French drain cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $590 – $2,100
- Per linear ft
- $9.90 – $34.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to install a French drain in Iowa? Plan on $590 to $2,100 for 60 linear ft. Wages (1.04x the US blend), materials (price index 93.7) and permit costs (87.8) put the state below the national midpoint by 1%.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $1,350 (Iowa City) to $1,500 (Waterloo) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Iowa (statewide), standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17.50 to $27 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $570 | $890 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 45% |
| Labor | $320 | $730 | $1,150 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
How Iowa compares with nearby states
Iowa ranks 29 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for French drain, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,850 and the cheapest Arkansas at $1,150, both for 60 linear ft at the midpoint. Iowa sits at $1,350. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
Quality levels and sizes in Iowa
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Iowa wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$590 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 – $590 | $520 – $820 | $740 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $590 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,100 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,350 | $2,100 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,150 |
Weather windows across Iowa
Season matters for French drain. For each Iowa metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Every Iowa metro on the list has 7 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 in Dubuque.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 7: April through October |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 7: April through October |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 7: April through October |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 7: April through October |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 7: April through October |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 7: April through October |
Iowa labor market for French drain
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.04 for Iowa.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.31 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. About 13,780 work in the state. That is 88.4 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 $29.01 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.77 and $34.93 an hour. BLS counts 5,530 of them working in the state, 35.5 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 $25.96 an hour, 10% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $24.13 and $27.79 an hour. About 280 work in the state. That is 1.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($28.11 an hour) would add about $75 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.90) would take off about $20. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.77 | $29.01 | $34.93 | $28.78 | 1.01 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $24.13 | $25.96 | $27.79 | $23.56 | 1.10 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Iowa metro-by-metro prices
5 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,350, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (60 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +11% |
| Davenport, IA | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Des Moines, IA | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Sioux City, IA | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | level |
French drain: what moves the price in Iowa
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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
If you are planning more than one job in Iowa
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Iowa wages and prices. Against national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (level) and sod installation lowest (−4%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,150 – $13,300 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,950 | −2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,000 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,700 – $111,500 | −1% |
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Detailed french drain report for Iowa, $9
The report lays out the french drain numbers for Iowa 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 Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Iowa?
$590 to $2,100 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for French drain?
Iowa City at about $1,350 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Waterloo at $1,500.
+Is French drain cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 1% cheaper: $1,350 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 55% ($730). Materials are 45%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.04x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $23.31 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.90 to $28.11.
+Where does Iowa rank for French drain costs?
29th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,350 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Iowa?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $590 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.
+Does the season matter for French drain in Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines has the most comfortable months (7 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
French drain by city in Iowa
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.