Gutter Installation in Arkansas

Local know-how

Gutters and gutter guards in Arkansas

Arkansas gets around 50 inches of rain a year in many areas, with severe spring storms and hail. Gutters that are too small or clogged overflow quickly and saturate the soil around foundations.

Northwest Arkansas is one of the fastest-growing regions in the South, with many newer homes needing full gutter systems or guards as trees mature. In the Ozarks and Ouachitas, wooded lots make micro-mesh guards a practical choice.

In Fort Smith, Jonesboro and Hot Springs, installers often recommend 6-inch gutters with larger downspouts on bigger homes, and heavier-gauge material where hail is common.

Key facts: gutters in Arkansas

• Typical cost: HomeGuide puts seamless aluminum gutters at about $6 to $12 per linear foot installed nationally; local prices vary.
• Does a gutter installer need a license in Arkansas? For residential jobs over $2,000 including labor and materials, a home improvement license from the Contractors Licensing Board is required.
• How much rain does Arkansas get? Little Rock averages about 50.9 inches a year under the 1991–2020 normals.
• Common choice: seamless aluminum K-style gutters in 5- or 6-inch sizes; 6-inch with 3x4-inch downspouts for large roofs and heavy rain.
• How to get connected: call the number on this page and you are connected with an independent local installer who serves your ZIP code. The call is free and there is no obligation.

Updated November 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.

Rain across the state

Little Rock averages about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year under the National Weather Service’s 1991–2020 normals, and most of Arkansas is similarly wet. Spring is the stormiest season, with thunderstorms that can drop several inches in a few hours, and late-fall and winter rains are steady. Gutters here must handle heavy volumes, not just occasional showers. Larger roofs often need 6-inch gutters and 3x4-inch downspouts. See 5-inch vs. 6-inch gutters.

Tornadoes, wind and hail

On March 31, 2023, an EF3 tornado with estimated peak winds of 165 mph cut a path of more than 34 miles through west Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jacksonville and areas toward Cabot, according to the National Weather Service. Strong thunderstorms with hail and straight-line winds are more common still across the state. Hidden hangers screwed into sound fascia at close spacing, straps at every downspout joint and guards that fasten down hold up best. See gutters and high winds and hail-damaged gutters.

Ozark and Ouachita hillsides

Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville) and the Ouachita region around Hot Springs have many homes built on slopes, often with walkout basements and retaining walls. On a hillside, roof water should be carried to the downhill side and released where it will not undercut a wall or wash across a neighbor’s yard. Buried lines and pop-up emitters are common. Karst geology in the Ozarks can also mean sinkholes where concentrated water is dumped into the ground. See underground downspout drainage and gutters in karst and sinkhole areas.

Delta and lowlands

East Arkansas and the Delta are flat, with heavy clay soils that drain slowly and a high water table. Roof water dumped at a foundation can pool for days and keep crawl spaces wet. Extensions, splash blocks and grading that moves water away are especially important here. See downspouts and your foundation.

Oaks, hickories and pines

Arkansas is heavily forested. Oaks and hickories drop leaves, acorns and nuts in fall, and pines in the south and west of the state shed needles year-round. Fine-mesh metal guards that fasten down keep pine needles out better than coarse screens. See gutter guards for pine needles vs. leaves.

Arkansas licensing

Arkansas requires a home improvement license from the Contractors Licensing Board for residential work costing more than $2,000, including labor and materials, and a residential building contractor license for larger projects. Ask for the license number and verify it, along with insurance and a written contract. After tornadoes and hailstorms, out-of-state crews arrive quickly; check licenses before signing anything.

Arkansas areas we cover

• Little Rock: 50.9 inches of rain, the 2023 tornado, oaks and pines.
• West Memphis and Crittenden County are covered on our Memphis page.

Independent installers also take calls from other parts of Arkansas; enter your ZIP code to check coverage.

Costs and choices

HomeGuide puts seamless aluminum gutters at about $6 to $12 per linear foot installed nationally; HouseLogic puts 6-inch half-round gutters at about $10 to $24 per foot. In Arkansas, the main choices are 6-inch gutters for heavy rain, fine-mesh guards under pines, heavier gauge in hail country and drainage plans for hillsides. See our cost guide.

Termites and humidity

Warm, humid summers favor subterranean termites and wood rot. Overflowing gutters soak fascia and trim, and roof water at the foundation keeps soil damp. Carrying water several feet away and keeping mulch thin along the foundation reduce the moisture termites need. See gutters and pests.

Choosing an installer in Arkansas

After a tornado or a hailstorm, contractors from neighboring states arrive within days. Before you sign, verify the company’s home improvement license with the Contractors Licensing Board for jobs over $2,000, ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly by the insurer and get a written contract that lists gutter size and gauge, hanger type and spacing, downspout size and locations, and how fascia repairs will be priced. On Ozark and Ouachita hillside homes, ask where each downspout will discharge and how the water will be carried past retaining walls, walkways and neighbors’ property. On Delta homes with crawl spaces, ask how far extensions will carry water and whether the grade around the house slopes away. A good installer will walk the property in the rain or look for staining and erosion before quoting. Keep copies of the license, insurance and contract with your home records. See how to choose a gutter contractor.

Sources

• National Weather Service Little Rock: Little Rock 1991–2020 normals
• National Weather Service Little Rock: Public information statement, March 31, 2023 tornado
• Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board: Residential and home improvement law
• HomeGuide: Seamless gutters cost
• HouseLogic (National Association of Realtors): Types of gutters and costs
• Angi: How much do gutter guards cost?