French drain cost in Grand Junction, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $590 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.85 – $34.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #158
- 1 = most expensive
Grand Junction homeowners pay roughly $590 to $2,050 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.85 to $34.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Grand Junction is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Grand Junction, CO, standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17 to $27 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $550 | $860 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Grand Junction, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 47% |
| Labor | $310 | $710 | $1,100 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,350 | $2,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Grand Junction 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 $21.51 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Grand Junction is 1.01 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 53% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Grand Junction metro is 96.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $620, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.5) and land at $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 Grand Junction. The wage table below marks each row.
When to schedule French drain in Grand Junction
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Grand Junction Walker Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through June and September through October are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Grand Junction (5 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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 137 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Grand Junction gets about 9 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 18 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, September and October (1.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 0.8 and 0.4 inches. The station averages about 68 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 | 38 | 17 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 46 | 24 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 58 | 32 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 66 | 38 | 1.0 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 47 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 57 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 95 | 64 | 0.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 62 | 0.9 | Hot |
| Sep | 82 | 53 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 40 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 28 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Dec | 39 | 18 | 0.6 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Grand Junction bid
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.
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 Grand Junction is 1.01 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.51 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.55 and $24.79 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 84.9 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 $27.74 an hour, which is 4% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.56 and $30.03 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 58.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Grand Junction metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median: $28.72 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.38 and $33.52 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.79 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($18.55) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 3.8% or 3.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,170 jobs in the Grand Junction area. That makes it the 269th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.55 | $21.51 | $24.79 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.56 | $27.74 | $30.03 | $28.78 | 0.96 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $24.38 | $28.72 | $33.52 | $23.56 | 1.22 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Grand Junction?
Because every project leans on different trades, Grand Junction's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −2% and gravel driveway −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,950 – $13,100 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,800 | −4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $5,000 | −4% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,600 | −4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,000 – $109,000 | −3% |
Grand Junction: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Grand Junction 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
$590 to $1,200
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,050 to $1,650
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,500 to $2,050
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $300 – $590 | $520 – $810 | $740 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $590 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,150 |
How Grand Junction compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Grand Junction. Colorado Springs is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 205 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, COthis page | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | |
| Boulder, CO180 miles | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Denver, CO195 miles | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +7% |
| Fort Collins, CO195 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +3% |
| Colorado Springs, CO205 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | level |
| Provo, UT215 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | level |
| Colorado (statewide) | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Grand Junction comes in at #158 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $1,900; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $1,100 (midpoints, 60 linear ft). Statewide, Grand Junction is 4% below the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +7% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | level |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +3% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Grand Junction's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Grand Junction against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −6% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −5% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed french drain report for Grand Junction, CO, $9
The report lays out the french drain numbers for Grand Junction, 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 Grand Junction: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Grand Junction?
For 60 linear ft, expect $590 to $2,050 in the Grand Junction area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,650. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Grand Junction?
About $9.85 to $34.50 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 Grand Junction or Boulder?
Boulder is 180 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,400, which is 5% more than Grand Junction ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Grand Junction?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $710 out of $1,350. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Grand Junction?
$590 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Grand Junction?
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 Grand Junction area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Grand Junction expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Colorado?
Grand Junction is 4% 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 Grand Junction?
The BLS median is $21.51 an hour in the Grand Junction area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.55 to $24.79.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Grand Junction?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $590 to $1,200 and premium work $1,500 to $2,050. 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 Grand Junction?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through June and September through October. May and June 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 Grand Junction
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.