Gutters cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (160 linear ft)
- $1,400 – $4,600
- Per linear ft
- $8.90 – $27.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #40
- 1 = most expensive
Merced homeowners pay roughly $1,400 to $4,600 to install gutters at 160 linear ft, or $8.90 to $27.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Merced is 9% higher. Sheet metal workers earn a median of $36.82 an hour in the Merced area, 24% above the US median of $29.71.
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in Merced, CA, standard level
$2,350 to $3,650
About $14.50 to $22 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $2,100 |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,400 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $2,350 | $3,650 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $670 | $1,700 | $2,700 | 56% |
| Labor | $750 | $1,200 | $1,700 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $200 | 3% |
| Total | $1,400 | $3,000 | $4,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Merced number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: sheet metal workers at 40%, roofers at 30%, construction laborers at 30%. Weighted together, Merced wages are 1.17 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (38% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the California statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Merced metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 160 linear ft comes to $1,700, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.3) and land at $0 to $200.
Data note: 40% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Merced. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Merced?
Because every project leans on different trades, Merced's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +16% and attic insulation +4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,650 – $13,500 | +8% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,300 – $35,400 | +10% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,500 – $28,500 | +13% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +16% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,150 | +4% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Merced bid
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.
Material
Vinyl is $8-$12 per linear foot installed and aluminum $10-$20. Steel and copper run higher (HomeGuide).
Merced: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Merced wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,400 to $2,700
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$2,350 to $3,650
Seamless aluminum K-style, standard downspouts
Premium
$3,300 to $4,600
Steel or copper, two stories, custom length
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (120 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,750 | $2,500 – $3,500 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,700 | $2,350 – $3,650 | $3,300 – $4,600 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $2,150 – $4,000 | $3,500 – $5,400 | $4,900 – $6,750 |
How Merced compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 160 linear ft range from $3,000 to $3,400 across Merced and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $1,450 – $4,600 | $3,000 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $1,650 – $5,150 | $3,400 | +14% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $1,400 – $4,550 | $3,000 | −1% |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | level |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | +1% |
| California (statewide) | $1,450 – $4,700 | $3,100 | +3% |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | −9% |
Across 300 US metros, Merced comes in at #40 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $3,450; the cheapest is Longview, TX at $2,350 (midpoints, 160 linear ft). Statewide, Merced is 3% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | +2% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,650 – $5,200 | $3,450 | +15% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $1,400 – $4,500 | $2,950 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $1,450 – $4,750 | $3,100 | +4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $1,650 – $5,150 | $3,400 | +14% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Merced's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $1,250 – $4,100 | $2,650 | −11% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | level |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $1,150 – $3,800 | $2,500 | −17% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $1,450 – $4,700 | $3,050 | +2% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Merced is 1.17 times the national level.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Merced metro, so we used the California statewide median: $36.82 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.47 and $51.62 an hour.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 30%) the local median is $29.23 an hour, which is 10% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.20 and $30.28 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 7.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $26.17 an hour, 15% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $33.81 an hour. About 380 work in the metro. That is 47.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the sheet metal workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($51.62 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $210. At the 25th percentile ($28.47) it shrinks by about $120. The total moves by 6.9% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 79,510 jobs in the Merced area. That makes it the 240th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% 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% | $23.20 | $29.23 | $30.28 | $26.65 | 1.10 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.73 | $26.17 | $33.81 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.17 | |||||
When to schedule gutters in Merced
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Merced Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Merced (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
Get 3 local quotes
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Gutters in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Merced?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,400 to $4,600 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,350 to $3,650. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for gutters in Merced?
About $8.90 to $27.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $200 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $25.
+Is gutters cheaper in Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $3,000, which is 1% more than Merced ($3,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $1,200 out of $3,000. Materials are 56% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Merced?
$1,400 to $4,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Merced?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $200 for fees in the Merced area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for gutters compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 3% below the California statewide estimate ($3,100 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Merced?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $36.82 an hour, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.47 to $51.62.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Merced?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,700 and premium work $3,300 to $4,600. Basic means: vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story. Premium means: steel or copper, two stories, custom length.
+When is the best time to install gutters in Merced?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Gutters near Merced
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.