French drain cost in Janesville, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $670 – $2,350
- Per linear ft
- $11 – $39
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #72
- 1 = most expensive
Janesville homeowners pay roughly $670 to $2,350 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $11 to $39 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Janesville is 11% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.77 an hour in the Janesville area, 18% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Janesville, WI, standard level
$1,150 to $1,850
About $19.50 to $30.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $700 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,150 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Janesville, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 40% |
| Labor | $400 | $900 | $1,400 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $670 | $1,500 | $2,350 | 100% |
Where the Janesville price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $26.77 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Janesville is 1.28 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Janesville metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $610, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.7) and land at $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 Janesville. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Janesville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Janesville 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
$670 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,150 to $1,850
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,650 to $2,350
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $330 – $670 | $590 – $920 | $840 – $1,150 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $670 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,350 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,650 | $2,350 – $3,700 | $3,350 – $4,700 |
Janesville against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Milwaukee is the priciest of the group at $1,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WIthis page | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | |
| Rockford, IL25 miles | $680 – $2,350 | $1,550 | +1% |
| Madison, WI40 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +5% |
| Kenosha, WI60 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +4% |
| Milwaukee, WI65 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Racine, WI65 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +3% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −10% |
Across 300 US metros, Janesville comes in at #72 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, Janesville is 2% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +5% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +3% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +6% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | level |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Janesville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Janesville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −9% |
| Wausau, WI | 69,530 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +4% |
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −11% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −13% |
When to schedule French drain in Janesville
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Afton - Janesville Wwtp (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Janesville (7 of 12 months). 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 148 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Janesville gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.0 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 13 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 | 28 | 12 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 32 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 25 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 58 | 36 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 58 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 60 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 51 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 40 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 29 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 34 | 18 | 1.9 | Cold |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Janesville is 1.28 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $26.77 an hour, 18% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.00 and $36.28 an hour. About 480 work in the metro. That is 68.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $31.88 an hour, which is 11% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.94 and $44.34 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the area, 34.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Janesville metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $41.77 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $38.94 and $44.98 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.28 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($22.00) it shrinks by about $75. The total moves by 9.8% or 4.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 69,870 jobs in the Janesville-Beloit area. That makes it the 260th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.00 | $26.77 | $36.28 | $22.66 | 1.18 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.94 | $31.88 | $44.34 | $28.78 | 1.11 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $38.94 | $41.77 | $44.98 | $23.56 | 1.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.28 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Janesville
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.
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).
What nearby projects cost in Janesville
Because every project leans on different trades, Janesville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete slab runs +8% and sod installation −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,800 – $14,100 | +7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,700 – $5,550 | +8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,300 – $10,700 | +7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $38,600 – $120,500 | +7% |
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 $1,150 to $1,850 for Janesville, WI is attached.
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Multi-page report for Janesville, WI: 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 Janesville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Janesville?
For 60 linear ft, expect $670 to $2,350 in the Janesville area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,150 to $1,850. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Janesville?
About $11 to $39 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 Janesville or Rockford?
Rockford is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 1% more than Janesville ($1,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Janesville?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $900 out of $1,500. Materials are 40% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Janesville?
$670 to $2,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Janesville?
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 Janesville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Janesville expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Janesville is 2% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($1,550 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Janesville?
The BLS median is $26.77 an hour in the Janesville area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.00 to $36.28.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Janesville?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $670 to $1,350 and premium work $1,650 to $2,350. 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 Janesville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April 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 Janesville
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.