French drain cost in Daphne, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $540 – $1,900
- Per linear ft
- $8.95 – $31.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #261
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Daphne, plan on $540 to $1,900 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $8.95 to $31.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 11% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.48 an hour in the Daphne area, 18% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Daphne, AL, standard level
$940 to $1,450
About $15.50 to $24.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $450 | $710 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $940 | $1,450 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Daphne, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 52% |
| Labor | $260 | $580 | $900 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $540 | $1,200 | $1,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Daphne number
Labor is 48% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Daphne the blended ratio comes out at 0.83.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Daphne 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 (94.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Daphne. The wage table below marks each row.
Daphne 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 Daphne is 0.83 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $18.48 an hour, 18% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.06 and $22.49 an hour. About 970 work in the metro. That is 111.3 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 $22.81 an hour, which is 21% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.61 and $27.05 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 40.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Daphne metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $21.42 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.52 and $23.90 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.49 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($17.06) it shrinks by about $20. The total moves by 5.2% or 1.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 87,120 jobs in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley area. That makes it the 225th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.06 | $18.48 | $22.49 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $19.61 | $22.81 | $27.05 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $17.52 | $21.42 | $23.90 | $23.56 | 0.91 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Climate in Daphne: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Fairhope 3 Ne (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Daphne: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Daphne gets about 66 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.6 inches in July). The station averages about 47 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 | 61 | 39 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 43 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 47 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 53 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 70 | 6.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 89 | 72 | 7.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 89 | 71 | 7.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 86 | 67 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 56 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 46 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 42 | 5.1 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Daphne
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Daphne 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
$540 to $1,050
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$940 to $1,450
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,350 to $1,900
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $270 – $540 | $470 – $740 | $670 – $940 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $540 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,900 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,150 | $1,900 – $2,950 | $2,700 – $3,750 |
French drain: what moves the price in Daphne
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.
Related projects, priced for Daphne
Because every project leans on different trades, Daphne's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −7% and inground pool −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,100 – $12,100 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,050 | −12% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,650 | −11% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,000 | −10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,900 – $99,800 | −12% |
Daphne against nearby metros and the rest of Alabama
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Daphne. Hattiesburg is the lowest at about $1,150 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne, ALthis page | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | |
| Mobile, AL25 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Pensacola, FL35 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Gulfport, MS75 miles | $540 – $1,850 | $1,200 | level |
| Crestview, FL85 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +5% |
| Hattiesburg, MS95 miles | $520 – $1,850 | $1,150 | −3% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Daphne comes in at #261 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, Daphne is 1% above the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Daphne's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Daphne against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +9% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +29% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −4% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +4% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed french drain report for Daphne, AL, $9
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French drain in Daphne: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Daphne?
For 60 linear ft, expect $540 to $1,900 in the Daphne area. A standard-spec job lands at $940 to $1,450. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Daphne?
About $8.95 to $31.50 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 Daphne or Mobile?
Mobile is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 1% less than Daphne ($1,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Daphne?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $580 out of $1,200. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Daphne?
$540 to $1,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Daphne?
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 Daphne area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Daphne expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Alabama?
Daphne is 1% 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 Daphne?
The BLS median is $18.48 an hour in the Daphne area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.06 to $22.49.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Daphne?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $540 to $1,050 and premium work $1,350 to $1,900. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+Is there a bad season to install a French drain in Daphne?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
French drain near Daphne
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.