French drain cost in Tampa, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $560 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.30 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #211
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Tampa, plan on $560 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.30 to $32.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 7% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.04 an hour in the Tampa area, 7% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Tampa, FL, standard level
$980 to $1,550
About $16.50 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $500 | $780 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $980 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Tampa, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $620 | $960 | 49% |
| Labor | $280 | $640 | $1,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
What is behind the Tampa number
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, Tampa wages are 0.91 times the national level. Labor makes up about 51% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Tampa metro is 95.5 (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 (100.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Is Tampa cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $1,250 across Tampa and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa, FLthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Lakeland, FL50 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| North Port, FL55 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Orlando, FL75 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Ocala, FL80 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −5% |
| Punta Gorda, FL90 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Florida (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Tampa comes in at #211 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, Tampa is 1% below the Florida figure.
Other Florida metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +6% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Tampa's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tampa against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +28% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +13% |
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
Climate in Tampa: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Tampa Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Tampa (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Tampa gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (9.0 inches in August). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.3 and 1.4 inches. The station averages about 94 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 | 71 | 53 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 74 | 56 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 78 | 59 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 83 | 65 | 2.5 | Workable |
| May | 88 | 71 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 75 | 7.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 77 | 7.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 77 | 9.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 75 | 6.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 86 | 69 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 79 | 61 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 74 | 56 | 2.6 | Workable |
Tampa labor market for French drain
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 Tampa is 0.91 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.04 an hour, 7% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.87 and $22.81 an hour. About 12,860 work in the metro. That is 88.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $24.18 an hour, which is 16% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.69 and $28.27 an hour. BLS counts 3,980 of them working in the area, 27.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.98 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $21.85 and $24.35 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 3.9 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 ($22.81 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $25. At the 25th percentile ($17.87) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 2.2% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,447,120 jobs in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area. That makes it the 19th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.93% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.87 | $21.04 | $22.81 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.69 | $24.18 | $28.27 | $28.78 | 0.84 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.85 | $22.98 | $24.35 | $23.56 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Tampa
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.
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).
Tampa: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Tampa 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
$560 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$980 to $1,550
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,400 to $1,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $560 | $490 – $770 | $700 – $980 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,100 | $980 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,900 |
What nearby projects cost in Tampa
Because every project leans on different trades, Tampa's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −5% and sprinkler system −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,550 – $12,600 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,850 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,100 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,200 – $104,000 | −8% |
Get 3 local quotes
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French drain in Tampa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Tampa?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Tampa area. A standard-spec job lands at $980 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 Tampa?
About $9.30 to $32.50 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 Tampa or Lakeland?
Lakeland is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 3% less than Tampa ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tampa?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $640 out of $1,250. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Tampa?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Tampa?
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 Tampa area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tampa expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Florida?
Tampa is 1% 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 Tampa?
The BLS median is $21.04 an hour in the Tampa area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.87 to $22.81.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Tampa?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 to $1,100 and premium work $1,400 to $1,950. 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 Tampa?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. 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 Tampa
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.