Gutters cost in Waterloo, 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
- $7.70 – $24
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #159
- 1 = most expensive
New gutters in Waterloo, IA usually costs $1,250 to $4,000 for 160 linear ft. That works out to about $7.70 to $24 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $120 less. 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 Waterloo, IA, standard level
$2,050 to $3,150
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 | $870 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $120 |
| Total | $2,050 | $3,150 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Waterloo, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $600 | $1,500 | $2,400 | 57% |
| Labor | $630 | $1,050 | $1,450 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $85 | $170 | 3% |
| Total | $1,250 | $2,600 | $4,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Waterloo 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 Waterloo the blended ratio comes out at 0.99.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Waterloo is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,500 here (midpoint, 160 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.1: $0 to $170.
Data note: 30% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Waterloo. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Waterloo
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 Waterloo the blend is 0.99.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 40% of the weighting: a median of $30.40 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $25.89 and $32.54 an hour. About 80 work in the metro. That is 9.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waterloo 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.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $24.01 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.83 and $28.75 an hour. BLS counts 710 of them working in the area, 84.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (sheet metal workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $30 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 2.4% to 1.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls has 84,260 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 229th 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% | $25.89 | $30.40 | $32.54 | $29.71 | 1.02 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $22.31 | $23.39 | $29.50 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.83 | $24.01 | $28.75 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Waterloo against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Same job, same size (160 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Rochester is the priciest of the group at $2,850.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IAthis page | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,600 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA55 miles | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,750 | +4% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | +1% |
| Iowa City, IA80 miles | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| Des Moines, IA95 miles | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | +1% |
| Rochester, MN100 miles | $1,350 – $4,350 | $2,850 | +9% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Waterloo ranks #159 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Waterloo is 0% below the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| 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 | +4% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,300 – $4,150 | $2,750 | +4% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Waterloo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,350 – $4,300 | $2,800 | +8% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $1,150 – $3,800 | $2,450 | −6% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $1,200 – $4,000 | $2,600 | level |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
What nearby projects cost in Waterloo
Jobs that often go together with gutters are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Waterloo wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+9%) and roof replacement lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,550 – $11,500 | −8% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,400 – $30,200 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,050 – $24,100 | −4% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $660 – $2,300 | +9% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,000 | level |
Why two Waterloo quotes can differ
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).
Seamless
Seamless costs $3-$5+ more per linear foot than sectional, but has fewer places to leak.
Waterloo weather and the gutters calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Waterloo Muni 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 Waterloo 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.
Waterloo gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 39 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 2.0 and 1.9 inches. The station averages about 15 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 | 28 | 11 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 33 | 15 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 27 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 61 | 38 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 50 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 61 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 52 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 28 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 34 | 17 | 1.4 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Waterloo
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Waterloo. 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
$1,250 to $2,350
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$2,050 to $3,150
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 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $3,050 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,250 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,150 | $2,900 – $4,000 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $1,850 – $3,500 | $3,050 – $4,700 | $4,300 – $5,900 |
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Gutters in Waterloo: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Waterloo?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,250 to $4,000 in the Waterloo area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,050 to $3,150. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for gutters in Waterloo?
About $7.70 to $24 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $170 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $25.
+Is gutters cheaper in Waterloo or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $2,750, which is 4% more than Waterloo ($2,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Waterloo?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,600. Materials are 57% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Waterloo?
$1,250 to $4,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Waterloo?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $170 for fees in the Waterloo area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Waterloo expensive for gutters compared with the rest of Iowa?
Waterloo is 0% below 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 Waterloo?
The BLS median is $30.40 an hour in the Waterloo area, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.89 to $32.54.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Waterloo?
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 Waterloo?
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 Waterloo
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.