How Much Does French Drain Installation Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$1,000
Average
$5,000
High End
$10,000
per project
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What Does French Drain Installation Include?
French drains redirect water away from your foundation using a perforated pipe in a gravel-filled trench. Critical for preventing basement flooding and foundation damage.
The national average cost for french drain installation is $5,000 per project. Most homeowners pay between $1,000 and $10,000, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.
What Affects the Price?
Type
Interior: $40-$100/linear ft. Exterior: $60-$120/linear ft. Full perimeter: $5,000-$12,000
Additions
Sump pump: $500-$1,200. Drain tile: $20-$40/linear ft. Channel drain: $30-$75/linear ft
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Key Cost Factors
- ✓Drain length
- ✓Interior vs exterior
- ✓Depth
- ✓Soil type
- ✓Sump pump needed
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.Interior French drains are cheaper ($40-$100/linear ft) than exterior ($60-$120/linear ft)
- 2.DIY is possible for simple exterior drains
- 3.Address grading issues first — sometimes regrading alone solves drainage
- 4.Bundle with waterproofing for better pricing
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📈 French Drain Installation Cost Trends (2020–2024)
Prices have increased +17.7% over the last 5 years
$4,247
2020
$4,425
2021
$4,713
2022
$4,845
2023
$5,000
2024
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $4,247 | — |
| 2021 | $4,425 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $4,713 | +6.5% |
| 2023 | $4,845 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $5,000 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
French Drain Installation Cost by State
Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $820 | $4,100 | $8,200 |
| Alaska | $1,280 | $6,400 | $12,800 |
| Arizona | $950 | $4,750 | $9,500 |
| Arkansas | $800 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| California | $1,350 | $6,750 | $13,500 |
| Colorado | $1,080 | $5,400 | $10,800 |
| Connecticut | $1,220 | $6,100 | $12,200 |
| Delaware | $1,050 | $5,250 | $10,500 |
| Florida | $980 | $4,900 | $9,800 |
| Georgia | $900 | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| Hawaii | $1,420 | $7,100 | $14,200 |
| Idaho | $920 | $4,600 | $9,200 |
| Illinois | $1,050 | $5,250 | $10,500 |
| Indiana | $880 | $4,400 | $8,800 |
| Iowa | $860 | $4,300 | $8,600 |
| Kansas | $850 | $4,250 | $8,500 |
| Kentucky | $840 | $4,200 | $8,400 |
| Louisiana | $870 | $4,350 | $8,700 |
| Maine | $1,020 | $5,100 | $10,200 |
| Maryland | $1,150 | $5,750 | $11,500 |
| Massachusetts | $1,300 | $6,500 | $13,000 |
| Michigan | $920 | $4,600 | $9,200 |
| Minnesota | $1,020 | $5,100 | $10,200 |
| Mississippi | $780 | $3,900 | $7,800 |
| Missouri | $870 | $4,350 | $8,700 |
| Montana | $950 | $4,750 | $9,500 |
| Nebraska | $880 | $4,400 | $8,800 |
| Nevada | $1,020 | $5,100 | $10,200 |
| New Hampshire | $1,120 | $5,600 | $11,200 |
| New Jersey | $1,250 | $6,250 | $12,500 |
| New Mexico | $900 | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| New York | $1,320 | $6,600 | $13,200 |
| North Carolina | $900 | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| North Dakota | $900 | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| Ohio | $900 | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| Oklahoma | $830 | $4,150 | $8,300 |
| Oregon | $1,100 | $5,500 | $11,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,020 | $5,100 | $10,200 |
| Rhode Island | $1,150 | $5,750 | $11,500 |
| South Carolina | $870 | $4,350 | $8,700 |
| South Dakota | $850 | $4,250 | $8,500 |
| Tennessee | $860 | $4,300 | $8,600 |
| Texas | $930 | $4,650 | $9,300 |
| Utah | $950 | $4,750 | $9,500 |
| Vermont | $1,080 | $5,400 | $10,800 |
| Virginia | $1,050 | $5,250 | $10,500 |
| Washington | $1,150 | $5,750 | $11,500 |
| West Virginia | $800 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| Wisconsin | $940 | $4,700 | $9,400 |
| Wyoming | $920 | $4,600 | $9,200 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do French drains really work?
