Gutters cost in Chicago, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (160 linear ft)
- $1,600 – $5,050
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $30
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +21%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #5
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for new gutters in the Chicago area: $1,600 to $5,050 for 160 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 21% higher than the US figure. Sheet metal workers earn a median of $45.82 an hour in the Chicago area, 54% above the US median of $29.71.
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in Chicago, IL, standard level
$2,650 to $4,000
About $16 to $24 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $1,250 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $150 |
| Total | $2,650 | $4,000 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Chicago, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $690 | $1,700 | $2,750 | 52% |
| Labor | $930 | $1,500 | $2,100 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $210 | 3% |
| Total | $1,600 | $3,350 | $5,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Chicago 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, Chicago wages are 1.45 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (38% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chicago is at 107.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,700 here (midpoint, 160 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.6: $0 to $210.
Pick a size, pick a tier: gutters pricing in Chicago
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chicago. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small house (120 linear ft) to large house (240 linear ft).
Basic
$1,600 to $3,000
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$2,650 to $4,000
Seamless aluminum K-style, standard downspouts
Premium
$3,650 to $5,050
Steel or copper, two stories, custom length
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,250 | $2,000 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,850 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,600 – $3,000 | $2,650 – $4,000 | $3,650 – $5,050 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $2,400 – $4,450 | $3,950 – $5,950 | $5,450 – $7,450 |
What nearby projects cost in Chicago
Jobs that often go together with gutters are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chicago wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, roof replacement comes out highest (+30%) and attic insulation lowest (+12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,200 – $16,000 | +30% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $14,100 – $41,300 | +30% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $10,100 – $30,400 | +21% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $740 – $2,600 | +24% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,150 – $4,500 | +12% |
Why two Chicago quotes can differ
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).
The best months for gutters in Chicago
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Chicago Midway Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Chicago are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Chicago gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.1 inches in May). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 1.9 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 20 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33 | 19 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 23 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 32 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 60 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 52 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 62 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 66 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 59 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 35 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 25 | 1.8 | Cold |
Who does the work: Chicago trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Chicago the blend is 1.45.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 40% of the weighting: a median of $45.82 an hour, 54% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $29.04 and $52.11 an hour. About 2,430 work in the metro. That is 5.4 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 $39.47 an hour, 48% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.73 and $50.61 an hour. About 3,900 work in the metro. That is 8.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $29.27 an hour, which is 29% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.25 and $48.44 an hour. BLS counts 26,690 of them working in the area, 59.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (sheet metal workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $90 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $230. That is a swing of roughly 7.1% to 2.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has 4,513,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 3rd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 40% | $29.04 | $45.82 | $52.11 | $29.71 | 1.54 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $28.73 | $39.47 | $50.61 | $26.65 | 1.48 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.25 | $29.27 | $48.44 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.45 | |||||
Chicago against nearby metros and the rest of Illinois
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Chicago. Niles is the lowest at about $2,600 (midpoint, 160 linear ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, ILthis page | $1,600 – $5,050 | $3,350 | |
| Niles, MI55 miles | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,600 | −21% |
| Kenosha, WI55 miles | $1,400 – $4,550 | $3,000 | −10% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $1,350 – $4,300 | $2,800 | −15% |
| Rockford, IL75 miles | $1,400 – $4,350 | $2,850 | −14% |
| Milwaukee, WI80 miles | $1,350 – $4,300 | $2,850 | −14% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $1,550 – $4,850 | $3,200 | −4% |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | −18% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chicago ranks #5 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chicago is 4% above the Illinois figure.
Elsewhere in Illinois
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $1,500 – $4,550 | $3,000 | −9% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $1,400 – $4,350 | $2,850 | −14% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $1,450 – $4,450 | $2,950 | −11% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $1,500 – $4,600 | $3,050 | −8% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $1,500 – $4,550 | $3,000 | −9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chicago against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $1,450 – $4,650 | $3,050 | −8% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $1,250 – $4,150 | $2,700 | −19% |
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $1,550 – $4,900 | $3,250 | −3% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $1,200 – $4,000 | $2,600 | −22% |
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Gutters in Chicago: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Chicago?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,600 to $5,050 in the Chicago area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,650 to $4,000. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for gutters in Chicago?
About $10 to $30 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $210 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $25.
+Is gutters cheaper in Chicago or Niles?
Niles is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $2,600, which is 21% less than Chicago ($3,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chicago?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $1,500 out of $3,350. Materials are 52% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Chicago?
$1,600 to $5,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Chicago?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $210 for fees in the Chicago area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chicago expensive for gutters compared with the rest of Illinois?
Chicago is 4% above the Illinois statewide estimate ($3,200 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Chicago?
The BLS median is $45.82 an hour in the Chicago area, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.04 to $52.11.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Chicago?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $3,000 and premium work $3,650 to $5,050. 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 Chicago?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Chicago
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.