French drain cost in Gainesville, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $550 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.20 – $32
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #235
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Gainesville, plan on $550 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.20 to $32 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.03 an hour in the Gainesville area, 12% below the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your french drain cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Gainesville, FL, standard level
$960 to $1,500
About $16 to $25 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $480 | $750 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $960 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Gainesville, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $270 | $620 | $960 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $550 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Why Gainesville 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 $20.03 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Gainesville is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 50% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Gainesville metro is 96.2 (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 (96.7) 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 Gainesville. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Gainesville?
Because every project leans on different trades, Gainesville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −6% and sprinkler system −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,400 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,250 | −10% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,000 | −10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,500 – $101,500 | −10% |
Gainesville 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 Gainesville is 0.88 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $20.03 an hour, 12% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.17 and $22.59 an hour. About 1,060 work in the metro. That is 69.4 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 $23.17 an hour, which is 19% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.28 and $26.47 an hour. BLS counts 300 of them working in the area, 19.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Gainesville 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.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.59 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($17.17) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 3.2% or 3.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 152,670 jobs in the Gainesville area. That makes it the 154th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.17 | $20.03 | $22.59 | $22.66 | 0.88 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.28 | $23.17 | $26.47 | $28.78 | 0.81 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.07 | $22.72 | $23.94 | $23.56 | 0.96 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Climate in Gainesville: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Gainesville Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Gainesville (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Gainesville gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.6 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.7 and 1.8 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 | 67 | 43 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 71 | 46 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 76 | 50 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 82 | 56 | 2.7 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 63 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 70 | 7.6 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 6.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 72 | 6.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 69 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 61 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 75 | 51 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 69 | 45 | 2.9 | Workable |
Gainesville against nearby metros and the rest of Florida
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 $1,200 to $1,250 across Gainesville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, FLthis page | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Ocala, FL40 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Jacksonville, FL75 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Deltona, FL90 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Tampa, FL90 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Orlando, FL105 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Florida (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +3% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Gainesville comes in at #235 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, Gainesville is 3% below the Florida figure.
Other Florida metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +7% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Gainesville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Gainesville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Killeen, TX | 150,580 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
French drain: what moves the price in Gainesville
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
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).
Cost by quality level and size in Gainesville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Gainesville 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
$550 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$960 to $1,500
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 – $550 | $480 – $760 | $690 – $960 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $550 – $1,100 | $960 – $1,500 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,850 |
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 $960 to $1,500 for Gainesville, FL is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Gainesville, FL, $9
Multi-page report for Gainesville, FL: 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 Gainesville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Gainesville?
For 60 linear ft, expect $550 to $1,950 in the Gainesville area. A standard-spec job lands at $960 to $1,500. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Gainesville?
About $9.20 to $32 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 Gainesville or Ocala?
Ocala is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 3% less than Gainesville ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Gainesville?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $620 out of $1,250. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Gainesville?
$550 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Gainesville?
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 Gainesville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Gainesville expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Florida?
Gainesville is 3% 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 Gainesville?
The BLS median is $20.03 an hour in the Gainesville area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.17 to $22.59.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Gainesville?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $550 to $1,100 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 Gainesville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February 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 Gainesville
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.