French drain cost in Rhode Island
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $630 – $2,200
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $37
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 1
Rhode Island prices for French drain: $630 to $2,200 for 60 linear ft, or $10.50 to $37 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 5% above the national one. Local wages for construction laborers are $27.52 an hour.
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Rhode Island (statewide), standard level
$1,100 to $1,750
About $18.50 to $29 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $610 | $970 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,750 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Rhode Island
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 44% |
| Labor | $350 | $790 | $1,250 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $630 | $1,400 | $2,200 | 100% |
Rhode Island metro-by-metro prices
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +7% |
If you are planning more than one job in Rhode Island
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. Against national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+8%) and concrete slab lowest (+4%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,400 | +8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,800 | +6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,500 | +6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,400 | +4% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,300 – $10,800 | +8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,000 – $122,000 | +8% |
Quality levels and sizes in Rhode Island
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$630 to $1,250
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,100 to $1,750
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,600 to $2,200
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $320 – $630 | $550 – $870 | $790 – $1,100 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $630 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,200 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,250 – $2,500 | $2,200 – $3,450 | $3,150 – $4,400 |
Rhode Island labor market for French drain
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 1.13 for Rhode Island.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $27.52 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.51 and $37.25 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 42.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $30.58 an hour, which is 6% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.65 and $40.30 an hour. BLS counts 970 of them working in the state, 19.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for Rhode Island, so we used the national median: $23.56 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.15 and $29.52 an hour.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($37.25 an hour) would add about $150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.51) would take off about $80. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 501,340 jobs across Rhode Island (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% | $22.51 | $27.52 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.21 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.65 | $30.58 | $40.30 | $28.78 | 1.06 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Rhode Island
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.
Weather windows across Rhode Island
Season matters for French drain. For each Rhode Island metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Providence has 8 comfortable months (April through November), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 22 | 84 | 48 | 8: April through November |
Rhode Island against its neighbors
Rhode Island ranks 17 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. Rhode Island sits at $1,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 50 miles away | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +12% |
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +4% |
| New Hampshire | 90 miles away | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −3% |
| New York | 160 miles away | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +13% |
| Maine | 170 miles away | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −7% |
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French drain in Rhode Island: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Rhode Island?
$630 to $2,200 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Rhode Island can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Rhode Island is cheapest for French drain?
Providence at about $1,500 (midpoint, 60 linear ft).
+Is French drain cheaper in Rhode Island than the US average?
It is 5% more expensive: $1,400 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Rhode Island?
About 56% ($790). Materials are 44%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.13x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Rhode Island?
The BLS statewide median is $27.52 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.51 to $37.25.
+Where does Rhode Island rank for French drain costs?
17th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,400 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Rhode Island?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $630 to $1,250 and premium work $1,600 to $2,200. 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 Rhode Island?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Rhode Island metros we cover, Providence has the most comfortable months (8 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 Rhode Island
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.