Yes. A properly installed French drain is one of the most effective solutions for redirecting groundwater. They typically last 30-40 years with minimal maintenance.
🏙️ French Drain Installation Cost by City
Compare french drain installation costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$7,250
Los Angeles
CA
$6,900
Chicago
IL
$5,750
Houston
TX
$4,750
Phoenix
AZ
$4,900
Philadelphia
PA
$5,600
San Antonio
TX
$4,400
San Diego
CA
$6,600
Dallas
TX
$5,100
San Jose
CA
$7,600
Austin
TX
$5,250
Jacksonville
FL
$4,600
Fort Worth
TX
$4,750
Columbus
OH
$4,500
Charlotte
NC
$4,750
Indianapolis
IN
$4,400
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$7,750
Seattle, WA
$6,500
Denver, CO
$5,750
Washington D.C., DC
$6,750
Nashville, TN
$5,000
Oklahoma City, OK
$4,100
El Paso, TX
$4,100
Boston, MA
$7,000
Portland, OR
$5,900
Las Vegas, NV
$5,100
Memphis, TN
$4,100
Louisville, KY
$4,250
Baltimore, MD
$5,500
Milwaukee, WI
$4,600
Albuquerque, NM
$4,400
Tucson, AZ
$4,400
Fresno, CA
$5,250
Sacramento, CA
$5,900
Mesa, AZ
$4,750
Kansas City, MO
$4,500
Atlanta, GA
$5,250
Omaha, NE
$4,400
Colorado Springs, CO
$5,100
Raleigh, NC
$4,900
Long Beach, CA
$6,750
Virginia Beach, VA
$5,250
Miami, FL
$6,000
Oakland, CA
$7,250
Minneapolis, MN
$5,400
Tampa, FL
$5,100
Tulsa, OK
$4,100
Arlington, TX
$4,750
New Orleans, LA
$4,750
Pittsburgh, PA
$4,750
St. Louis, MO
$4,400
Bakersfield, CA
$5,100
Anaheim, CA
$6,750
Honolulu, HI
$7,500
Santa Ana, CA
$6,600
Riverside, CA
$5,750
Corpus Christi, TX
$4,250
Lexington, KY
$4,400
Stockton, CA
$5,500
Henderson, NV
$5,100
St. Paul, MN
$5,250
Cincinnati, OH
$4,400
Anchorage, AK
$6,400
Greensboro, NC
$4,400
Plano, TX
$5,250
Newark, NJ
$6,250
Lincoln, NE
$4,250
Orlando, FL
$5,100
Irvine, CA
$7,000
Durham, NC
$4,750
Chula Vista, CA
$6,400
Toledo, OH
$4,100
Fort Wayne, IN
$4,100
Jersey City, NJ
$6,750
St. Petersburg, FL
$5,100
Laredo, TX
$4,000
Madison, WI
$4,900
Chandler, AZ
$4,900
Buffalo, NY
$4,600
Lubbock, TX
$4,100
Scottsdale, AZ
$5,600
Reno, NV
$5,250
Glendale, AZ
$4,750
Gilbert, AZ
$5,100
Winston-Salem, NC
$4,250
North Las Vegas, NV
$4,900
Norfolk, VA
$4,900
Chesapeake, VA
$5,100
Irving, TX
$5,000
Fremont, CA
$7,250
Richmond, VA
$4,900
Boise, ID
$4,900
San Bernardino, CA
$5,400
Spokane, WA
$4,750
Des Moines, IA
$4,250
Tacoma, WA
$5,750
Modesto, CA
$5,250
Fontana, CA
$5,500
Moreno Valley, CA
$5,400
Fayetteville, NC
$4,250
Birmingham, AL
$4,100
Rochester, NY
$4,600
Salt Lake City, UT
$5,250
Oxnard, CA
$6,100
Knoxville, TN
$4,250
Worcester, MA
$5,750
Brownsville, TX
$3,900
Grand Rapids, MI
$4,500
Newport News, VA
$4,750
Huntsville, AL
$4,250
Amarillo, TX
$4,100
Little Rock, AR
$4,100
Montgomery, AL
$4,000
