Gutters cost in Iowa City, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (160 linear ft)
- $1,250 – $4,000
- Per linear ft
- $7.75 – $24
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #157
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install gutters in Iowa City, plan on $1,250 to $4,000 for 160 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $7.75 to $24 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in Iowa City, IA, standard level
$2,050 to $3,200
About $12.50 to $19 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,850 |
| Labor | $880 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $130 |
| Total | $2,050 | $3,200 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Iowa City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $600 | $1,500 | $2,400 | 57% |
| Labor | $640 | $1,050 | $1,450 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $90 | $180 | 3% |
| Total | $1,250 | $2,650 | $4,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Iowa City number
Labor is 39% of the midpoint bill here, against 38% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is sheet metal workers (40%), roofers (30%), construction laborers (30%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Iowa City the blended ratio comes out at 1.00. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Iowa City metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 160 linear ft comes to $1,500, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.5) and land at $0 to $180.
Data note: 70% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Iowa City. The wage table below marks each row.
Iowa City against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Iowa City. Waterloo is the lowest at about $2,600 (midpoint, 160 linear ft), 80 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IAthis page | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA40 miles | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,750 | +4% |
| Davenport, IA60 miles | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,700 | +3% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,600 | level |
| Des Moines, IA110 miles | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | +1% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Iowa City comes in at #157 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, Iowa City is 0% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,700 | +3% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,750 | +4% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,600 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Iowa City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Iowa City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $1,250 – $4,100 | $2,650 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,250 – $4,100 | $2,700 | +2% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $1,450 – $4,550 | $3,000 | +14% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,450 – $4,700 | $3,100 | +17% |
What nearby projects cost in Iowa City
Because every project leans on different trades, Iowa City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs 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 | $7,750 – $23,200 | −8% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −1% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
Iowa City: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Iowa City 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
$1,250 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 |
Climate in Iowa City: timing your gutters job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Iowa City Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Iowa City (9 of 12 months). 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.
Iowa City gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 2.2 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 19 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 | 31 | 15 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 19 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 50 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 52 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 54 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 42 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.4 | Cold |
Why two Iowa City 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).
Iowa City labor market for gutters
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 Iowa City is 1.00 times the national level.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Iowa City metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $31.95 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.78 and $36.58 an hour.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Iowa City metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $23.39 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $29.50 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.05 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $28.74 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 85.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 ($36.58 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $65. At the 25th percentile ($23.78) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 2.5% or 4.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,760 jobs in the Iowa City area. That makes it the 214th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% 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% | $21.87 | $23.05 | $28.74 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
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Detailed gutters report for Iowa City, IA, $9
Multi-page report for Iowa City, IA: 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 Iowa City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Iowa City?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,250 to $4,000 in the Iowa City area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,050 to $3,200. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for gutters in Iowa City?
About $7.75 to $24 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $180 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $25.
+Is gutters cheaper in Iowa City or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $2,750, which is 4% more than Iowa City ($2,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Iowa City?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,650. Materials are 57% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Iowa City?
$1,250 to $4,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Iowa City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $180 for fees in the Iowa City area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Iowa City expensive for gutters compared with the rest of Iowa?
Iowa City is 0% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($2,650 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Iowa City?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $31.95 an hour, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.78 to $36.58.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Iowa City?
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.
+When is the best time to install gutters in Iowa City?
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 Iowa City
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.