Slope, solved

Gutter Pitch Calculator

Turn a run and a measured drop into a true pitch, or pick a pitch and read the drop — with a live diagram and an instant in-range check.

Find your gutter pitch
Live

Enter the run and the height drop between the high end and the outlet — the pitch appears below.

Live preview — the gutter tilts to your pitch
level reference drop run HIGH END LOW END →
Gutter (sloped) Water flow Level reference
Enter a run and a drop — the pitch appears here.
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The gutter pitch calculator opens on Check pitch because the most common question is "what pitch does my gutter actually have?" Enter the run and the height drop and it returns the pitch as inches per foot, a grade percentage, a 1:X ratio and an angle, then tells you whether it falls inside the typical drainage band. Switch to Drop to design a new run from a chosen pitch, or Max run to see how far a pitch will carry a given drop.

Pitch reference

Common gutter pitches

PitchIn/ftGradeVerdict
1/4 in / 10 ft0.0250.21%Minimum
1/2 in / 10 ft0.050.42%Good general pitch
1/16 in / ft0.06250.52%Common residential
1/8 in / ft0.1251.04%Steep, fast
1/4 in / ft0.252.08%Very steep
Interactive — pick a pitch, drag the run
level reference fall HIGH

Prefer to think in drop per foot rather than pitch? The gutter slope per foot tool focuses on that, and the slope angle tool converts any pitch to degrees.

Frequently asked

Questions answered

What is gutter pitch?
Gutter pitch is the slope of a gutter — how far it drops vertically over its horizontal run. It is usually quoted in inches of drop per foot of run, and the minimum is commonly 1/4 inch over every 10 feet.
How do I calculate gutter pitch?
Divide the measured drop by the run: pitch = drop ÷ run. A gutter that falls 1 inch over 20 feet has a pitch of 1 ÷ 20 = 0.05 in/ft, or 1/2 inch per 10 feet. Use the Check pitch mode to do this in any unit.
What pitch should a gutter be?
Aim for the typical band of 1/4 inch per 10 feet up to about 1/16 inch per foot. Shallower risks ponding; much steeper looks tilted and can overshoot the outlet.
Is gutter pitch the same as roof pitch?
No. Roof pitch is the steep rise of the roof itself, often in the range of several inches per foot. Gutter pitch is a very gentle drainage slope, a tiny fraction of an inch per foot, set so water creeps to the outlet.
How do I check the pitch of an existing gutter?
Measure the run to the outlet and the height difference between the high end and the outlet end, then enter both. The calculator returns the realized pitch and flags whether it sits inside the typical range.

Need the full gutter slope toolkit?

Switch between drop, slope check, max run and downspout planning on the main calculator — with the same live diagram.

Open the main calculator