French drain cost in Augusta, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $540 – $1,900
- Per linear ft
- $8.95 – $31.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #257
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Augusta, GA usually costs $540 to $1,900 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $8.95 to $31.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $140 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.62 an hour in the Augusta area, 18% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Augusta, GA, standard level
$940 to $1,500
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 | $460 | $720 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $940 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Augusta, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 52% |
| Labor | $260 | $590 | $910 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $540 | $1,200 | $1,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Augusta 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, Augusta wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Augusta is at 96.3 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 91.9: $0 to $0.
Is Augusta cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Hilton Head is the priciest of the group at $1,250. Athens is the cheapest at $1,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta, GAthis page | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | |
| Columbia, SC70 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Athens, GA80 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Greenville, SC90 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +4% |
| Spartanburg, SC95 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
| Hilton Head, SC100 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +5% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Augusta ranks #257 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Augusta is 2% below the Georgia figure.
Elsewhere in Georgia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +5% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | level |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Augusta against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $730 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +37% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +20% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +5% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +7% |
Augusta 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, Augusta Daniel Fld Ap (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 Augusta are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Augusta gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.0 inches in August). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.7 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 80 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 | 58 | 40 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 43 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 69 | 49 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 56 | 2.9 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 64 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 4.7 | Hot |
| Jul | 94 | 74 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 69 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 58 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 68 | 48 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 42 | 3.8 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Augusta
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 Augusta the blend is 0.83.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $18.62 an hour, which is 18% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.43 and $23.02 an hour. BLS counts 1,630 of them working in the area, 70.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.17 an hour, 19% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.95 and $27.82 an hour. About 670 work in the metro. That is 28.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $21.43 an hour, which is 9% below the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $18.26 and $22.83 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 2.6 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 $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 2.8% to 5.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Augusta-Richmond County has 231,930 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 106th 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% | $16.43 | $18.62 | $23.02 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $20.95 | $23.17 | $27.82 | $28.78 | 0.81 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $18.26 | $21.43 | $22.83 | $23.56 | 0.91 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Augusta: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Augusta. 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
$540 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$940 to $1,500
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,350 to $1,900
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $270 – $540 | $470 – $740 | $670 – $940 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $540 – $1,100 | $940 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $1,900 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,150 | $1,900 – $2,950 | $2,700 – $3,750 |
Planning more than one job in Augusta?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Augusta wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−6%) and inground pool lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,150 – $12,200 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,050 | −11% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $8,950 | −10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,000 – $100,000 | −11% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Augusta bid
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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
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French drain in Augusta: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Augusta?
For 60 linear ft, expect $540 to $1,900 in the Augusta area. A standard-spec job lands at $940 to $1,500. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Augusta?
About $8.95 to $31.50 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 Augusta or Columbia?
Columbia is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 2% more than Augusta ($1,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Augusta?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $590 out of $1,200. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Augusta?
$540 to $1,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Augusta?
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 Augusta area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Augusta expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Georgia?
Augusta is 2% 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 Augusta?
The BLS median is $18.62 an hour in the Augusta area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.43 to $23.02.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Augusta?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $540 to $1,100 and premium work $1,350 to $1,900. 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 Augusta?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September 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 Augusta
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.