French drain cost in Springfield, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $690 – $2,400
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $40
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #53
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Springfield, IL usually costs $690 to $2,400 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $11.50 to $40 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $190 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $29.52 an hour in the Springfield area, 30% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Springfield, IL, standard level
$1,200 to $1,900
About $20 to $31.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $730 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,900 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Springfield, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 39% |
| Labor | $420 | $930 | $1,450 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $690 | $1,550 | $2,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Springfield number
Labor is 61% 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 Springfield the blended ratio comes out at 1.33.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Springfield 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 92.7: $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 Springfield. The wage table below marks each row.
Springfield 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, Springfield #2 (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 Springfield are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 114 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Springfield gets about 40 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.1 inches in May). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 2.9 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 23 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 | 36 | 19 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 41 | 22 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 31 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 65 | 41 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 53 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 63 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 64 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 56 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 33 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 41 | 24 | 2.3 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Springfield
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Springfield wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, inground pool comes out highest (+20%) and sod installation lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,700 – $15,200 | +16% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,000 – $12,100 | +19% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,450 | +6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,750 – $11,900 | +19% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $43,300 – $135,000 | +20% |
Cost by quality level and size in Springfield
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Springfield. 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
$690 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,900
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,700 to $2,400
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $340 – $690 | $600 – $940 | $860 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $690 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,400 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,750 | $2,400 – $3,750 | $3,450 – $4,800 |
How Springfield compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Springfield. Davenport is the lowest at about $1,400 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 115 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, ILthis page | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | |
| Bloomington, IL65 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | level |
| Peoria, IL65 miles | $680 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −1% |
| Champaign, IL80 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −1% |
| St. Louis, MO85 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA115 miles | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −9% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $720 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Springfield ranks #53 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Springfield is 4% below the Illinois figure.
Elsewhere in Illinois
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +8% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $680 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −1% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $680 – $2,350 | $1,550 | −1% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −1% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Springfield against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −19% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 98,500 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +4% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | −3% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −22% |
Why two Springfield quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Springfield
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 Springfield the blend is 1.33.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $29.52 an hour, which is 30% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.56 and $35.79 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 50.6 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 $45.82 an hour, 59% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.70 and $49.31 an hour. About 210 work in the metro. That is 20.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Springfield 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $95 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 8.0% to 6.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Springfield has 100,810 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 203rd 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% | $21.56 | $29.52 | $35.79 | $22.66 | 1.30 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.70 | $45.82 | $49.31 | $28.78 | 1.59 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.97 | $23.84 | $26.90 | $23.56 | 1.01 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.33 | |||||
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French drain in Springfield: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Springfield?
For 60 linear ft, expect $690 to $2,400 in the Springfield area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Springfield?
About $11.50 to $40 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 Springfield or Bloomington?
Bloomington is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 0% less than Springfield ($1,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Springfield?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $930 out of $1,550. Materials are 39% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Springfield?
$690 to $2,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Springfield?
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 Springfield area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Springfield expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Illinois?
Springfield is 4% 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 Springfield?
The BLS median is $29.52 an hour in the Springfield area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.56 to $35.79.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Springfield?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $690 to $1,350 and premium work $1,700 to $2,400. 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 Springfield?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. August 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 Springfield
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.