Gutter hangers are sized to the gutter, and a 5-inch hanger will not sit properly in a 6-inch trough. Before you order, measure. It takes a minute and it saves a return.
How to measure, and the mistake almost everyone makes
Measure across the open top of the gutter, from the back wall to the inside of the front lip. Do not measure the outside face, and do not measure around the curve of the profile. Both of those give you a bigger number and send you to the wrong size.
Put a tape across the opening at a point where the gutter is straight and not deformed. You will get something close to 5 inches or close to 6 inches, and there is enough of a gap between the two that it is hard to confuse once you are measuring the right dimension.
If the run is out of shape at the point you measured — squeezed by a ladder, or pulled open at a sag — move along and measure somewhere sound.
A quick sanity check from the ground
Most single-family houses in the US have 5-inch K-style gutters. It is the default residential size and has been for decades. If your house is a standard build with a normal roof area, 5 inch is the likely answer. Larger homes, steep or wide roof planes, commercial buildings, and anything built or re-gutted with heavy rainfall in mind are where 6 inch shows up.
That is a starting assumption, not a substitute for the tape.
What K-style means
K-style is the profile with the flat back and the decorative curved front that vaguely resembles crown moulding. It is what is on the overwhelming majority of American houses. The other common profile is half-round, which is a plain semicircular trough, usually on older or architecturally specific homes.
Our hangers are made for K-style. The profile is what matters for fit — they are designed for aluminum K-style gutters and they fit vinyl and plastic K-style too. They are not made for half-round.
The practical difference between the two sizes
A 6-inch K-style gutter carries meaningfully more water than a 5-inch one — the cross-section is larger and it moves volume faster. That matters on big roof planes, on steep pitches that dump water quickly, and in regions that get heavy downpours rather than steady drizzle. It is also why 6-inch runs usually pair with 3x4 downspouts instead of 2x3.
More water also means more weight per foot, which is why we suggest staying at the tight end of the 18 to 24 inch spacing range on 6-inch runs.
Can you use a 5-inch hanger in a 6-inch gutter?
No. The bracket is dimensioned so the hooked end seats in the front lip while the other end reaches the back wall. In a 6-inch trough a 5-inch bracket cannot span it, so it will not clip in and hold its own position, and anything you manage to force will not be carrying load the way it is designed to.
The other way round is no better. A 6-inch bracket in a 5-inch gutter has to be sprung in under tension, which deforms the trough and pushes the front lip out of line. Order the size you measured.
Which one to buy
- Measured close to 5 inches: 5 inch gutter hangers
- Measured close to 6 inches: 6 inch gutter hangers
Both sizes come in two lines. The standard line and the Made in USA line fit the same gutters and install identically — the difference is where they are made. If US manufacture matters to you or to your customer, take the USA line; otherwise the standard line does the same job for less. The USA packs also include a free 1/4-inch magnetic driver bit — snap it into any drill and the hanger clips on and stays put, so you can set it one-handed.
Every hanger in both lines ships with the screw already fitted in the bracket, so there is nothing to line up one-handed on a ladder.
Mixed sizes on one house
It happens, usually where an addition was gutted separately or a front elevation was upgraded to 6 inch and the back left alone. Measure each elevation rather than assuming the whole house matches. If you end up needing both, order both — and if the quantities are awkward, call (732) 730-7334 and we will sort out the pack sizes with you.
Once you know the size, work out how many you need and check shop by pack size.
Common questions
Do these work with vinyl or plastic gutters?
Yes. They are made for aluminum K-style gutters, and they fit vinyl and plastic K-style too. The K-style profile is what has to match, not the material. Vinyl K-style is the common big-box gutter and it is compatible.
Do they fit half-round gutters?
No. These are K-style only. Half-round takes a different hanger entirely.
Do you make 7-inch or commercial box gutter hangers?
No. We stock 5 inch and 6 inch. If you measure anything else across the opening, these are the wrong part and we would rather tell you than sell you.
What is the difference between the standard and Made in USA lines?
They fit the same gutters and install identically. The difference is where they are made, and the Made in USA packs include a free 1/4-inch magnetic driver bit. The standard line is the same hanger at a lower price.