Gutters cost in Charleston, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (160 linear ft)
- $1,200 – $4,000
- Per linear ft
- $7.55 – $23.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #167
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for new gutters in the Charleston area: $1,200 to $4,000 for 160 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 5% lower than the US figure. Sheet metal workers earn a median of $28.68 an hour in the Charleston area, 3% below the US median of $29.71.
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in Charleston, SC, standard level
$2,050 to $3,150
About $12.50 to $19 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $810 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $2,050 | $3,150 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Charleston, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $620 | $1,550 | $2,450 | 59% |
| Labor | $590 | $960 | $1,350 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $200 | 4% |
| Total | $1,200 | $2,600 | $4,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Charleston number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: sheet metal workers at 40%, roofers at 30%, construction laborers at 30%. Weighted together, Charleston wages are 0.92 times the national level. Labor makes up about 37% of the midpoint estimate (38% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Charleston is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,550 here (midpoint, 160 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.0: $0 to $200.
What nearby projects cost in Charleston
Jobs that often go together with gutters are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Charleston wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−6%) and roof replacement lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,500 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,200 – $30,200 | −8% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,700 – $23,100 | −8% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $560 – $1,950 | −6% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $900 – $3,700 | −8% |
Gutters: what moves the price in Charleston
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.
How Charleston 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 $2,450 to $2,600 across Charleston and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SCthis page | $1,200 – $4,000 | $2,600 | |
| Hilton Head, SC65 miles | $1,150 – $3,900 | $2,550 | −2% |
| Florence, SC80 miles | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC85 miles | $1,150 – $3,800 | $2,450 | −5% |
| Columbia, SC95 miles | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
| Savannah, GA95 miles | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −3% |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Charleston ranks #167 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Charleston is 4% above the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | −2% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $1,150 – $3,800 | $2,450 | −5% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $1,150 – $3,900 | $2,550 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charleston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $1,250 – $4,100 | $2,650 | +2% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | +2% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | −4% |
The best months for gutters in Charleston
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Charleston City (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Charleston: 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.
Charleston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (6.1 inches in August). The station averages about 25 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 | 58 | 44 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 46 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 52 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 60 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 68 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 74 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 77 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 77 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 73 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 63 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 53 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 61 | 47 | 2.9 | Workable |
Who does the work: Charleston trade wages
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 Charleston the blend is 0.92.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.68 an hour, 3% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.01 and $31.82 an hour. About 270 work in the metro. That is 6.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Roofers (47-2181), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.09 an hour, 13% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.81 and $29.46 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 2.8 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 $20.98 an hour, which is 7% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $24.49 an hour. BLS counts 3,710 of them working in the area, 94.1 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 $45 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 2.5% to 1.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Charleston-North Charleston has 394,170 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 66th 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% | $24.01 | $28.68 | $31.82 | $29.71 | 0.97 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $18.81 | $23.09 | $29.46 | $26.65 | 0.87 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.00 | $20.98 | $24.49 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Charleston
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Charleston. 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
$1,200 to $2,300
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) | $910 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $3,050 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,300 | $2,050 – $3,150 | $2,900 – $4,000 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $1,800 – $3,450 | $3,050 – $4,650 | $4,250 – $5,900 |
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Detailed gutters report for Charleston, SC, $9
The report lays out the gutters numbers for Charleston, SC 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 Charleston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Charleston?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,200 to $4,000 in the Charleston 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 Charleston?
About $7.55 to $23.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $200 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $25.
+Is gutters cheaper in Charleston or Hilton Head?
Hilton Head is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $2,550, which is 2% less than Charleston ($2,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charleston?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $960 out of $2,600. Materials are 59% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Charleston?
$1,200 to $4,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Charleston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $200 for fees in the Charleston area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charleston expensive for gutters compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Charleston is 4% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($2,500 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Charleston?
The BLS median is $28.68 an hour in the Charleston area, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.01 to $31.82.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Charleston?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,200 to $2,300 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.
+Is there a bad season to install gutters in Charleston?
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 Charleston
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.