LeafFilter is one of the most well-known gutter guard brands on the market, but is it effective at preventing your gutters from clogging? We assessed the quality of LeafFilter’s product by thoroughly testing a floor model of its gutter guard system. We also surveyed 129 LeafFilter customers, read hundreds of customer reviews, and analyzed LeafFilter’s warranty and service offerings.

We recommend LeafFilter as one of the best gutter guards on the market and believe it is worth the cost for most homeowners. This professional gutter guard installer is a good choice for preventing debris buildup in your gutters and simplifying regular gutter cleaning. We especially like LeafFilter’s micro-mesh screen, ease of cleaning, and excellent customer reviews. In the guide below, we’ll share our findings to help you decide whether the LeafFilter gutter guard system is right for your home and gutter needs.

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How We Rated LeafFilter Gutter Guards

We rated LeafFilter against our objective review standards based on the criteria homeowners find most important. LeafFilter was awarded points in each category, the total of which determined its final star rating of 4.7 out of 5. Here’s a breakdown of these categories and how LeafFilter performed in each:

• Design: LeafFilter’s three-piece system, high-quality material, and impressive construction earned it a strong score. It lost points for its uPVC frame.
• Customer support: LeafFilter’s lifetime transferable warranty and multiple communication channels earned it full points.
• Quote process: LeafFilter earned full points in this category for its free inspections, polite sales representatives, and quotes that are good for one year.
• Services: LeafFilter offers additional services alongside its product installations, including gutter cleaning and repair, earning it full points.
• Customer reviews: LeafFilter’s strong scores across these sites earn it full points.

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What Are the Pros and Cons of LeafFilter Gutter Guards?

We were impressed by LeafFilter’s gutter guard system. We awarded it the highest score of any gutter guard we reviewed. In addition to testing the product firsthand, we read customer reviews, analyzed its warranty, and reviewed the company’s service offerings.

LeafFilter provides one of the most well-made and best-performing micro-mesh gutter guards on the market. It also has the highest average customer review score of any gutter guard company we analyzed. However, this quality comes with a high price tag.

What Sets LeafFilter Apart?

We were impressed by the effectiveness of LeafFilter’s product. The company provided us with a floor model of its gutter guard system to test firsthand. Its micro-mesh screen, uPVC frame, and aluminum gutters blocked debris while filtering water efficiently.

LeafFilter blocked large and small debris and proved to be a top gutter guard for preventing pine needles, one of the most common items found in gutters. We applied a debris assortment that included deciduous tree leaves, long- and short-leaf pine needles, twigs, seedpods, pine cones, and shingle grit to test its debris-blocking capabilities. The only debris that got through the filter was dirt and other micro-debris. We even tried to force pine needles between the screen and the uPVC frame, but the needles broke before bypassing the guard.

We also like LeafFilter’s warranty. It lasts for the lifetime of your home and is transferable to new owners, making it one of the most generous gutter guard warranties we’ve seen. LeafFilter will refund the entire material cost of your system if it overflows or causes water damage due to manufacturer error.

Weaknesses of LeafFilter

While we like the quality of LeafFilter’s product, it has a few downsides, including high price and the products susceptibility to ice dams.

Like most home service providers, LeafFilter doesn’t post pricing information on its website. However, our survey of LeafFilter customers revealed an average cost of $4,150 for 150 linear feet or $5,528 for 200 linear feet. This figure is slightly more than the average cost of other professional gutter guard providers and a good amount more than DIY products.

Another downside of LeafFilter is that it doesn’t provide independent cleaning and repair services. LeafFilter can and will clean, repair, or install your gutters, but only as an additional service after purchasing its gutter guard. Many other gutter companies offer these services independently.

Finally, LeafFilter, like many other gutter guards, can make your gutters more susceptible to ice dams. If you live in an area with heavy snowfall or cold winters, we recommend installing products such as heat tape to counteract ice dams and making sure your attic is properly ventilated.

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How Does LeafFilter Compare To Other Gutter Guards?

