French drain cost in St. Louis, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $690 – $2,400
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $40.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #47
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in St. Louis, MO usually costs $690 to $2,400 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $11.50 to $40.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $210 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $31.01 an hour in the St. Louis area, 37% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in St. Louis, MO, standard level
$1,200 to $1,900
About $20 to $31.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $500 | $790 |
| Labor | $710 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,900 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in St. Louis, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 42% |
| Labor | $400 | $910 | $1,400 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $690 | $1,550 | $2,400 | 100% |
Where the St. Louis 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, St. Louis wages are 1.30 times the national level. Labor makes up about 58% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. St. Louis is at 100.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $650 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.1: $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 St. Louis. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a St. Louis bid
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 local crews earn in St. Louis
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 St. Louis the blend is 1.30.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $31.01 an hour, which is 37% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.00 and $39.22 an hour. BLS counts 8,670 of them working in the area, 64.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $39.56 an hour, 37% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $28.17 and $45.31 an hour. About 4,190 work in the metro. That is 31.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the St. Louis 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 8.0% to 8.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
St. Louis has 1,341,320 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 23rd 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% | $23.00 | $31.01 | $39.22 | $22.66 | 1.37 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $28.17 | $39.56 | $45.31 | $28.78 | 1.37 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.30 | |||||
St. Louis against nearby metros and the rest of Missouri
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. St. Louis is the priciest of the group. Columbia is the cheapest at $1,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MOthis page | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | |
| Springfield, IL85 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −1% |
| Jefferson City, MO95 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −8% |
| Columbia, MO120 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −12% |
| Bloomington, IL145 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −1% |
| Peoria, IL150 miles | $680 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −10% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, St. Louis ranks #47 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, St. Louis is 11% above the Missouri figure.
Elsewhere in Missouri
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −13% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −17% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −12% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −16% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −8% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is St. Louis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 1,356,680 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −11% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −20% |
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −17% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +1% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in St. Louis
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to St. Louis. 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
$690 to $1,400
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,900
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,750 to $2,400
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $350 – $690 | $610 – $950 | $870 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $690 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,400 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,750 | $2,400 – $3,800 | $3,450 – $4,850 |
St. Louis 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, St Louis Sci Ctr (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 St. Louis are March through June and August through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and 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 79 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
St. Louis gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and June (4.9 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 47 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 | 41 | 25 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 46 | 28 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 56 | 38 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 68 | 48 | 4.8 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 59 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 67 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 72 | 4.2 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 70 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 82 | 62 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 50 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 39 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 45 | 30 | 2.6 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for St. Louis
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same St. Louis wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+18%) and sod installation lowest (+3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,350 – $15,000 | +14% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,000 – $12,000 | +18% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,650 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,650 – $11,600 | +16% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $42,300 – $132,000 | +17% |
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French drain in St. Louis: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in St. Louis?
For 60 linear ft, expect $690 to $2,400 in the St. Louis area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in St. Louis?
About $11.50 to $40.50 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 St. Louis or Springfield?
Springfield is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 1% less than St. Louis ($1,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in St. Louis?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $910 out of $1,550. Materials are 42% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in St. Louis?
$690 to $2,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in St. Louis?
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 St. Louis area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is St. Louis expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Missouri?
St. Louis is 11% above 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 St. Louis?
The BLS median is $31.01 an hour in the St. Louis area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.00 to $39.22.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in St. Louis?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $690 to $1,400 and premium work $1,750 to $2,400. 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 St. Louis?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and August through November. 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 St. Louis
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.