Gutters cost in Rapid City, SD
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (160 linear ft)
- $1,150 – $3,800
- Per linear ft
- $7.15 – $22.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #250
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for new gutters in the Rapid City area: $1,150 to $3,800 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 10% lower than the US figure. Sheet metal workers earn a median of $21.29 an hour in the Rapid City area, 28% below the US median of $29.71.
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in Rapid City, SD, standard level
$1,950 to $3,000
About $12 to $18 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 35% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $730 | $990 |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $120 |
| Total | $1,950 | $3,000 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Rapid City, SD
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $610 | $1,550 | $2,450 | 62% |
| Labor | $530 | $860 | $1,200 | 35% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $90 | $180 | 4% |
| Total | $1,150 | $2,500 | $3,800 | 100% |
Why Rapid City prices look the way they do
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, Rapid City wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 35% of the midpoint estimate (38% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Rapid City is at 95.5 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 89.2: $0 to $180.
Rapid City against nearby metros and the rest of South Dakota
Same job, same size (160 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Bismarck is the priciest of the group at $2,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SDthis page | $1,150 – $3,800 | $2,500 | |
| Bismarck, ND210 miles | $1,250 – $4,100 | $2,650 | +8% |
| Cheyenne, WY220 miles | $1,150 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Greeley, CO260 miles | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,550 | +3% |
| Fort Collins, CO275 miles | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,600 | +4% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $1,150 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +2% |
| South Dakota (statewide) | $1,150 – $3,850 | $2,500 | +1% |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Rapid City ranks #250 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Rapid City is 1% below the South Dakota figure.
Elsewhere in South Dakota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $1,150 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rapid City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $1,100 – $3,750 | $2,450 | −1% |
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $1,650 – $5,200 | $3,400 | +38% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | +6% |
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | +6% |
Rapid City: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Rapid City. 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
$1,150 to $2,200
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$1,950 to $3,000
Seamless aluminum K-style, standard downspouts
Premium
$2,750 to $3,800
Steel or copper, two stories, custom length
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (120 linear ft) | $860 – $1,700 | $1,450 – $2,300 | $2,100 – $2,900 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $3,000 | $2,750 – $3,800 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $1,700 – $3,300 | $2,900 – $4,450 | $4,050 – $5,650 |
Who does the work: Rapid City 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 Rapid City the blend is 0.83.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 40% of the weighting: a median of $21.29 an hour, 28% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $19.00 and $28.43 an hour. About 70 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), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.36 an hour, 16% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $17.22 and $28.02 an hour. About 120 work in the metro. That is 16.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.94 an hour, which is 3% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.14 and $22.91 an hour. BLS counts 410 of them working in the area, 55.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (sheet metal workers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $100 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 1.3% to 4.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Rapid City has 73,820 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 249th 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% | $19.00 | $21.29 | $28.43 | $29.71 | 0.72 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $17.22 | $22.36 | $28.02 | $26.65 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.14 | $21.94 | $22.91 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
The best months for gutters in Rapid City
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Rapid City Wfo (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Rapid City 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.
Rapid City gets about 20 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 54 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.1 inches in May). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 0.9 and 0.5 inches. The station averages about 24 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 | 37 | 16 | 0.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 38 | 18 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 26 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 55 | 34 | 2.3 | Workable |
| May | 65 | 45 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 55 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 62 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 60 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 51 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 38 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 27 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 19 | 0.4 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Rapid City
Jobs that often go together with gutters are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Rapid City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−2%) and metal roof lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,400 – $11,200 | −11% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,650 – $29,000 | −12% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,550 – $22,700 | −10% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −2% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $950 – $3,800 | −5% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Rapid City bid
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.
Stories
Two-story homes add $1-$3 per linear foot for ladders and fall protection.
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Detailed gutters report for Rapid City, SD, $9
Multi-page report for Rapid City, SD: 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 Rapid City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Rapid City?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,150 to $3,800 in the Rapid City area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $3,000. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for gutters in Rapid City?
About $7.15 to $22.50 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 Rapid City or Bismarck?
Bismarck is 210 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $2,650, which is 8% more than Rapid City ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rapid City?
About 35% at the midpoint, or $860 out of $2,500. Materials are 62% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Rapid City?
$1,150 to $3,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Rapid 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 Rapid City area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rapid City expensive for gutters compared with the rest of South Dakota?
Rapid City is 1% below the South Dakota statewide estimate ($2,500 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in South Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Rapid City?
The BLS median is $21.29 an hour in the Rapid City area, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.00 to $28.43.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Rapid City?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,150 to $2,200 and premium work $2,750 to $3,800. 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 Rapid 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 Rapid 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.