Drainage
French Drain Cost (2026)
A French drain costs $10-$65 per linear foot for exterior yard drains and $40-$100 for interior basement systems in 2026. Full DIY materials budget and what drives pro quotes.
French drain pricing spans an order of magnitude because "French drain" describes three different jobs: a shallow gravel trench in a soggy yard, a footing-depth moat around a foundation, and a jackhammered channel inside a finished basement. Price the job you actually have. Current 2026 figures below, with the full DIY budget.
2026 installed cost by system type
| System | Per linear ft | Typical project total |
|---|---|---|
| Shallow yard drain (12-24 in) | $10-$35 | $500-$2,500 (50-75 ft) |
| Curtain drain on a slope | $15-$50 | $1,000-$3,500 |
| Deep exterior perimeter (footing depth) | $30-$90 | $3,000-$12,000 |
| Interior basement perimeter + sump | $40-$100 | $4,000-$17,000 |
Ranges compiled from 2026 cost surveys including HomeGuide and Angi. Add $250-$1,200 where the outlet needs a dry well, and $500-$2,000 for a sump pump and basin on interior systems.
The DIY materials budget, 50-foot yard drain
| Item | Quantity | 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Washed drainage stone | ~3.3 tons | $120-$220 delivered |
| 4 in perforated pipe | 6 × 10 ft sections | $60-$120 |
| Non-woven geotextile fabric | ~275 ft² | $60-$110 |
| Fittings, couplers, end cap, emitter | - | $40-$90 |
| Trencher or mini excavator rental (optional) | 1 day | $150-$450 |
Hand-dug: $280-$540 in materials, about $6-$11 per foot. With rented digging: $430-$990. Quantities above come straight from the French drain calculator defaults; enter your own length, trench size, and slope to get your exact stone tonnage, pipe count, and fabric area.
What moves a professional quote
Depth is the multiplier. Doubling trench depth more than doubles time in most soils, and anything below 4 feet brings shoring and safety requirements. Foundation-depth work is priced accordingly.
The outlet run. A drain that daylights 20 feet away is cheap; one that needs 80 feet of solid pipe to reach legal discharge, or a dry well because nothing is downhill, adds real money. Confirm discharge rules with your municipality; some regulate stormwater routing tightly.
Spoil handling. A 50-foot drain generates about 5-6 loose yards of soil. On-site spreading is free; hauling and tipping adds $100-$250.
Restoration. Lawn repair is minor; cutting and repairing concrete, pavers, or roots in the trench line is not.
Cost vs. doing it right
The expensive French drain is the one built twice. Skipping fabric, using rounded pea gravel, or laying pipe flat saves $100 on day one and fails within 2-5 years, at which point the fix costs full price plus demolition of the failed drain. The failure modes and their repair costs are detailed in Why French Drains Fail; the specification that lasts decades is in What Is a French Drain. If you are still deciding between a drain and surface regrading, read the comparison in French Drain vs. Swale before budgeting either.
Sources & standards: quantities and factors in this guide follow the references documented in our methodology, including ACI 302/318 (concrete practice), OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (excavation safety), ASTM aggregate designations, and the International Residential Code. Local codes, climate, and site conditions govern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a French drain cost in 2026?
Exterior yard drains run $10 to $65 per linear foot installed, deep perimeter drains $30 to $90, and interior basement systems $40 to $100 per foot. A typical 100-foot exterior drain lands between $1,000 and $6,500.
How much does a DIY French drain cost?
Materials for a standard 50-foot yard drain (stone, pipe, fabric, fittings) run $450 to $800, or about $9-$16 per foot. Renting a trencher or mini excavator adds $150-$450 per day. DIY typically saves half to two-thirds of a professional quote.
Why do interior French drains cost so much more?
Breaking and removing a concrete floor perimeter, hauling debris through a finished house, tying into a sump basin, and repouring concrete is skilled, slow work. The $4,000-$17,000 range reflects labor, not materials.
What adds cost to an exterior drain?
Depth, obstacles, and disposal. A footing-depth drain along a foundation costs multiples of a shallow yard drain, and roots, utilities, or hauling spoil off-site add hours. The outlet can add cost too if it needs a dry well or pop-up emitter run.
Is a French drain worth it versus regrading?
If surface grading can move the water, grade first: regrading a problem area often costs $500-$3,000 and fixes shallow ponding outright. French drains earn their cost against subsurface water and situations where grade cannot be corrected.