LeafFilter received the highest score of any professionally installed gutter guard provider in our objective review standards. LeafFilter’s gutter guard system stands out because of the quality of its materials and design. Many gutter guard installers use low-end parts such as aluminum and PVC for their filters, while LeafFilter uses stainless steel. Its micro-mesh screen and tightly set frame are impressive; during testing, we tried to force debris through the gaps between the screen and filter and couldn’t get a single pine needle to penetrate it.

While we rated LeafFilter as the best overall, other companies offer unique benefits that may make them a better fit for your needs. When we compare LeafFilter to Leafguard, a leading brand name in the industry, we observe that Leafguard offers a reverse-curve guard with impressive self-cleaning properties. Its unique one-piece installation is a gutter and gutter guard system in one, so it could be a good fit for your home if you need new gutters. HomeCraft is another quality micro-mesh gutter option, but it’s only available in 12 states.

How LeafFilter Compares to DIY Alternatives

You can choose between a professionally installed system or an independently produced do-it-yourself (DIY) product when installing gutter guards. DIY products are less expensive than professional brands because you don’t have to pay for labor. However, DIY gutter guards are not right for most homeowners because of the difficult and dangerous installation process. You can expect to pay between $600 and $800 to install DIY gutter guards on a 200-foot gutter system. The average length of a gutter system for a 2,000-square-foot home is between 100 and 200 linear feet.

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How Much Do LeafFilter Gutter Guards Cost?

We recently surveyed 129 LeafFilter customers and our research shows that LeafFilter gutter guards cost an average of $4,150 for 150 linear feet of gutters or $28 per linear foot. Based on our survey, the typical cost range for LeafFilter installation is between $3,000 and $7,000.

In addition to our survey, we also analyzed customer reviews on websites such as BBB and Trustpilot to determine typical cost figures for LeafFilter. We noted any reviews that mentioned price and recorded the total linear feet of their gutter systems if mentioned. This range is based on the reviews that included both cost and linear feet. 

The lowest reported cost of a LeafFilter system was $2,400, while the highest reported cost was $8,000. We obtained a sample size of 23 reviews that shared the cost of their LeafFilter systems and determined an average of nearly $4,000. Note that most reviews didn’t mention the total linear feet of the system. 

These figures are estimates. Each gutter installation project is different, and factors such as your home height, total length of guttering, your gutter system’s current condition, and even your landscaping can affect the cost of gutter guard installation. To get an accurate estimate for your installation, contact LeafFilter to schedule a free inspection.

Is LeafFilter Worth the Cost?

Despite a price that might seem high, we believe that LeafFilter gutter guards are worth the investment for homeowners who are looking for a long-term solution to clogged gutters and overflowing water. The product reduces gutter cleaning maintenance and was the best-performing micro-mesh gutter guard during our testing. It displayed more efficient filtration than other types of gutter guards, even other popular micro-mesh designs.

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What Does LeafFilter’s Warranty Cover?

We read through LeafFilter’s entire warranty and found it to be generous, especially compared to other gutter guard providers. Most gutter guard companies provide some guarantee by promising to clean or repair the system in the event of clogging. Few companies provide warranties that offer tangible financial protection. 

LeafFilter’s lifetime warranty covers repairs or provides a refund if its gutter guard ever clogs and causes water to overflow and damage your home. Like all warranties, LeafFilter’s policy comes with coverage restrictions and limitations, including the following:

• The warranty does not cover damage to gutters, fascia boards, roof substrates, or surfaces caused by the installation of LeafFilter products.
• The warranty is void if the LeafFilter product sustains damage from structural changes, adjacent trees or plant life, or an uncontrollable act of nature.
• The warranty is void if the product is modified or altered from its original installation or if any willful action is taken to impede or restrict the flow of water through the gutter system.
• An improper number of downspouts may limit the water-carrying capacity of the gutter system, and the resulting overflow is not covered by the warranty.

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What Are the Reviews of LeafFilter From Customers?

After researching LeafFilter and other gutter guard providers, we discovered that it has one of the highest customer review scores in the industry. The company boasts an average of 4 to 4.4 out of 5 stars across independent review sites. 

