French drain cost in Redding, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $710 – $2,450
- Per linear ft
- $12 – $41
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +18%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #32
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Redding, plan on $710 to $2,450 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $12 to $41 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 18% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.82 an hour in the Redding area, 18% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Redding, CA, standard level
$1,250 to $1,950
About $20.50 to $32.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $830 |
| Labor | $700 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,250 | $1,950 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Redding, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 43% |
| Labor | $400 | $900 | $1,400 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $710 | $1,600 | $2,450 | 100% |
Why Redding prices look the way they do
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, Redding wages are 1.29 times the national level. Labor makes up about 57% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Redding 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 (100.7) 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 Redding. The wage table below marks each row.
Climate in Redding: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Redding Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Redding (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Redding gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, February and December (6.3 inches in December). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 1.8 and 1.9 inches. The station averages about 106 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 | 57 | 38 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 40 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 43 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 47 | 2.4 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 54 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 62 | 0.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 100 | 67 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 98 | 64 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 92 | 58 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 79 | 50 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 42 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 37 | 6.3 | Workable |
Redding against nearby metros and the rest of California
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 60 linear ft range from $1,450 to $1,650 across Redding and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CAthis page | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | |
| Chico, CA80 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | level |
| Medford, OR120 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −9% |
| Reno, NV135 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −9% |
| Sacramento, CA145 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
| Napa, CA155 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
| California (statewide) | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −15% |
Across 300 US metros, Redding comes in at #32 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, Redding is 5% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $750 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +6% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | +20% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | +16% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
Cities with a workforce like Redding's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Redding against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −11% |
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −15% |
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −19% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −14% |
Redding 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 Redding is 1.29 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $26.82 an hour, 18% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $36.59 an hour. About 500 work in the metro. That is 69.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $37.06 an hour, which is 29% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.18 and $53.30 an hour. BLS counts 340 of them working in the area, 47.5 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 Redding 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 ($36.59 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($22.06) it shrinks by about $75. The total moves by 9.5% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 71,550 jobs in the Redding area. That makes it the 257th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.06 | $26.82 | $36.59 | $22.66 | 1.18 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.18 | $37.06 | $53.30 | $28.78 | 1.29 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $29.74 | $36.63 | $45.46 | $23.56 | 1.55 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Redding?
Because every project leans on different trades, Redding's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +14% and sprinkler system +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,900 – $14,700 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,600 | +14% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,650 | +10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,700 – $5,650 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,350 – $10,800 | +8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,400 – $126,000 | +12% |
French drain: what moves the price in Redding
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).
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Redding
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Redding 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
$710 to $1,400
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,250 to $1,950
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,750 to $2,450
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $350 – $710 | $620 – $970 | $880 – $1,250 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $710 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,450 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,800 | $2,450 – $3,900 | $3,550 – $4,950 |
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 $1,250 to $1,950 for Redding, CA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Redding, 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 Redding: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Redding?
For 60 linear ft, expect $710 to $2,450 in the Redding area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,250 to $1,950. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Redding?
About $12 to $41 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 Redding or Chico?
Chico is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,600, which is 0% less than Redding ($1,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Redding?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $900 out of $1,600. Materials are 43% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Redding?
$710 to $2,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Redding?
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 Redding area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Redding expensive for French drain compared with the rest of California?
Redding is 5% below 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 Redding?
The BLS median is $26.82 an hour in the Redding area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.06 to $36.59.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Redding?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $710 to $1,400 and premium work $1,750 to $2,450. 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 Redding?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May 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 Redding
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.