French drain cost in Santa Fe, NM
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $560 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.25 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #222
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Santa Fe, NM usually costs $560 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $9.25 to $32.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $100 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.18 an hour in the Santa Fe area, 11% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Santa Fe, NM, standard level
$970 to $1,550
About $16 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $490 | $770 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $970 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Santa Fe, NM
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $630 | $970 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Why Santa Fe prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $20.18 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Santa Fe is 0.89 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 50% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Santa Fe is at 96.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $620 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.8: $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 Santa Fe. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Santa Fe
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 Santa Fe the blend is 0.89.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $20.18 an hour, which is 11% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.99 and $22.67 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 85.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $25.00 an hour, 13% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.20 and $28.24 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 22.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Santa Fe metro, so we used the New Mexico statewide median: $21.90 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.20 and $23.19 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $40 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 2.7% to 3.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Santa Fe has 61,770 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 282nd 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% | $17.99 | $20.18 | $22.67 | $22.66 | 0.89 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.20 | $25.00 | $28.24 | $28.78 | 0.87 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.20 | $21.90 | $23.19 | $23.56 | 0.93 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Santa Fe
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Santa Fe
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Santa Fe. 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
$560 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$970 to $1,550
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,400 to $1,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $560 | $490 – $760 | $690 – $970 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,900 |
Planning more than one job in Santa Fe?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Santa Fe wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (+1%) and retaining wall lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,100 – $12,100 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,350 | +1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,300 – $4,900 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,000 | −10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,400 – $101,500 | −10% |
Santa Fe 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, Santa Fe 2 (5 miles from the city center). 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 Santa Fe are May through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, 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 169 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Santa Fe gets about 13 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 20 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (2.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 0.9 and 0.9 inches. The station averages about 24 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 | 43 | 18 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 48 | 21 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 57 | 26 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 32 | 0.6 | Cold |
| May | 74 | 41 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 50 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 55 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 54 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 47 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 35 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 24 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 43 | 18 | 0.8 | Cold |
How Santa Fe compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 60 linear ft range from $1,200 to $1,350 across Santa Fe and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NMthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Albuquerque, NM40 miles | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Pueblo, CO200 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
| Las Cruces, NM225 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Amarillo, TX230 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Colorado Springs, CO240 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +6% |
| New Mexico (statewide) | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Santa Fe ranks #222 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Santa Fe is 2% above the New Mexico figure.
Elsewhere in New Mexico
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Santa Fe against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
| Decatur, AL | 61,240 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 62,230 jobs | $520 – $1,850 | $1,150 | −6% |
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −7% |
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French drain in Santa Fe: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Santa Fe?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Santa Fe area. A standard-spec job lands at $970 to $1,550. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Santa Fe?
About $9.25 to $32.50 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 Santa Fe or Albuquerque?
Albuquerque is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 1% less than Santa Fe ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Santa Fe?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $630 out of $1,250. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Santa Fe?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Santa Fe?
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 Santa Fe area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Santa Fe expensive for French drain compared with the rest of New Mexico?
Santa Fe is 2% above the New Mexico statewide estimate ($1,200 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Mexico; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Santa Fe?
The BLS median is $20.18 an hour in the Santa Fe area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.99 to $22.67.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Santa Fe?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 to $1,100 and premium work $1,400 to $1,950. 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 Santa Fe?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. May and June 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 Santa Fe
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.