French drain cost in Dover, DE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $580 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.65 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #178
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Dover, plan on $580 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.65 to $34 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Dover, DE, standard level
$1,000 to $1,600
About $17 to $26.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $530 | $830 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Dover, DE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 48% |
| Labor | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $580 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
Where the Dover price comes from
Labor is 52% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Dover the blended ratio comes out at 0.97.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dover metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $620, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.5) 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 Dover. The wage table below marks each row.
Dover against nearby metros and the rest of Delaware
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 $1,750 across Dover and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DEthis page | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | |
| Vineland, NJ25 miles | $780 – $2,750 | $1,750 | +35% |
| Atlantic City, NJ45 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +19% |
| Philadelphia, PA55 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +10% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +6% |
| Lancaster, PA75 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
| Delaware (statewide) | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Dover comes in at #178 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, Dover is 2% below the Delaware figure.
Dover is the only Delaware metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Dover's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dover against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +4% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −4% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +6% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −3% |
Climate in Dover: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dover (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Dover (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February 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 79 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Dover gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 13 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 25 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 | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 29 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 35 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 66 | 45 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 54 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 69 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 67 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 50 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 39 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 49 | 32 | 4.0 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Dover
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dover 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
$580 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,000 to $1,600
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,450 to $2,050
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $290 – $580 | $510 – $800 | $720 – $1,000 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $580 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,300 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,050 |
What nearby projects cost in Dover
Because every project leans on different trades, Dover's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −2% and gravel driveway −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,900 – $13,100 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,500 | −7% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,300 – $4,950 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,400 | −6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,300 – $107,500 | −5% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Dover bid
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).
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.
Dover 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 Dover is 0.97 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.02 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $24.63 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 58.8 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 $23.49 an hour, which is 18% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.38 and $28.71 an hour. BLS counts 190 of them working in the area, 27.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dover metro, so we used the Delaware statewide median: $28.00 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.45 and $28.77 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($18.50) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 3.1% or 4.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 68,080 jobs in the Dover area. That makes it the 265th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.50 | $22.02 | $24.63 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.38 | $23.49 | $28.71 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $22.45 | $28.00 | $28.77 | $23.56 | 1.19 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
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French drain in Dover: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Dover?
For 60 linear ft, expect $580 to $2,050 in the Dover area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,000 to $1,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Dover?
About $9.65 to $34 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 Dover or Vineland?
Vineland is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,750, which is 35% more than Dover ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dover?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $680 out of $1,300. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Dover?
$580 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Dover?
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 Dover area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dover expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Delaware?
Dover is 2% below the Delaware statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint).
+What do construction laborers earn in Dover?
The BLS median is $22.02 an hour in the Dover area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.50 to $24.63.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Dover?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $580 to $1,150 and premium work $1,450 to $2,050. 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 Dover?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. April and November 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 Dover
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.