French drain cost in Billings, MT
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
- $9.95 – $35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #147
- 1 = most expensive
Billings homeowners pay roughly $600 to $2,100 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.95 to $35 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Billings is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.0).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Billings, MT, standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17.50 to $27.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $560 | $880 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Billings, MT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 46% |
| Labor | $320 | $720 | $1,100 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $600 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
Where the Billings price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.68 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Billings is 1.03 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Billings metro is 96.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $620, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.5) 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 Billings. The wage table below marks each row.
When to schedule French drain in Billings
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Billings Logan Intl Ap (in the city). 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 Billings (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 142 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Billings gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 57 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 1.2 and 0.9 inches. The station averages about 32 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 | 36 | 18 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 20 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 27 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 35 | 1.7 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 44 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 52 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 59 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 58 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 49 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 37 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 27 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 19 | 0.6 | Cold |
Why two Billings quotes can differ
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Billings
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Billings 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 | $520 – $820 | $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 |
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 Billings is 1.03 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.68 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.42 and $28.31 an hour. About 830 work in the metro. That is 88.5 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 $29.81 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $28.39 and $34.85 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 57.6 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 Billings metro, so we used the Montana statewide median: $23.12 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.83 and $29.89 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.31 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $70. At the 25th percentile ($21.42) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 5.3% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,800 jobs in the Billings area. That makes it the 213th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.42 | $23.68 | $28.31 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $28.39 | $29.81 | $34.85 | $28.78 | 1.04 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $22.83 | $23.12 | $29.89 | $23.56 | 0.98 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Billings?
Because every project leans on different trades, Billings's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +5% and retaining wall −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $13,000 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,200 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,200 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,100 – $113,000 | level |
How Billings compares
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Bozeman is the priciest of the group at $1,400. Rapid City is the cheapest at $1,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MTthis page | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| Bozeman, MT115 miles | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Idaho Falls, ID225 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Missoula, MT275 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Logan, UT300 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −2% |
| Rapid City, SD305 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −2% |
| Montana (statewide) | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Billings comes in at #147 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, Billings is 0% below the Montana figure.
Other Montana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Billings's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Billings against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +15% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −1% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −10% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +12% |
Get 3 local quotes
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French drain in Billings: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Billings?
For 60 linear ft, expect $600 to $2,100 in the Billings 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 Billings?
About $9.95 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 Billings or Bozeman?
Bozeman is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,400, which is 5% more than Billings ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Billings?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $720 out of $1,350. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Billings?
$600 to $2,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Billings?
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 Billings area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Billings expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Montana?
Billings is 0% below the Montana statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Billings?
The BLS median is $23.68 an hour in the Billings area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.42 to $28.31.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Billings?
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 Billings?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. July and August 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 Billings
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.