French drain cost in Miami, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $590 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.85 – $34.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #159
- 1 = most expensive
Miami homeowners pay roughly $590 to $2,050 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.85 to $34.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Miami is almost level. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.88 an hour in the Miami area, 3% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Miami, FL, standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17 to $27 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $520 | $820 |
| Labor | $510 | $800 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Miami, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $670 | $1,050 | 50% |
| Labor | $290 | $660 | $1,000 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,350 | $2,050 | 100% |
Why Miami prices look the way they do
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, Miami wages are 0.94 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Miami metro is 103.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $670, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (114.2) and land at $0 to $0.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Miami is 0.94 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.88 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.33 and $23.61 an hour. About 18,280 work in the metro. That is 64.8 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 $24.91 an hour, which is 13% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.93 and $28.92 an hour. BLS counts 5,850 of them working in the area, 20.7 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 $23.05 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $22.41 and $24.42 an hour. About 700 work in the metro. That is 2.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.61 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $25. At the 25th percentile ($18.33) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 2.0% or 4.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,819,940 jobs in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area. That makes it the 9th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.81% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.33 | $21.88 | $23.61 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.93 | $24.91 | $28.92 | $28.78 | 0.87 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $22.41 | $23.05 | $24.42 | $23.56 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
When to schedule French drain in Miami
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Miami Beach (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Miami: 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.
Miami gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, August and September (8.4 inches in September). The station averages about 30 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 | 74 | 61 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 75 | 63 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Mar | 77 | 65 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 80 | 70 | 3.4 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 74 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 77 | 7.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 78 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 88 | 78 | 7.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 87 | 77 | 8.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 84 | 74 | 6.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 79 | 69 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 76 | 65 | 2.3 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Miami
Because every project leans on different trades, Miami's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +1% and inground pool −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $13,400 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,000 | −2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,350 | +1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $5,150 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,200 – $110,000 | −3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Miami bid
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.
Miami against nearby metros and the rest of Florida
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Miami. Port St. Lucie is the lowest at about $1,250 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 80 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FLthis page | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | |
| Naples, FL55 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −3% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL80 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −6% |
| Cape Coral, FL100 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −6% |
| Punta Gorda, FL110 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −4% |
| Sebastian, FL110 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −5% |
| Florida (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Miami comes in at #159 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, Miami is 4% above the Florida figure.
Other Florida metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −5% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −7% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −6% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −4% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −6% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Miami's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Miami against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −4% |
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +20% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +8% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Miami
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Miami 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
$590 to $1,200
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,050 to $1,650
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,500 to $2,050
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $300 – $590 | $520 – $810 | $740 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $590 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,150 |
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French drain in Miami: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Miami?
For 60 linear ft, expect $590 to $2,050 in the Miami area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,650. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Miami?
About $9.85 to $34.50 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 Miami or Naples?
Naples is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 3% less than Miami ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Miami?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $660 out of $1,350. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Miami?
$590 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Miami?
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 Miami area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Miami expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Florida?
Miami is 4% above 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 Miami?
The BLS median is $21.88 an hour in the Miami area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.33 to $23.61.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Miami?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $590 to $1,200 and premium work $1,500 to $2,050. 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 Miami?
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 Miami
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.