French drain cost in San Diego, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $710 – $2,500
- Per linear ft
- $12 – $41.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +19%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #21
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in San Diego, plan on $710 to $2,500 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $12 to $41.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 19% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $27.49 an hour in the San Diego area, 21% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in San Diego, CA, standard level
$1,250 to $1,950
About $21 to $32.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $540 | $860 |
| Labor | $700 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,250 | $1,950 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in San Diego, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $310 | $700 | $1,100 | 44% |
| Labor | $400 | $910 | $1,400 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $710 | $1,600 | $2,500 | 100% |
Why San Diego 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 $27.49 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for San Diego is 1.29 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 56% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Diego metro is 108.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $700, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (111.9) and land at $0 to $0.
How San Diego compares
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 $1,300 to $1,700 across San Diego and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CAthis page | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | |
| El Centro, CA80 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −4% |
| Los Angeles, CA110 miles | $750 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +5% |
| Riverside, CA110 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −1% |
| Oxnard, CA165 miles | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −1% |
| Yuma, AZ165 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −18% |
| California (statewide) | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +3% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −16% |
Across 300 US metros, San Diego comes in at #21 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, San Diego is 3% 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 | +5% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | +18% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | +15% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +4% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like San Diego's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Diego against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −11% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −22% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −1% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −23% |
Related projects, priced for San Diego
Because every project leans on different trades, San Diego's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +19% and retaining wall +11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,900 – $14,900 | +11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,000 – $12,100 | +19% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,700 – $3,700 | +13% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,900 | +14% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,600 – $11,500 | +15% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,700 – $130,000 | +15% |
Climate in San Diego: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for San Diego Montgomery Fld (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in San Diego: 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.
San Diego gets about 11 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and March (2.6 inches in February). The station averages about 16 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 | 67 | 46 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 47 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 69 | 50 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 52 | 0.8 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 57 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 60 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 64 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 65 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 64 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 58 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 73 | 50 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 67 | 45 | 1.6 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in San Diego
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for San Diego 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 $1,450
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,250 to $1,950
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,800 to $2,500
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $360 – $710 | $620 – $980 | $890 – $1,250 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $710 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $1,950 | $1,800 – $2,500 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,450 – $2,850 | $2,500 – $3,900 | $3,550 – $5,000 |
San Diego 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 San Diego is 1.29 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $27.49 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.31 and $34.32 an hour. About 8,850 work in the metro. That is 57.5 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 $40.23 an hour, which is 40% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.08 and $60.44 an hour. BLS counts 3,130 of them working in the area, 20.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $31.14 an hour, 32% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $30.00 and $35.61 an hour. About 90 work in the metro. That is 0.6 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 ($34.32 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($23.31) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 6.6% or 4.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,538,060 jobs in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. That makes it the 18th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.99% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $23.31 | $27.49 | $34.32 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $33.08 | $40.23 | $60.44 | $28.78 | 1.40 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $30.00 | $31.14 | $35.61 | $23.56 | 1.32 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Why two San Diego quotes can differ
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.
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 San Diego, CA is attached.
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The report lays out the french drain numbers for San Diego, CA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 San Diego: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in San Diego?
For 60 linear ft, expect $710 to $2,500 in the San Diego 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 San Diego?
About $12 to $41.50 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 San Diego or El Centro?
El Centro is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 4% less than San Diego ($1,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Diego?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $910 out of $1,600. Materials are 44% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in San Diego?
$710 to $2,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in San Diego?
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 San Diego area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Diego expensive for French drain compared with the rest of California?
San Diego is 3% 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 San Diego?
The BLS median is $27.49 an hour in the San Diego area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.31 to $34.32.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in San Diego?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $710 to $1,450 and premium work $1,800 to $2,500. 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 San Diego?
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 San Diego
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.