Gutters cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (160 linear ft)
- $1,150 – $3,850
- Per linear ft
- $7.20 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #231
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install gutters in Hickory, plan on $1,150 to $3,850 for 160 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $7.20 to $23 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Sheet metal workers earn a median of $22.50 an hour in the Hickory area, 24% below the US median of $29.71.
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$1,950 to $3,050
About $12 to $18.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 35% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $740 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $120 |
| Total | $1,950 | $3,050 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $620 | $1,550 | $2,450 | 62% |
| Labor | $540 | $870 | $1,200 | 35% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $90 | $180 | 4% |
| Total | $1,150 | $2,500 | $3,850 | 100% |
Why Hickory prices look the way they do
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 $22.50 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Hickory is 0.84 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 35% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hickory metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 160 linear ft comes to $1,550, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.5) and land at $0 to $180.
Hickory: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hickory 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
$1,150 to $2,250
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$1,950 to $3,050
Seamless aluminum K-style, standard downspouts
Premium
$2,800 to $3,850
Steel or copper, two stories, custom length
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (120 linear ft) | $870 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,300 | $2,100 – $2,950 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,850 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $1,750 – $3,300 | $2,900 – $4,500 | $4,100 – $5,700 |
How Hickory compares
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 $2,500 to $2,600 across Hickory and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,600 | +3% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,550 | +2% |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Hickory comes in at #231 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, Hickory is 2% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,550 | +3% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $1,150 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $1,150 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Hickory's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $1,150 – $3,750 | $2,450 | −3% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $1,150 – $3,800 | $2,450 | −2% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $1,300 – $4,300 | $2,800 | +11% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $1,150 – $3,800 | $2,500 | −1% |
Climate in Hickory: timing your gutters job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Hickory Faa Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Hickory: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Hickory gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.6 inches in August). The station averages about 33 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 | 49 | 30 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Hickory
Because every project leans on different trades, Hickory's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs −6% and metal roof −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,400 – $11,300 | −10% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,750 – $29,300 | −11% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,550 – $22,700 | −10% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $930 – $3,750 | −6% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Hickory bid
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.
Hickory 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 Hickory is 0.84 times the national level.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 40%) the local median is $22.50 an hour, which is 24% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $20.03 and $27.29 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 4.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 30%) the local median is $22.51 an hour, which is 16% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.30 and $26.51 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 5.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.42 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $24.58 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 51.9 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 ($27.29 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $65. At the 25th percentile ($20.03) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 2.7% or 1.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 154,090 jobs in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area. That makes it the 152nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 40% | $20.03 | $22.50 | $27.29 | $29.71 | 0.76 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $18.30 | $22.51 | $26.51 | $26.65 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
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Detailed gutters report for Hickory, NC, $9
The report lays out the gutters numbers for Hickory, NC 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 Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Hickory?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,150 to $3,850 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $3,050. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for gutters in Hickory?
About $7.20 to $23 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 Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $2,550, which is 2% more than Hickory ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 35% at the midpoint, or $870 out of $2,500. Materials are 62% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Hickory?
$1,150 to $3,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Hickory?
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 Hickory area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for gutters compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 2% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($2,550 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Hickory?
The BLS median is $22.50 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.03 to $27.29.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Hickory?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,150 to $2,250 and premium work $2,800 to $3,850. Basic means: vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story. Premium means: steel or copper, two stories, custom length.
+Is there a bad season to install gutters in Hickory?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Gutters near Hickory
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.