French Drain Cost (2026): $500–$18,000 per Project
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·4 sources Quick answerQuick answer: A french drain typically costs $500 to $18,000 total, averaging around $5,000, with most homeowners paying $2,800 to $6,500. Pricing runs $10 to $100 per linear foot depending on whether it's a shallow exterior drain or a deep interior basement system.
- ✓National average is about $5,000 per project; most homeowners pay $2,800–$6,500 (Fixr).
- ✓Per-linear-foot pricing runs $10–$50 for exterior yard drains and $40–$100 for interior basement drains (Bob Vila, Angi).
- ✓A basic curtain drain is the cheapest option at $10–$25 per linear foot; a deep foundation drain runs $30–$70 per linear foot (Bob Vila, Angi).
- ✓Full project costs span $500 for a small 50-foot exterior drain up to $18,000 for an extensive perimeter or basement system (Fixr, Bob Vila, Angi).
How much does french drain cost?
National average
$5,000
total project
Typical range
$500–$18,000
Most projects
Whole project
$2,800–$6,500
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| Curtain/shallow drain (per linear ft) | $10 | $25 |
| Exterior yard/perimeter drain (per linear ft) | $10 | $50 |
| Trench/yard drain (per linear ft) | $30 | $90 |
| Deep foundation french drain (per linear ft) | $30 | $70 |
| Interior/basement drain (per linear ft) | $40 | $100 |
What affects the cost?
- Total linear footage of drain needed, since most pricing is quoted per linear foot
- Trench depth: shallow curtain drains cost far less than deep foundation-level drains (Bob Vila, Angi)
- Interior basement installation vs. exterior yard installation: interior work runs $40-$100/linear ft versus $10-$50/linear ft for exterior (Fixr, Bob Vila, Angi)
- Soil type and excavation difficulty, which drives labor hours up on rocky or clay soil
- Pipe material and diameter: perforated PVC runs about $0.70-$3 per linear foot depending on size (Fixr)
- Whether a sump pump is added: pump equipment costs $150-$300, while full sump pump installation can add $500-$2,000 (Bob Vila, Angi)
- Contractor type: landscapers typically bill $50-$100 per hour while plumbers charge $45-$200 per hour (Angi)
- Permits and inspections required by some municipalities: permits run $50-$200 and inspections run $100-$300, a combined span of about $50-$300 (Angi)
- Amount of landscaping, concrete, or hardscaping that must be removed and restored after the trench is dug
Why does a french drain cost so much?
French drain pricing is driven mainly by length and depth, running $10 to $100 per linear foot depending on the type of system (Fixr, Angi). A shallow exterior drain along a yard or property line sits at the low end, $10 to $50 per linear foot, since it requires a relatively shallow trench and simple perforated pipe (Bob Vila, Angi). An interior basement drain costs far more, $40 to $100 per linear foot, because it usually means cutting and patching a concrete slab, tying into an existing foundation, and often adding a sump pump to move collected water outside (Fixr, Bob Vila). On a full-project basis, Fixr and Bob Vila both put the national average around $5,000, with most homeowners paying between $2,800 and $6,500. Angi’s figures run higher, averaging $9,250, though its own $500–$18,000 range lines up closely with what the other two sources report, suggesting the gap comes from a mix of smaller and larger jobs in Angi’s sample rather than a fundamentally different price level.
What affects the cost?
Trench depth and drain type make the biggest difference. A basic curtain drain, the shallowest option, costs $10 to $25 per linear foot, while a deep french drain built down near a foundation footing runs $30 to $70 per linear foot, and a full yard trench drain can reach $30 to $90 per linear foot (Bob Vila, Angi). Pipe choice matters too: perforated PVC pipe itself runs about $0.70 to $3 per linear foot depending on diameter, a small slice of the total once labor and gravel backfill are included (Fixr). Labor rates vary by who does the work, $50 to $100 per hour for landscapers versus $45 to $200 per hour for plumbers (Angi), and location adds its own premium: a basement installation can run $60 to $70 per linear foot compared to $20 to $30 per linear foot for open yard work (Fixr). Permits and inspections, where required, typically add $50 to $300 combined, since Angi reports permits at $50 to $200 and inspections at $100 to $300 separately, and adding a sump pump can tack on another $150 for the unit alone up to $2,000 for full installation (Bob Vila, Angi).
How to lower your french drain cost
- Stick with a shallow curtain drain if the water problem is minor. At $10–$25 per linear foot, it’s the cheapest option and works well for redirecting surface runoff away from a yard or garden bed.
- Keep the work exterior when possible. Exterior yard and perimeter drains run $10–$50 per linear foot versus $40–$100 for interior basement systems, since interior work involves cutting concrete and more labor.
- Get quotes from both landscapers and plumbers. Landscaper labor runs $50–$100 an hour compared to $45–$200 for plumbers, and either can install a standard drain depending on complexity.
- Only add a sump pump if you need one. It’s a real cost adder, $150 for the unit alone or up to $2,000 with full installation, so confirm your grading and drainage layout actually require one before including it.
- Measure your linear footage carefully before getting bids. Since almost all pricing scales per linear foot, an accurate measurement of the trench run helps you compare contractor quotes on an apples-to-apples basis.
