French drain cost in Modesto, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $740 – $2,600
- Per linear ft
- $12.50 – $43.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +24%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #13
- 1 = most expensive
Modesto homeowners pay roughly $740 to $2,600 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $12.50 to $43.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Modesto is 24% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $29.15 an hour in the Modesto area, 29% above the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your french drain cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Modesto, CA, standard level
$1,300 to $2,050
About $21.50 to $34 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $830 |
| Labor | $770 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,300 | $2,050 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Modesto, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 41% |
| Labor | $440 | $990 | $1,550 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $740 | $1,650 | $2,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Modesto 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, Modesto wages are 1.41 times the national level. Labor makes up about 59% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Modesto metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $680, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (104.1) 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 Modesto. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Modesto cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Modesto. Merced is the lowest at about $1,550 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CAthis page | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | |
| Stockton, CA30 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −4% |
| Merced, CA30 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | −6% |
| San Jose, CA50 miles | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | +11% |
| Santa Cruz, CA65 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −4% |
| Vallejo, CA70 miles | $760 – $2,650 | $1,700 | +2% |
| California (statewide) | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | −1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −19% |
Across 300 US metros, Modesto comes in at #13 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, Modesto is 1% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $750 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | +14% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −4% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | +11% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Modesto's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Modesto against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −28% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −27% |
| Manchester, NH | 199,560 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −22% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −16% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Modesto bid
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.
Exterior versus interior
A shallow exterior French drain is $10-$35 per linear foot; an interior basement drain is $40-$85 per foot, or $4,000-$17,000 installed (HomeGuide).
When to schedule French drain in Modesto
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Modesto City Co Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Modesto (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Modesto gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.6 inches in January). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 0.1 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 90 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 | 56 | 39 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 42 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 1.0 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 54 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 59 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 63 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 43 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
Related projects, priced for Modesto
Because every project leans on different trades, Modesto's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +22% and sod installation +12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,200 – $15,100 | +14% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,100 – $12,500 | +22% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,700 – $3,700 | +12% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,900 – $6,000 | +17% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $42,500 – $132,500 | +18% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Modesto
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Modesto 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
$740 to $1,500
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,300 to $2,050
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,850 to $2,600
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $370 – $740 | $650 – $1,000 | $930 – $1,300 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $740 – $1,500 | $1,300 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,600 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,500 – $2,950 | $2,600 – $4,100 | $3,700 – $5,200 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Modesto is 1.41 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $29.15 an hour, 29% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.89 and $38.02 an hour. About 1,070 work in the metro. That is 54.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $43.54 an hour, which is 51% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $32.57 and $62.15 an hour. BLS counts 430 of them working in the area, 22.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Modesto metro, so we used the California statewide median: $36.63 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.74 and $45.46 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($38.02 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $140. At the 25th percentile ($22.89) it shrinks by about $95. The total moves by 8.2% or 5.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 195,230 jobs in the Modesto area. That makes it the 117th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.13% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.89 | $29.15 | $38.02 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $32.57 | $43.54 | $62.15 | $28.78 | 1.51 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $29.74 | $36.63 | $45.46 | $23.56 | 1.55 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.41 | |||||
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 $1,300 to $2,050 for Modesto, CA is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Modesto, CA: 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 Modesto: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Modesto?
For 60 linear ft, expect $740 to $2,600 in the Modesto area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,300 to $2,050. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Modesto?
About $12.50 to $43.50 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 Modesto or Stockton?
Stockton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,600, which is 4% less than Modesto ($1,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Modesto?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $990 out of $1,650. Materials are 41% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Modesto?
$740 to $2,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Modesto?
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 Modesto area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Modesto expensive for French drain compared with the rest of California?
Modesto is 1% above the California statewide estimate ($1,650 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Modesto?
The BLS median is $29.15 an hour in the Modesto area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.89 to $38.02.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Modesto?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $740 to $1,500 and premium work $1,850 to $2,600. 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 Modesto?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. 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 Modesto
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.