French drain cost in Rockford, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $680 – $2,350
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $39.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #62
- 1 = most expensive
Rockford homeowners pay roughly $680 to $2,350 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $11.50 to $39.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Rockford is 13% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $28.07 an hour in the Rockford area, 24% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Rockford, IL, standard level
$1,200 to $1,850
About $20 to $31 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $710 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Rockford, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 40% |
| Labor | $410 | $920 | $1,450 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $680 | $1,550 | $2,350 | 100% |
Why Rockford prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Rockford wages are 1.31 times the national level. Labor makes up about 60% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Rockford metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $610, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.2) 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 Rockford. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Rockford 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.
When to schedule French drain in Rockford
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Rockford Gtr Rockford Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Rockford (7 of 12 months). 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 136 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Rockford gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.2 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 15 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 | 29 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 33 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 28 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 39 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 50 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 54 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 42 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 31 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 34 | 20 | 1.9 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Rockford
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Rockford 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
$680 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,850
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,700 to $2,350
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $340 – $680 | $590 – $930 | $850 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $680 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,350 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,700 | $2,350 – $3,750 | $3,400 – $4,750 |
What nearby projects cost in Rockford
Because every project leans on different trades, Rockford's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +18% and sod installation −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,250 – $14,600 | +11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,000 – $12,000 | +18% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,600 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,750 – $11,800 | +18% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $42,200 – $131,500 | +17% |
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 Rockford is 1.31 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $28.07 an hour, 24% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.55 and $38.91 an hour. About 830 work in the metro. That is 60.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $46.75 an hour, which is 62% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.52 and $48.97 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 18.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Rockford metro, so we used the Illinois statewide median: $23.84 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.97 and $26.90 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($38.91 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $170. At the 25th percentile ($22.55) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 11.0% or 5.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 137,650 jobs in the Rockford area. That makes it the 161st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.09% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.55 | $28.07 | $38.91 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $33.52 | $46.75 | $48.97 | $28.78 | 1.62 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.97 | $23.84 | $26.90 | $23.56 | 1.01 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.31 | |||||
How Rockford compares
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 $1,500 to $1,600 across Rockford and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, ILthis page | $680 – $2,350 | $1,550 | |
| Janesville, WI25 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −1% |
| Madison, WI60 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +3% |
| Kenosha, WI60 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +3% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +3% |
| Milwaukee, WI70 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +4% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $720 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +6% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −12% |
Across 300 US metros, Rockford comes in at #62 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, Rockford is 5% below the Illinois figure.
Other Illinois metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +9% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $680 – $2,350 | $1,500 | level |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | level |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Rockford's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rockford against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −12% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −1% |
| Huntington, WV | 140,740 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −14% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,450 | −3% |
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French drain in Rockford: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Rockford?
For 60 linear ft, expect $680 to $2,350 in the Rockford area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,850. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Rockford?
About $11.50 to $39.50 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 Rockford or Janesville?
Janesville is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,500, which is 1% less than Rockford ($1,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rockford?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $920 out of $1,550. Materials are 40% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Rockford?
$680 to $2,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Rockford?
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 Rockford area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rockford expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Illinois?
Rockford is 5% below the Illinois statewide estimate ($1,600 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Rockford?
The BLS median is $28.07 an hour in the Rockford area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.55 to $38.91.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Rockford?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $680 to $1,350 and premium work $1,700 to $2,350. 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 Rockford?
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 Rockford
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.