French drain cost in North Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $600 – $2,100
- Per linear ft
- $9.95 – $35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to install a French drain in North Dakota? Plan on $600 to $2,100 for 60 linear ft. Wages (1.03x the US blend), materials (price index 95.7) and permit costs (89.0) put the state below the national midpoint by 1%.
Inside North Dakota, the metros we cover range from $1,350 (Fargo) to $1,350 (Bismarck) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in North Dakota (statewide), 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 North Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $960 | 46% |
| Labor | $320 | $720 | $1,100 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $600 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
Wages behind the North Dakota number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.03 for North Dakota.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.59 an hour, 4% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.96 and $29.17 an hour. About 5,050 work in the state. That is 117.6 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 $29.88 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.97 and $36.75 an hour. BLS counts 4,890 of them working in the state, 113.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $22.88 and $23.62 an hour. About 170 work in the state. That is 4.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($29.17 an hour) would add about $85 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.96) would take off about $25. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 429,430 jobs across North Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.96 | $23.59 | $29.17 | $22.66 | 1.04 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.97 | $29.88 | $36.75 | $28.78 | 1.04 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $22.88 | $22.99 | $23.62 | $23.56 | 0.98 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Weather windows across North Dakota
Season matters for French drain. For each North Dakota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Every North Dakota metro on the list has 6 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 19 inches a year in Bismarck to 24 in Fargo.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 0 | 82 | 24 | 6: May through October |
| Bismarck | 2 | 85 | 19 | 6: May through October |
If you are planning more than one job in North Dakota
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide North Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+5%) and concrete slab lowest (−2%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,600 – $13,900 | +5% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,950 – $9,900 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,000 – $115,500 | +2% |
How North Dakota compares with nearby states
North Dakota ranks 27 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for French drain, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,850 and the cheapest Arkansas at $1,150, both for 60 linear ft at the midpoint. North Dakota sits at $1,350. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −2% |
| Minnesota | 270 miles away | $720 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +20% |
| Nebraska | 410 miles away | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −3% |
| Iowa | 450 miles away | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Wyoming | 500 miles away | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
North Dakota metro-by-metro prices
0 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,350, and the top-to-bottom gap is 0%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (60 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Fargo, ND | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
French drain: what moves the price in North Dakota
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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Quality levels and sizes in North Dakota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide North Dakota wages and prices. The grid 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 – $4,150 |
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French drain in North Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in North Dakota?
$600 to $2,100 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Dakota is cheapest for French drain?
Fargo at about $1,350 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Bismarck at $1,350.
+Is French drain cheaper in North Dakota than the US average?
It is 1% cheaper: $1,350 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Dakota?
About 54% ($720). Materials are 46%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.03x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in North Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $23.59 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.96 to $29.17.
+Where does North Dakota rank for French drain costs?
27th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,350 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in North Dakota?
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.
+Does the season matter for French drain in North Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the North Dakota metros we cover, Fargo has the most comfortable months (6 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
French drain by city in North Dakota
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.