Gutters cost in California
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (160 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $4,700
- Per linear ft
- $9.15 – $28
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $2,750
- Metros covered
- 23
What does it cost to install gutters in California? Plan on $1,450 to $4,700 for 160 linear ft. Wages (1.22x the US blend), materials (price index 106.1) and permit costs (110.7) put the state above the national midpoint by 12%.
Inside California, the metros we cover range from $2,950 (Riverside) to $3,450 (San Francisco) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in California (statewide), standard level
$2,450 to $3,750
About $15 to $22.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $2,100 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $160 |
| Total | $2,450 | $3,750 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in California
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $680 | $1,700 | $2,700 | 55% |
| Labor | $780 | $1,250 | $1,750 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $110 | $220 | 4% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,100 | $4,700 | 100% |
Wages behind the California number
California's labor line is priced from 3 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.22 times the national level.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 40% of the weighting: a median of $36.82 an hour, 24% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $28.47 and $51.62 an hour. About 8,390 work in the state. That is 4.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Roofers (47-2181), 30% of the weighting: a median of $30.58 an hour, 15% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.57 and $36.27 an hour. About 21,190 work in the state. That is 11.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $28.98 an hour, which is 28% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.15 and $37.75 an hour. BLS counts 88,240 of them working in the state, 48.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for sheet metal workers ($51.62 an hour) would add about $210 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($28.47) would take off about $120. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 18,213,700 jobs across California (May 2025), which is 11.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 40% | $28.47 | $36.82 | $51.62 | $29.71 | 1.24 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $28.57 | $30.58 | $36.27 | $26.65 | 1.15 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $23.15 | $28.98 | $37.75 | $22.66 | 1.28 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.22 | |||||
California against its neighbors
California ranks 6 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for gutters, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $3,400 and the cheapest Arkansas at $2,400, both for 160 linear ft at the midpoint. California sits at $3,100. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 210 miles away | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,550 | −17% |
| Arizona | 430 miles away | $1,150 – $3,900 | $2,550 | −18% |
| Utah | 490 miles away | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | −14% |
| Idaho | 600 miles away | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,600 | −16% |
| Oregon | 690 miles away | $1,400 – $4,500 | $2,950 | −4% |
California metro-by-metro prices
4 of the 23 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,100, and the top-to-bottom gap is 17%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (160 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $1,650 – $5,200 | $3,450 | +12% |
| San Jose, CA | $1,650 – $5,150 | $3,400 | +11% |
| Salinas, CA | $1,500 – $4,750 | $3,100 | +1% |
| San Diego, CA | $1,450 – $4,750 | $3,100 | +1% |
| Napa, CA | $1,450 – $4,700 | $3,050 | −1% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | −1% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | −1% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | −1% |
| Sacramento, CA | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | −1% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | −1% |
| Modesto, CA | $1,450 – $4,600 | $3,000 | −2% |
| Redding, CA | $1,450 – $4,600 | $3,000 | −2% |
| El Centro, CA | $1,450 – $4,600 | $3,000 | −2% |
| Chico, CA | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | −2% |
| Merced, CA | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | −3% |
| Fresno, CA | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | −3% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $1,400 – $4,550 | $3,000 | −3% |
| Vallejo, CA | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | −3% |
| Santa Maria, CA | $1,400 – $4,550 | $3,000 | −3% |
| Stockton, CA | $1,400 – $4,550 | $3,000 | −3% |
| Visalia, CA | $1,400 – $4,550 | $2,950 | −4% |
| Oxnard, CA | $1,400 – $4,550 | $2,950 | −4% |
| Riverside, CA | $1,400 – $4,500 | $2,950 | −5% |
Basic, standard or premium: California prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small house (120 linear ft) to large house (240 linear ft).
