French drain cost in Macon, 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
- $9 – $31.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #250
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Macon area: $540 to $1,900 for 60 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 10% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $19.23 an hour in the Macon area, 15% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Macon, GA, standard level
$950 to $1,500
About $16 to $25 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $460 | $720 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $950 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Macon, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 51% |
| Labor | $260 | $590 | $920 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $540 | $1,200 | $1,900 | 100% |
Why Macon prices look the way they do
Labor is 49% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Macon the blended ratio comes out at 0.84.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Macon 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 88.5: $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 Macon. The wage table below marks each row.
The best months for French drain in Macon
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Macon Middle Ga Rgnl Ap (10 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 Macon are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Macon gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and December (4.8 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 85 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 | 59 | 36 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 63 | 39 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 45 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 60 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 68 | 4.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 4.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 65 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 53 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 69 | 43 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 61 | 38 | 4.6 | Workable |
Why two Macon quotes can differ
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.
Who does the work: Macon trade wages
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 Macon the blend is 0.84.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $19.23 an hour, which is 15% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.05 and $20.66 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 44.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.26 an hour, 23% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.93 and $24.51 an hour. About 310 work in the metro. That is 32.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Macon metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $22.22 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.78 and $24.25 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 $35. That is a swing of roughly 2.8% to 1.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Macon-Bibb County has 95,030 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 211th 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% | $17.05 | $19.23 | $20.66 | $22.66 | 0.85 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $20.93 | $22.26 | $24.51 | $28.78 | 0.77 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $18.78 | $22.22 | $24.25 | $23.56 | 0.94 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Macon
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Macon wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−7%) and sprinkler system lowest (−12%); 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 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,600 | −12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,500 – $8,750 | −12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,900 – $99,600 | −12% |
Cost by quality level and size in Macon
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Macon. 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
$950 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 | $680 – $950 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $540 – $1,100 | $950 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $1,900 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,150 | $1,900 – $2,950 | $2,700 – $3,800 |
How Macon compares
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 $1,250 across Macon and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon, GAthis page | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | |
| Warner Robins, GA25 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | level |
| Atlanta, GA70 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +5% |
| Columbus, GA70 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Athens, GA80 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Albany, GA85 miles | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −5% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Macon ranks #250 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Macon is 1% 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% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −1% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −1% |
| 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% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Macon against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $510 – $1,750 | $1,150 | −7% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +27% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +11% |
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French drain in Macon: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Macon?
For 60 linear ft, expect $540 to $1,900 in the Macon area. A standard-spec job lands at $950 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 Macon?
About $9 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 Macon or Warner Robins?
Warner Robins is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 0% less than Macon ($1,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Macon?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $590 out of $1,200. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Macon?
$540 to $1,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Macon?
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 Macon area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Macon expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Georgia?
Macon is 1% 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 Macon?
The BLS median is $19.23 an hour in the Macon area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.05 to $20.66.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Macon?
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 Macon?
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 Macon
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.