French drain cost in St. George, 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
- $9.75 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #167
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in St. George, UT usually costs $590 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $9.75 to $34 per linear ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. 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 St. George, UT, 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 | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $540 | $850 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in St. George, UT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 47% |
| Labor | $310 | $690 | $1,100 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
What is behind the St. George number
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 St. George the blended ratio comes out at 0.99.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. St. George is at 96.4 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 97.3: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in St. George. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in St. George
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to St. George. 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 $1,150
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 – $590 | $510 – $810 | $730 – $1,000 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $590 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,950 – $4,100 |
St. George weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, St George (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 St. George are March through May and October through November: 5 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February 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 63 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
St. George gets about 9 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 1 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, February and August (1.4 inches in February). Inside the workable window, April and May are the driest, at 0.7 and 0.3 inches. The station averages about 128 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 | 54 | 28 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 59 | 32 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 68 | 39 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 46 | 0.7 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 56 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 96 | 65 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Jul | 102 | 72 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Aug | 100 | 70 | 1.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 92 | 61 | 0.7 | Hot |
| Oct | 79 | 47 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 35 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 28 | 0.9 | Cold |
St. George against nearby metros and the rest of Utah
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Las Vegas is the priciest of the group at $1,400. Lake Havasu City is the cheapest at $1,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. George, UTthis page | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ110 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Las Vegas, NV110 miles | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Flagstaff, AZ135 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ190 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
| Provo, UT190 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Utah (statewide) | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, St. George ranks #167 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, St. George is 1% below the Utah figure.
Elsewhere in Utah
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is St. George against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City, FL | 90,610 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −5% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +10% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +27% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −6% |
What local crews earn in St. George
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 St. George the blend is 0.99.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.96 an hour, which is 3% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.37 and $23.78 an hour. BLS counts 1,500 of them working in the area, 165.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $27.84 an hour, 3% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.59 and $29.54 an hour. About 670 work in the metro. That is 74.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the St. George metro, so we used the Utah statewide median: $25.00 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.86 and $27.51 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $30 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 4.2% to 2.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
St. George has 90,500 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 219th 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% | $18.37 | $21.96 | $23.78 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.59 | $27.84 | $29.54 | $28.78 | 0.97 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $23.86 | $25.00 | $27.51 | $23.56 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a St. George 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.
What nearby projects cost in St. George
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same St. George wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−3%) 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 | $6,550 – $12,600 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −3% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| 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 | $34,200 – $107,000 | −5% |
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French drain in St. George: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in St. George?
For 60 linear ft, expect $590 to $2,050 in the St. George area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,000 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 St. George?
About $9.75 to $34 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 St. George or Lake Havasu City?
Lake Havasu City is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 1% less than St. George ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in St. George?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $690 out of $1,300. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in St. George?
$590 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in St. George?
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 St. George area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is St. George expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Utah?
St. George 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 St. George?
The BLS median is $21.96 an hour in the St. George area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.37 to $23.78.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in St. George?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $590 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.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in St. George?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and October through November. April and May 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 St. George
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.