On HomeGuide's national 2026 pages, a yard drainage system runs $1,000 to $4,000 and a French drain $10 to $35 a foot. In Minneapolis, the goal is almost always the same: keep spring melt and summer storms away from a basement.
All dollar amounts here are national ranges from HomeGuide, never our own prices for a Twin Cities job. Frost, glacial clay or sand, groundwater near the lakes, alley access and haul distance all move the real cost. The HomeGuide pages were checked in October 2026.
How do I get rid of standing water in a Minneapolis yard?
To get rid of standing water in a Minneapolis yard, move it to a lower spot that can take it: regrade the low area toward the street or the alley, shape a swale between houses, or build a rain garden where sandy soil can soak it up. On clay till, a buried drain to an outlet is often needed.
My Twin Cities back yard turns soggy every spring. What fixes it?
A back yard that turns soggy every spring is usually catching snowmelt while the ground below is still frozen, so the water has nowhere to go. Regrading so melt water runs off, moving roof water away in buried lines and adding a drain or a rain garden fix most of these yards. More black dirt on top does not.
Why does water collect against my foundation in Minneapolis?
Water collects against the foundation when old soil has settled toward the house, downspouts dump at the corners, window wells sit lower than the lawn or a sump pump discharges right by the wall. In older stone and block basements, that water finds the mortar joints. Fixing the grade and the discharge points solves much of it.
What does a French drain cost in the Twin Cities?
A French drain outside in the yard costs $10 to $35 a linear foot, or $500 to $8,800 installed, per HomeGuide's French drain page; an interior basement drain costs $40 to $85 a foot. Interior systems are installed by waterproofing contractors; we do the outside work.
| Drain length | Exterior or yard drain | Interior basement drain |
|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | $500 to $1,800 | $2,000 to $4,300 |
| 100 ft | $1,000 to $3,500 | $4,000 to $8,500 |
| 200 ft | $2,000 to $7,000 | $8,000 to $17,000 |
What does a curtain drain or drain tile around the house cost?
A curtain drain costs $10 to $35 a foot, or $1,500 to $8,800, and exterior drain tile at the footing costs $30 to $90 a foot, about $1,200 to $4,500 per side, in HomeGuide's figures. Many pre-1960 Twin Cities homes have old clay drain tile that has collapsed or silted shut, and replacing it means digging to the footing.
French drain, dry well or rain garden: which fits my soil?
A French drain fits soil that will not take water in, and a dry well or a rain garden fits sandy soil that will. Dry wells run $300 to $1,500 on HomeGuide's drainage page, the same national band everywhere. Sandy ground in Richfield and Brooklyn Park often handles infiltration well, while clay till in Plymouth or Eden Prairie usually needs the water piped to an outlet.
Should I choose a swale or a catch basin, and what does a swale run?
A swale runs $250 to $1,000 on HomeGuide's drainage page and is the right choice when water can flow across the lawn in a wide, shallow channel. A catch basin is right where water has to be picked up at a low spot and carried in pipe, such as beside a patio, a driveway or an alley garage.
How deep do drains and ditches need to be in Minnesota?
How deep drains need to be depends on the job: a swale is a few inches deep, a yard drain often 18 to 24 inches, and footing drain tile sits at the bottom of the foundation. In Minnesota, every outlet also has to be placed where it will not freeze shut and back water up.
Can downspouts and sump pump lines be buried and run away from the house?
Yes, downspouts and sump lines can be buried in solid pipe to an outlet away from the house; HomeGuide puts underground downspout extensions at $150 to $350 apiece. Sump lines need steady slope so they drain between cycles and do not freeze, and most cities here do not allow sump water in the sanitary sewer.
My neighbor's yard drains water onto mine. What can I do in Minnesota?
When a neighbor's yard drains water onto yours, start by talking it through with photos taken during a storm or a thaw. Minnesota surface water disputes depend on the facts, such as whether the flow follows the natural slope or was changed by grading or a new house. This is general information about Minnesota, not legal advice. Many cities review grading on teardown lots, so a call to the city can also help.
Can excavation fix a wet basement in an old Minneapolis house?
Excavation can fix a wet Minneapolis basement when the water is coming from outside: poor grading, short downspouts, a failed drain tile or a sump line that dumps by the wall. Leaking stone joints, cracks and water rising through the floor are for a waterproofing or foundation company, and we dig the outside of the wall when they need it.
Need a real price for your Twin Cities property? Call or text (612) 688-4650; we walk the site first and then send the scope and price in writing.