French drain cost in Traverse City, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $600 – $2,100
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #132
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Traverse City, MI usually costs $600 to $2,100 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $10 to $35 per linear ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.27 an hour in the Traverse City area, 3% above the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your french drain cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Traverse City, MI, standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17.50 to $27.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $580 | $920 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Traverse City, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 45% |
| Labor | $330 | $750 | $1,150 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $600 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
Why Traverse City prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.27 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Traverse City is 1.07 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Traverse City is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $610 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.4: $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 Traverse City. The wage table below marks each row.
Traverse City weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Traverse City Cherry Cptl Ap (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Traverse City are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, 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 149 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Traverse City gets about 29 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are August, September and October (3.6 inches in October). Inside the workable window, June and July are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 9 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | 17 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 16 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 23 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 33 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 54 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 59 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 59 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 52 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 32 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 35 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
What local crews earn in Traverse City
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Traverse City the blend is 1.07.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.27 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.03 and $28.66 an hour. BLS counts 740 of them working in the area, 108.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $29.42 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $28.74 and $35.49 an hour. About 280 work in the metro. That is 40.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Traverse City 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $85 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 2.6% to 6.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Traverse City has 68,440 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 264th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.03 | $23.27 | $28.66 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $28.74 | $29.42 | $35.49 | $28.78 | 1.02 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $27.46 | $29.60 | $37.30 | $23.56 | 1.26 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Traverse City: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Traverse City. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$600 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 – $600 | $530 – $830 | $760 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $600 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,100 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,400 | $2,100 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,250 |
What nearby projects cost in Traverse City
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Traverse City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+4%) and sod installation lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,550 – $13,800 | +4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,000 | −2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,400 – $114,000 | +1% |
Traverse City against nearby metros and the rest of Michigan
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Appleton is the priciest of the group at $1,600. Muskegon is the cheapest at $1,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MIthis page | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| Green Bay, WI110 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +14% |
| Muskegon, MI110 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| Sheboygan, WI125 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +11% |
| Appleton, WI130 miles | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +17% |
| Grand Rapids, MI135 miles | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Michigan (statewide) | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Traverse City ranks #132 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Traverse City is 2% below the Michigan figure.
Elsewhere in Michigan
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +9% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +2% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,450 | +5% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,450 | +8% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Traverse City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +2% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −3% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −8% |
French drain: what moves the price in Traverse City
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.
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 $1,050 to $1,650 for Traverse City, MI is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the french drain numbers for Traverse City, MI 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 Traverse City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Traverse City?
For 60 linear ft, expect $600 to $2,100 in the Traverse City area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,650. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Traverse City?
About $10 to $35 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 Traverse City or Green Bay?
Green Bay is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 14% more than Traverse City ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Traverse City?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $750 out of $1,350. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Traverse City?
$600 to $2,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Traverse City?
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 Traverse City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Traverse City expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Michigan?
Traverse City is 2% below 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 Traverse City?
The BLS median is $23.27 an hour in the Traverse City area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.03 to $28.66.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Traverse City?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $600 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.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Traverse City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. June and July 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 Traverse City
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.