French drain cost in Sacramento, 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
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +23%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #15
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Sacramento, plan on $740 to $2,600 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $12.50 to $43 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 23% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $29.11 an hour in the Sacramento area, 28% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, 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% |
Why Sacramento prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.11 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Sacramento is 1.40 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 59% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Sacramento 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 (106.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Specs and site conditions that change a Sacramento bid
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.
What nearby projects cost in Sacramento
Because every project leans on different trades, Sacramento's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +23% and concrete slab +11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,400 – $15,400 | +16% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,100 – $12,500 | +23% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,650 | +11% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,750 | +11% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,600 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $42,900 – $134,000 | +19% |
Sacramento 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 Sacramento is 1.40 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $29.11 an hour, 28% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.15 and $36.54 an hour. About 7,390 work in the metro. That is 68.4 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 $44.06 an hour, which is 53% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $34.45 and $59.85 an hour. BLS counts 2,920 of them working in the area, 27.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $35.56 an hour, 51% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $29.89 and $44.85 an hour. About 170 work in the metro. That is 1.6 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 ($36.54 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($23.15) it shrinks by about $90. The total moves by 6.9% or 5.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,080,590 jobs in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom area. That makes it the 35th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.69% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $23.15 | $29.11 | $36.54 | $22.66 | 1.28 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $34.45 | $44.06 | $59.85 | $28.78 | 1.53 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $29.89 | $35.56 | $44.85 | $23.56 | 1.51 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.40 | |||||
Is Sacramento cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Sacramento. Chico is the lowest at about $1,600 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CAthis page | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −4% |
| Vallejo, CA60 miles | $760 – $2,650 | $1,700 | +2% |
| Chico, CA70 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
| Napa, CA75 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | level |
| Modesto, CA85 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | level |
| California (statewide) | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −19% |
Across 300 US metros, Sacramento comes in at #15 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, Sacramento is 0% 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% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Sacramento's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sacramento against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −19% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −9% |
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −22% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −19% |
Climate in Sacramento: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Sacramento 5 Ese (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 Sacramento (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Sacramento gets about 19 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (3.9 inches in January). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.1 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 | 57 | 41 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 44 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 47 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 49 | 1.4 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 54 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 59 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 53 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 45 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 41 | 3.5 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Sacramento
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Sacramento 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 – $4,050 | $3,700 – $5,200 |
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 Sacramento, CA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Sacramento, 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 Sacramento: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Sacramento?
For 60 linear ft, expect $740 to $2,600 in the Sacramento 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 Sacramento?
About $12.50 to $43 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 Sacramento or Stockton?
Stockton is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,600, which is 4% less than Sacramento ($1,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sacramento?
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 Sacramento?
$740 to $2,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Sacramento?
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 Sacramento area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sacramento expensive for French drain compared with the rest of California?
Sacramento is 0% 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 Sacramento?
The BLS median is $29.11 an hour in the Sacramento area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.15 to $36.54.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Sacramento?
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 Sacramento?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. June and September 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 Sacramento
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.