How to Choose the Best Gutters for Your Home’s Region

Gutters are necessary in nearly every region in the U.S., especially areas that are prone to heavy rainfall. Modernize created this guide to help homeowners choose the best gutters for heavy rain by region and climate, as well as to better understand which gutter sizes will keep their gutters from overflowing during heavy rain.

Best Gutter Material by Climate and Region

New gutters are an excellent investment since they prevent water damage to siding, basements, windows, and foundations. Rain gutters are usually made from one of the following materials:

About 70 percent of all gutters installed today are made from seamless aluminum because it’s lightweight, durable and cost-effective compared to other types of gutter materials. Aluminum gutters can last 30 years or more when properly installed and routinely maintained. They are acceptable in all climates in the U.S., even states in the Southeast such as Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, and Georgia that usually experience heavy annual rainfall.

Vinyl gutters, meanwhile, are perfect for milder climate and also are acceptable in regions that see heavy precipitation. However, vinyl might not be the best choice of materials for parts of the country with cold and snowy winters, such as the Rocky Mountain or New England regions, since the vinyl can become brittle over time when exposed to prolonged freezing temperatures. 

Homeowners in rugged climates who have concerns about gutter durability may opt for galvanized steel, zinc, or even copper gutters over standard aluminum since those materials provide unmatched strength and longevity.

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Best Gutter Style by Climate and Region

Homeowners typically choose between two styles of gutters: Half-round and K-style. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. 

Half-round gutters look like a circle that’s been cut in half. This style of gutter is primarily found on older homes with historical architectural styles; however, they also pair well with contemporary architecture.

If you live in a rainy climate, it’s important to know that the shape of half-round gutters transports water faster, and it’s also a breeze to clean. Since they are shallow, though, half-round gutters don’t transport as much water as K-style gutters and may not be the best gutters for heavy rain. You can counter this by opting for a wider gutter – we’ll touch on sizes in the next section.

K-style gutters, on the other hand, are the most widely used gutter style in the U.S. They are naturally more rigid, so they offer greater longevity and durability. The K-style shape is taller than half-round gutters, so they transport greater volumes of water. However, they can be harder to clean.

Style is more of a personal preference. Both styles of gutters work well in harsh weather and milder climates, provided they are appropriately sized.

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Best Gutter Size by Climate and Region

The most common sizes for both K-style gutters and half-round gutters are 5-inch and 6-inch, but they are manufactured up to 8-inches wide. The best gutter size for your home depends on how much rainfall is typical in your region.

According to the National Weather Service, the eastern half of the U.S. from east Texas all the way up to Maine received between 40 and 70 inches of rain in 2021. The Gulf Coast states experienced the heaviest annual precipitation totals in that huge swath of country. Depending on the pitch of your roof as well as the roof’s overall square footage, a standard 5- or 6-inch gutter will work for this amount of rain. 

Parts of the rainy Pacific Northwest, meanwhile, experienced as much as 100 inches of rainfall. While a 5- or 6-inch gutter may also work here, your roof’s pitch/square footage may mean you need to go up to 7- or 8-inch gutters to ensure you do not see overflow.

The northern Great Plains, upper midwest, and south down to central Texas experienced the least precipitation. While there may be a few spots within this part of the country that can do without gutters altogether, a 5-inch gutter will typically be sufficient to ensure rain water is not pooling against the foundation of the home.

Rainfall totals are a primary factor when choosing the best gutter size by climate and region. Additional considerations that influence gutter size outside of annual precipitation include the square footage and pitch of your roof. 

A licensed gutter installation contractor will help you select the gutter size that’s appropriate to your region and climate.

How to Prep Gutters for Inclement Weather

It’s extremely important to keep your gutters free of debris, since leaves, twigs, dirt and other detritus will impede the flow of water through the gutter trough.

Gutter guards are a great way to prep your gutters for inclement weather. These screens cover the top of the gutter and keep debris from clogging the gutter trough. 

If you don’t have gutter guards, you’ll probably want to clean your gutters at least once a year, preferably prior to the start of your region’s rainy or snowy season. You’ll also want to visually inspect your gutters for any damage and leaks. You can test-run your gutters with water from a hose. 

Lastly, make sure the water exiting the downspouts is not pooling and is moving away from your foundation.