French drain cost in Ocala, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $530 – $1,850
- Per linear ft
- $8.90 – $31
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #264
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Ocala, FL usually costs $530 to $1,850 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $8.90 to $31 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $150 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.29 an hour in the Ocala area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Ocala, FL, standard level
$930 to $1,450
About $15.50 to $24.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $450 | $700 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $930 | $1,450 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Ocala, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 52% |
| Labor | $260 | $580 | $900 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $530 | $1,200 | $1,850 | 100% |
Where the Ocala 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 $18.29 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Ocala is 0.82 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Ocala 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 95.2: $0 to $0.
Why two Ocala quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Ocala
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 Ocala the blend is 0.82.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $18.29 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.84 and $21.63 an hour. BLS counts 1,340 of them working in the area, 110.8 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 $22.35 an hour, 22% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $24.33 an hour. About 460 work in the metro. That is 38.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $21.76 an hour, which is 8% below the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $19.16 and $22.57 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the area, 7.4 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 $20. That is a swing of roughly 1.9% to 4.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Ocala has 120,980 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 180th 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% | $16.84 | $18.29 | $21.63 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.50 | $22.35 | $24.33 | $28.78 | 0.78 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $19.16 | $21.76 | $22.57 | $23.56 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Ocala
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Ocala wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−7%) and sprinkler system lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,200 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $8,950 | −12% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,500 – $8,750 | −13% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,700 – $99,300 | −12% |
Is Ocala cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Ocala. Gainesville comes closest at about $1,250.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala, FLthis page | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | |
| Gainesville, FL40 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Deltona, FL50 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +4% |
| Orlando, FL65 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Jacksonville, FL75 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +5% |
| Tampa, FL80 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +5% |
| Florida (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +6% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Ocala ranks #264 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Ocala is 6% below the Florida figure.
Elsewhere in Florida
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +11% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +5% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +5% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +6% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Ocala against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +15% |
| Erie, PA | 120,480 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +10% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 122,020 jobs | $720 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +36% |
| Burlington, VT | 120,150 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +13% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Ocala
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Ocala. 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
$530 to $1,050
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$930 to $1,450
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,350 to $1,850
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $270 – $530 | $470 – $730 | $670 – $930 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $530 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,850 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,150 | $1,850 – $2,950 | $2,650 – $3,750 |
Ocala 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, Ocala (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 Ocala are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Ocala gets about 52 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 2.2 and 2.1 inches. The station averages about 110 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 | 71 | 46 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 74 | 48 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 79 | 52 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 84 | 57 | 2.2 | Workable |
| May | 89 | 64 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 70 | 7.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 6.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 7.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 70 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 84 | 63 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 77 | 54 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 72 | 48 | 2.7 | Workable |
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French drain in Ocala: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Ocala?
For 60 linear ft, expect $530 to $1,850 in the Ocala area. A standard-spec job lands at $930 to $1,450. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Ocala?
About $8.90 to $31 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 Ocala or Gainesville?
Gainesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 3% more than Ocala ($1,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Ocala?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $580 out of $1,200. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Ocala?
$530 to $1,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Ocala?
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 Ocala area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Ocala expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Florida?
Ocala is 6% 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 Ocala?
The BLS median is $18.29 an hour in the Ocala area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.84 to $21.63.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Ocala?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $530 to $1,050 and premium work $1,350 to $1,850. 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 Ocala?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. 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 Ocala
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.