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Gutter Colors on Houses: How to Choose the Best Option

Updated

March 25, 2025

Author

Leaf Home

Read Time

5 minutes

Gutter colors on houses may seem like a small detail, but choosing the right shade can greatly impact your home’s curb appeal. The color of your gutters can blend seamlessly with your exterior or create a modern look that makes a bold statement.

Gutter color isn’t just about looks. Lighter shades tend to show dirt and stains more easily, while dark color options can provide a striking contrast. The best choice for your home is about more than just looks—it also impacts maintenance and durability. With our home architecture expertise, we help you choose gutters that match your roof and blend with your home’s design. Whether you want a subtle look or a bold statement, LeafFilter provides expert guidance and quality solutions.

Choosing the Right Gutter Color

Choosing the right gutter color isn’t just about looks—it shapes your home’s style. Matching the gutters to your home’s design creates a seamless, polished appearance, boosting curb appeal and resale value. A well-blended color makes gutters appear a natural part of the home. Darker shades add contrast, drawing attention to the roofline and accentuating the home’s design. If you live in an HOA neighborhood, be sure to check color rules before deciding.

Beyond curb appeal, the color of your gutters impacts maintenance. Lighter shades, like white and beige, tend to highlight dirt and stains, requiring more frequent cleaning out. Darker gutters or earth tones like brown and forest green camouflage dirt more effectively, making them a good option for low-maintenance homes. Material matters too–aluminum and copper develop a patina over time, subtly altering their appearance. Consider your local climate, personal style, and maintenance needs to pick the best choice for your home.

Matching Gutters with Your Home Exterior

Gutters affect your home’s overall look. Whether blending in or creating contrast, the color of your gutters should complement your roof, siding, and trim to enhance curb appeal. Below, we’ll cover how to coordinate gutter colors with your home’s exterior, architectural style, and design goals.

Coordinating with Siding, Trim, and Roof Color

Choosing the right gutter color means coordinating it with your home’s features. Experts suggest selecting a color that complements the roof or trim. White gutters complement homes with white siding and trim, while dark-colored gutters work well with modern designs with bold exterior colors. For a more subtle option, consider muted tones like gray, beige, or brown.

Considering Architectural Style

Different architectural styles play a role in gutter color selection. Traditional homes suit classic shades like white gutters, beige gutters, or brown gutters. Modern homes look sleek with black gutters or dark blue options. Farmhouse-style homes pair well with white or faux copper gutters, while craftsman-style homes complement forest green or gray, blending with wood and stone.

Using Color to Enhance or Minimize Gutters

If you want gutters to blend in, you should choose the same color as your roof or trim. To make gutters stand out, a contrasting gutter color can create a bold statement. For example, black gutters on a white house provide a dramatic look, while brown gutters on a red brick exterior create a warm, natural effect that complements earthy tones. Commercial buildings and contemporary homes often opt for bold or metallic gutter colors to enhance their exterior design.

Popular Gutter Color Options

Gutters add the perfect finishing touch to your home’s exterior. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular colors and why homeowners love them:

White gutters: A timeless choice that blends effortlessly with traditional and light-colored homes. If you love a crisp, clean look, white is a classic go-to. Just keep in mind that it may show dirt more easily.
Black gutters: A favorite for modern and contemporary homes, black gutters create bold contrast and sleek lines, especially when paired with dark roofs and trim. They also tend to hide dirt better than lighter options.
Brown gutters: A warm, earthy option that pairs beautifully with wood or brick exteriors. Brown blends naturally into its surroundings, making it a great choice for rustic, craftsman, or traditional homes.
Gray gutters: The ultimate neutral. Whether your home leans modern, traditional, or somewhere in between, gray gutters offer versatility and an understated, polished look.
Custom colors: Want something unique? Many homeowners opt for custom gutter colors to match their trim, siding, or even a bold architectural feature. If you’re looking to personalize your home’s style, custom is the way to go!

Painted vs. Prefinished Gutters: What’s Best?

Choosing between painted and prefinished gutters comes down to flexibility vs. durability. Here’s how they compare:

Painted Gutters: These are great if you want a custom color to match your home perfectly. They offer flexibility, but the downside? Paint can fade, chip, or peel over time, meaning you may need to repaint them down the road. If you love the idea of switching up your home’s look in the future, painted gutters might be the way to go—just be ready for a little extra maintenance.

Prefinished Gutters: These come factory-coated in a variety of colors designed to resist fading, chipping, and rusting. They’re a low-maintenance, long-lasting option that holds up better in harsh weather. While you won’t have as many customization options, you won’t have to worry about repainting them later.

Maintenance & Longevity of Different Gutter Colors

Gutter color affects how much maintenance is needed. Light-colored gutters show dirt, mildew, and stains more easily, so they need to be cleaned out more often. Darker gutters hide dirt well, requiring less upkeep, but they may fade faster in sunny, hot climates. Weather affects gutter maintenance, too. Heavy rain and mud can stain any color, so consider your climate when choosing a finish.

LeafFilter’s Gutter Protection System comes with our high-performance Enduralast™ gutter coating system, specifically formulated to keep your gutters looking new for longer. Available in the popular colors of white, linen, clay, brown, and black, the Enduralast™ gutter coating system keeps gutters looking fresh by preventing stains and tiger striping, protecting against sun damage, and resisting wear and tear.

Learn more about LeafFilter’s gutter protection system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do gutter colors fade over time?

Yes, exposure to the sun and extreme weather can cause gutter colors to fade gradually. Prefinished gutters with UV-resistant coatings last longer than painted gutters.

Should gutters match the fascia or roof?

Matching gutters to the fascia or roof creates a cohesive look, while a contrasting color can make gutters a focal point. Choosing a color that blends well with the home’s architectural style is the best way to enhance curb appeal.

What’s the most popular gutter color?

White gutters remain the most popular choice because they match many home exteriors and create a clean, classic look. Black, gray, and brown gutters are also widely used for their versatility and modern appeal.

Can you repaint gutters if you change your home’s color scheme?

Yes, gutters can be repainted to match a new exterior color scheme. Homeowners should clean out and prime gutters before applying exterior-grade acrylic latex paint for the best results.

What is the best gutter color for a red brick house?

Brown and copper gutters are popular choices for red brick homes, as they complement the warm, earthy tones of the brick. Black or dark gray gutters may provide a modern contrast, depending on the overall exterior design.

Do dark-colored gutters get hotter and expand more?

Yes, dark gutters (like black or dark brown) absorb more heat, which can cause them to expand and contract more than lighter-colored gutters. While this usually doesn’t cause damage, homeowners in extreme climates may find lighter colors more sustainable.

Are there gutter colors that hide dirt better?

Yes, darker gutters (such as brown, black, or dark gray) hide dirt and stains better than white or light-colored gutters, which often need more frequent cleaning out.

Do HOAs have restrictions on gutter colors?

Some Homeowner Associations (HOAs) have rules on exterior colors, including gutters. It’s always a good idea to check with your HOA before choosing a bold or custom gutter color.

What gutter color works best for a modern look?

For a modern aesthetic, homeowners often choose black, dark gray, or even metallic gutters. These colors create sleek, bold lines that enhance contemporary architectural styles.