Gutters cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (160 linear ft)
- $1,250 – $4,000
- Per linear ft
- $7.75 – $24
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,750
- Metros covered
- 7
Iowa prices for gutters: $1,250 to $4,000 for 160 linear ft, or $7.75 to $24 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 4% below the national one. Local wages for sheet metal workers are $31.95 an hour.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $2,600 (Waterloo) to $2,750 (Cedar Rapids) 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 Iowa (statewide), standard level
$2,050 to $3,200
About $12.50 to $19 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,850 |
| Labor | $880 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $120 |
| Total | $2,050 | $3,200 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $600 | $1,500 | $2,400 | 57% |
| Labor | $640 | $1,050 | $1,450 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $90 | $180 | 3% |
| Total | $1,250 | $2,650 | $4,000 | 100% |
Wages behind the Iowa number
Iowa'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 1.00 times the national level.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 40% of the weighting: a median of $31.95 an hour, 8% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $23.78 and $36.58 an hour. About 1,650 work in the state. That is 10.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Roofers (47-2181), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.39 an hour, 12% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $29.50 an hour. About 930 work in the state. That is 6.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. BLS counts 13,780 of them working in the state, 88.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for sheet metal workers ($36.58 an hour) would add about $65 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.78) would take off about $110. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 40% | $23.78 | $31.95 | $36.58 | $29.71 | 1.08 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $22.31 | $23.39 | $29.50 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Iowa
Each project weights the trades differently, so Iowa's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, attic insulation is level and roof replacement −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,550 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,450 – $30,400 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,100 – $24,300 | −4% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,000 | level |
Weather windows across Iowa
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Iowa 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.
Des Moines has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Iowa at 9 months (March through November); Dubuque has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 inches in Dubuque.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 9: March through November |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 8: April through November |
Why two Iowa 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.
Iowa metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $2,650, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,750 | +4% |
| Davenport, IA | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,700 | +3% |
| Des Moines, IA | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,600 | level |
How Iowa compares with nearby states
Iowa ranks 30 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. Iowa sits at $2,650. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $1,200 – $4,000 | $2,600 | −1% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,700 | +3% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $1,350 – $4,300 | $2,850 | +8% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $1,450 – $4,600 | $3,000 | +15% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $1,550 – $4,850 | $3,200 | +21% |
Basic, standard or premium: Iowa 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
$1,250 to $2,350
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$2,050 to $3,200
Seamless aluminum K-style, standard downspouts
Premium
$2,900 to $4,000
Steel or copper, two stories, custom length
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (120 linear ft) | $930 – $1,800 | $1,550 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $3,050 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,250 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,000 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $1,850 – $3,500 | $3,100 – $4,700 | $4,300 – $5,950 |
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Gutters in Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Iowa?
$1,250 to $4,000 for 160 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for gutters?
Waterloo at about $2,600 (midpoint, 160 linear ft). The priciest is Cedar Rapids at $2,750.
+Is gutters cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 4% cheaper: $2,650 against $2,750 for 160 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 40% ($1,050). Materials are 57%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.00x the national wage level.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $31.95 an hour, against $29.71 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.78 to $36.58.
+Where does Iowa rank for gutters costs?
30th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,650 for 160 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Iowa?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,250 to $2,350 and premium work $2,900 to $4,000. Basic means: vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story. Premium means: steel or copper, two stories, custom length.
+Does the season matter for gutters in Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines has the most comfortable months (9 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 Iowa
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.