Akron, OH
$4,100
Augusta, GA
$4,100
Baton Rouge, LA
$4,250
Mobile, AL
$4,000
Shreveport, LA
$4,000
Tallahassee, FL
$4,500
Hartford, CT
$5,750
Providence, RI
$5,600
Charleston, SC
$4,900
Savannah, GA
$4,400
Columbia, SC
$4,250
Chattanooga, TN
$4,250
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$5,900
Dayton, OH
$4,100
Sioux Falls, SD
$4,250
Springfield, MO
$4,000
Jackson, MS
$3,900
Palm Bay, FL
$4,750
Lakeland, FL
$4,600
Cape Coral, FL
$4,900
Pensacola, FL
$4,400
Port St. Lucie, FL
$4,900
Naperville, IL
$5,750
Tempe, AZ
$5,000
Overland Park, KS
$4,750
McKinney, TX
$5,100
Frisco, TX
$5,250
Cary, NC
$5,100
Clarksville, TN
$4,250
Cedar Rapids, IA
$4,100
Peoria, AZ
$4,900
Surprise, AZ
$4,750
Denton, TX
$4,900
Roseville, CA
$5,750
Gainesville, FL
$4,400
Bellevue, WA
$7,000
Murfreesboro, TN
$4,600
Round Rock, TX
$5,100
Columbia, MD
$5,750
Boulder, CO
$6,250
Ann Arbor, MI
$5,500
Santa Fe, NM
$5,250
Wilmington, NC
$4,600
Greenville, SC
$4,400
Fargo, ND
$4,250
Provo, UT
$4,900
Duluth, MN
$4,400
Billings, MT
$4,600
Missoula, MT
$4,900
Cheyenne, WY
$4,400
Burlington, VT
$5,400
Portland, ME
$5,400
Concord, NH
$5,250
Bismarck, ND
$4,250
Rapid City, SD
$4,250
Casper, WY
$4,400
Bangor, ME
$4,750
Charleston, WV
$4,000
Dover, DE
$4,900
Manchester, NH
$5,400
Bridgeport, CT
$6,000
Stamford, CT
$6,750
Wichita, KS
$4,100
Topeka, KS
$4,000
Springfield, IL
$4,250
Rockford, IL
$4,250
Erie, PA
$4,100
Scranton, PA
$4,250
Flint, MI
$3,900
Lansing, MI
$4,250
Syracuse, NY
$4,400
Albany, NY
$4,750
Eugene, OR
$5,250
Salem, OR
$5,100
Fort Collins, CO
$5,500
Pueblo, CO
$4,250
Aurora, CO
$5,400
Santa Barbara, CA
$7,000
Santa Rosa, CA
$6,400
Pasadena, CA
$6,900
Visalia, CA
$5,000
Pomona, CA
$5,900
Myrtle Beach, SC
$4,400
Daytona Beach, FL
$4,600
Sarasota, FL
$5,250
Naples, FL
$5,900
Ocala, FL
$4,250
Athens, GA
$4,250
Macon, GA
$4,000
Lexington, SC
$4,250
Asheville, NC
$5,100
Flagstaff, AZ
$5,400
Rochester, NY
$4,600
New Haven, CT
$5,400
Manchester, NH
$5,250
Augusta, GA
$4,100
Fort Myers, FL
$4,900
Wilmington, NC
$4,750
Arlington, VA
$6,500
Green Bay, WI
$4,250
South Bend, IN
$4,100
Bend, OR
$5,600
Bellingham, WA
$5,500
Midland, TX
$4,750
Waco, TX
$4,100
Newark, NJ
$6,000
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for French Drain Installation
$4,945
Avg Reported
$3,462
Lowest Reported
$7,170
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$4,064
Dallas, TX · Jan 2024
★★★★★
$5,307
Chicago, IL · Feb 2024
★★★☆☆
$5,201
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2024
★★★★★
$4,969
Denver, CO · Apr 2024
★★★☆☆
$4,405
Atlanta, GA · May 2024
★★★☆☆
$5,385
Seattle, WA · Jun 2024
★★★★☆
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