Costs vary by region, soil conditions, and site accessibility, so use these figures as a planning baseline and confirm final pricing with a local contractor.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a french drain cost on average?+
Most sources put the national average around $5,000 per project, with typical homeowners paying $2,800 to $6,500 (Fixr). Angi's data skews higher, averaging $9,250, though its overall cost range ($500–$18,000) matches the other sources.
How much does a french drain cost per linear foot?+
Exterior yard drains run $10 to $50 per linear foot, while interior basement drains cost $40 to $100 per linear foot (Bob Vila, Angi). A general blended range across all types is $10 to $100 per linear foot (Fixr, Angi).
What's the cheapest type of french drain?+
A shallow curtain drain is the least expensive option at $10 to $25 per linear foot, since it sits closer to the surface and needs less excavation than a deep foundation drain (Bob Vila, Angi).
Why do interior basement french drains cost more than exterior ones?+
Interior installs often mean breaking and patching a concrete basement floor and are more likely to be paired with a sump pump, pushing costs to $40–$100 per linear foot versus $10–$50 for exterior yard drains (Fixr, Bob Vila).
Does a french drain need a sump pump, and how much does that add?+
Not always, but many interior systems pair one. A sump pump unit alone runs $150–$300, while full sump pump installation can add $500–$2,000 to the project (Bob Vila, Angi).
What drives french drain costs up the most?+
Total linear footage, trench depth, whether the drain is interior or exterior, soil conditions, and pipe material all factor into the final price (Fixr, Angi, Bob Vila). Local labor rates matter too: landscapers typically bill $50–$100/hour, while plumbers run up to $200/hour (Angi).
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):
- Fixr — Average cost $5,000; typical range $2,800-$6,500. Low-end $500 (50 linear feet, exterior); high-end $18,000 (extensive 100 linear foot perimeter drain). Exterior $10-$100/linear ft (shallow $10-$50/linear ft, footing drains $80-$100/linear ft); interior $40-$100/linear ft. By size (installed): 50 ft exterior $1,250-$2,000 / interior $2,500-$3,000; 100 ft exterior $3,500-$4,000 / interior $5,000-$6,000; 150 ft exterior $4,250-$5,000 / interior $7,500-$9,000. Perforated PVC pipe $0.70-$3/linear ft. Labor $35-$75/hour; interior labor $35-$40/linear ft, exterior labor $20-$25/linear ft. Basement location $60-$70/linear ft; yard location $20-$30/linear ft.
- Bob Vila — National average $5,000; low-high range $500 to $18,000. By location: exterior $10-$50/linear ft, basement $40-$100/linear ft, yard $20-$40/linear ft, around the house $50-$80/linear ft, driveway $45-$55/linear ft, garage $50-$60/linear ft, under a deck $35-$45/linear ft. By type: curtain drain $10-$25/linear ft, deep french drain $30-$70/linear ft, interior french drain $40-$100/linear ft, yard trench drain $30-$90/linear ft. Materials: perforated pipe $50-$200, pea gravel $500-$1,000, sump pump $150-$300. Labor $50-$100/hour. Permit $50-$100.
- Angi — Average cost $9,250; normal range $500-$18,000; full range $400-$27,000. General per-linear-foot range $10-$100 (about $45 average). By type with total ranges: interior french $40-$100/linear ft ($5,000-$18,000 total); exterior perimeter $10-$50/linear ft ($500-$10,000 total); curtain drain $10-$25/linear ft ($1,000-$5,000 total); trench/yard drain $30-$90/linear ft ($2,000-$10,000 total); deep french drain $30-$70/linear ft ($2,000-$10,000 total). Labor: landscapers $50-$100/hour, plumbers $45-$200/hour. Permits $50-$200; inspection $100-$300; landscape repair $100-$200; sump pump installation $500-$2,000; irrigation ditch $0.50-$1/sq ft.
- HomeAdvisor — Average cost $9,250; range $500-$18,000 (figures match Angi's published data, reflecting shared cost content since the Angi/HomeAdvisor merger).
Fixr and Bob Vila both put the national average at $5,000, with Fixr noting most homeowners pay $2,800-$6,500 for a typical job. Angi cites a higher average of $9,250, but its 'normal range' of $500-$18,000 matches the range reported by Fixr and Bob Vila exactly, so the headline average here is anchored to the two sources that agree ($5,000), with Angi's higher average noted for context. Angi also cites an outer full-range bound of $400-$27,000 for very small or very large/complex systems, which is wider than the range used here. HomeAdvisor (now under the same parent company as Angi and sharing much of its cost content) returned the same $9,250 average and $500-$18,000 range as Angi. Per-linear-foot figures for drain type (curtain, exterior perimeter, trench/yard, deep, interior) are consistent across Bob Vila and Angi almost to the dollar, so those are used as the by_type breakdown. Figures reflect professional installation (excavation, pipe, gravel, fabric, backfill, and labor); they exclude add-ons like sump pump installation, permits, and post-install landscaping repair unless noted. Landscaper labor rate ($50-$100/hour) is attributed to Angi only, since Angi is the only source that splits labor by role; Fixr's and Bob Vila's labor figures are general (not landscaper-specific) and are not used for that line. The $50-$300 permits-and-inspections figure is a synthesized combined range built from Angi's separate permit ($50-$200) and inspection ($100-$300) figures, not a single figure Angi states directly.