French drain cost in Gainesville, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $530 – $1,850
- Per linear ft
- $8.90 – $31
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #263
- 1 = most expensive
Gainesville homeowners pay roughly $530 to $1,850 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $8.90 to $31 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Gainesville is 11% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.40 an hour in the Gainesville area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Gainesville, GA, standard level
$940 to $1,450
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 | $450 | $710 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $940 | $1,450 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Gainesville, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 52% |
| Labor | $260 | $580 | $900 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $530 | $1,200 | $1,850 | 100% |
What is behind the Gainesville number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $18.40 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Gainesville is 0.83 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Gainesville 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 (96.8) and land at $0 to $0.
French drain: what moves the price in Gainesville
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).
Gainesville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Gainesville 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
$530 to $1,050
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$940 to $1,450
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,350 to $1,850
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $270 – $530 | $470 – $740 | $670 – $940 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $530 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,850 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,150 | $1,850 – $2,950 | $2,650 – $3,750 |
Related projects, priced for Gainesville
Because every project leans on different trades, Gainesville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −6% and sprinkler system −12%.
| 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 | $2,150 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,550 – $8,800 | −12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,900 – $99,700 | −12% |
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 Gainesville is 0.83 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $18.40 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.16 and $22.24 an hour. About 600 work in the metro. That is 57.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.24 an hour, which is 19% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.92 and $26.20 an hour. BLS counts 300 of them working in the area, 28.9 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 $20.90 an hour, 11% below the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $19.00 and $22.36 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 4.8 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 ($22.24 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($17.16) it shrinks by about $20. The total moves by 4.9% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 103,870 jobs in the Gainesville area. That makes it the 198th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.16 | $18.40 | $22.24 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $19.92 | $23.24 | $26.20 | $28.78 | 0.81 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $19.00 | $20.90 | $22.36 | $23.56 | 0.89 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
When to schedule French drain in Gainesville
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Gainesville Gilmer Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Gainesville: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Gainesville gets about 52 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, March and August (5.0 inches in January). The station averages about 35 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 | 51 | 34 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 55 | 36 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 63 | 43 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 50 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 58 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 66 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 70 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 87 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 63 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 72 | 52 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 42 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 36 | 4.7 | Workable |
Gainesville against nearby metros and the rest of Georgia
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Gainesville. Dalton is the lowest at about $1,150 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, GAthis page | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | |
| Athens, GA45 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Atlanta, GA50 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +6% |
| Dalton, GA70 miles | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −3% |
| Greenville, SC85 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +4% |
| Macon, GA100 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +1% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Gainesville comes in at #263 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, Gainesville is 2% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +6% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +1% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | level |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Gainesville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Gainesville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $690 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +30% |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +8% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +26% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +4% |
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French drain in Gainesville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Gainesville?
For 60 linear ft, expect $530 to $1,850 in the Gainesville area. A standard-spec job lands at $940 to $1,450. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Gainesville?
About $8.90 to $31 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 Gainesville or Athens?
Athens is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 1% less than Gainesville ($1,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Gainesville?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $580 out of $1,200. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Gainesville?
$530 to $1,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Gainesville?
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 Gainesville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Gainesville expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Georgia?
Gainesville 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 Gainesville?
The BLS median is $18.40 an hour in the Gainesville area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.16 to $22.24.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Gainesville?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $530 to $1,050 and premium work $1,350 to $1,850. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+Is there a bad season to install a French drain in Gainesville?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
French drain near Gainesville
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.