French drain cost in Boise, ID
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $610 – $2,100
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $35.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #129
- 1 = most expensive
Boise homeowners pay roughly $610 to $2,100 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $10 to $35.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Boise is almost level. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.84 an hour in the Boise area, 1% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Boise, ID, standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17.50 to $27.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $570 | $900 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Boise, ID
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 46% |
| Labor | $330 | $740 | $1,150 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $610 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Boise number
Labor is 54% 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 Boise the blended ratio comes out at 1.05.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boise metro is 96.2 (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 (98.4) and land at $0 to $0.
How Boise compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Boise. Logan is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 235 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, IDthis page | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| Idaho Falls, ID190 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Logan, UT235 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −3% |
| Salt Lake City, UT235 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| Bend, OR250 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +10% |
| Ogden, UT255 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −3% |
| Idaho (statewide) | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Boise comes in at #129 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, Boise is 0% above the Idaho figure.
Other Idaho metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Boise's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boise against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −7% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −5% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −9% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
When to schedule French drain in Boise
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Boise Air Terminal (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March 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 Boise (6 of 12 months). January, February, 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, 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 108 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Boise gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 18 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, May and December (1.5 inches in December). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 0.8 and 0.4 inches. The station averages about 55 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 | 39 | 26 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 46 | 29 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 56 | 35 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 40 | 1.2 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 48 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 54 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 93 | 62 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 61 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 80 | 53 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 65 | 42 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 32 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 39 | 25 | 1.5 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Boise
Because every project leans on different trades, Boise's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +2% and sprinkler system −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,000 – $13,200 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,350 | +2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,650 | −4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,400 – $110,500 | −2% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Boise bid
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).
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.
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 Boise is 1.05 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.84 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.98 and $25.18 an hour. About 4,700 work in the metro. That is 120.0 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 $29.29 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.58 and $31.56 an hour. BLS counts 1,730 of them working in the area, 44.2 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 $28.62 an hour, 21% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $24.05 and $31.35 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 2.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($25.18 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $35. At the 25th percentile ($19.98) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 2.7% or 3.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 391,790 jobs in the Boise City area. That makes it the 67th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.25% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $19.98 | $22.84 | $25.18 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.58 | $29.29 | $31.56 | $28.78 | 1.02 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $24.05 | $28.62 | $31.35 | $23.56 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Boise
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boise 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
$610 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 $2,100
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $300 – $610 | $530 – $830 | $760 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $610 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,100 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,400 | $2,100 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,250 |
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French drain in Boise: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Boise?
For 60 linear ft, expect $610 to $2,100 in the Boise 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 Boise?
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 Boise or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,350, which is 0% less than Boise ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boise?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $740 out of $1,350. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Boise?
$610 to $2,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Boise?
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 Boise area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boise expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Idaho?
Boise is 0% above the Idaho statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Idaho; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Boise?
The BLS median is $22.84 an hour in the Boise area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.98 to $25.18.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Boise?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $610 to $1,200 and premium work $1,500 to $2,100. 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 Boise?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through October. June and September 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 Boise
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.