French drain cost in Albany, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $510 – $1,800
- Per linear ft
- $8.55 – $30
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #294
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Albany, plan on $510 to $1,800 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $8.55 to $30 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 14% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.25 an hour in the Albany area, 24% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Albany, GA, standard level
$900 to $1,400
About $15 to $23.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $410 | $650 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $900 | $1,400 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Albany, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 54% |
| Labor | $240 | $530 | $830 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $510 | $1,150 | $1,800 | 100% |
Where the Albany 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, Albany wages are 0.76 times the national level. Labor makes up about 46% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Albany metro is 96.3 (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 (87.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Is Albany 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 $1,150 to $1,200 across Albany and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GAthis page | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | |
| Warner Robins, GA65 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +5% |
| Columbus, GA70 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +3% |
| Dothan, AL85 miles | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | level |
| Macon, GA85 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +5% |
| Tallahassee, FL90 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +5% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | +7% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +17% |
Across 300 US metros, Albany comes in at #294 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, Albany is 6% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +10% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +5% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +4% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +3% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +4% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Albany's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Albany against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +16% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +11% |
| Altoona, PA | 58,650 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +12% |
| Sebastian, FL | 57,620 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +10% |
What nearby projects cost in Albany
Because every project leans on different trades, Albany's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −12% and concrete slab −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,050 – $12,000 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,800 | −14% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,300 – $2,850 | −13% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,050 – $4,450 | −15% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,400 – $8,550 | −15% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,100 – $97,300 | −14% |
Cost by quality level and size in Albany
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Albany 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
$510 to $1,050
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$900 to $1,400
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,300 to $1,800
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $260 – $510 | $450 – $710 | $640 – $900 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $510 – $1,050 | $900 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,800 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,850 | $2,550 – $3,600 |
Albany 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 Albany is 0.76 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $17.25 an hour, 24% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.62 and $18.96 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 68.5 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 $21.86 an hour, which is 24% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.48 and $22.50 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 44.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $17.70 an hour, 25% below the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $16.52 and $20.60 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 5.1 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 ($18.96 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $25. At the 25th percentile ($14.62) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 2.3% or 3.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 58,390 jobs in the Albany area. That makes it the 293rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $14.62 | $17.25 | $18.96 | $22.66 | 0.76 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.48 | $21.86 | $22.50 | $28.78 | 0.76 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $16.52 | $17.70 | $20.60 | $23.56 | 0.75 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.76 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Albany 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.
Climate in Albany: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Albany Sw Ga Rgnl Ap (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 Albany (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Albany gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.1 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 2.4 and 2.3 inches. The station averages about 106 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 | 62 | 39 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 42 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 80 | 54 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 88 | 63 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 68 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 57 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 46 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 41 | 4.3 | Workable |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $900 to $1,400 for Albany, GA is attached.
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French drain in Albany: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Albany?
For 60 linear ft, expect $510 to $1,800 in the Albany area. A standard-spec job lands at $900 to $1,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Albany?
About $8.55 to $30 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 Albany or Warner Robins?
Warner Robins is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 5% more than Albany ($1,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Albany?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $530 out of $1,150. Materials are 54% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Albany?
$510 to $1,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Albany?
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 Albany area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Albany expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Georgia?
Albany is 6% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Albany?
The BLS median is $17.25 an hour in the Albany area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.62 to $18.96.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Albany?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $510 to $1,050 and premium work $1,300 to $1,800. 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 Albany?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. May and October 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 Albany
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.