French drain cost in Terre Haute, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $610 – $2,150
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $35.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #122
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Terre Haute, plan on $610 to $2,150 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $10 to $35.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.85 an hour in the Terre Haute area, 4% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Terre Haute, IN, standard level
$1,050 to $1,700
About $18 to $28 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $750 |
| Labor | $600 | $940 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,700 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Terre Haute, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 44% |
| Labor | $340 | $770 | $1,200 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $610 | $1,400 | $2,150 | 100% |
Where the Terre Haute price comes from
Labor is 56% 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 Terre Haute the blended ratio comes out at 1.09.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Terre Haute 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 (87.8) 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 Terre Haute. The wage table below marks each row.
Terre Haute labor market for French drain
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 Terre Haute is 1.09 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.85 an hour, 4% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $27.31 an hour. About 500 work in the metro. That is 76.8 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 $29.63 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.17 and $40.40 an hour. BLS counts 230 of them working in the area, 35.3 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 Terre Haute 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 ($27.31 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $85. At the 25th percentile ($18.50) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 6.1% or 3.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,120 jobs in the Terre Haute area. That makes it the 277th 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% | $18.50 | $21.85 | $27.31 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.17 | $29.63 | $40.40 | $28.78 | 1.03 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $25.02 | $35.38 | $44.16 | $23.56 | 1.50 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Terre Haute
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.
How Terre Haute compares
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Champaign is the priciest of the group at $1,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, INthis page | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | |
| Bloomington, IN40 miles | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +2% |
| Indianapolis, IN70 miles | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +8% |
| Champaign, IL75 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +10% |
| Lafayette, IN75 miles | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +8% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +10% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +8% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Terre Haute comes in at #122 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, Terre Haute is 7% below the Indiana figure.
Other Indiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +8% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +5% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +10% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +11% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +1% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +8% |
Cities with a workforce like Terre Haute's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Terre Haute against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GA | 65,300 jobs | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −16% |
| Muskegon, MI | 62,340 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +12% |
| Vineland, NJ | 62,300 jobs | $780 – $2,750 | $1,750 | +28% |
Cost by quality level and size in Terre Haute
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Terre Haute 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 $1,700
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,550 to $2,150
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $310 – $610 | $540 – $840 | $770 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $610 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,150 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,450 | $2,150 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,300 |
What nearby projects cost in Terre Haute
Because every project leans on different trades, Terre Haute's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +5% and sod installation −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,250 – $13,400 | +1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,900 | −3% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,200 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,500 – $114,000 | +1% |
Climate in Terre Haute: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Terre Haute Hulman Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Terre Haute (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February 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 110 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Terre Haute gets about 41 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and June (4.7 inches in April). Inside the workable window, March and September are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 24 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 | 37 | 21 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 24 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 33 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 43 | 4.7 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 63 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 54 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 43 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 34 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 41 | 26 | 2.5 | Cold |
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Detailed french drain report for Terre Haute, IN, $9
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French drain in Terre Haute: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Terre Haute?
For 60 linear ft, expect $610 to $2,150 in the Terre Haute area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Terre Haute?
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 Terre Haute or Bloomington?
Bloomington is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,400, which is 2% more than Terre Haute ($1,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Terre Haute?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $770 out of $1,400. Materials are 44% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Terre Haute?
$610 to $2,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Terre Haute?
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 Terre Haute area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Terre Haute expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Indiana?
Terre Haute is 7% 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 Terre Haute?
The BLS median is $21.85 an hour in the Terre Haute area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.50 to $27.31.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Terre Haute?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $610 to $1,200 and premium work $1,550 to $2,150. 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 Terre Haute?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March 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 Terre Haute
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.