Gutters cost in Rochester, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (160 linear ft)
- $1,300 – $4,250
- Per linear ft
- $8.20 – $25.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #96
- 1 = most expensive
Rochester homeowners pay roughly $1,300 to $4,250 to install gutters at 160 linear ft, or $8.20 to $25.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Rochester is almost level. Sheet metal workers earn a median of $30.63 an hour in the Rochester area, 3% above the US median of $29.71.
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in Rochester, NY, standard level
$2,200 to $3,400
About $13.50 to $20.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,000 |
| Labor | $930 | $1,250 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $2,200 | $3,400 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Rochester, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $640 | $1,600 | $2,550 | 57% |
| Labor | $680 | $1,100 | $1,500 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $95 | $190 | 3% |
| Total | $1,300 | $2,800 | $4,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Rochester number
The wage side of the estimate leans on sheet metal workers, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.63 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Rochester is 1.06 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Rochester metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 160 linear ft comes to $1,600, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.0) and land at $0 to $190.
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 Rochester is 1.06 times the national level.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 40%) the local median is $30.63 an hour, which is 3% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $39.47 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 10.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 30%) the local median is $29.27 an hour, which is 10% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.97 and $33.38 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 10.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.70 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.93 and $30.93 an hour. About 2,550 work in the metro. That is 51.6 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 ($39.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($22.13) it shrinks by about $120. The total moves by 4.4% or 4.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 494,280 jobs in the Rochester area. That makes it the 52nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.32% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 40% | $22.13 | $30.63 | $39.47 | $29.71 | 1.03 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $22.97 | $29.27 | $33.38 | $26.65 | 1.10 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.93 | $23.70 | $30.93 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Gutters: what moves the price in Rochester
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.
When to schedule gutters in Rochester
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Rochester Gtr Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Rochester (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Rochester gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 102 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (3.6 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and November are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 8 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 | 33 | 19 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 20 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 27 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 37 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 48 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 57 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 62 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 61 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 54 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 34 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 25 | 2.7 | Cold |
Rochester against nearby metros and the rest of New York
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 $2,750 to $2,850 across Rochester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NYthis page | $1,300 – $4,250 | $2,800 | |
| Buffalo, NY60 miles | $1,350 – $4,350 | $2,850 | +3% |
| Syracuse, NY70 miles | $1,300 – $4,250 | $2,800 | level |
| Binghamton, NY105 miles | $1,300 – $4,250 | $2,800 | level |
| Utica, NY120 miles | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | −2% |
| Erie, PA150 miles | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | −2% |
| New York (statewide) | $1,450 – $4,700 | $3,050 | +10% |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Rochester comes in at #96 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, Rochester is 9% below the New York figure.
Other New York metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $1,550 – $4,900 | $3,250 | +16% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $1,350 – $4,350 | $2,850 | +3% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $1,350 – $4,350 | $2,850 | +2% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $1,300 – $4,250 | $2,800 | level |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | +8% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Rochester's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rochester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $1,250 – $4,100 | $2,700 | −4% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | +7% |
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $1,150 – $3,800 | $2,450 | −11% |
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | −9% |
Cost by quality level and size in Rochester
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Rochester 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
$1,300 to $2,500
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$2,200 to $3,400
Seamless aluminum K-style, standard downspouts
Premium
$3,100 to $4,250
Steel or copper, two stories, custom length
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (120 linear ft) | $990 – $1,900 | $1,650 – $2,550 | $2,350 – $3,250 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,300 – $2,500 | $2,200 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,250 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $1,950 – $3,700 | $3,250 – $5,000 | $4,550 – $6,300 |
What nearby projects cost in Rochester
Because every project leans on different trades, Rochester's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +7% and vinyl siding level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,500 – $13,100 | +5% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,800 – $33,700 | +4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,400 – $25,200 | level |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $640 – $2,250 | +7% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,150 | +4% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,200 to $3,400 for Rochester, NY is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the gutters numbers for Rochester, NY line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Rochester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Rochester?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,300 to $4,250 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,200 to $3,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for gutters in Rochester?
About $8.20 to $25.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $190 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $25.
+Is gutters cheaper in Rochester or Buffalo?
Buffalo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $2,850, which is 3% more than Rochester ($2,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $1,100 out of $2,800. Materials are 57% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Rochester?
$1,300 to $4,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Rochester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $190 for fees in the Rochester area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rochester expensive for gutters compared with the rest of New York?
Rochester is 9% below the New York statewide estimate ($3,050 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Rochester?
The BLS median is $30.63 an hour in the Rochester area, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.13 to $39.47.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Rochester?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,300 to $2,500 and premium work $3,100 to $4,250. 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 Rochester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May 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 Rochester
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.