French drain cost in Fargo, ND
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
- −1%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #152
- 1 = most expensive
Fargo 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, Fargo is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.7).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Fargo, ND, 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 Fargo, ND
| 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% |
Why Fargo prices look the way they do
Labor is 54% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Fargo the blended ratio comes out at 1.03.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fargo metro is 95.7 (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 (90.9) and land at $0 to $0.
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 Fargo is 1.03 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.72 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.29 and $29.85 an hour. About 1,760 work in the metro. That is 118.4 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 $29.66 an hour, which is 3% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $26.36 and $34.82 an hour. BLS counts 960 of them working in the area, 64.6 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 $22.95 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $22.83 and $29.42 an hour. About 60 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 ($29.85 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $95. At the 25th percentile ($22.29) it shrinks by about $20. The total moves by 7.1% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 148,660 jobs in the Fargo area. That makes it the 156th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.29 | $23.72 | $29.85 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $26.36 | $29.66 | $34.82 | $28.78 | 1.03 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $22.83 | $22.95 | $29.42 | $23.56 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Fargo
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fargo 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 – $4,150 |
Related projects, priced for Fargo
Because every project leans on different trades, Fargo's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +3% and concrete slab −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,000 – $13,200 | −2% |
| 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 | $2,400 – $5,050 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,950 – $9,900 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,900 – $112,000 | −1% |
When to schedule French drain in Fargo
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Fargo Hector Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Fargo (6 of 12 months). 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 172 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Fargo gets about 24 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, August and October are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 11 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 | 18 | 0 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 23 | 4 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 36 | 18 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 32 | 1.5 | Cold |
| May | 69 | 44 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 56 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 59 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 57 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 48 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 35 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 38 | 21 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 24 | 8 | 0.9 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fargo 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.
How Fargo compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Fargo. Sioux Falls is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 235 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, NDthis page | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| St. Cloud, MN150 miles | $690 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +17% |
| Bismarck, ND190 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN215 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +24% |
| Duluth, MN215 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +17% |
| Sioux Falls, SD235 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Fargo comes in at #152 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, Fargo is 0% below the North Dakota figure.
Other North Dakota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Fargo's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fargo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen, TX | 150,580 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −12% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −11% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −8% |
| Vallejo, CA | 144,130 jobs | $760 – $2,650 | $1,700 | +27% |
Get 3 local quotes
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French drain in Fargo: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Fargo?
For 60 linear ft, expect $600 to $2,100 in the Fargo 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 Fargo?
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 Fargo or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 150 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 17% more than Fargo ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fargo?
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 Fargo?
$600 to $2,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Fargo?
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 Fargo area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fargo expensive for French drain compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Fargo is 0% below the North Dakota statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Fargo?
The BLS median is $23.72 an hour in the Fargo area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.29 to $29.85.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Fargo?
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 Fargo?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. August 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 Fargo
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.