French drain cost in Palm Bay, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $570 – $2,000
- Per linear ft
- $9.45 – $33
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #197
- 1 = most expensive
Palm Bay homeowners pay roughly $570 to $2,000 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.45 to $33 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Palm Bay is 6% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.50 an hour in the Palm Bay area, 5% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Palm Bay, 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 | $510 | $800 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $990 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Palm Bay, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 49% |
| Labor | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $570 | $1,300 | $2,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Palm Bay number
Labor is 51% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Palm Bay the blended ratio comes out at 0.93.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Palm Bay 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 (100.0) and land at $0 to $0.
Planning more than one job in Palm Bay?
Because every project leans on different trades, Palm Bay's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −5% and concrete slab −8%.
| 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 | $1,400 – $3,150 | −5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,400 | −6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,700 – $105,500 | −7% |
Why two Palm Bay quotes can differ
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.
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 Palm Bay is 0.93 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.50 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.96 and $23.16 an hour. About 1,870 work in the metro. That is 76.3 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 $23.62 an hour, which is 18% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.72 and $27.95 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 25.3 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 $24.43 an hour, 4% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $22.52 and $28.31 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 2.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.16 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $25. At the 25th percentile ($17.96) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 2.0% or 4.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 245,170 jobs in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area. That makes it the 104th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.16% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.96 | $21.50 | $23.16 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.72 | $23.62 | $27.95 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $22.52 | $24.43 | $28.31 | $23.56 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Palm Bay: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Palm Bay 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
$570 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 $2,000
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $570 | $500 – $780 | $710 – $990 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $570 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $2,000 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,250 | $2,000 – $3,100 | $2,850 – $3,950 |
How Palm Bay compares
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 $1,300 across Palm Bay and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay, FLthis page | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | |
| Orlando, FL40 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −3% |
| Sebastian, FL40 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
| Lakeland, FL65 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −5% |
| Deltona, FL70 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL75 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Florida (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Palm Bay comes in at #197 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, Palm Bay is 0% above the Florida figure.
Other Florida metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +4% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −3% |
| 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 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Palm Bay's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Palm Bay against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +6% |
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $730 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +30% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +5% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −5% |
When to schedule French drain in Palm Bay
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Palm Bay (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 Palm Bay (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Palm Bay gets about 56 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, August and September (8.0 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and December are the driest, at 2.4 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 102 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 | 73 | 49 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 75 | 52 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 79 | 55 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 83 | 60 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 65 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 71 | 7.6 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 73 | 6.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 7.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 72 | 8.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 85 | 67 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 79 | 59 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 75 | 52 | 2.5 | Workable |
Get 3 local quotes
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French drain in Palm Bay: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Palm Bay?
For 60 linear ft, expect $570 to $2,000 in the Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay?
About $9.45 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 Palm Bay or Orlando?
Orlando is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 3% less than Palm Bay ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Palm Bay?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $650 out of $1,300. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Palm Bay?
$570 to $2,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Palm Bay?
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 Palm Bay area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Palm Bay expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Florida?
Palm Bay is 0% 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 Palm Bay?
The BLS median is $21.50 an hour in the Palm Bay area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.96 to $23.16.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Palm Bay?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $570 to $1,150 and premium work $1,400 to $2,000. 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 Palm Bay?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and December 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 Palm Bay
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.