What does a French drain cost? (And when you don't need one)

French drains are priced mostly by the linear foot, plus whatever it takes to get the water out at the end. Before you price one, though, check whether you need one at all.

Cheaper fixes to rule out first

• Downspouts: if water pools under the gutters, buried downspout lines to a pop-up emitter may fix it for a fraction of the cost.
• Regrading: if the low spot is in the middle of the yard, or the ground slopes toward the house, reshaping the soil is often enough.
• A clogged swale: side yards often had their drainage swale filled in by a fence or AC pad. Re-cutting it is quick.

What drives French drain cost

1. Length and depth. Most residential runs are 40 to 150 feet.
2. Where it outlets. Daylighting to the street or a slope is simplest. A dry well or catch basin adds cost.
3. What's in the way: sprinkler lines, utilities (we always call 811 first), tree roots, concrete.
4. Restoration: putting sod and beds back.

Rough ranges

As a broad 2026 estimate, residential French drains in our area commonly run somewhere around $30 to $75 per linear foot installed, with outlets, basins and restoration on top. Regrading and downspout lines are usually much less. You'll get a drawing and a fixed price, not a per-foot surprise.

More on our drainage work, or read why yards hold water after rain.

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