French drain cost in Flint, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $660 – $2,300
- Per linear ft
- $11 – $38
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #83
- 1 = most expensive
Flint homeowners pay roughly $660 to $2,300 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $11 to $38 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Flint is 9% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $27.49 an hour in the Flint area, 21% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Flint, MI, standard level
$1,150 to $1,800
About $19 to $30 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $670 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,150 | $1,800 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Flint, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 41% |
| Labor | $390 | $870 | $1,350 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $660 | $1,450 | $2,300 | 100% |
Why Flint prices look the way they do
Labor is 59% 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 Flint the blended ratio comes out at 1.23.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Flint metro is 93.7 (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 (93.0) 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 Flint. The wage table below marks each row.
French drain: what moves the price in Flint
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Flint
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Flint 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
$660 to $1,300
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,150 to $1,800
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,650 to $2,300
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $330 – $660 | $570 – $900 | $820 – $1,150 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $660 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,300 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,300 – $2,600 | $2,300 – $3,600 | $3,300 – $4,600 |
Is Flint cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Flint. Saginaw is the lowest at about $1,350 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MIthis page | $660 – $2,300 | $1,450 | |
| Saginaw, MI30 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −8% |
| Detroit, MI35 miles | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +1% |
| Lansing, MI50 miles | $630 – $2,200 | $1,450 | −3% |
| Ann Arbor, MI55 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −6% |
| Grand Rapids, MI100 miles | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −7% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −6% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −8% |
Across 300 US metros, Flint comes in at #83 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, Flint is 6% above the Michigan figure.
Other Michigan metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +1% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −7% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −6% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,450 | −3% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −6% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Flint's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Flint against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +3% |
| College Station, TX | 134,040 jobs | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −20% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $680 – $2,350 | $1,550 | +4% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +4% |
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 Flint is 1.23 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $27.49 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.89 and $30.25 an hour. About 980 work in the metro. That is 72.6 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 $36.12 an hour, which is 26% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $28.71 and $37.70 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the area, 17.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Flint metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median: $29.60 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.46 and $37.30 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.25 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $45. At the 25th percentile ($21.89) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 2.9% or 5.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 135,040 jobs in the Flint area. That makes it the 163rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.09% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.89 | $27.49 | $30.25 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $28.71 | $36.12 | $37.70 | $28.78 | 1.26 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $27.46 | $29.60 | $37.30 | $23.56 | 1.26 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.23 | |||||
When to schedule French drain in Flint
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Flint Bishop Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Flint (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November 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 141 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Flint gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, July and August (3.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 11 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 | 30 | 16 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 33 | 17 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 43 | 25 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 35 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 56 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 60 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 58 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 50 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 31 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 35 | 23 | 1.9 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Flint
Because every project leans on different trades, Flint's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +10% and sod installation −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,400 – $13,600 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,750 – $11,000 | +8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $11,000 | +10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $38,700 – $120,500 | +7% |
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Detailed french drain report for Flint, MI, $9
Multi-page report for Flint, MI: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Flint: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Flint?
For 60 linear ft, expect $660 to $2,300 in the Flint area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,150 to $1,800. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Flint?
About $11 to $38 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 Flint or Saginaw?
Saginaw is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,350, which is 8% less than Flint ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Flint?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $870 out of $1,450. Materials are 41% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Flint?
$660 to $2,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Flint?
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 Flint area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Flint expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Michigan?
Flint is 6% above the Michigan statewide estimate ($1,400 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Flint?
The BLS median is $27.49 an hour in the Flint area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.89 to $30.25.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Flint?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $660 to $1,300 and premium work $1,650 to $2,300. 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 Flint?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Flint
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.