What gutter guards fit 5 inch gutters?
Measure before you buy
The 5-inch label refers to the approximate width across the top of a K-style gutter. Measure your own at several points: from the inside edge of the front lip straight back to the inside of the back wall. Older gutters, dented runs and gutters pulled away from the fascia can measure differently from end to end, and a guard that is too narrow will drop in while one too wide will bow.
Check the hangers and lip
Hidden hangers clip inside the front lip and screw through the back into the fascia. Most guards are designed to sit over them, but some clip-in styles collide with the hanger and need notching. Old spike and ferrule hangers run through the gutter face and can interfere with screw-down guards; replacing them with hidden hangers first is cheap insurance.
Which styles work on 5-inch gutters
- Micro-mesh with an aluminum frame. Best all-round performance on needles, leaves and grit.
- Perforated aluminum. Fine for broadleaf trees, weaker on pine needles.
- Snap-in screens. Budget option; expect more maintenance.
Some universal guards claim to fit both 5 and 6 inch gutters with different brackets. They can work, but a guard made for your exact size usually sits flatter and stays put.
When the gutter, not the guard, is the problem
A 5-inch gutter under a large or steep roof plane can be undersized in a Georgia cloudburst, and a guard slightly reduces how fast water can enter. If you already see overflow at inside corners with clean gutters, consider moving to 6-inch gutters before buying guards. See gutter sizing, seamless gutters and guards.