French drain cost in Arkansas
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $510 – $1,800
- Per linear ft
- $8.55 – $30
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 4
Across Arkansas, a French drain costs about $510 to $1,800 for 60 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 15% below the US figure of $1,350. Construction laborers earn a median $18.09 an hour in Arkansas (US: $22.66).
Inside Arkansas, the metros we cover range from $1,150 (Fort Smith) to $1,200 (Fayetteville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your french drain cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Arkansas (statewide), standard level
$900 to $1,400
About $15 to $23.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $420 | $670 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $900 | $1,400 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Arkansas
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 53% |
| Labor | $240 | $540 | $850 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $510 | $1,150 | $1,800 | 100% |
Arkansas metro-by-metro prices
2 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,150, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (60 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +3% |
| Jonesboro, AR | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | +1% |
| Little Rock, AR | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | level |
| Fort Smith, AR | $510 – $1,750 | $1,150 | −1% |
If you are planning more than one job in Arkansas
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Arkansas wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−9%) and sprinkler system lowest (−15%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,150 – $12,000 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,700 | −15% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $3,000 | −9% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,100 – $4,550 | −13% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,400 – $8,500 | −15% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,100 – $97,400 | −14% |
Quality levels and sizes in Arkansas
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Arkansas wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$510 to $1,000
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$900 to $1,400
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,300 to $1,800
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $260 – $510 | $450 – $700 | $640 – $900 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $510 – $1,000 | $900 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,800 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,800 | $2,550 – $3,600 |
Arkansas against its neighbors
Arkansas ranks 51 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for French drain, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,850 and the cheapest Arkansas at $1,150, both for 60 linear ft at the midpoint. Arkansas sits at $1,150. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 220 miles away | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +4% |
| Missouri | 230 miles away | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +22% |
| Kansas | 280 miles away | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +10% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +3% |
| Tennessee | 360 miles away | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +11% |
When Arkansas weather lets you install
Season matters for French drain. For each Arkansas metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Little Rock has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Arkansas at 9 months (February through June and September through December); Jonesboro has the shortest at 8 (February through May and September through December). Rainfall runs from 47 inches a year in Fayetteville to 50 inches in Little Rock.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 31 | 92 | 50 | 9: February through June and September through December |
| Fayetteville | 25 | 89 | 47 | 9: March through November |
| Fort Smith | 30 | 94 | 47 | 8: February through June and September through November |
| Jonesboro | 31 | 91 | 49 | 8: February through May and September through December |
Wages behind the Arkansas number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.78 for Arkansas.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $18.09 an hour, 20% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.63 and $21.31 an hour. About 10,650 work in the state. That is 81.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.41 an hour, which is 26% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.44 and $23.97 an hour. BLS counts 5,800 of them working in the state, 44.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $18.10 an hour, 23% below the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $17.52 and $19.33 an hour. About 430 work in the state. That is 3.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($21.31 an hour) would add about $50 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($16.63) would take off about $25. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,303,630 jobs across Arkansas (May 2025), which is 0.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $16.63 | $18.09 | $21.31 | $22.66 | 0.80 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.44 | $21.41 | $23.97 | $28.78 | 0.74 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $17.52 | $18.10 | $19.33 | $23.56 | 0.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Arkansas
Exterior versus interior
A shallow exterior French drain is $10-$35 per linear foot; an interior basement drain is $40-$85 per foot, or $4,000-$17,000 installed (HomeGuide).
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
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 $900 to $1,400 for Arkansas is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Arkansas, $9
The report lays out the french drain numbers for Arkansas 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.
French drain in Arkansas: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Arkansas?
$510 to $1,800 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Arkansas can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Arkansas is cheapest for French drain?
Fort Smith at about $1,150 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Fayetteville at $1,200.
+Is French drain cheaper in Arkansas than the US average?
It is 15% cheaper: $1,150 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Arkansas?
About 47% ($540). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.78x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Arkansas?
The BLS statewide median is $18.09 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.63 to $21.31.
+Where does Arkansas rank for French drain costs?
51st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,150 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Arkansas?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $510 to $1,000 and premium work $1,300 to $1,800. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+Does the season matter for French drain in Arkansas?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Arkansas metros we cover, Little Rock has the most comfortable months (9 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
French drain by city in Arkansas
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 a French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (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 = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.