French drain cost in Maine
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $590 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.75 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to install a French drain in Maine? Plan on $590 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft. Wages (0.98x the US blend), materials (price index 97.2) and permit costs (97.0) put the state below the national midpoint by 2%.
Inside Maine, the metros we cover range from $1,300 (Bangor) to $1,400 (Portland) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Maine (statewide), standard level
$1,050 to $1,600
About $17 to $27 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $540 | $840 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Maine
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 48% |
| Labor | $310 | $690 | $1,050 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Maine
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Maine wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$590 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,050 to $1,600
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,450 to $2,050
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $290 – $590 | $510 – $810 | $730 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $590 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,950 – $4,100 |
Wages behind the Maine number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.98 for Maine.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.32 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.51 and $25.51 an hour. About 3,960 work in the state. That is 61.8 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 $26.99 an hour, which is 6% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $29.56 an hour. BLS counts 2,210 of them working in the state, 34.5 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 $24.51 an hour, 4% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $22.85 and $31.27 an hour. About 110 work in the state. That is 1.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($25.51 an hour) would add about $50 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.51) would take off about $45. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 640,610 jobs across Maine (May 2025), which is 0.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $19.51 | $22.32 | $25.51 | $22.66 | 0.98 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.52 | $26.99 | $29.56 | $28.78 | 0.94 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $22.85 | $24.51 | $31.27 | $23.56 | 1.04 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
Maine metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (60 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +4% |
| Bangor, ME | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −2% |
If you are planning more than one job in Maine
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Maine wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (+5%) and retaining wall lowest (−9%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,250 – $12,300 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −3% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,450 | +5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,800 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,000 – $106,000 | −6% |
Maine against its neighbors
Maine ranks 34 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for French drain, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,850 and the cheapest Arkansas at $1,150, both for 60 linear ft at the midpoint. Maine sits at $1,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 110 miles away | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Massachusetts | 120 miles away | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +21% |
| Vermont | 150 miles away | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Rhode Island | 170 miles away | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +8% |
| Connecticut | 220 miles away | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +12% |
French drain: what moves the price in Maine
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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Weather windows across Maine
Season matters for French drain. For each Maine metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Portland has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Maine at 7 months (April through October); Bangor has the shortest at 6 (May through October). Rainfall runs from 42 inches a year in Bangor to 48 inches in Portland.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 16 | 80 | 48 | 7: April through October |
| Bangor | 9 | 80 | 42 | 6: May through October |
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French drain in Maine: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Maine?
$590 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Maine can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Maine is cheapest for French drain?
Bangor at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Portland at $1,400.
+Is French drain cheaper in Maine than the US average?
It is 2% cheaper: $1,300 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Maine?
About 52% ($690). Materials are 48%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.98x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Maine?
The BLS statewide median is $22.32 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.51 to $25.51.
+Where does Maine rank for French drain costs?
34th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,300 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Maine?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $590 to $1,150 and premium work $1,450 to $2,050. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+Does the season matter for French drain in Maine?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Maine metros we cover, Portland has the most comfortable months (7 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
French drain by city in Maine
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.