French drain cost in Fort Collins, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $610 – $2,150
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $35.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #123
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Fort Collins area: $610 to $2,150 for 60 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.86 an hour in the Fort Collins area, 1% above the US median of $22.66.
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 Fort Collins, CO, standard level
$1,050 to $1,700
About $18 to $28 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $590 | $920 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,700 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Fort Collins, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 45% |
| Labor | $330 | $750 | $1,150 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $610 | $1,400 | $2,150 | 100% |
What is behind the Fort Collins number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.86 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fort Collins is 1.07 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Fort Collins is at 96.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $620 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.1: $0 to $0.
Is Fort Collins cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Fort Collins. Cheyenne is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins, COthis page | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | |
| Boulder, CO40 miles | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +2% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
| Cheyenne, WY60 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −5% |
| Denver, CO90 miles | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +4% |
| Colorado Springs, CO135 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Fort Collins ranks #123 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Fort Collins is 1% below the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +4% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +2% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −3% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Collins against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −9% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 168,700 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +13% |
| Visalia, CA | 171,140 jobs | $650 – $2,300 | $1,450 | +7% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $520 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −14% |
Who does the work: Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins the blend is 1.07.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.86 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.83 and $27.15 an hour. BLS counts 930 of them working in the area, 54.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $31.08 an hour, 8% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.33 and $35.64 an hour. About 600 work in the metro. That is 35.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.76 an hour, which is 22% above the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $25.79 and $35.11 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 3.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
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 $30. That is a swing of roughly 2.3% to 4.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Fort Collins-Loveland has 169,430 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 138th 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% | $20.83 | $22.86 | $27.15 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.33 | $31.08 | $35.64 | $28.78 | 1.08 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $25.79 | $28.76 | $35.11 | $23.56 | 1.22 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Fort Collins: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Fort Collins. 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
$610 to $1,200
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,050 to $1,700
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,550 to $2,150
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $310 – $610 | $530 – $840 | $760 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $610 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,150 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,450 | $2,150 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,300 |
What nearby projects cost in Fort Collins
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Fort Collins wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (+3%) and sprinkler system lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,200 – $13,500 | +1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,150 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,800 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,200 – $113,000 | level |
French drain: what moves the price in Fort Collins
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.
The best months for French drain in Fort Collins
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Ft Collins (5 miles from the city center). 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 Collins are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November 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 150 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Fort Collins gets about 16 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 1.4 and 1.3 inches. The station averages about 29 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 | 45 | 18 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 21 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 56 | 29 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 35 | 2.1 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 44 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 53 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 59 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 57 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 48 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 36 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 26 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 44 | 18 | 0.5 | Cold |
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 $1,050 to $1,700 for Fort Collins, CO is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the french drain numbers for Fort Collins, CO 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 Fort Collins: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Fort Collins?
For 60 linear ft, expect $610 to $2,150 in the Fort Collins area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Fort Collins?
About $10 to $35.50 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 Collins or Boulder?
Boulder is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,400, which is 2% more than Fort Collins ($1,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Collins?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $750 out of $1,400. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Fort Collins?
$610 to $2,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Fort Collins?
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 Collins area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Collins expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Colorado?
Fort Collins is 1% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($1,400 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Fort Collins?
The BLS median is $22.86 an hour in the Fort Collins area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.83 to $27.15.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Fort Collins?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $610 to $1,200 and premium work $1,550 to $2,150. 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 Collins?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Collins
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.