Gutter Installation in Minnesota

Local know-how

Gutters and gutter guards in Minnesota

Minnesota winters are some of the harshest in the country. Gutters must carry heavy snow load and a surge of spring meltwater, so heavy-duty seamless gutters and oversized downspouts are standard.

Lake country cabins and homes surrounded by trees benefit from guards. Duluth and the North Shore see heavy snow and wind off Lake Superior.

In Rochester, Mankato and St. Cloud, heavy-duty gutters with oversized downspouts help manage spring meltwater, and guards keep leaves out before winter.

Key facts: gutters in Minnesota

• Typical cost: HomeGuide puts seamless aluminum gutters at about $6 to $12 per linear foot installed nationally; local prices vary.
• Do gutter installers need a license in Minnesota? Contractors offering more than one special skill need a DLI license; single-skill contractors generally register. Gutter jobs with fascia or roofing work may need a license.
• How much snow do the Twin Cities get? About 51.2 inches a year at MSP Airport under the 1991–2020 normals; Duluth and the north get much more.
• 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.

Snow country

The Twin Cities average about 30.6 inches of precipitation and 51.2 inches of snow a year at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport under NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals. Duluth and the North Shore get much more snow, and northern Minnesota has some of the coldest winters in the lower 48. Spring brings snowmelt and rain on frozen ground; summer brings thunderstorms and hail.

For gutters, winter is the main test. See snow load and gutters.

Ice dams

The University of Minnesota Extension has published widely used guidance on ice dams: heat escaping into the attic melts snow that refreezes at the cold eaves, backing water under shingles. Gutters do not cause ice dams, but heavy ice tears them off. Hidden hangers screwed into the rafter tails at close spacing (Angi recommends about 2 feet apart where heavy snow is common), heavier-gauge aluminum and downspouts that discharge where meltwater will not freeze on walks are the gutter side of the fix; air sealing and insulation are the lasting solution. See ice dams and gutters and heat cables for gutters.

Older homes and suburbs

Minneapolis and St. Paul have stucco and clapboard homes from the early 1900s, some with built-in gutters, while the suburbs are full of ramblers and split-levels from the 1950s to 1980s with original or patched sectional gutters under maples and oaks. Many of those systems are due for replacement. See box gutters on old homes and signs you need new gutters.

Basements and spring melt

Basements are standard in Minnesota, and spring melt is the high-risk season: snow piled against the foundation, frozen downspout extensions and rain on frozen ground all send water toward basement walls. Shovel snow away from the foundation, reattach extensions after winter, and use flip-up extensions or buried lines that survive snow removal. See wet basement? check your gutters first.

Cabins up north

Lake cabins across northern Minnesota sit under pines, spruces and birches, with heavy snow and often metal roofs. Snow guards, strong hangers and fine-mesh metal guards help gutters survive. See gutters for log homes and cabins.

Freeze-thaw and downspouts

On sunny winter days, snow on the roof melts and runs into gutters and downspouts, then refreezes overnight. Downspouts can freeze solid, and meltwater backs up in the gutter. Larger 3x4-inch downspouts, correct slope, extensions that drain fully, and heat cables on problem downspouts keep water moving. Make sure discharge does not freeze on driveways and walks. See downspout size and placement.

Minnesota licensing

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) licenses residential building contractors and remodelers who contract directly with homeowners and offer more than one “special skill.” Contractors who offer only one skill (other than roofing) generally register with DLI instead of holding the full license. A gutter job that includes fascia carpentry or roofing work can fall under the license requirement. Ask for the license or registration number and verify it with DLI.

Minnesota areas we cover

• Minneapolis–St. Paul: ice dams, older homes, suburbs, Angi cost data.

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

Costs and choices

Angi reports Minneapolis gutter projects averaging about $1,130, with most between about $676 and $1,596; HomeGuide puts seamless aluminum at about $6 to $12 per foot nationally. In Minnesota, close hanger spacing, heavier gauge and snow-friendly guards are worth the extra cost. Late summer and early fall are the best time to schedule replacement. See our cost guide.

Hail and summer storms

Minnesota summers bring severe thunderstorms with hail and straight-line winds. Hail dents thin gutters and strips shingle granules into them; strong winds pull loose gutters off. Heavier-gauge gutters, strapped downspouts and guards that fasten down hold up best. After storms, document damage with photos before repairs. See hail-damaged gutters.

Sources

• Climate of Minneapolis–Saint Paul (NOAA 1991–2020 normals)
• University of Minnesota Extension: Dealing with and preventing ice dams
• Angi: How far apart should gutter hangers be?
• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry: Residential contractors, remodelers, roofers
• Angi: How much does gutter installation cost in Minneapolis, MN?
• Angi: How much does gutter guard installation cost in Minneapolis, MN?
• HomeGuide: Seamless gutters cost