French drain cost in Michigan
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $620 – $2,150
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $36
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 10
Michigan prices for French drain: $620 to $2,150 for 60 linear ft, or $10.50 to $36 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 3% above the national one. Local wages for construction laborers are $23.84 an hour.
Inside Michigan, the metros we cover range from $1,350 (Niles) to $1,500 (Detroit) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Michigan (statewide), standard level
$1,100 to $1,700
About $18 to $28.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $600 | $940 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,700 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Michigan
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 45% |
| Labor | $340 | $770 | $1,200 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $620 | $1,400 | $2,150 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for Michigan
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Michigan wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+5%) and sod installation lowest (−3%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,100 – $13,300 | −1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,150 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,200 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,600 – $114,500 | +1% |
Weather windows across Michigan
Season matters for French drain. For each Michigan metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Detroit has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Michigan at 8 months (April through November); Traverse City has the shortest at 7 (April through October). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Traverse City to 42 inches in Niles.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 20 | 84 | 30 | 8: April through November |
| Grand Rapids | 17 | 82 | 40 | 7: April through October |
| Ann Arbor | 15 | 84 | 30 | 7: April through October |
| Lansing | 17 | 83 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Flint | 16 | 82 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Kalamazoo | 18 | 83 | 33 | 8: April through November |
| Saginaw | 16 | 83 | 34 | 7: April through October |
| Traverse City | 17 | 81 | 29 | 7: April through October |
| Muskegon | 21 | 82 | 35 | 8: April through November |
| Niles | 19 | 83 | 42 | 8: April through November |
How Michigan compares with nearby states
Michigan ranks 20 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. Michigan sits at $1,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 180 miles away | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +5% |
| Illinois | 220 miles away | $720 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +16% |
| Indiana | 220 miles away | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +7% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +11% |
| West Virginia | 310 miles away | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −11% |
Quality levels and sizes in Michigan
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Michigan wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$620 to $1,250
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,100 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 – $620 | $540 – $850 | $770 – $1,100 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $620 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,150 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,250 – $2,450 | $2,150 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,300 |
Which Michigan city is cheapest for French drain?
3 of the 10 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,400, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +7% |
| Flint, MI | $660 – $2,300 | $1,450 | +6% |
| Lansing, MI | $630 – $2,200 | $1,450 | +3% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | level |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | level |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
| Traverse City, MI | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
| Saginaw, MI | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
| Muskegon, MI | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −3% |
| Niles, MI | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −3% |
French drain: what moves the price in Michigan
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.
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Michigan
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 1.09 for Michigan.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.84 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.52 and $29.68 an hour. About 28,490 work in the state. That is 64.7 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 $30.14 an hour, which is 5% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $26.30 and $37.70 an hour. BLS counts 9,500 of them working in the state, 21.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $29.60 an hour, 26% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $27.46 and $37.30 an hour. About 180 work in the state. That is 0.4 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 ($29.68 an hour) would add about $90 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.52) would take off about $35. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,403,730 jobs across Michigan (May 2025), which is 2.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.52 | $23.84 | $29.68 | $22.66 | 1.05 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $26.30 | $30.14 | $37.70 | $28.78 | 1.05 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $27.46 | $29.60 | $37.30 | $23.56 | 1.26 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
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French drain in Michigan: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Michigan?
$620 to $2,150 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Michigan can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Michigan is cheapest for French drain?
Niles at about $1,350 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Detroit at $1,500.
+Is French drain cheaper in Michigan than the US average?
It is 3% more expensive: $1,400 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Michigan?
About 55% ($770). Materials are 45%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.09x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Michigan?
The BLS statewide median is $23.84 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.52 to $29.68.
+Where does Michigan rank for French drain costs?
20th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,400 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Michigan?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $620 to $1,250 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.
+Does the season matter for French drain in Michigan?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Michigan metros we cover, Detroit has the most comfortable months (8 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 Michigan
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.