French drain cost in Minnesota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $720 – $2,500
- Per linear ft
- $12 – $42
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +20%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 4
Across Minnesota, a French drain costs about $720 to $2,500 for 60 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 20% above the US figure of $1,350. Construction laborers earn a median $28.97 an hour in Minnesota (US: $22.66).
Inside Minnesota, the metros we cover range from $1,550 (St. Cloud) to $1,650 (Minneapolis) 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 Minnesota (statewide), standard level
$1,250 to $1,950
About $21 to $33 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $510 | $800 |
| Labor | $750 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,250 | $1,950 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Minnesota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 40% |
| Labor | $430 | $960 | $1,500 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $720 | $1,600 | $2,500 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Minnesota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Minnesota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$720 to $1,450
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,250 to $1,950
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,800 to $2,500
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $360 – $720 | $630 – $990 | $900 – $1,250 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $720 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $1,950 | $1,800 – $2,500 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,450 – $2,850 | $2,500 – $3,950 | $3,600 – $5,000 |
Other Minnesota jobs that often go with French drain
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Minnesota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+19%) and concrete slab lowest (+9%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,800 – $15,600 | +19% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,700 | +15% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,700 – $5,650 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,750 – $11,900 | +19% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $43,000 – $134,500 | +19% |
Minnesota 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 1.37 for Minnesota.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $28.97 an hour, 28% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.28 and $38.32 an hour. About 28,530 work in the state. That is 96.7 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 $38.04 an hour, which is 32% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.44 and $46.03 an hour. BLS counts 8,590 of them working in the state, 29.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $39.41 an hour, 67% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $36.46 and $45.69 an hour. About 510 work in the state. That is 1.7 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 ($38.32 an hour) would add about $140 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.28) would take off about $90. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,949,820 jobs across Minnesota (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $23.28 | $28.97 | $38.32 | $22.66 | 1.28 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.44 | $38.04 | $46.03 | $28.78 | 1.32 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $36.46 | $39.41 | $45.69 | $23.56 | 1.67 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.37 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Minnesota
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.
How Minnesota compares with nearby states
Minnesota ranks 5 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. Minnesota sits at $1,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −17% |
| Wisconsin | 260 miles away | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −4% |
| North Dakota | 270 miles away | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −17% |
| South Dakota | 290 miles away | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −19% |
| Nebraska | 320 miles away | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −20% |
Which Minnesota city is cheapest for French drain?
1 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +3% |
| Rochester, MN | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −2% |
| Duluth, MN | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | −2% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $690 – $2,450 | $1,550 | −3% |
When Minnesota weather lets you install
Season matters for French drain. For each Minnesota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Minneapolis has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Minnesota at 7 months (April through October); St. Cloud has the shortest at 6 (May through October). Rainfall runs from 28 inches a year in St. Cloud to 35 inches in Rochester.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 8 | 83 | 34 | 7: April through October |
| Duluth | 2 | 78 | 31 | 6: May through October |
| Rochester | 7 | 80 | 35 | 7: April through October |
| St. Cloud | 3 | 82 | 28 | 6: May through October |
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French drain in Minnesota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Minnesota?
$720 to $2,500 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Minnesota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Minnesota is cheapest for French drain?
St. Cloud at about $1,550 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Minneapolis at $1,650.
+Is French drain cheaper in Minnesota than the US average?
It is 20% more expensive: $1,600 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Minnesota?
About 60% ($960). Materials are 40%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.37x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Minnesota?
The BLS statewide median is $28.97 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.28 to $38.32.
+Where does Minnesota rank for French drain costs?
5th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,600 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Minnesota?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $720 to $1,450 and premium work $1,800 to $2,500. 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 Minnesota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Minnesota metros we cover, Minneapolis 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 Minnesota
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.