult to handle
Frost King Plastic Gutter Guards use a plastic mesh to prevent debris from entering your gutters, and they do a remarkably good job for the price. These guards cost about 10 times less per foot than our best overall , so they’re a very cost-effective option.
These guards are made from a plastic mesh far more porous than micro mesh guards (or even standard metal mesh guards), but they still stop leaves and pine needles quite well. Smaller debris like roof shingle grit will collect in your gutters, but larger debris will collect on top where you can vacuum or brush it away.
Unlike most gutter guards, these guards are very flexible and come rolled up for easy shipping. We like how easy it is to cut custom guards without special tools (regular scissors work just fine), but the plastic has a memory and will try to coil back up if you don’t cut it into sections or have a helper around to hold the other end. The plastic construction also means these guards aren’t as durable as metal options, but they’re priced accordingly.
Style: Mesh | Material: Plastic | Size Options: 6 inches x 20 feet | Gutter Type: K-style, half round | Warranty: 1 year limited
What We Like
Durable powder-coated steel
Doesn’t impede water flow
Two color options
What We Don't Like
Doesn’t block fine debris
Can rust over time
If you’re tired of the trees in your vicinity dropping their leaves directly into your gutters each year, and you don’t have a lot of evergreens or other sources of small debris, the mesh design on these guards will keep your gutters clean. The mesh is too wide to catch fine debris like grit, and some pine needles will slip through but leaves slide right off.
These Amerimax Lock-In Gutter Guards are constructed from galvanized steel with a zinc powder coating, which provides a decent level of protection against corrosion, but may rust over time. The trade-offs are that they also cost almost $50 less than our best overall (which won't rust) and allow for more water flow.
Leaves can pile up on top if you live in a very wet climate with no wind, but the gutter guard’s open mesh design is well suited to heavy-duty applications so long as you keep on top of leaf buildup.
The other benefit of using powder-coated galvanized steel instead of stainless is that these guards are available in two colors. We like the black version because it goes well with most roofs, but you can opt for a white version instead if that looks better with your gutters.
Style: Mesh | Material: Galvanized steel | Size Options: 5.25 inches x 3 feet | Gutter Type: K-style | Warranty: 10 year
What We Like
Easy installation
Porous barrier doesn’t block water
UV protection prevents degradation
What We Don't Like
May not keep up with heavy rain
Foam can clog with fine debris
We recommend these foam-insert gutter guards from Gutterstuff for pine needle protection because there’s no way for pine needles to get through. When matched to the size of your gutters, and installed carefully, these guards form a protective seal that allows water through but blocks even the thinnest pine needles from entering the gutter channel.
These gutter guards restrict water flow more than a lot of other options on our list, because the rain needs to pass through thick foam instead of thin mesh or a grate. If you live in an area with especially heavy rain these aren’t the pick for you, but if you live in a dry climate and your yard has lots of pine trees, this is your pick.
The foam can also become clogged with fine debris like grit from your roof tiles and pollen from nearby trees, which means moss can take root. If you’re concerned, you may want to consider the Gutterstuff Pro Series—it's designed to eliminate those issues. The Original Series and Pro Series both have UV protection, which helps prevent the foam from breaking down over time.
Style: Foam insert | Material: Foam | Size Options: 4 inch x 4 foot, 5 inch x 4 foot, 6 inch x 4 foot | Gutter Type: K-style | Warranty: 5 year
What We Like
Blocks large and small debris
Simple installation process
Durable construction
What We Don't Like
Installation problems with some roofs
Pine needles can get caught
For heavy-duty applications that involve torrential rain and a lot of leaves, sticks, pinecones, and more, we recommend the high-performance micro-mesh design of Gutter Guard by Gutterglove. The fine mesh works like a kitchen sieve, allowing water to flow freely while blocking debris of all sizes. Clogs rarely occur since water can pass through, and nothing else can.
We like these gutter guards, but they require some extra attention if you have a lot of pine trees nearby. Pine needles can’t fit through the mesh, but the pointy edges have the potential to get caught in the mesh. That could create a dam from other debris, but it’s no big deal if you keep an eye on the guards and brush or vacuum whenever you notice pine needles sticking up.
Gutterglove designed these guards for commercial installers, but the installation process is simple enough to do it yourself in most cases. The guards can be secured in place using the included screws or 3M VHB tape, with difficulties only occurring with some steep-pitched roofs and stubborn roof shingles that refuse to lift.
Style: Micro-mesh | Material: Stainless steel | Size Options: 5.5 inch x 4 foot, 7.25 inch x 4 foot | Gutter Type: K-style, half-round | Warranty: 10 years (25 with registration)
Easiest to Clean
Amerimax Home Products Hinged Gutter Guard
What We Like
Flips open for easy cleaning
Quick and easy installation
Prevents debris from accumulating
What We Don't Like
Visible after installation
No warranty
These guards from Amerimax are our favorite for easy cleaning because the hinged design allows you to flip them open for easy access to your gutters. Other guards have to be removed entirely to clean the gutters, which is a huge job.
