French drain cost in La Crosse, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $690 – $2,400
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $40
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #52
- 1 = most expensive
La Crosse homeowners pay roughly $690 to $2,400 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $11.50 to $40 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, La Crosse is 15% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $28.32 an hour in the La Crosse area, 25% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in La Crosse, WI, standard level
$1,200 to $1,900
About $20 to $31.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $730 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,900 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in La Crosse, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 39% |
| Labor | $420 | $940 | $1,450 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $690 | $1,550 | $2,400 | 100% |
Why La Crosse 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 $28.32 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for La Crosse is 1.34 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 61% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the La Crosse 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 (91.8) 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 La Crosse. The wage table below marks each row.
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 La Crosse is 1.34 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $28.32 an hour, 25% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.49 and $35.41 an hour. About 610 work in the metro. That is 72.3 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 $34.34 an hour, which is 19% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $28.40 and $44.77 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 14.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the La Crosse 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 ($35.41 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($22.49) it shrinks by about $90. The total moves by 7.1% or 5.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 84,380 jobs in the La Crosse-Onalaska area. That makes it the 228th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.49 | $28.32 | $35.41 | $22.66 | 1.25 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $28.40 | $34.34 | $44.77 | $28.78 | 1.19 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $38.94 | $41.77 | $44.98 | $23.56 | 1.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.34 | |||||
La Crosse: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for La Crosse 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
$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 – $950 | $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 – $3,800 | $3,450 – $4,800 |
When to schedule French drain in La Crosse
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for La Crosse Wfo (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 La Crosse (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.
La Crosse gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 54 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.0 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 3 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 | 24 | 8 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 29 | 13 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 24 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 36 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 48 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 58 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 62 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 60 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 52 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 28 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 29 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
Why two La Crosse quotes can differ
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).
Is La Crosse cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than La Crosse. Dubuque is the lowest at about $1,350 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WIthis page | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | |
| Rochester, MN65 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +2% |
| Dubuque, IA85 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −13% |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Waterloo, IA105 miles | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | −4% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −13% |
Across 300 US metros, La Crosse comes in at #52 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, La Crosse is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | level |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +3% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like La Crosse's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is La Crosse against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −19% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | −4% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −24% |
Related projects, priced for La Crosse
Because every project leans on different trades, La Crosse's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +10% and sod installation −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,950 – $14,300 | +8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $11,000 | +8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $11,000 | +10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,700 – $124,000 | +10% |
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 $1,200 to $1,900 for La Crosse, WI is attached.
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French drain in La Crosse: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in La Crosse?
For 60 linear ft, expect $690 to $2,400 in the La Crosse area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in La Crosse?
About $11.50 to $40 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 La Crosse or Rochester?
Rochester is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,600, which is 2% more than La Crosse ($1,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in La Crosse?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $940 out of $1,550. Materials are 39% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in La Crosse?
$690 to $2,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in La Crosse?
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 La Crosse area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is La Crosse expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
La Crosse is 0% above 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 La Crosse?
The BLS median is $28.32 an hour in the La Crosse area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.49 to $35.41.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in La Crosse?
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.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in La Crosse?
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 La Crosse
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.