6-Inch vs 5-Inch Gutters

When most homeowners think about gutters, they focus on material and color. But gutter size is actually one of the most important factors determining whether your gutters will protect your home—or overflow during every heavy rain.

The two most common residential gutter sizes are 5-inch and 6-inch. That one-inch difference might seem trivial, but it has a massive impact on water handling capacity. Here's everything you need to know to make the right choice.

The Numbers: 5-Inch vs 6-Inch Capacity

Let's start with the math. Gutter capacity isn't linear—it's based on the cross-sectional area of the gutter channel.

That 40% increase in capacity makes a dramatic difference during heavy rainfall. When 5-inch gutters overflow, water pours down your siding, pools around your foundation, and can cause thousands of dollars in damage. 6-inch gutters keep handling the load.

Why Gutter Size Matters in Florida

Florida's rainfall patterns are uniquely challenging. Unlike regions with gentle, steady rain, Central Florida experiences:

• 50+ inches of annual rainfall—more than Seattle, despite fewer rainy days
• Intense summer thunderstorms that can dump 2-3 inches per hour
• Tropical storms and hurricanes with extreme rainfall rates
• Sudden downpours that go from dry to flooding in minutes

Standard 5-inch gutters were designed for climates with moderate, steady rainfall. They simply can't handle Florida's intense storms. During a typical summer thunderstorm, 5-inch gutters overflow—sometimes dramatically.

What Happens When Gutters Overflow

Gutter overflow isn't just an inconvenience—it causes real damage to your home:

Foundation Damage

When water overflows and pools around your foundation, it saturates the soil. Over time, this causes soil erosion, foundation settling, and cracks. Foundation repairs in Florida typically cost $5,000-$15,000 or more.

Fascia and Soffit Rot

Overflowing water runs down your fascia boards—the wooden boards behind your gutters. Constant moisture exposure causes rot, requiring expensive repairs and potentially allowing pests into your attic.

Siding Stains and Damage

Water cascading over gutters splashes against your siding, leaving stains and potentially causing water intrusion. Stucco homes are particularly vulnerable to this type of damage.

Landscape Erosion

Overflowing gutters dump concentrated water onto your landscaping, washing away mulch, eroding flower beds, and killing plants. The cost of landscape repairs adds up quickly.

5-Inch vs 6-Inch: Side-by-Side Comparison

The Cost Difference

6-inch gutters typically cost 10-20% more than 5-inch gutters. For a typical Orlando home with 175 linear feet of gutters, that's roughly $200-$400 more.

Compare that to the cost of foundation repairs ($5,000+), fascia replacement ($1,000+), or landscape restoration ($500+) caused by overflowing gutters. The upgrade to 6-inch gutters pays for itself many times over.

Don't Forget the Downspouts

Larger gutters require larger downspouts to drain efficiently. Standard 2x3 inch downspouts can become a bottleneck with 6-inch gutters, causing backup and overflow at the downspout outlets.

We recommend 3x4 inch rectangular downspouts or 4-inch round downspouts with 6-inch gutters. This ensures the entire system can handle Florida's heavy rainfall without backup.

When 5-Inch Gutters Are Acceptable

To be fair, 5-inch gutters aren't always wrong. They may be adequate for:

• Small structures like sheds or detached garages
• Regions with light, steady rainfall (not Florida)
• Homes with very small roof areas
• Tight budget situations where any gutter is better than none

However, for primary residences in Central Florida, we strongly recommend 6-inch gutters as the minimum standard.

Our Recommendation