French drain cost in Fort Smith, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $510 – $1,750
- Per linear ft
- $8.40 – $29.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #299
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Fort Smith, AR usually costs $510 to $1,750 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $8.40 to $29.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $210 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.77 an hour in the Fort Smith area, 22% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Fort Smith, AR, standard level
$880 to $1,400
About $14.50 to $23 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $410 | $650 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $880 | $1,400 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 53% |
| Labor | $240 | $530 | $820 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $510 | $1,150 | $1,750 | 100% |
Why Fort Smith prices look the way they do
Labor is 47% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Fort Smith the blended ratio comes out at 0.76.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Fort Smith is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $610 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Fort Smith. The wage table below marks each row.
Fort Smith weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Ft Smith Rgnl Ap (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Fort Smith are February through June and September through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 63 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Fort Smith gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.7 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 78 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 | 51 | 30 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 57 | 33 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 63 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 51 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | 3.5 | Cold |
Is Fort Smith cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 60 linear ft range from $1,150 to $1,300 across Fort Smith and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $510 – $1,750 | $1,150 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +4% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +8% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +15% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | +2% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $520 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +3% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +19% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Fort Smith ranks #299 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Fort Smith is 1% below the Arkansas figure.
Elsewhere in Arkansas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | +2% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +4% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Smith against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +5% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +7% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +35% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +36% |
Related projects, priced for Fort Smith
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Fort Smith wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−10%) and gravel driveway lowest (−16%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,100 – $11,900 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,100 – $8,550 | −16% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $3,000 | −10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,050 – $4,400 | −16% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,350 – $8,450 | −16% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $30,800 – $96,200 | −15% |
Why two Fort Smith quotes can differ
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.
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).
Cost by quality level and size in Fort Smith
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Fort Smith. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$510 to $1,000
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$880 to $1,400
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,250 to $1,750
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $250 – $510 | $440 – $690 | $630 – $880 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $510 – $1,000 | $880 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,750 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,000 | $1,750 – $2,800 | $2,550 – $3,550 |
What local crews earn in Fort Smith
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 Fort Smith the blend is 0.76.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $17.77 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.31 and $21.83 an hour. BLS counts 670 of them working in the area, 70.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $20.11 an hour, 30% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.15 and $21.12 an hour. About 440 work in the metro. That is 46.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Fort Smith metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median: $18.10 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.52 and $19.33 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $65 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $25. That is a swing of roughly 2.0% to 5.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Fort Smith has 95,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 210th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $16.31 | $17.77 | $21.83 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.15 | $20.11 | $21.12 | $28.78 | 0.70 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $17.52 | $18.10 | $19.33 | $23.56 | 0.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.76 | |||||
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French drain in Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Fort Smith?
For 60 linear ft, expect $510 to $1,750 in the Fort Smith area. A standard-spec job lands at $880 to $1,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Fort Smith?
About $8.40 to $29.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 4% more than Fort Smith ($1,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $530 out of $1,150. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Fort Smith?
$510 to $1,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Fort Smith?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Fort Smith area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Smith expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 1% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($1,150 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Fort Smith?
The BLS median is $17.77 an hour in the Fort Smith area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.31 to $21.83.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Fort Smith?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $510 to $1,000 and premium work $1,250 to $1,750. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Fort Smith?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through November. February 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.
French drain near Fort Smith
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.