These gutter guards feature a convex design that we like because it prevents debris from accumulating on top of the guard without adding weight to the gutters. Debris that does end up on top of the guard is likely to blow away, and any that washes down your roof gets stuck at the guard’s edge. From there, you can blow the debris away or allow nature to take its course (if you live in a windy area).
The downside of the rounded design is that it leaves the guards highly visible after installation, which may not be the look you’re going for. If you prefer something you can’t see from the street, EZ Shield Gutter Covers (our pick for easiest installation) snap in and out quickly, so they’re almost as easy to clean while remaining fairly out of sight. We don’t like the lack of warranty either. Amerimax guarantees that the guards will arrive in good condition, but there’s no warranty after installation making this the only pick on our list without any warranty.
Style: Mesh | Material: Galvanized steel | Size Options: 5.5 inch x 3 feet, 6 inch x 3 feet | Gutter Type: K-style | Warranty: None
What We Like
No hardware or tools required
Black color helps melt snow and ice
Pops out for easy cleaning
Long-lasting aluminum construction
What We Don’t Like
Don’t work with crooked gutters
Louvers allows some debris through
Prone to ice dams
If you’re interested in installing gutter guards, but you’re worried about not having the right tools or expertise, we recommend EZ Shield Gutter Covers. These durable aluminum gutter guards snap into place without any tools, screws, or clips—just slide into the back of the gutter, then snap down into place in the front of the gutter, and these covers will stay put in the heaviest rain and wind.
The catch with such an easy installation process is if your gutters are bent, pinched, or uneven, you’ll have a hard time snapping these guards into place. You also need to measure carefully, because these guards come in three widths, and they won’t snap into place if you choose the wrong one.
They easily pop out to clean out any debris that snuck past. The reverse louver design does a good job of allowing sufficient water flow while blocking debris, but they aren’t perfect, so you will need to clean them from time to time. The design is also somewhat prone to ice dam formation, but the black color absorbs heat and helps melt any snow or ice that does happen to build up.
Style: Reverse louver | Material: Aluminum | Size Options: 5 inch x 4 foot, 5.24 inch x 4 foot, 5.5 inch x 4 foot | Gutter Type: K-style | Warranty: 1 year
Final Verdict
The Raptor Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards provide excellent protection against all sorts of debris without blocking water flow, which is why we recommend them as the best overall gutter guard. For a lower-cost option that’s exceptionally easy to install and clean, EZ Shield Gutter Covers (our pick for easiest installation) features durable aluminum construction and a high-performance reverse louver system that blocks debris while allowing rain to flow unimpeded.
What To Look For in a Gutter Guard
Types
When you start looking for gutter guards, it’s useful to think about what kinds of leaves and other debris end up on your roof, how much rain you get, and your budget.
Gutter guards come in a variety of configurations to address different types of debris, amounts of rainfall, and budgetary considerations, so thinking about those three factors can help you determine what type of gutter guards you need.
Here are the most common types of gutter guards:
- Micro mesh: These metal gutter guards use a very fine mesh screen that prevents anything but water from passing through. The mesh is so fine that even grit that washes off your roof shingles can’t slip through into the gutters, so they’re very effective at keeping gutters clean. Gutter Guard by Gutterglove (our best heavy-duty pick) uses micro mesh to allow heavy rains to pass through while blocking most debris. They’re expensive but very effective.
- Mesh: This type also uses a metal mesh, but the mesh isn’t as fine. They cost less than micro mesh but are slightly less effective since they don’t block fine particles. Small debris like pine needles may pass through the mesh or get stuck and clog the guards.
- Screen: These guards can be plastic or metal. They’re similar to mesh, but the holes in the screen are much larger, so they are prone to clogging. Small leaves, pine needles, and other debris may enter the screen and create clogs, but bigger leaves are prevented from entering. Plastic screen guards like Frost King Plastic Gutter Guards (our best budget pick) offer a low-cost alternative to metal screen guards.
- Perforated: These metal gutter guards use a flat sheet of metal, usually aluminum, that’s perforated with small holes. They’re functionally similar to screen guards, and they strike a balance between blocking debris and allowing the free flow of water. We don’t recommend any perforated guards because they don’t offer any benefits over reverse louver guards, which are better at blocking small debris.
- Reverse louver: Instead of simple holes, these metal gutter guards have small channels similar in shape to window louvers. The design allows a large volume of water to flow through the gutters while blocking most leaves and other small debris. EZ Shield Gutter Covers (our pick for easiest installation) use this design.
- Brush: These gutter guards look like large pipe cleaners. They’re very easy to install because you only need to lay them in place, but they clog easily. We don’t recommend any brush guards because it’s often impossible to clean the small leaves, pine needles, and other debris that get trapped in the bristles, so the guards need to be replaced whenever a clog occurs.
- Foam: This is another type of gutter guard that’s quick and easy to install. These foam strips and wedges are designed to fit snugly in your gutter and allow water through while blocking everything else. They typically don’t last as long as other gutter guards, but the Gutterstuff Original Series (our best for pine needles pick) has a protective UV coating that prevents the foam from breaking down from constant sun exposure.
