French drain cost in Sebastian, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $560 – $2,000
- Per linear ft
- $9.40 – $33
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #204
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Sebastian, FL usually costs $560 to $2,000 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $9.40 to $33 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $80 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.68 an hour in the Sebastian area, 4% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Sebastian, 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 | $500 | $790 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $990 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Sebastian, 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 | $560 | $1,250 | $2,000 | 100% |
Where the Sebastian 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, Sebastian wages are 0.92 times the national level. Labor makes up about 51% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Sebastian 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 98.3: $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 Sebastian. The wage table below marks each row.
Sebastian 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, Vero Beach Intl Ap (15 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 Sebastian are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Sebastian gets about 53 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, August and September (7.3 inches in August). Inside the workable window, February and December are the driest, at 2.2 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 72 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 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Feb | 76 | 55 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 78 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 82 | 62 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 68 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 72 | 6.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 73 | 5.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 74 | 7.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 73 | 7.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 85 | 69 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 79 | 61 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 75 | 56 | 2.5 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Sebastian
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 Sebastian the blend is 0.92.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.68 an hour, which is 4% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.92 and $23.00 an hour. BLS counts 480 of them working in the area, 83.3 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 $23.90 an hour, 17% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.81 and $28.44 an hour. About 120 work in the metro. That is 20.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Sebastian 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $20 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $60. That is a swing of roughly 4.6% to 1.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor has 57,620 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 295th 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% | $17.92 | $21.68 | $23.00 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.81 | $23.90 | $28.44 | $28.78 | 0.83 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.07 | $22.72 | $23.94 | $23.56 | 0.96 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Sebastian: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Sebastian. 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
$560 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 – $560 | $490 – $780 | $710 – $990 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $2,000 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,250 | $2,000 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,950 |
Is Sebastian cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Palm Bay is the priciest of the group at $1,300. Lakeland is the cheapest at $1,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian, FLthis page | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | |
| Port St. Lucie, FL35 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Palm Bay, FL40 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | level |
| Orlando, FL70 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Lakeland, FL70 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Punta Gorda, FL105 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
| Florida (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Sebastian ranks #204 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Sebastian is 0% below the Florida figure.
Elsewhere in Florida
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +5% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| 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 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sebastian against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Texarkana, TX | 57,580 jobs | $520 – $1,850 | $1,150 | −8% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −9% |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 57,530 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
French drain: what moves the price in Sebastian
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.
Related projects, priced for Sebastian
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Sebastian wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−5%) and concrete slab lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,450 – $12,500 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,500 | −7% |
| 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 | $3,700 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,400 – $104,500 | −8% |
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Detailed french drain report for Sebastian, FL, $9
Multi-page report for Sebastian, 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 Sebastian: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Sebastian?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $2,000 in the Sebastian 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 Sebastian?
About $9.40 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 Sebastian or Port St. Lucie?
Port St. Lucie is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 2% less than Sebastian ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sebastian?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $650 out of $1,250. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Sebastian?
$560 to $2,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Sebastian?
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 Sebastian area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sebastian expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Florida?
Sebastian is 0% 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 Sebastian?
The BLS median is $21.68 an hour in the Sebastian area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.92 to $23.00.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Sebastian?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 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 Sebastian?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. 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 Sebastian
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.