French drain cost in Provo, UT
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
- $9.85 – $34.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #161
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Provo, plan on $590 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.85 to $34.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Provo, UT, 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 | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $550 | $860 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Provo, UT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 47% |
| Labor | $310 | $700 | $1,100 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,350 | $2,050 | 100% |
Why Provo prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.43 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Provo is 1.00 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 53% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Provo metro is 96.4 (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 (98.2) and land at $0 to $0.
Provo labor market for French drain
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 Provo is 1.00 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.43 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.25 and $25.27 an hour. About 4,760 work in the metro. That is 156.2 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 $28.79 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.67 and $31.58 an hour. BLS counts 1,440 of them working in the area, 47.3 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 $24.05 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $23.88 and $27.51 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 4.3 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 ($25.27 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $45. At the 25th percentile ($18.25) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 3.3% or 4.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 304,660 jobs in the Provo-Orem-Lehi area. That makes it the 84th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.20% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.25 | $22.43 | $25.27 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.67 | $28.79 | $31.58 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $23.88 | $24.05 | $27.51 | $23.56 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Why two Provo quotes can differ
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.
Provo against nearby metros and the rest of Utah
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 60 linear ft range from $1,300 to $1,350 across Provo and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provo, UTthis page | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | |
| Salt Lake City, UT60 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Ogden, UT90 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | level |
| Logan, UT145 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
| St. George, UT190 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Grand Junction, CO215 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | level |
| Utah (statewide) | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Provo comes in at #161 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, Provo is 1% below the Utah figure.
Other Utah metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | level |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Provo's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Provo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −6% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +8% |
| Wichita, KS | 308,570 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −7% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $490 – $1,750 | $1,100 | −16% |
Climate in Provo: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Provo Byu (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through June and September through October are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Provo (6 of 12 months). January, February, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February, 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 111 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Provo gets about 17 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 45 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, April and May (2.0 inches in May). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 0.9 and 1.2 inches. The station averages about 74 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 | 41 | 24 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 48 | 28 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 58 | 35 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 66 | 40 | 1.9 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 47 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 55 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 95 | 62 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Aug | 93 | 61 | 0.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 83 | 52 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 41 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 32 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 41 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Provo
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Provo 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
$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 | $520 – $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 – $4,150 |
Related projects, priced for Provo
Because every project leans on different trades, Provo's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −2% and concrete slab −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,950 – $13,200 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,000 | −2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,250 | −2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $4,950 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,600 | −4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,200 – $110,000 | −2% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,050 to $1,600 for Provo, UT is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Provo, UT: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
French drain in Provo: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Provo?
For 60 linear ft, expect $590 to $2,050 in the Provo 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 Provo?
About $9.85 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 Provo or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,350, which is 1% more than Provo ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Provo?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $700 out of $1,350. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Provo?
$590 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Provo?
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 Provo area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Provo expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Utah?
Provo is 1% below the Utah statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Utah; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Provo?
The BLS median is $22.43 an hour in the Provo area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.25 to $25.27.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Provo?
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 Provo?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through October. June and September 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 Provo
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.