Gutters cost in Seattle, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (160 linear ft)
- $1,600 – $4,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.90 – $29.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +19%
- US $2,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #7
- 1 = most expensive
Seattle homeowners pay roughly $1,600 to $4,950 to install gutters at 160 linear ft, or $9.90 to $29.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Seattle is 19% higher. Sheet metal workers earn a median of $52.80 an hour in the Seattle area, 78% above the US median of $29.71.
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Estimated cost for 160 linear ft in Seattle, WA, standard level
$2,600 to $3,950
About $16 to $23.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,250 | $2,050 |
| Labor | $1,250 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $160 |
| Total | $2,600 | $3,950 |
Cost breakdown for 160 linear ft in Seattle, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $670 | $1,650 | $2,650 | 51% |
| Labor | $920 | $1,500 | $2,050 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $110 | $220 | 3% |
| Total | $1,600 | $3,250 | $4,950 | 100% |
What is behind the Seattle 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 $52.80 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Seattle is 1.44 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Seattle metro is 104.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 160 linear ft comes to $1,650, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (111.1) and land at $0 to $220.
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 Seattle is 1.44 times the national level.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 40%) the local median is $52.80 an hour, which is 78% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $37.23 and $64.78 an hour. BLS counts 2,190 of them working in the area, 10.5 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 $30.81 an hour, which is 16% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $27.23 and $44.40 an hour. BLS counts 2,970 of them working in the area, 14.2 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 $28.72 an hour, 27% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.67 and $37.03 an hour. About 13,040 work in the metro. That is 62.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the sheet metal workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($64.78 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $170. At the 25th percentile ($37.23) it shrinks by about $220. The total moves by 5.1% or 6.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,086,210 jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. That makes it the 13th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.34% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 40% | $37.23 | $52.80 | $64.78 | $29.71 | 1.78 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 30% | $27.23 | $30.81 | $44.40 | $26.65 | 1.16 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $23.67 | $28.72 | $37.03 | $22.66 | 1.27 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.44 | |||||
Why two Seattle quotes can differ
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.
Material
Vinyl is $8-$12 per linear foot installed and aluminum $10-$20. Steel and copper run higher (HomeGuide).
Pick a size, pick a tier: gutters pricing in Seattle
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Seattle 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
$1,600 to $2,950
Vinyl or sectional aluminum, single story
Standard
$2,600 to $3,950
Seamless aluminum K-style, standard downspouts
Premium
$3,600 to $4,950
Steel or copper, two stories, custom length
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $3,000 | $2,750 – $3,750 |
| average house (160 linear ft) | $1,600 – $2,950 | $2,600 – $3,950 | $3,600 – $4,950 |
| large house (240 linear ft) | $2,400 – $4,350 | $3,850 – $5,850 | $5,350 – $7,300 |
What nearby projects cost in Seattle
Because every project leans on different trades, Seattle's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +26% and roof replacement +12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,950 – $14,000 | +12% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $12,600 – $37,900 | +18% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,900 – $29,700 | +18% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $750 – $2,650 | +26% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,650 | +18% |
How Seattle compares
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Seattle. Yakima is the lowest at about $2,950 (midpoint, 160 linear ft), 90 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WAthis page | $1,600 – $4,950 | $3,250 | |
| Bremerton, WA40 miles | $1,450 – $4,700 | $3,100 | −6% |
| Olympia, WA60 miles | $1,500 – $4,750 | $3,150 | −4% |
| Yakima, WA90 miles | $1,400 – $4,500 | $2,950 | −10% |
| Bellingham, WA95 miles | $1,500 – $4,750 | $3,100 | −5% |
| Portland, OR135 miles | $1,450 – $4,600 | $3,050 | −7% |
| Washington (statewide) | $1,500 – $4,800 | $3,150 | −3% |
| United States | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | −16% |
Across 300 US metros, Seattle comes in at #7 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, Seattle is 3% above the Washington figure.
Other Washington metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $1,400 – $4,500 | $2,950 | −9% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $1,500 – $4,750 | $3,150 | −4% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $1,500 – $4,750 | $3,150 | −4% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $1,400 – $4,500 | $2,950 | −10% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,450 – $4,700 | $3,100 | −6% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $1,500 – $4,750 | $3,100 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Seattle's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Seattle against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,650 – $5,200 | $3,450 | +5% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $1,500 – $4,700 | $3,100 | −6% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | −22% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $1,400 – $4,450 | $2,900 | −11% |
When to schedule gutters in Seattle
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Seattle: 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.
Seattle gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.8 inches in November). The station averages about 2 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 | 47 | 37 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 50 | 37 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 54 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 43 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 65 | 48 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 70 | 53 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 77 | 57 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 77 | 57 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 53 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 47 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 41 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 37 | 5.5 | Workable |
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 $2,600 to $3,950 for Seattle, WA is attached.
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Gutters in Seattle: your questions
+How much does it cost to install gutters in Seattle?
For 160 linear ft, expect $1,600 to $4,950 in the Seattle area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,600 to $3,950. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for gutters in Seattle?
About $9.90 to $29.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $220 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $25.
+Is gutters cheaper in Seattle or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 160 linear ft there is $3,100, which is 6% less than Seattle ($3,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Seattle?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,500 out of $3,250. Materials are 51% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 38%.
+What would average house (160 linear ft) cost in Seattle?
$1,600 to $4,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gutters need a permit in Seattle?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $220 for fees in the Seattle area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Seattle expensive for gutters compared with the rest of Washington?
Seattle is 3% above the Washington statewide estimate ($3,150 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do sheet metal workers earn in Seattle?
The BLS median is $52.80 an hour in the Seattle area, compared with $29.71 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $37.23 to $64.78.
+What do basic and premium gutters work cost in Seattle?
For 160 linear ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $2,950 and premium work $3,600 to $4,950. 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 Seattle?
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 Seattle
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.