LeafFilter has an A+ rating and accreditation on its BBB page and more than 6,000 BBB reviews, which average just below 4 out of 5 stars. LeafFilter has more than 122,000 reviews on Trustpilot, 83% of which are 4 to 5 stars. Many customers share the sentiment that LeafFilter performs well. Recent reviews noted the professionalism and friendliness of LeafFilter’s staff and installation crews. Other positive reviews mention how quickly the installers work.

We also reviewed more than a dozen pages of negative reviews and noted two major themes from unsatisfied customers: high prices and inconsistent installation quality. Some reviewers noted that the price they were initially quoted by sales representatives was high, only for LeafFilter to apply discounts to lower costs to a more acceptable rate. Other critical reviews mention leaks, unprofessional installation crews, and poor cleanup.

While these complaints may appear contradictory to the praises in other reviews, LeafFilter is a nationwide company with nearly 100 branch locations, and it’s unsurprising that quality varies from crew to crew. Because of this, we recommend reviewing your local branch’s online reviews to ensure that its performance reflects LeafFilter’s high standards.

You can take preemptive steps to avoid these issues by being firm with your LeafFilter sales representative and installation crew. Be direct and clear regarding your budget during the free quote process, and don’t be afraid to negotiate. If you notice poor reviews for your local LeafFilter branch location, address your concerns with your representative and crew. We recommend asking them directly if they plan to clean up the worksite and insisting on reviewing the work after it’s been installed. Below you will find a sampling of customer reviews of LeafFilter, both positive and negative.

What Does Reddit Think?

LeafFilter users on Reddit have mixed opinions on the gutter guard product. Many users find LeafFilter to be effective and hassle free. They found they rarely, if ever, have to clean their gutter, which enables them to skip out on potentially dangerous gutter maintenance on houses with multiple stories.
On the other hand, less satisfied users note that LeafFilter can be very expensive, to the point that it might be preferable to just pay for regular gutter cleanings instead.

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How Did LeafFilter Perform in Testing?

When testing LeafFilter’s gutter guard system, its filtration and ease of cleaning were two major categories we assessed. We applied an assortment of debris to the guard and the roof shingles above it, including deciduous tree leaves, pine needles, twigs, pine cones, and shingle grit. The filter kept out all the debris other than minute dirt particles. 

We applied water to the system at varying speeds to see how much rainfall it could filter before overflowing. The system performed well, overflowing only in extreme downpour conditions and pushing most debris to the ground. Some material remained on the guard despite LeafFilter’s built-in pitch, including pine needles and small tree leaves. 

What material remained was easy to clean. We used a brush, gloved hands, and direct water application to remove debris from the system. We noted that the LeafFilter system removed 70% of debris by self-cleaning during our water passage and cleanability tests; the remaining 30% was removable with a light brushing. We concluded that a LeafFilter system could be cleaned from a ladder with a garden hose or brush attached to an extendable pole or wand. LeafFilter was one of the easiest systems to clean out of the dozen products we tested.

How We Tested LeafFilter

We contacted LeafFilter to obtain a product to test. LeafFilter sent us a showroom model of a replica roof and siding with a 1-foot-by-2-foot section of a LeafFilter gutter guard system. 

We applied the following tests to determine the gutter guard’s overall effectiveness and quality: 

• Durability and build assessment: We analyzed the gutter guard’s general construction by inspecting its connectors, seams, seals, and screen. 
• Debris filtration test: We applied debris to the gutter guard and shingles, including deciduous tree leaves, pine needles and cones, twigs, seedpods, and shingle grit. We applied water to the guard, then checked the inside of the gutters and water collection system for any debris that made it past the guard. 
• Water passage test: To simulate rainfall, we poured water on the model’s roof at different speeds and intensities. Then, we measured how much water the gutter guard system could handle before overflowing.
• Cleanability test: We noted how much of the debris was washed away when we applied water to the filter. We also tested how easy it was to remove debris (both wet and dry) from the system using standard cleaning methods, such as brushing the guard with a soft bristle brush.

Note: While we consider the results of these tests in our objective rating methodology, this testing is separate from our overall assessment of LeafFilter and other gutter guard providers. When assessing gutter guard companies against our objective review standards, we consider factors such as services offered, customer reviews, warranties, and product quality and design. LeafFilter testing refined our understanding of its product performance but did not replace our ratings and review standards. If a product is not available for testing, we do not deduct points from its overall score.

