Guttering Replacement Cost UK: uPVC, Cast Iron and Aluminium

The guttering replacement cost you should expect depends on three things: the material, how much of the run needs doing, and whether the job needs scaffolding. Get those straight and a quote stops being a mystery. This guide gives the 2026 UK figures for uPVC, aluminium and cast iron, breaks them down by house size, and flags the extras that quietly push the total up. Prices are typical ranges for supply and fit, not fixed quotes, and vary by region and access.

Cost per metre by material

Guttering is usually priced per metre, supplied and fitted. As a rough guide for 2026:

• uPVC: around £30 to £50 per metre. The default choice for most homes, cheap, light and low-maintenance.
• Aluminium: around £55 to £180 per metre. Longer-lasting than uPVC, often seamless, and a middle option on both looks and price.
• Cast iron: around £85 to £275 per metre. Heavy, traditional and often required on period or conservation-area properties. It is the most expensive to buy, fit and later maintain.

The spread within each material comes from profile (deeper, higher-capacity gutters cost more), colour or finish, and how tricky the fixing is.

Whole-house cost by property size

Most homeowners care about the total, not the per-metre rate. Typical fully installed figures for a straightforward job:

• Mid-terrace: roughly £400 to £650 in uPVC, or £700 to £1,100 in aluminium.
• Semi-detached (3-bed): roughly £600 to £1,000 in uPVC, rising to £1,000 to £1,600 in aluminium.
• Detached: more again, because there is simply more gutter run and often more corners and downpipes.

Cast iron on any of these can run well beyond the aluminium figures, especially where the old cast iron has to be carefully removed and disposed of.

Labour, scaffolding and the extras

The headline material price is rarely the whole story. Watch for these on a quote:

• Labour: a two-person team is often around £150 to £250 a day, and most domestic gutter jobs are done in a day or two.
• Scaffolding or access: where a tower or scaffold is needed for a two-storey house, add roughly £250 to £500. On a bungalow or with ladder access, this may be nil.
• Removal and disposal of the old guttering: around £50 to £150, more if it is cast iron, which is heavy and awkward to take down.
• New fascias and soffits: if the timber behind the gutter is rotten, it often makes sense to do it at the same time. See our separate guide to fascia and soffit replacement cost.

A quote should itemise these separately. If someone gives you a single lump sum, ask them to split out material, labour and scaffolding so you can compare fairly.

Should you repair or replace?

Not every gutter problem needs a full replacement. A sagging section, a leaking joint or a blocked run can often be fixed for far less, and a clean is cheaper still. Our gutter cleaning cost guide covers that end of the scale. Replacement makes sense when the gutters are cracked in several places, the brackets are failing along the run, or the material has become brittle with age. Patch-fixing a system that is on its last legs is usually money wasted.

How to keep the cost fair

• Get at least three itemised quotes and make sure they are pricing the same material and profile.
• Confirm whether scaffolding is included or extra before work starts.
• Ask what happens if rotten fascia is found once the old gutter is off, so there are no surprises mid-job.
• Choose a contractor who is a member of a recognised trade body. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors lets you check membership.

If the guttering problem turned up alongside other roof issues, it is worth understanding the bigger picture first. Our new roof cost guide sets out where guttering sits in a larger job.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to replace guttering on a whole house? For a typical semi-detached home in 2026, expect roughly £600 to £1,000 for uPVC and £1,000 to £1,600 for aluminium, fully installed. A mid-terrace is less, and a detached house more, because the total gutter run is longer. Scaffolding, if needed, is usually an extra £250 to £500.

Which is cheaper, uPVC or aluminium guttering? uPVC is the cheaper option, usually around £30 to £50 per metre supplied and fitted, against roughly £55 to £180 for aluminium. Aluminium costs more up front but tends to last longer and can be fitted seamlessly, so some homeowners see it as better value over time.

Why is cast iron guttering so expensive? Cast iron costs more to buy, is heavy and slow to fit safely, and often needs more than one person to handle each length. Removal of old cast iron adds to the bill too. It is usually chosen for period homes or where a conservation area requires the original look.

Do I need scaffolding to replace guttering? It depends on the height and access. A single-storey extension or bungalow can often be done from ladders or a tower, but a two-storey house usually needs a scaffold or access tower for safety, adding roughly £250 to £500. Always check whether the quote includes it.

How long does gutter replacement take? Most domestic gutter replacements are completed in one to two days by a two-person team, depending on the size of the property and whether scaffolding has to be put up first. Adding new fascias and soffits at the same time will extend the job.