French drain cost in Bangor, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $570 – $2,000
- Per linear ft
- $9.55 – $33.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #185
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Bangor, plan on $570 to $2,000 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.55 to $33.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.35 an hour in the Bangor area, 6% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Bangor, ME, standard level
$1,000 to $1,600
About $16.50 to $26.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $510 | $810 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Bangor, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 49% |
| Labor | $290 | $660 | $1,050 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $570 | $1,300 | $2,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Bangor 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 $21.35 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Bangor is 0.94 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 51% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bangor metro is 97.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $630, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.5) and land at $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 Bangor. The wage table below marks each row.
Climate in Bangor: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Bangor Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Bangor (6 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 161 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Bangor gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 75 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, October and November (4.6 inches in October). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 28 | 9 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 11 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 40 | 21 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 53 | 32 | 3.6 | Cold |
| May | 66 | 43 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 53 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 59 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 57 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 49 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 38 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 29 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 35 | 17 | 3.7 | Cold |
Is Bangor 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 $1,300 to $1,600 across Bangor and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, MEthis page | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | |
| Portland, ME150 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +7% |
| Burlington, VT220 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +5% |
| Manchester, NH230 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Boston, MA230 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +24% |
| Barnstable, MA265 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +20% |
| Maine (statewide) | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Bangor comes in at #185 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, Bangor is 2% below the Maine figure.
Other Maine metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 288,480 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +7% |
Cities with a workforce like Bangor's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bangor against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +9% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +10% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +6% |
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +23% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Bangor bid
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).
Bangor: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bangor 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
$570 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,000 to $1,600
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,450 to $2,000
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $290 – $570 | $500 – $790 | $720 – $1,000 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $570 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,000 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,300 | $2,000 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,000 |
What nearby projects cost in Bangor
Because every project leans on different trades, Bangor's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +2% and retaining wall −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,150 – $12,200 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,600 | −6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,350 | +2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,800 – $9,500 | −5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,100 – $103,500 | −8% |
Bangor 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 Bangor is 0.94 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.35 an hour, 6% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.60 and $22.35 an hour. About 530 work in the metro. That is 73.3 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 $25.00 an hour, which is 13% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.23 and $28.94 an hour. BLS counts 310 of them working in the area, 42.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bangor metro, so we used the Maine statewide median: $24.51 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.85 and $31.27 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.35 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $15. At the 25th percentile ($18.60) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 1.2% or 3.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 72,270 jobs in the Bangor area. That makes it the 255th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.60 | $21.35 | $22.35 | $22.66 | 0.94 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.23 | $25.00 | $28.94 | $28.78 | 0.87 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $22.85 | $24.51 | $31.27 | $23.56 | 1.04 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
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French drain in Bangor: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Bangor?
For 60 linear ft, expect $570 to $2,000 in the Bangor area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,000 to $1,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Bangor?
About $9.55 to $33.50 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 Bangor or Portland?
Portland is 150 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,400, which is 7% more than Bangor ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bangor?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $660 out of $1,300. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Bangor?
$570 to $2,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Bangor?
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 Bangor area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bangor expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Maine?
Bangor is 2% below the Maine statewide estimate ($1,300 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Maine; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Bangor?
The BLS median is $21.35 an hour in the Bangor area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.60 to $22.35.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Bangor?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $570 to $1,150 and premium work $1,450 to $2,000. 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 Bangor?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. July and August 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 Bangor
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.