Gutter Downspout Calculator

Estimate your roof's peak water flow and the number of downspouts needed to drain it.

How to use

  1. Enter your values in the fields above.
  2. Press Calculate to see your result instantly.
  3. Use the Share button to copy a link to your result.

About this calculator

This calculator estimates peak roof runoff using the Rational Method, Q = C·i·A, where C is a runoff coefficient close to 1.0 for a roof surface, i is local rainfall intensity in inches or millimeters per hour, and A is the roof's plan area, then converts that flow into a downspout count using the rule of thumb that one square inch of downspout cross-section drains roughly 100 square feet of roof area at typical storm intensities.

Roofing contractors and gutter installers use this sizing to decide between 2×3 inch and 3×4 inch downspouts and to determine how many are needed on a given roof, since undersized or too-few downspouts cause gutters to overflow during heavy storms, leading to fascia rot and foundation water damage.

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