French drain cost in Fort Wayne, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $640 – $2,250
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $37.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #92
- 1 = most expensive
Fort Wayne homeowners pay roughly $640 to $2,250 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $10.50 to $37.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Fort Wayne is 7% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.83 an hour in the Fort Wayne area, 1% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Fort Wayne, IN, standard level
$1,150 to $1,750
About $19 to $29.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $750 |
| Labor | $650 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,150 | $1,750 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Fort Wayne, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 42% |
| Labor | $370 | $840 | $1,300 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $640 | $1,450 | $2,250 | 100% |
Why Fort Wayne 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, Fort Wayne wages are 1.19 times the national level. Labor makes up about 58% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Wayne metro is 94.3 (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 (92.6) 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 Fort Wayne. The wage table below marks each row.
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 Fort Wayne is 1.19 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.83 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.33 and $28.67 an hour. About 1,670 work in the metro. That is 74.1 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 $37.24 an hour, which is 29% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.79 and $44.55 an hour. BLS counts 650 of them working in the area, 28.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Fort Wayne metro, so we used the Indiana statewide median: $35.38 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $25.02 and $44.16 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.67 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $90. At the 25th percentile ($19.33) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 6.2% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 225,520 jobs in the Fort Wayne area. That makes it the 107th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.15% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $19.33 | $22.83 | $28.67 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.79 | $37.24 | $44.55 | $28.78 | 1.29 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $25.02 | $35.38 | $44.16 | $23.56 | 1.50 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.19 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Fort Wayne?
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Wayne's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +5% and sod installation −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,200 – $13,400 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,700 | +5% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,150 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,200 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,400 – $116,500 | +3% |
Fort Wayne: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Wayne 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
$640 to $1,300
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,150 to $1,750
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,600 to $2,250
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $320 – $640 | $560 – $880 | $800 – $1,150 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $640 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,250 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,300 – $2,550 | $2,250 – $3,550 | $3,200 – $4,500 |
When to schedule French drain in Fort Wayne
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ft Wayne Intl Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Fort Wayne (8 of 12 months). 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 124 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Fort Wayne gets about 39 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 34 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.0 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 16 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 | 33 | 18 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 29 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 61 | 39 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 50 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 53 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 43 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 33 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 24 | 2.5 | Cold |
How Fort Wayne 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 $1,350 to $1,550 across Fort Wayne and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, INthis page | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | |
| Elkhart, IN55 miles | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −4% |
| South Bend, IN70 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +6% |
| Kalamazoo, MI85 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −4% |
| Toledo, OH85 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −1% |
| Niles, MI95 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −7% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −7% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Wayne comes in at #92 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, Fort Wayne is 2% below the Indiana figure.
Other Indiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +3% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +5% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +6% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −4% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +3% |
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Wayne's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Wayne against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −16% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −11% |
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $730 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +14% |
| Deltona, FL | 219,740 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −14% |
French drain: what moves the price in Fort Wayne
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.
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 $1,150 to $1,750 for Fort Wayne, IN is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Fort Wayne, IN, $9
The report lays out the french drain numbers for Fort Wayne, IN 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 Wayne: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Fort Wayne?
For 60 linear ft, expect $640 to $2,250 in the Fort Wayne area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,150 to $1,750. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Fort Wayne?
About $10.50 to $37.50 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 Wayne or Elkhart?
Elkhart is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,400, which is 4% less than Fort Wayne ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Wayne?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $840 out of $1,450. Materials are 42% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Fort Wayne?
$640 to $2,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Fort Wayne?
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 Wayne area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Wayne expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Indiana?
Fort Wayne is 2% below the Indiana statewide estimate ($1,500 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Indiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Fort Wayne?
The BLS median is $22.83 an hour in the Fort Wayne area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.33 to $28.67.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Fort Wayne?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $640 to $1,300 and premium work $1,600 to $2,250. 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 Wayne?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 Wayne
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.