Basic
$1,450 to $2,750
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$2,450 to $3,750
Seamless aluminum K-style, standard downspouts
Premium
$3,400 to $4,700
Steel or copper, two stories, custom length
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,100 | $1,850 – $2,850 | $2,600 – $3,600 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,450 – $2,750 | $2,450 – $3,750 | $3,400 – $4,700 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $2,200 – $4,100 | $3,600 – $5,500 | $5,050 – $6,950 |
Other California jobs that often go with gutters
Each project weights the trades differently, so California's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, French drain is +23% and attic insulation +6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,950 – $14,000 | +13% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,700 – $36,400 | +13% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,750 – $29,200 | +16% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $740 – $2,600 | +23% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,250 | +6% |
California seasons and gutters
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and California is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Los Angeles has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in California at 12 months; El Centro has the shortest at 6 (November through April). Rainfall runs from 3 inches a year in El Centro to 34 inches in Redding.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 48 | 78 | 14 | 12: all year |
| San Francisco | 47 | 66 | 23 | 12: all year |
| Riverside | 43 | 95 | 10 | 9: October through June |
| San Diego | 46 | 80 | 11 | 12: all year |
| San Jose | 42 | 81 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Sacramento | 41 | 94 | 19 | 10: September through June |
| Fresno | 41 | 98 | 11 | 8: October through May |
| Bakersfield | 41 | 98 | 6 | 8: October through May |
| Oxnard | 46 | 73 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Stockton | 39 | 95 | 17 | 8: October through May |
| Santa Rosa | 38 | 82 | 32 | 12: all year |
| Santa Maria | 41 | 73 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Modesto | 39 | 95 | 12 | 9: September through May |
| Salinas | 42 | 71 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Visalia | 38 | 94 | 10 | 10: September through June |
| Vallejo | 38 | 79 | 20 | 12: all year |
| San Luis Obispo | 41 | 78 | 18 | 12: all year |
| Santa Cruz | 41 | 74 | 31 | 12: all year |
| Merced | 37 | 96 | 12 | 8: October through May |
| Chico | 36 | 95 | 27 | 9: October through June |
| Napa | 40 | 83 | 27 | 12: all year |
| Redding | 38 | 100 | 34 | 8: October through May |
| El Centro | 43 | 107 | 3 | 6: November through April |
Why two California quotes can differ
Material
Vinyl is $8-$12 per linear foot installed and aluminum $10-$20. Steel and copper run higher (HomeGuide).
Seamless
Seamless costs $3-$5+ more per linear foot than sectional, but has fewer places to leak.
Stories
Two-story homes add $1-$3 per linear foot for ladders and fall protection.
Permit
Local building codes may add $50-$200, though most cities don't require one.
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Detailed gutters report for California, $9
Multi-page report for California: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Gutters in California: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in California?
$1,450 to $4,700 for 160 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside California can sit above or below that.
+Which city in California is cheapest for gutters?
Riverside at about $2,950 (midpoint, 160 linear ft). The priciest is San Francisco at $3,450.
+Is gutters cheaper in California than the US average?
It is 12% more expensive: $3,100 against $2,750 for 160 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in California?
About 41% ($1,250). Materials are 55%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.22x the national wage level.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in California?
The BLS statewide median is $36.82 an hour, against $29.71 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.47 to $51.62.
+Where does California rank for gutters costs?
6th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,100 for 160 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in California?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $2,750 and premium work $3,400 to $4,700. Basic means: vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story. Premium means: steel or copper, two stories, custom length.
+Does the season matter for gutters in California?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the California metros we cover, Los Angeles has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Gutters by city in California
- San Francisco, CA$3,450 midpoint
- San Jose, CA$3,400 midpoint
- Salinas, CA$3,100 midpoint
- San Diego, CA$3,100 midpoint
- Napa, CA$3,050 midpoint
- San Luis Obispo, CA$3,050 midpoint
- Los Angeles, CA$3,050 midpoint
- Santa Rosa, CA$3,050 midpoint
- Sacramento, CA$3,050 midpoint
- Santa Cruz, CA$3,050 midpoint
- Modesto, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Redding, CA$3,000 midpoint
- El Centro, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Chico, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Merced, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Fresno, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Bakersfield, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Vallejo, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Santa Maria, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Stockton, CA$3,000 midpoint
- Visalia, CA$2,950 midpoint
- Oxnard, CA$2,950 midpoint
- Riverside, CA$2,950 midpoint
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Gutter Installation Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Home Genius Exteriors: How Much Does Gutter Installation Cost? (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range minus the $4-$9 per linear foot labor figure from Home Genius Exteriors.