French drain cost in Sioux Falls, SD
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $590 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.80 – $34.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #164
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Sioux Falls area: $590 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 5% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.5).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Sioux Falls, SD, standard level
$1,050 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 | $550 | $860 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Sioux Falls, SD
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $620 | $960 | 47% |
| Labor | $310 | $700 | $1,100 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
Where the Sioux Falls price comes from
Labor is 53% 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 Sioux Falls the blended ratio comes out at 1.00.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Sioux Falls is at 95.5 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 90.6: $0 to $0.
Who does the work: Sioux Falls trade wages
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 Sioux Falls the blend is 1.00.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.53 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.79 and $23.83 an hour. BLS counts 700 of them working in the area, 39.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $29.31 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.11 and $31.14 an hour. About 630 work in the metro. That is 35.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.75 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $21.51 and $28.26 an hour. BLS counts 110 of them working in the area, 6.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $20 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $60. That is a swing of roughly 4.4% to 1.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Sioux Falls has 178,590 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 130th 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% | $18.79 | $22.53 | $23.83 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.11 | $29.31 | $31.14 | $28.78 | 1.02 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.51 | $23.75 | $28.26 | $23.56 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Sioux Falls: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Sioux Falls. 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
$590 to $1,200
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,050 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 – $590 | $510 – $810 | $740 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $590 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,100 |
What nearby projects cost in Sioux Falls
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Sioux Falls wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (−2%) and concrete slab lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,900 – $13,000 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,000 | −2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,850 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,800 – $9,500 | −5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,100 – $109,500 | −3% |
Why two Sioux Falls quotes can differ
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.
Sioux Falls against nearby metros and the rest of South Dakota
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Sioux Falls. Lincoln is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 185 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SDthis page | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | |
| Sioux City, IA75 miles | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Omaha, NE160 miles | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| St. Cloud, MN185 miles | $690 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +18% |
| Lincoln, NE185 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −2% |
| Des Moines, IA210 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
| South Dakota (statewide) | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Sioux Falls ranks #164 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Sioux Falls is 1% above the South Dakota figure.
Elsewhere in South Dakota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sioux Falls against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −10% |
| Anchorage, AK | 177,050 jobs | $680 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +15% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +6% |
| Reading, PA | 174,670 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
The best months for French drain in Sioux Falls
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Sioux Falls (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 Sioux Falls are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, 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 162 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Sioux Falls gets about 28 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 45 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.2 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 2.7 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 15 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 | 27 | 9 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 32 | 13 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 24 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 36 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 48 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 59 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 63 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 61 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 52 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 38 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 25 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 32 | 13 | 0.8 | Cold |
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French drain in Sioux Falls: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Sioux Falls?
For 60 linear ft, expect $590 to $2,050 in the Sioux Falls area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Sioux Falls?
About $9.80 to $34.50 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 Sioux Falls or Sioux City?
Sioux City is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,350, which is 1% more than Sioux Falls ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sioux Falls?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $700 out of $1,300. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Sioux Falls?
$590 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Sioux Falls?
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 Sioux Falls area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sioux Falls expensive for French drain compared with the rest of South Dakota?
Sioux Falls is 1% above the South Dakota statewide estimate ($1,300 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in South Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Sioux Falls?
The BLS median is $22.53 an hour in the Sioux Falls area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.79 to $23.83.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Sioux Falls?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $590 to $1,200 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.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Sioux Falls?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September 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 Sioux Falls
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.