French drain cost in Lakeland, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $540 – $1,900
- Per linear ft
- $9 – $31.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #251
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Lakeland area: $540 to $1,900 for 60 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 10% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.97 an hour in the Lakeland area, 16% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Lakeland, FL, standard level
$950 to $1,500
About $16 to $25 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $460 | $730 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $950 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Lakeland, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 51% |
| Labor | $260 | $590 | $920 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $540 | $1,200 | $1,900 | 100% |
Where the Lakeland price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Lakeland wages are 0.85 times the national level. Labor makes up about 49% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lakeland 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 97.1: $0 to $0.
Lakeland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lakeland. 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
$540 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$950 to $1,500
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,350 to $1,900
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $270 – $540 | $470 – $740 | $680 – $950 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $540 – $1,100 | $950 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $1,900 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,150 | $1,900 – $2,950 | $2,700 – $3,800 |
French drain: what moves the price in Lakeland
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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Lakeland against nearby metros and the rest of Florida
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Palm Bay is the priciest of the group at $1,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland, FLthis page | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | |
| Orlando, FL40 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Tampa, FL50 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| North Port, FL60 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +4% |
| Palm Bay, FL65 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +5% |
| Sebastian, FL70 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +4% |
| Florida (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +5% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lakeland ranks #251 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lakeland is 4% below the Florida figure.
Elsewhere in Florida
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +9% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +4% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lakeland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | level |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +27% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +10% |
Planning more than one job in Lakeland?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lakeland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−7%) and sprinkler system lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,150 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,100 | −11% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,550 – $8,850 | −11% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,000 – $100,000 | −11% |
Who does the work: Lakeland trade wages
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 Lakeland the blend is 0.85.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $18.97 an hour, which is 16% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.96 and $22.13 an hour. BLS counts 2,690 of them working in the area, 101.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.03 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $26.75 an hour. About 820 work in the metro. That is 30.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $21.97 an hour, which is 7% below the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $20.30 and $23.55 an hour. BLS counts 110 of them working in the area, 4.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $50 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 2.6% to 4.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Lakeland-Winter Haven has 265,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 100th 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% | $16.96 | $18.97 | $22.13 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $20.80 | $23.03 | $26.75 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.30 | $21.97 | $23.55 | $23.56 | 0.93 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
The best months for French drain in Lakeland
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Winter Haven Gilbert Ap (10 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 Lakeland are October through April: 7 of 12. Outside them, May, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Lakeland gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.4 inches in July). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.2 and 1.4 inches. The station averages about 121 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 | 73 | 52 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Feb | 76 | 55 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 80 | 59 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 85 | 63 | 2.5 | Workable |
| May | 90 | 69 | 2.7 | Hot |
| Jun | 92 | 74 | 7.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 75 | 7.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 93 | 76 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 74 | 5.3 | Hot |
| Oct | 86 | 68 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 80 | 60 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 74 | 55 | 2.7 | Workable |
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French drain in Lakeland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Lakeland?
For 60 linear ft, expect $540 to $1,900 in the Lakeland area. A standard-spec job lands at $950 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 Lakeland?
About $9 to $31.50 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 Lakeland or Orlando?
Orlando is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 2% more than Lakeland ($1,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lakeland?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $590 out of $1,200. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Lakeland?
$540 to $1,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Lakeland?
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 Lakeland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lakeland expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Florida?
Lakeland is 4% 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 Lakeland?
The BLS median is $18.97 an hour in the Lakeland area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.96 to $22.13.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Lakeland?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $540 to $1,100 and premium work $1,350 to $1,900. 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 Lakeland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through April. October 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 Lakeland
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.