How Much a French Drain Costs and What Changes the Price

Most French drains cost a few thousand dollars, but the spread is wide

Bob Vila and LawnStarter both list a national average of about $5,000. The range is wide because a short yard drain and a full basement system are very different jobs. Use these figures as a starting point, not as a quote for your property.

• Bob Vila, citing Angi and HomeAdvisor: about $500 for minimal repairs, up to $18,000 for an extensive system, with an average of about $5,000.
• LawnStarter: most homeowners pay $1,650 to $12,250, with an average of $5,000.
• Per foot, Bob Vila lists $10 to $50 for exterior drains and $40 to $100 for basement drains.

A basement drain costs more than a yard drain

An interior drain means breaking out a concrete basement floor, which adds labor. An exterior drain is dug through soil, so it skips that step.

• Exterior: LawnStarter puts it at $10 to $65 per linear foot. A 100-foot run is about $1,000 to $6,500.
• Interior: LawnStarter lists $40 to $100 per foot. A 100-foot run is about $4,000 to $10,000.
• Shallow exterior drains cost less than footing drains, which sit at least a foot down and usually run around the house.
• Bob Vila's per-foot ranges by location: yard $20 to $40, around the house $50 to $80, basement $60 to $70, behind a retaining wall $25 to $50.

Labor, length, soil and access drive most of the cost

Materials are a small part of the bill. Most of what you pay covers labor and equipment time. Anything that makes the trench longer or the digging slower raises the price.

• Length: drains are priced per linear foot, so a longer run costs more.
• Pipe size: according to LawnStarter, a bigger pipe needs a bigger trench, which means more workers and more time.
• Soil: clay, shale or rocky ground is slow to dig. Bob Vila puts labor at $50 to $100 per worker per hour.
• Access: when the area is too tight for a trencher or mini-excavator, the crew digs by hand, which means more workers and more hours on the job.
• Materials: Bob Vila puts perforated pipe at $50 to $200 total and pea gravel at $500 to $1,000.
• Local labor rates and problems found during digging can also change the final number.

Extras beyond the trench can add to the total

Ask whether an estimate includes these items.

• Permit: many communities require one for perimeter or basement digging. Bob Vila cites about $50 to $100.
• Inspection: where an inspection is required, Bob Vila says hiring a private inspector may add $150 to $250.
• Discharge: the water needs somewhere to go. LawnStarter lists dry wells at $500 to $3,000 and storm drains at $500 to $3,500.
• Sump pump: needed if gravity can't carry the water away. Bob Vila lists $150 to $300 to install.
• Lawn repair: the installer may not restore the lawn. LawnStarter puts new sod at about $0.87 to $1.76 per sq ft installed.

A written estimate gives you the number for your property

National ranges can't account for your drain's length, your soil or how easy the spot is to reach. Below is what B&K's Google reviewers say about getting estimates. These are customer accounts, not promises.

• Sometimes no visit is needed: Ralph Smith got a fair estimate for a trailer pad by phone within 15 minutes, because Bob knew the area.
• After a visit: Nancy Saxton-Mattie had her estimate the same evening.
• Final bill: Ralph Smith's came in slightly under the estimate, with no hidden costs.
• Budget: Susanna Hummer says they will work with you on what you can afford.
• B&K is licensed/registered and insured.

Common questions