There is no difference. A gutter and an eavestrough are the same channel along the edge of your roof, doing the same job: catching water coming off the shingles and carrying it to a downspout so it does not run down your siding or pool against the foundation.
So why two words?
"Eavestrough" is a literal compound — a trough at the eaves — and it survived in Canadian English long after it faded elsewhere in North America. It is the everyday word across Ontario and the Prairies. "Gutter" is the standard term in the United States and in British Columbia, where you will rarely hear anyone say eavestrough at all.
Atlantic Canada uses both fairly interchangeably. In Quebec the French term is gouttière, and English speakers there generally say gutter.
Words that do mean different things
These get confused far more often than gutter and eavestrough, and mixing them up genuinely changes what you are asking for:
- Downspout — the vertical pipe that carries water from the gutter to the ground. Also called a leader or a drainpipe.
- Fascia — the flat board along the roof edge that the gutter is fastened to.
- Soffit — the underside of the roof overhang, usually vented to let the attic breathe.
- Seamless or continuous — gutter rolled to length on site, so there are no joints along the run to leak.
- Gutter guard or leaf guard — a cover or mesh that keeps debris out while letting water in.
Common questions
Is eavestrough a Canadian word?
Largely, yes. It is still common in Canada — particularly Ontario and the Prairies — and in parts of the northern United States, but it has fallen out of general use elsewhere in North America.
Should I search for "gutter" or "eavestrough" to find a contractor?
Search whichever your region uses and you will find more local companies, because they optimise for the local word. In BC search gutter; in Ontario and the Prairies try both.
Written by the Eavestroughing.ca team. Prices are indicative national ranges for planning, not quotes, and vary by province, roof and access. We connect homeowners with independent local contractors and do not perform work ourselves.