French drain cost in Portland, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $610 – $2,150
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $35.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #121
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Portland area: $610 to $2,150 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 lands close to the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.31 an hour in the Portland area, 3% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Portland, ME, standard level
$1,050 to $1,700
About $18 to $28 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $580 | $910 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,700 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Portland, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 46% |
| Labor | $330 | $750 | $1,150 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $610 | $1,400 | $2,150 | 100% |
Where the Portland price comes from
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, Portland wages are 1.07 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Portland is at 97.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $630 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.9: $0 to $0.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Portland
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Portland. 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
$610 to $1,200
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,050 to $1,700
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,550 to $2,150
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $310 – $610 | $540 – $840 | $770 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $610 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,150 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,450 | $2,150 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,300 |
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Maine
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Portland. Manchester is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | |
| Manchester, NH85 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −5% |
| Boston, MA85 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +16% |
| Worcester, MA120 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +14% |
| Barnstable, MA135 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +12% |
| Providence, RI140 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +10% |
| Maine (statewide) | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Portland ranks #121 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Portland is 4% above the Maine figure.
Elsewhere in Maine
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +16% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −3% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +4% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +9% |
French drain: what moves the price in Portland
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.
Planning more than one job in Portland?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Portland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (+6%) and retaining wall lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,350 – $12,500 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,500 | +6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,000 – $9,950 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,600 – $108,500 | −4% |
Who does the work: Portland 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 Portland the blend is 1.07.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.50 and $27.46 an hour. BLS counts 1,470 of them working in the area, 51.0 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 $28.62 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.00 and $30.84 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 30.5 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 $29.82 an hour, which is 27% above the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $24.51 and $31.03 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 1.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $65 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 2.0% to 4.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Portland-South Portland has 288,480 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 89th 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% | $21.50 | $23.31 | $27.46 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.00 | $28.62 | $30.84 | $28.78 | 0.99 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $24.51 | $29.82 | $31.03 | $23.56 | 1.27 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
The best months for French drain in Portland
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Portland Intl Jetport (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 Portland are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, 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 144 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Portland gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 69 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, October and December (5.3 inches in October). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 32 | 16 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 17 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 42 | 26 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 35 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 55 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 61 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 41 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 32 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 22 | 4.5 | Cold |
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French drain in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Portland?
For 60 linear ft, expect $610 to $2,150 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Portland?
About $10 to $35.50 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 Portland or Manchester?
Manchester is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 5% less than Portland ($1,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $750 out of $1,400. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Portland?
$610 to $2,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Portland?
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 Portland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland is 4% above 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 Portland?
The BLS median is $23.31 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.50 to $27.46.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Portland?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $610 to $1,200 and premium work $1,550 to $2,150. 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 Portland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April 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 Portland
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.