French drain cost in Las Vegas, NV
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $620 – $2,150
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $36
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #116
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Las Vegas, plan on $620 to $2,150 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $10.50 to $36 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.19 an hour in the Las Vegas area, 2% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Las Vegas, NV, standard level
$1,100 to $1,700
About $18 to $28.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $600 | $940 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,700 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Las Vegas, NV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 45% |
| Labor | $340 | $770 | $1,200 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $620 | $1,400 | $2,150 | 100% |
Where the Las Vegas 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 $23.19 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Las Vegas is 1.09 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Las Vegas metro is 96.3 (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 (100.2) and land at $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Las Vegas
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Las Vegas 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
$620 to $1,250
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,100 to $1,700
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,550 to $2,150
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $310 – $620 | $540 – $850 | $770 – $1,100 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $620 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,150 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,250 – $2,450 | $2,150 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,300 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Las Vegas bid
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.
Climate in Las Vegas: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Las Vegas Air Terminal (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Las Vegas (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Las Vegas gets about 4 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and March (0.8 inches in February). Inside the workable window, April and May are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.1 inches. The station averages about 136 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 | 58 | 39 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 43 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 49 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 55 | 0.2 | Workable |
| May | 88 | 64 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 99 | 74 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 104 | 80 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 102 | 78 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 94 | 70 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Oct | 81 | 58 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 46 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 38 | 0.4 | Workable |
Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas is 1.09 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.19 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.36 and $30.14 an hour. About 8,280 work in the metro. That is 72.8 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 $30.73 an hour, which is 7% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.58 and $38.90 an hour. BLS counts 2,460 of them working in the area, 21.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $30.56 an hour, 30% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $23.39 and $36.45 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.14 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($19.36) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 7.7% or 4.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,136,960 jobs in the Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas area. That makes it the 26th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.73% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $19.36 | $23.19 | $30.14 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.58 | $30.73 | $38.90 | $28.78 | 1.07 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $23.39 | $30.56 | $36.45 | $23.56 | 1.30 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Las Vegas?
Because every project leans on different trades, Las Vegas's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs level and retaining wall −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $13,000 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,200 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,800 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,500 – $111,000 | −2% |
Is Las Vegas cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Riverside is the priciest of the group at $1,600. Lake Havasu City is the cheapest at $1,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NVthis page | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ80 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −6% |
| St. George, UT110 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −5% |
| Riverside, CA130 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +15% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ175 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
| Flagstaff, AZ185 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
| Nevada (statewide) | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Las Vegas comes in at #116 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, Las Vegas is 2% below the Nevada figure.
Other Nevada metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reno, NV | 275,680 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Las Vegas's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Las Vegas against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +13% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | +33% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −10% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −14% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,100 to $1,700 for Las Vegas, NV is attached.
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French drain in Las Vegas: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Las Vegas?
For 60 linear ft, expect $620 to $2,150 in the Las Vegas area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,100 to $1,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Las Vegas?
About $10.50 to $36 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 Las Vegas or Lake Havasu City?
Lake Havasu City is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 6% less than Las Vegas ($1,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Las Vegas?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $770 out of $1,400. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Las Vegas?
$620 to $2,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Las Vegas?
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 Las Vegas area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Las Vegas expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Nevada?
Las Vegas is 2% below the Nevada statewide estimate ($1,400 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Nevada; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Las Vegas?
The BLS median is $23.19 an hour in the Las Vegas area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.36 to $30.14.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Las Vegas?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $620 to $1,250 and premium work $1,550 to $2,150. 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 Las Vegas?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. April and May 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 Las Vegas
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.