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How Does LeafFilter Work?

LeafFilter uses a patented three-piece system comprising a screen, a frame, and hidden hangers. The filter uses a 275-micron micro-mesh, surgical-grade stainless steel screen. A micron is a unit of measurement that’s 1 millionth of a meter or 39 millionths of an inch. For context, a human hair is between 10 and 100 microns in diameter. 

As its name suggests, surgical-grade steel is the same material used in biomedical applications. The Society of Automotive Engineers loosely defines surgical-grade steel as alloys containing corrosion-resistant nickel and chromium. 

LeafFilter uses this high-end material and tightly woven mesh design to make a filter that is long-lasting and corrosion-resistant and can block most materials from entering your gutters. This screen is set with a uPVC frame (a variation of PVC) and supported by a series of hidden hangers. This three-piece system is effective at keeping out the majority of debris while withstanding harsh weather conditions. 

How Are LeafFilter Gutter Guards Installed?

LeafFilter’s gutter guard system can only be installed by a trained LeafFilter technician. The company doesn’t sell its guards as a DIY product. LeafFilter’s quote and installation process is quick and easy. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect when you sign up for LeafFilter gutter guard installation:

• Initial Contact: Reach out to LeafFilter via its website, phone number, or online form.
• Free Quote: LeafFilter will reach out to you and schedule a time for a free inspection and quote. A LeafFilter salesperson will arrive at your home and assess the factors that can impact your quote, such as your current gutter condition, roof slope, and total length of guttering. The sales rep will then generate a quote and answer any questions you may have. LeafFilter’s quotes are guaranteed for one year, so you can obtain a quote and then shop around and compare it to other offers.
• Quote agreement follow-up: If you decide that LeafFilter’s system is right for you, contact LeafFilter and set an appointment for gutter guard installation.
• Installation: On the scheduled date, one or more technicians will arrive at your home. The installation process begins with thorough gutter cleaning and repairs. The technicians will clean your entire system, identify spots that need to be repaired, and fix them. Once needed repairs are complete, they’ll begin installing your new system. If you purchased new gutters along with the guards, they’ll start by uninstalling your old gutters and then installing your new gutters. Once your gutters are ready, they’ll screw the hidden hangers directly into the fascia board, then place the micro-mesh guard on top. This process takes one full workday.
• Cleanup: After the technicians install your gutter guard, they’ll clean up the remaining debris, including any old gutter sections that were replaced. The installer will present photos of the newly installed gutter guard and answer any questions you may have before departing.

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FAQ About LeafFilter Gutter Guards

Does LeafFilter install gutters?

Yes, LeafFilter installs gutters. LeafFilter’s technicians are fully trained gutter technicians capable of installing new gutters and downspouts.

What is the average customer satisfaction rating for LeafFilter gutter guards?

The average customer satisfaction rating for LeafFilter gutter guards is between 4 and 4.4 out of 5 stars across independent review sites including Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Google Reviews.

Can you install LeafFilter on existing gutters?

LeafFilter can be installed on existing gutters. However, LeafFilter can’t be installed DIY. A LeafFilter technician must install the gutter guards on your gutter system.

Can LeafFilter handle heavy rain?

Yes, LeafFilter is one of the best gutter guards for heavy rain. We tested LeafFilter’s gutter guards firsthand and noted that it was able to filter all but the heaviest water applications without overflowing.

What is the downside of LeafFilter?

LeafFilter has two main downsides: its high cost and lack of additional service offerings. Customer responses indicate that LeafFilter’s gutter guards cost more than industry standards. Also, while LeafFilter offers gutter repairs, cleaning, and installations, it only performs these additional services when you purchase a gutter guard system.

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Our Rating Methodology

We back up our gutter guard recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each gutter guard product and provider. We conduct research by reviewing product specifications and provider website information, speaking with customer representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score each provider against our review standards for gutter guard design, customer support, the quote process, services, and reviews to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.  

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.