- Reverse Curve: Instead of using a filter of any kind, these gutter guards rely on a curved design and the flow of water to keep out debris. They’re also called surface tension gutter guards. The guard sits on top of the gutter and curves back in at the end, allowing water to flow into the gutter while debris falls off. We don’t recommend any reverse curve gutter guards because they tend to allow water to overshoot the gutter, debris to enter the gutter, or both.
Size and Material
Gutter guards come in varying lengths, but the width is the measurement that needs to match your gutters. Most residential gutters are 5 inches wide, but they can be both narrower and wider than that.
Depending on the style of gutter guards you choose, they may be sized to snap inside your gutters like EZ Shield Gutter Covers (our pick for easiest installation), or wider than your gutters in the case of gutter guards like Raptor Gutter Stainless Micro Mesh (our best overall) that need to slide under your roof shingles.
Gutter guards are also available in a variety of materials offering varying levels of durability and price.
- Stainless steel: This is typically the most expensive and longest-lasting gutter guard material. These gutter guards won’t corrode or rust, but they are heavier and more expensive than other options.
- Galvanized steel: These gutter guards aren’t as protected against corrosion as stainless steel, but they still last a long time. Some models, like the Amerimax Lock-In Gutter Guard (our best for leaves pick), are also powder coated for additional protection and a splash of color.
- Aluminum: Gutter guards made from aluminum are durable and long-lasting. They don’t rust but are more prone to corrosion, denting, and scratching than stainless steel. They’re typically a lower-cost option as well.
- Plastic: Plastic mesh gutter guards are inexpensive but they’re also less durable than stainless steel or galvanized steel.
- Foam: Foam gutter guards are inexpensive and easy to install, but foam doesn’t last as long as other materials because it tends to break down when exposed to the elements. Foam can also clog over time due to the accumulation of small particles.
Installation Requirements
Gutter guard installation requirements vary depending on the type of guards you select, but the most important factors include checking the condition of your gutters and making any necessary repairs, measuring your gutters, trimming the gutter guards to length, and attaching the guards.
- Checking gutter condition: The first step in any gutter guard installation is to check the condition of the gutters. Your gutters need to be in good condition, securely fastened to the fascia boards, and angled correctly to allow rainwater to flow and not pool. If your gutters are bent, not fastened properly, or damaged in any way, you’ll need to fix them before installing your gutter guards.
- Measuring your gutters: You should measure the width of your gutters and the total length before buying guards, and you’ll need to measure the length of each straight section and corner before you start the installation process.
- Trimming the guards: With accurate measurements, you can trim your gutter guards to fit. Make sure to take overlap into account, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding corners. You can cut plastic guards with scissors, but aluminum and steel guards require aviation snips.
- Attachment methods: Some gutter guards snap in place, others need to be attached with screws or tape, and some slide under the shingles. “Homeowners should understand how the gutter guards they purchase are designed to be installed,” says Bruhn. “Especially whether they fit under shingles or attach directly to the gutters.”
If you plan on installing yourgutter guards, make sure to select guards that match your comfort level and experience. Some gutter guards, like EZ Shield Gutter Covers (our pick for easiest installation), snap into place without any tools or hardware. Foam and brush-style guards don’t have any installation requirements.
Care and Maintenance
Gutter guards don’t eliminate the need for care and maintenance. “While guards reduce the amount of debris that enters, they are not entirely maintenance-free,” says Bruhn. “Periodic inspections are recommended, particularly after significant weather events.”
Instead of cleaning out your gutters multiple times each season, you can check your gutter guards for damage and leaf accumulation a few times yearly, and clean the actual gutters only once every few years. Keep an eye out for ice dams in the winter, and signs of blockage like water spilling over the gutter.
“Cleaning frequency varies with the type of gutter guards, the amount of tree cover, and local weather conditions,” says Bruhn. “Generally, it's advised to inspect and possibly clean the guards at least twice a year. Homeowners may need to clean them more frequently in areas with high foliage.”
The type of maintenance required will vary depending on the gutter guard type you select. Micro-mesh guards like Raptor gutter guards (our best overall pick) don’t allow debris through, so maintenance typically involves vacuuming or brushing away any leaves that accumulate, and checking for damage.
Gutter guards with wider mesh, perforations, or louvers may need to be removed to clean out debris from time to time. Amerimax Hinged Gutter Guards (our pick for easiest to clean) flip open for easy cleaning.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Jeremy Laukkonen is an updates writer for The Spruce who has over a decade of experience writing about home and garden equipment, appliances, and other home goods. He used mesh gutter guards on his home in Seattle, but he’s lucky enough not to need them at his current home.
For this story, Laukkonen researched gutter guards from all the top manufacturers, including micro-mesh, mesh, screen, perforated, and foam guards, evaluating each for effectiveness, water flow, ease of installation and maintenance, and other factors.
Our Experts:
- Josh Bruhn, owner of Skyview Roof Restoration