French Drain Cost Calculator

By Andrea · August 2026

Use this free 2026 estimator to get a quick low-to-high cost range for a French drain before you call anyone. Enter the drain length in linear feet, where it goes, how deep it needs to be, and how easy the ground is to dig. Everything runs in your browser — nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.

Treat the number as a planning range, not a quote. Real French drain pricing swings with the cause of the water problem, the discharge point, restoration of lawn or concrete, and local labor. For anything tied to a wet basement or foundation, diagnose the water source first and get a licensed pro to look at it.

French Drain Cost Estimator

Results are estimates only. French drain pricing depends on the cause of the water problem, the trench length and depth, whether the run is exterior or cuts through interior concrete, the discharge point, soil and access, and local labor. Call 811 before any digging to have utilities located.

What Moves Your Number

Placement is the biggest single lever. An exterior or yard-surface French drain is dug in open ground and typically runs from roughly $10 to $40 per linear foot. An interior or basement perimeter drain has to cut and replace concrete and tie into a sump, so it commonly runs $45 to $90 or more per linear foot. Depth matters next — a shallow surface run is cheaper than a deep trench that intercepts groundwater — and soil and access swing the number again, since rocky ground, high water tables, or tight side-yard access all add labor. Restoring lawn, hardscape, or a finished basement afterward is often quoted separately. Because these variables compound, the same job can vary 30 to 50 percent between contractors, which is why three quotes is the standard.

Before You Dig

• Call 811 at least a few business days ahead so utilities can be located and marked — this is free and required.
• Diagnose where the water is actually coming from; a drain that treats the symptom without addressing the source rarely solves the problem.
• Confirm a legal, approved discharge point — water that outlets onto a neighbor's property or into an unapproved location can create liability, so check local codes.
• If the water shows up against a basement wall or foundation, have a licensed pro rule out a structural or foundation problem first. Standing water and mold can be a health issue — defer to a professional or doctor rather than trying to diagnose it yourself.