French drain cost in Anchorage, AK
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $680 – $2,350
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $39.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #63
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Anchorage, AK usually costs $680 to $2,350 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $11.50 to $39.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $170 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $27.00 an hour in the Anchorage area, 19% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Anchorage, AK, standard level
$1,200 to $1,850
About $19.50 to $31 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $540 | $850 |
| Labor | $640 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Anchorage, AK
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $310 | $700 | $1,100 | 46% |
| Labor | $370 | $830 | $1,300 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $680 | $1,500 | $2,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Anchorage number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $27.00 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Anchorage is 1.18 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Anchorage is at 107.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $700 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.4: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Anchorage. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Anchorage
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Anchorage wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete slab comes out highest (+21%) and retaining wall lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,750 – $14,600 | +9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,800 | +15% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,700 – $3,750 | +14% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $3,050 – $6,250 | +21% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,800 – $12,000 | +20% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,300 – $129,000 | +14% |
What local crews earn in Anchorage
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Anchorage the blend is 1.18.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.00 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.90 and $34.85 an hour. BLS counts 1,860 of them working in the area, 105.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $36.79 an hour, 28% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $32.05 and $46.54 an hour. About 980 work in the metro. That is 55.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Anchorage metro, so we used the national median: $23.56 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.15 and $29.52 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 4.2% to 8.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Anchorage has 177,050 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 131st by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.90 | $27.00 | $34.85 | $22.66 | 1.19 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $32.05 | $36.79 | $46.54 | $28.78 | 1.28 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
How Anchorage compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Anchorage. Spokane comes closest at about $1,550.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AKthis page | $680 – $2,350 | $1,500 | |
| Bellingham, WA1410 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +10% |
| Bremerton, WA1450 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Seattle, WA1480 miles | $750 – $2,650 | $1,700 | +11% |
| Olympia, WA1485 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +10% |
| Spokane, WA1570 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
| Alaska (statewide) | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Anchorage ranks #63 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Anchorage is 1% below the Alaska figure.
Anchorage is the only Alaska metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Anchorage against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −13% |
| Reading, PA | 174,670 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −11% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −21% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Anchorage
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Anchorage. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$680 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,850
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,700 to $2,350
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $340 – $680 | $590 – $930 | $850 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $680 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,350 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,700 | $2,350 – $3,700 | $3,400 – $4,750 |
Anchorage weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Eagle Rvr Nature Ctr (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Anchorage are May through September: 5 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, October, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, October, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 204 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Anchorage gets about 23 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are August, September and October (3.6 inches in September). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 0.9 and 1.3 inches.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21 | 6 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 12 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 35 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 47 | 27 | 0.8 | Cold |
| May | 58 | 36 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 65 | 44 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 67 | 48 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 65 | 45 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 56 | 37 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 42 | 26 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Nov | 26 | 13 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 23 | 9 | 2.0 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Anchorage bid
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.
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French drain in Anchorage: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Anchorage?
For 60 linear ft, expect $680 to $2,350 in the Anchorage area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,850. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Anchorage?
About $11.50 to $39.50 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 Anchorage or Bellingham?
Bellingham is 1410 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,650, which is 10% more than Anchorage ($1,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Anchorage?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $830 out of $1,500. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Anchorage?
$680 to $2,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Anchorage?
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 Anchorage area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Anchorage expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Alaska?
Anchorage is 1% below the Alaska statewide estimate ($1,550 at the midpoint).
+What do construction laborers earn in Anchorage?
The BLS median is $27.00 an hour in the Anchorage area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.90 to $34.85.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Anchorage?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $680 to $1,350 and premium work $1,700 to $2,350. 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 Anchorage?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. May and June 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 Anchorage
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.