French drain cost in Kansas City, MO
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
- Level
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #140
- 1 = most expensive
Kansas City homeowners pay roughly $600 to $2,100 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $10 to $35 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Kansas City is almost level. Construction laborers earn a median of $24.28 an hour in the Kansas City area, 7% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Kansas City, MO, 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 | $750 |
| Labor | $580 | $910 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Kansas City, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 45% |
| Labor | $330 | $740 | $1,150 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $600 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
Where the Kansas City price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Kansas City wages are 1.06 times the national level. Labor makes up about 55% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Kansas City metro is 94.1 (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 (92.5) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Kansas City. The wage table below marks each row.
Kansas City against nearby metros and the rest of Missouri
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Jefferson City is the priciest of the group at $1,450. Topeka is the cheapest at $1,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MOthis page | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| Topeka, KS75 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −5% |
| Columbia, MO100 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Joplin, MO125 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −3% |
| Springfield, MO130 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Jefferson City, MO130 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +6% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Kansas City comes in at #140 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, Kansas City is 3% below the Missouri figure.
Other Missouri metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +15% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −3% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +6% |
Cities with a workforce like Kansas City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kansas City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +23% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +8% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +12% |
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 Kansas City is 1.06 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.28 an hour, 7% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.11 and $34.10 an hour. About 6,580 work in the metro. That is 60.0 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 $30.80 an hour, which is 7% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.32 and $43.07 an hour. BLS counts 4,110 of them working in the area, 37.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Kansas City metro, so we used the national median: $23.56 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.15 and $29.52 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($34.10 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($21.11) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 11.3% or 3.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,096,110 jobs in the Kansas City area. That makes it the 34th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.70% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.11 | $24.28 | $34.10 | $22.66 | 1.07 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.32 | $30.80 | $43.07 | $28.78 | 1.07 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Kansas City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Kansas City 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
$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 | $750 – $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 – $4,200 |
When to schedule French drain in Kansas City
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Kansas City Downtown Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through June and August through November are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Kansas City (8 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February 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 93 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Kansas City gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 11 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 2.1 and 1.8 inches. The station averages about 47 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 | 40 | 22 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 26 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 57 | 36 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 46 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 57 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 67 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 72 | 4.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 70 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 68 | 49 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 36 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 44 | 27 | 1.3 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Kansas City
Because every project leans on different trades, Kansas City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +3% and sod installation level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,400 – $13,600 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | +1% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | level |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,150 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,150 – $10,300 | +3% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,000 – $115,500 | +2% |
French drain: what moves the price in Kansas City
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.
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).
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed french drain report for Kansas City, MO, $9
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French drain in Kansas City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Kansas City?
For 60 linear ft, expect $600 to $2,100 in the Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas City or Topeka?
Topeka is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 5% less than Kansas City ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kansas City?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $740 out of $1,350. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kansas City expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Missouri?
Kansas City is 3% below the Missouri statewide estimate ($1,400 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Kansas City?
The BLS median is $24.28 an hour in the Kansas City area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.11 to $34.10.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Kansas 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 Kansas City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and August through November. March and November 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 Kansas 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.