French drain cost
Most residential french drains price by the linear foot installed. Use these ballpark ranges to set expectations, then get itemized quotes from local installers — every yard digs differently.
Typical installed ranges (2026):
- Exterior / yard french drain: ~$20–$40 per linear foot
- Interior / basement footing drain: ~$50–$100+ per linear foot (slab work + sump)
- Typical whole-project total: ~$1,500–$6,000 (more for interior or long/deep runs)
What drives the price
- Length & depth — the biggest levers; deeper trenches mean more spoil and time.
- Dig difficulty — clay, rock, roots, and buried utilities all add labor.
- Where the water goes — a gravity outlet is cheapest; a sump pump or dry well adds parts and labor.
- Interior vs. exterior — concrete cutting and re-pouring is the single biggest jump.
- Restoration — replacing sod, plantings, driveway, or patio you had to open up.
Get quotes from local french drain pros
Cost questions
Why is an interior (basement) french drain more expensive?
Interior footing drains mean breaking up and re-pouring concrete slab, digging the
perimeter, and adding a sump pump — far more labor than an open-yard trench. Interior
systems commonly run $50–$100+ per linear foot versus $20–$40 for a
straightforward exterior run.
What makes one quote much higher than another?
Length and depth, how hard the digging is (rock, roots, utilities), whether a sump pump
or dry well is needed, restoration (sod, concrete, landscaping), and haul-off of spoil.
A higher quote isn't automatically padding — ask each installer to itemize length, depth,
and where the water outlets.
Is a french drain worth it?
If water is reaching your foundation or basement, yes — chronic foundation water costs far
more to fix than a drain. For a merely soggy spot with no structural risk, price it against
cheaper grading/gutter fixes first.