French drain cost in Birmingham, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $550 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.20 – $32
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #234
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Birmingham, plan on $550 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.20 to $32 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.45 an hour in the Birmingham area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Birmingham, AL, standard level
$960 to $1,500
About $16 to $25 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $480 | $750 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $960 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Birmingham, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $270 | $610 | $960 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $550 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
What is behind the Birmingham number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Birmingham wages are 0.88 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Birmingham metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $620, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Birmingham
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Birmingham wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$550 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$960 to $1,500
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,400 to $1,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $550 | $480 – $760 | $690 – $960 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $550 – $1,100 | $960 – $1,500 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,850 |
Related projects, priced for Birmingham
Because every project leans on different trades, Birmingham's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −6% and retaining wall −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,200 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,300 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,200 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,700 – $102,000 | −9% |
Birmingham labor market for French drain
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Birmingham is 0.88 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $18.45 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.51 and $22.60 an hour. About 4,780 work in the metro. That is 91.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $26.12 an hour, which is 9% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.72 and $29.27 an hour. BLS counts 2,070 of them working in the area, 39.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.07 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $18.49 and $26.01 an hour. About 80 work in the metro. That is 1.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.60 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $65. At the 25th percentile ($15.51) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 5.2% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 520,290 jobs in the Birmingham area. That makes it the 50th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.33% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $15.51 | $18.45 | $22.60 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.72 | $26.12 | $29.27 | $28.78 | 0.91 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $18.49 | $23.07 | $26.01 | $23.56 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Is Birmingham cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Birmingham. Montgomery is the lowest at about $1,200 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 80 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALthis page | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL60 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Decatur, AL75 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Montgomery, AL80 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −5% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Auburn, AL100 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Birmingham comes in at #234 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $1,900; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $1,100 (midpoints, 60 linear ft). Statewide, Birmingham is 4% above the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −5% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Birmingham's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Birmingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +21% |
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +10% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +17% |
Climate in Birmingham: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Birmingham Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Birmingham (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Birmingham gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 1 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and July (5.7 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.0 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 65 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | 35 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 59 | 38 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 45 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 52 | 5.1 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 69 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 5.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 71 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 54 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 43 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 57 | 38 | 4.9 | Workable |
Why two Birmingham quotes can differ
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $960 to $1,500 for Birmingham, AL is attached.
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Multi-page report for Birmingham, AL: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
French drain in Birmingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Birmingham?
For 60 linear ft, expect $550 to $1,950 in the Birmingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $960 to $1,500. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Birmingham?
About $9.20 to $32 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Birmingham or Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 4% less than Birmingham ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Birmingham?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $610 out of $1,250. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Birmingham?
$550 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Birmingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Birmingham area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Birmingham expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Alabama?
Birmingham is 4% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($1,200 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Birmingham?
The BLS median is $18.45 an hour in the Birmingham area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.51 to $22.60.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Birmingham?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $550 to $1,100 and premium work $1,400 to $1,950. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Birmingham?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. September and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
French drain near Birmingham
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.