French drain cost in Wisconsin
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $690 – $2,400
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $40
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 12
Across Wisconsin, a French drain costs about $690 to $2,400 for 60 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 14% above the US figure of $1,350. Construction laborers earn a median $26.97 an hour in Wisconsin (US: $22.66).
Inside Wisconsin, the metros we cover range from $1,500 (Sheboygan) to $1,600 (Appleton) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Wisconsin (statewide), standard level
$1,200 to $1,900
About $20 to $31.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $750 |
| Labor | $720 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,900 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Wisconsin
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 40% |
| Labor | $410 | $930 | $1,450 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $690 | $1,550 | $2,400 | 100% |
Which Wisconsin city is cheapest for French drain?
7 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,550, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +3% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +3% |
| Racine, WI | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Wausau, WI | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Kenosha, WI | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
| Green Bay, WI | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | level |
| La Crosse, WI | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | level |
| Oshkosh, WI | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| Janesville, WI | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| Sheboygan, WI | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −3% |
Why two Wisconsin 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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Wisconsin versus the states around it
Wisconsin ranks 9 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. Wisconsin sits at $1,550. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
Weather windows across Wisconsin
Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen, and Wisconsin is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Milwaukee has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Wisconsin at 7 months (April through October); Wausau has the shortest at 6 (May through October). Rainfall runs from 32 inches a year in Green Bay to 37 inches in La Crosse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 14 | 83 | 34 | 7: April through October |
| Madison | 12 | 82 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Green Bay | 11 | 81 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Appleton | 10 | 82 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Oshkosh | 10 | 82 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Eau Claire | 6 | 83 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| La Crosse | 8 | 80 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Racine | 16 | 81 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Kenosha | 16 | 84 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Janesville | 12 | 83 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Wausau | 7 | 80 | 34 | 6: May through October |
| Sheboygan | 15 | 82 | 35 | 7: April through October |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's labor line is priced from 3 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.33 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $26.97 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $34.68 an hour. BLS counts 20,330 of them working in the state, 69.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $36.19 an hour, 26% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.58 and $45.49 an hour. About 8,140 work in the state. That is 27.7 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 $41.77 an hour, which is 77% above the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $38.94 and $44.98 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the state, 1.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($34.68 an hour) would add about $120 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.14) would take off about $75. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,941,540 jobs across Wisconsin (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.14 | $26.97 | $34.68 | $22.66 | 1.19 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.58 | $36.19 | $45.49 | $28.78 | 1.26 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $38.94 | $41.77 | $44.98 | $23.56 | 1.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.33 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: Wisconsin prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$690 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,900
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,700 to $2,400
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $340 – $690 | $600 – $940 | $860 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $690 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,400 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,750 | $2,400 – $3,750 | $3,450 – $4,800 |
If you are planning more than one job in Wisconsin
Each project weights the trades differently, so Wisconsin's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, inground pool is +10% and sod installation +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,950 – $14,300 | +9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $11,000 | +8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | +1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,300 | +3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $11,000 | +10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,600 – $123,500 | +10% |
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Detailed french drain report for Wisconsin, $9
The report lays out the french drain numbers for Wisconsin line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Wisconsin: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Wisconsin?
$690 to $2,400 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Wisconsin can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Wisconsin is cheapest for French drain?
Sheboygan at about $1,500 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Appleton at $1,600.
+Is French drain cheaper in Wisconsin than the US average?
It is 14% more expensive: $1,550 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Wisconsin?
About 60% ($930). Materials are 40%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.33x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Wisconsin?
The BLS statewide median is $26.97 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.14 to $34.68.
+Where does Wisconsin rank for French drain costs?
9th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,550 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Wisconsin?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $690 to $1,350 and premium work $1,700 to $2,400. 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 Wisconsin?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Wisconsin metros we cover, Milwaukee 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 Wisconsin
- Appleton, WI$1,600 midpoint
- Milwaukee, WI$1,600 midpoint
- Racine, WI$1,600 midpoint
- Madison, WI$1,550 midpoint
- Wausau, WI$1,550 midpoint
- Kenosha, WI$1,550 midpoint
- Eau Claire, WI$1,550 midpoint
- Green Bay, WI$1,550 midpoint
- La Crosse, WI$1,550 midpoint
- Oshkosh, WI$1,500 midpoint
- Janesville, WI$1,500 midpoint
- Sheboygan, WI$1,500 midpoint
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.