French drain cost in South Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $580 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.75 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 2
Across South Dakota, a French drain costs about $580 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% below the US figure of $1,350. Construction laborers earn a median $21.98 an hour in South Dakota (US: $22.66).
Inside South Dakota, the metros we cover range from $1,300 (Rapid City) to $1,300 (Sioux Falls) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in South Dakota (statewide), standard level
$1,000 to $1,600
About $17 to $27 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $540 | $850 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in South Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $620 | $960 | 47% |
| Labor | $310 | $690 | $1,100 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $580 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in South Dakota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide South Dakota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$580 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,000 to $1,600
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,450 to $2,050
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $290 – $580 | $510 – $800 | $730 – $1,000 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $580 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,100 |
How South Dakota compares with nearby states
South Dakota ranks 36 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. South Dakota sits at $1,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 220 miles away | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −1% |
| North Dakota | 220 miles away | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Minnesota | 290 miles away | $720 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +23% |
| Iowa | 330 miles away | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Wyoming | 350 miles away | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +1% |
Weather windows across South Dakota
Season matters for French drain. For each South 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 South Dakota metro on the list has 7 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 20 inches a year in Rapid City to 28 in Sioux Falls.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | 9 | 85 | 28 | 7: April through October |
| Rapid City | 16 | 84 | 20 | 7: April through October |
Which South Dakota city is cheapest for French drain?
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Rapid City, SD | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | level |
Related projects, priced for South Dakota
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide South Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (−3%) and concrete slab lowest (−8%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $12,900 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −3% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,600 – $108,000 | −4% |
South Dakota 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 0.99 for South Dakota.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.98 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.42 and $23.14 an hour. About 1,780 work in the state. That is 38.9 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 $28.61 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.37 and $30.51 an hour. BLS counts 2,050 of them working in the state, 44.8 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 $24.35 an hour, 3% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $20.75 and $27.28 an hour. About 300 work in the state. That is 6.6 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 ($23.14 an hour) would add about $20 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.42) would take off about $55. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 457,380 jobs across South 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% | $18.42 | $21.98 | $23.14 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.37 | $28.61 | $30.51 | $28.78 | 0.99 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.75 | $24.35 | $27.28 | $23.56 | 1.03 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in South 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.
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French drain in South Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in South Dakota?
$580 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside South Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in South Dakota is cheapest for French drain?
Rapid City at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Sioux Falls at $1,300.
+Is French drain cheaper in South Dakota than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $1,300 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in South Dakota?
About 53% ($690). Materials are 47%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in South Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $21.98 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.42 to $23.14.
+Where does South Dakota rank for French drain costs?
36th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,300 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in South Dakota?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $580 to $1,150 and premium work $1,450 to $2,050. 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 South Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the South Dakota metros we cover, Sioux Falls has the most comfortable months (7 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 South 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.