Cost Guides · Yard Drainage
French Drain Cost in 2026: Per Linear Foot Prices
French drain cost from two drainage contractors who post their own price, plus the pipe and gravel numbers behind it.
In a hurry? Turn a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds.
How much does a french drain cost per linear foot?
French drain cost breaks into two numbers from contractors who post a price. Fusion Grading prices a shallow yard drain at $30 to $50 per foot. It prices a deep drain at $50 or more. Cardona Construction, in the Bay Area, prices that shallow drain at $35 to $55. It prices a foundation grade drain at $55 to $85, and a hillside run at $75 to $100 or more. Plan on $20 to $90 per linear foot, with depth and soil deciding the price.
What do the posted price lists show?
Most drainage companies quote by phone and print nothing. These two post a number and a date, so you can check a bid against a live source.
| Publisher | Drain type | Per linear foot | Captured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion Grading and Drainage (Concord, NC) | Shallow yard french drain | $30 to $50 | Sept 5, 2026 |
| Fusion Grading and Drainage (Concord, NC) | Deep, basement or foundation drain | $50 or more | Sept 5, 2026 |
| Cardona Construction (Bay Area, CA) | Shallow yard drain | $35 to $55 | Sept 5, 2026 |
| Cardona Construction (Bay Area, CA) | Foundation grade to hillside deep drain | $55 to $100 or more | Sept 5, 2026 |
Total cost follows the same math. Fusion Grading lists a 10 to 25 foot system at $500 to $1,500. Cardona Construction quotes a 60 foot lawn drain at $2,100 to $3,300 and an 80 foot run at $4,400 to $6,800.
Why does the price swing so much?
Excavation is the line that moves. Digging, hauling spoil, and backfilling outweigh the pipe and gravel combined. That is why rocky soil or tight access pushes the same length higher. Operating engineers earn a $31.87 mean hourly wage (BLS, May 2025). Landscaping workers who dig small runs by hand earn a $20.33 mean. Those are wages paid, not rates billed.
Snap a photo and get an itemized estimate before you dig, free →
What do the pipe and gravel actually cost?
Two materials fill the trench, and both post a retail price.
| Material | Publisher | Price | Captured |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 inch perforated drain pipe, Amerimax FLEX-Drain | Sutherlands, item 484360 | $8.99 for 8 feet ($1.12 per foot) | Sept 5, 2026 |
| 4 inch perforated drain pipe, Amerimax FLEX-Drain | Anderson Lumber Co, item 405434 | $15.49 for 12 feet ($1.29 per foot) | Sept 5, 2026 |
| 3/4 inch washed drain rock | Earth Stone Rock, SKU 229666DR75TON-2K | $49.99 per ton | Sept 5, 2026 |
| 1 1/2 inch GRW drain rock | PRO Aggregate (Chico, CA), item 13200 | $34.73 per ton | Sept 5, 2026 |
Gravel is usually the bigger line because a trench eats tons, not feet. USGS puts the national producer average for crushed stone at $18.50 per metric ton in 2025, up from $17.50 in 2024. So the retail prices above already carry hauling and yard margin on top. That USGS figure is a single producer benchmark, context for the climb, not a retail quote.
How do I turn a linear foot price into a bid?
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Walk the run and mark the low point
Slope the trench toward the property line or storm drain, about 1 inch per 8 feet.
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Dig to depth and set the pipe
A shallow drain sits 8 to 12 inches down; a deep drain sits below the footing. Lay perforated pipe with a sock in fine soil.
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Backfill with washed drain rock
Surround the pipe with washed gravel. Cap it with filter fabric before topsoil so silt does not clog the rock.
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Price the linear feet, then add the fees
Multiply the measured length by a posted per foot rate. Add haul off, permit, and sod repair as separate lines.
What labor costs ride on top?
Our contractor hourly labor rates by trade page shows how BLS wages become a billable rate. Burden and margin get added on top.
SimplyWise Cost Estimator for french drain cost
SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job site photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Material, labor, and fee lines are editable. Enter the prices above and your own labor rate, then send a branded quote the client signs to approve. It is $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr, about $20/mo on annual, with a 7-day free trial.
Sources
- Fusion Grading and Drainage, French Drain Cost, captured 2026-09-05.
- Cardona Construction, French Drain Installation Cost 2026, captured 2026-09-05.
- Sutherlands, item 484360, captured 2026-09-05.
- Anderson Lumber Co, item 405434, captured 2026-09-05.
- Earth Stone Rock, SKU 229666DR75TON-2K, captured 2026-09-05.
- PRO Aggregate, item 13200, captured 2026-09-05.
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Stone (Crushed), captured 2026-09-05.
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, 37-3011 and 47-2073, verified 2026-09-05.
- SimplyWise Cost Estimator, App Store, verified 2026-09-05.
Frequently asked questions about french drain cost
The price
How much does a french drain cost per linear foot in 2026?
Two drainage contractors put french drain cost at $20 to $90 per linear foot. Fusion Grading runs $30 to $50 shallow and $50 or more deep. Cardona Construction runs $35 to $55 shallow, $55 to $85 foundation grade, and $75 to $100 or more hillside.
The materials
How much does drain pipe cost per foot?
A 4 inch perforated Amerimax pipe runs $1.12 per foot at Sutherlands. It runs $1.29 at Anderson Lumber Co. That is pipe only, before gravel or fabric.
How much does drainage gravel cost per ton?
Washed drain rock runs $34.73 per ton for 1 1/2 inch rock at PRO Aggregate. It runs $49.99 per ton for 3/4 inch rock at Earth Stone Rock. Gravel is usually the bigger line than the pipe.
Estimating the job
Can I measure a yard drain run with my phone camera instead of a tape?
Walk the run with a tape or wheel outdoors. Slope still calls for eyes on site. SimplyWise Cost Estimator then turns a job site photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Every line stays editable before you send the quote.
Does SimplyWise Cost Estimator price a french drain by the linear foot?
It builds material, labor, and fee lines with unit, quantity, and price per unit. Enter your pipe and gravel cost above and set your labor rate. Send a branded quote the client signs to approve. Pricing is $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr, with a 7-day free trial.
Turn a linear foot price into a bid that holds margin.
Snap a photo and get an itemized estimate with editable lines. Send a branded quote before you break ground. Free to try, then $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr after a 7-day trial.