French drain cost in Omaha, NE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $590 – $2,100
- Per linear ft
- $9.90 – $34.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #155
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Omaha, plan on $590 to $2,100 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.90 to $34.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.1).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Omaha, NE, standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17.50 to $27 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $570 | $890 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Omaha, NE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 46% |
| Labor | $320 | $730 | $1,150 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
Why Omaha prices look the way they do
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, Omaha wages are 1.04 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Omaha 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 (91.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Specs and site conditions that change a Omaha 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.
Climate in Omaha: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Omaha Eppley Airfield (10 miles from the city center). 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 Omaha (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 134 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Omaha gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 27 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 2.3 inches. The station averages about 33 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 | 34 | 15 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 19 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 30 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 41 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 56 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 30 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 20 | 1.2 | Cold |
Omaha against nearby metros and the rest of Nebraska
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Des Moines is the priciest of the group at $1,350. Topeka is the cheapest at $1,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NEthis page | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| Lincoln, NE55 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −3% |
| Sioux City, IA85 miles | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Des Moines, IA120 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Topeka, KS155 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Sioux Falls, SD160 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Nebraska (statewide) | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −3% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Omaha comes in at #155 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, Omaha is 3% above the Nebraska figure.
Other Nebraska metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Omaha's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Omaha against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −7% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +8% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +12% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +19% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Omaha
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Omaha 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
$590 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 – $590 | $520 – $820 | $740 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $590 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,100 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,400 | $2,100 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,150 |
What nearby projects cost in Omaha
Because every project leans on different trades, Omaha's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +3% and concrete slab −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,950 – $13,100 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,950 | −2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,300 – $4,850 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,400 – $110,500 | −2% |
Omaha labor market for French drain
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 Omaha is 1.04 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.22 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $27.58 an hour. About 3,990 work in the metro. That is 80.1 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 $28.86 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.14 and $31.54 an hour. BLS counts 1,380 of them working in the area, 27.7 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 $26.24 an hour, 11% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $19.33 and $30.07 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 4.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.58 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $70. At the 25th percentile ($20.00) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 5.1% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 498,100 jobs in the Omaha area. That makes it the 51st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.32% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $20.00 | $23.22 | $27.58 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.14 | $28.86 | $31.54 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $19.33 | $26.24 | $30.07 | $23.56 | 1.11 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
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French drain in Omaha: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Omaha?
For 60 linear ft, expect $590 to $2,100 in the Omaha 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 Omaha?
About $9.90 to $34.50 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 Omaha or Lincoln?
Lincoln is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 3% less than Omaha ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Omaha?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $730 out of $1,350. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Omaha?
$590 to $2,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Omaha?
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 Omaha area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Omaha expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Nebraska?
Omaha is 3% above the Nebraska statewide estimate ($1,300 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Nebraska; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Omaha?
The BLS median is $23.22 an hour in the Omaha area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.00 to $27.58.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Omaha?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $590 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 Omaha?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. 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 Omaha
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.