French drain cost in Crestview, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $560 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.40 – $33
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #207
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Crestview, FL usually costs $560 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $9.40 to $33 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $85 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.72 an hour in the Crestview area, 4% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Crestview, FL, standard level
$990 to $1,550
About $16.50 to $26 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $500 | $790 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $990 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Crestview, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 49% |
| Labor | $290 | $640 | $1,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Where the Crestview price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $21.72 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Crestview is 0.92 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 51% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Crestview is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $620 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.0: $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 Crestview. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Crestview
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Crestview. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$560 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$990 to $1,550
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,400 to $1,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $560 | $490 – $770 | $700 – $990 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,950 |
Is Crestview cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Crestview. Dothan is the lowest at about $1,150 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FLthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Pensacola, FL50 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Panama City, FL50 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Dothan, AL70 miles | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −9% |
| Daphne, AL85 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −5% |
| Mobile, AL110 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −6% |
| Florida (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Crestview ranks #207 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Crestview is 0% below the Florida figure.
Elsewhere in Florida
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +5% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Crestview against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +10% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +24% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +10% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +26% |
French drain: what moves the price in Crestview
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.
Crestview weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Crestview Bob Sikes Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Crestview are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Crestview gets about 64 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.9 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 4.1 and 4.1 inches. The station averages about 98 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63 | 39 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 41 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 47 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 53 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 61 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 69 | 6.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 7.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 6.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 67 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 56 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 45 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 65 | 41 | 4.9 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Crestview
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Crestview the blend is 0.92.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.72 an hour, which is 4% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.08 and $23.06 an hour. BLS counts 1,000 of them working in the area, 80.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.39 an hour, 19% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.35 and $29.37 an hour. About 390 work in the metro. That is 31.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Crestview metro, so we used the Florida statewide median: $22.72 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.07 and $23.94 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $20 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 1.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin has 125,050 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 172nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.08 | $21.72 | $23.06 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.35 | $23.39 | $29.37 | $28.78 | 0.81 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.07 | $22.72 | $23.94 | $23.56 | 0.96 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Crestview
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Crestview wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−4%) and sprinkler system lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,600 – $12,700 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,450 | −8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,850 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,150 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,500 – $104,500 | −7% |
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 $990 to $1,550 for Crestview, FL is attached.
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French drain in Crestview: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Crestview?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Crestview area. A standard-spec job lands at $990 to $1,550. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Crestview?
About $9.40 to $33 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 Crestview or Pensacola?
Pensacola is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 2% less than Crestview ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Crestview?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $640 out of $1,250. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Crestview?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Crestview?
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 Crestview area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Crestview expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Florida?
Crestview is 0% below the Florida statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 19 metros in Florida; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Crestview?
The BLS median is $21.72 an hour in the Crestview area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.08 to $23.06.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Crestview?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 to $1,150 and premium work $1,400 to $1,950. 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 Crestview?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September 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 Crestview
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.