How Much Does a French Drain Cost?
$1,500 – $6,000
National average: $3,500 installed
Interactive worksheet
French drain cost calculator
Set the scope, size, and state — the tally updates as you go. Built from this guide's figures and BLS state wage data.
01 Quality & scope
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State figures apply BLS construction wages (2025) at a 60% labor weight — how we estimate.
Your estimate
- Labor ≈60%
- $2,100
- Materials & equipment
- $1,400
- Planning range
- $3,150 – $3,850
low $1,500 $6,000 high
U.S. construction trades average $65,360/yr (BLS 2025).
Get three written bids. One far under $2,800 usually means missing scope — ask what's not included. Far over $4,200, ask what's driving the number.
A French drain channels water away from where you don’t want it — a soggy yard or a wet basement — using a gravel-filled trench and perforated pipe. It costs $1,500 to $6,000 in 2026, averaging around $3,500, or about $25 to $75 per linear foot.
What you’re paying for
The pipe and gravel are cheap; the cost is the digging. You’re paying for excavation, labor, the perforated pipe, washed gravel, filter fabric, and restoring whatever the trench disturbed — and, for interior systems, a sump pump tie-in.
Interior vs. exterior
An exterior yard drain is the cheapest fix for surface water. An interior basement perimeter drain — cutting the slab and routing water to a sump pump — costs the most but is the standard cure for a chronically wet basement.
Excavation drives the price
Digging around a foundation, through concrete, or in tight access is the expensive part. The more digging and the deeper the trench, the higher the cost.
How to save on a French drain
- Address surface water first with regrading and gutters — it may be enough.
- Choose an exterior drain where it solves the problem.
- Use quality pipe, washed gravel, and fabric so it doesn’t clog and fail.
- Get the slope right — a drain that doesn’t fall properly won’t work.
| Component | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation / trenching | $600 – $2,500 | — |
| Pipe, gravel, fabric | $300 – $1,500 | — |
| Labor & installation | $500 – $2,000 | — |
| Sump pump tie-in (interior) | $500 – $1,500 | — |
| Restoration (concrete, landscaping) | $300 – $1,500 | — |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior yard drain (per linear ft) | $10 – $30 / ft | — |
| Curtain / footing drain (per linear ft) | $25 – $60 / ft | — |
| Interior basement perimeter | $40 – $100 / ft | — |
| Typical full project | $2,000 – $6,000 | — |
What affects the price
- Interior vs. exterior An exterior yard drain is the cheapest; an interior basement perimeter drain (cutting the slab) and exterior foundation drains cost the most.
- Length & depth Priced largely per linear foot; longer runs and deeper trenches near a foundation cost more.
- Excavation & access Digging around a foundation, through hardscape, or in tight spaces is the biggest cost driver.
- Sump pump Interior systems usually tie into a sump pump and pit, adding cost.
- Restoration Replacing concrete, patios, or landscaping disturbed by the trench adds to the total.
French drain cost by state
Where you live moves the price as much as any option you pick, because labor is a big share of the bill and construction wages differ sharply by state. Adjusted with BLS wage data (2025), a typical french drain job runs about $1,800 – $7,000 in Hawaii (+17%) versus $1,300 – $5,100 in Arkansas (−15%).
See the typical range in all 50 states + D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,300 – $5,200 |
| Alaska | $1,700 – $6,900 |
| Arizona | $1,400 – $5,700 |
| Arkansas | $1,300 – $5,100 |
| California | $1,700 – $6,700 |
| Colorado | $1,500 – $6,000 |
| Connecticut | $1,600 – $6,400 |
| Delaware | $1,500 – $5,900 |
| District of Columbia | $1,600 – $6,500 |
| Florida | $1,400 – $5,500 |
| Georgia | $1,400 – $5,500 |
| Hawaii | $1,800 – $7,000 |
| Idaho | $1,400 – $5,600 |
| Illinois | $1,700 – $6,900 |
| Indiana | $1,500 – $6,100 |
| Iowa | $1,500 – $5,800 |
| Kansas | $1,400 – $5,700 |
| Kentucky | $1,400 – $5,600 |
| Louisiana | $1,400 – $5,400 |
| Maine | $1,500 – $5,900 |
| Maryland | $1,500 – $6,000 |
| Massachusetts | $1,700 – $6,900 |
| Michigan | $1,500 – $6,000 |
| Minnesota | $1,600 – $6,500 |
| Mississippi | $1,300 – $5,200 |
| Missouri | $1,500 – $6,100 |
| Montana | $1,500 – $5,900 |
| Nebraska | $1,400 – $5,600 |
| Nevada | $1,500 – $6,200 |
| New Hampshire | $1,500 – $5,900 |
| New Jersey | $1,700 – $6,800 |
| New Mexico | $1,400 – $5,500 |
| New York | $1,700 – $6,600 |
| North Carolina | $1,400 – $5,400 |
| North Dakota | $1,500 – $6,100 |
| Ohio | $1,500 – $6,000 |
| Oklahoma | $1,400 – $5,500 |
| Oregon | $1,700 – $6,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,500 – $6,100 |
| Rhode Island | $1,600 – $6,200 |
| South Carolina | $1,400 – $5,500 |
| South Dakota | $1,400 – $5,400 |
| Tennessee | $1,400 – $5,500 |
| Texas | $1,400 – $5,500 |
| Utah | $1,400 – $5,600 |
| Vermont | $1,500 – $5,800 |
| Virginia | $1,400 – $5,700 |
| Washington | $1,700 – $7,000 |
| West Virginia | $1,400 – $5,700 |
| Wisconsin | $1,600 – $6,200 |
| Wyoming | $1,500 – $5,900 |
Estimates apply each state's BLS construction-wage multiplier to this guide's national range — a planning number, not a quote. Browse the full state cost guides or our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a French drain cost?
- Most French drains cost $1,500–$6,000, or about $25–$75 per linear foot. A simple exterior yard drain is at the low end; an interior basement perimeter drain that ties into a sump pump is the most expensive.
- What's the difference between interior and exterior French drains?
- An exterior drain diverts surface or groundwater away from the foundation or yard. An interior drain runs around the basement perimeter under the slab and channels water to a sump pump. Interior systems cost more because they involve cutting the floor.
- Does a French drain fix a wet basement?
- Often, yes — paired with a sump pump, an interior perimeter French drain is the standard solution for a chronically wet basement. For surface water, an exterior drain plus regrading may be enough.
- How long does a French drain last?
- A well-built French drain lasts 30–40 years. Using quality perforated pipe, washed gravel, and filter fabric keeps it from clogging with silt, which is the main failure point.
- Can I install a French drain myself?
- A short exterior yard drain is a doable (if labor-intensive) DIY. Foundation and interior basement drains involve heavy excavation, slab cutting, and getting the slope right — best left to waterproofing pros.
How we estimate: ranges reflect typical U.S. pricing for materials and professional installation, compiled and cross-checked against the current (2026) industry sources listed below (see our data & methodology). Your actual cost depends on your location, project size, material grade, and local labor rates — always get multiple written quotes before you commit.
Sources
Cost ranges on this page were checked against current (2026) data from these industry sources:
- French Drain Cost (2026) — HomeGuide
- How Much Does a French Drain Cost? — Angi
- How Much Does a French Drain Cost? — Bob Vila