French drain cost in Maryland
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $620 – $2,150
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $36
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Maryland, a French drain costs about $620 to $2,150 for 60 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% above the US figure of $1,350. Construction laborers earn a median $22.58 an hour in Maryland (US: $22.66).
Inside Maryland, the metros we cover range from $1,300 (Hagerstown) to $1,400 (Baltimore) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Maryland (statewide), standard level
$1,100 to $1,700
About $18 to $28.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $520 | $810 |
| Labor | $560 | $890 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,700 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Maryland
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $660 | $1,050 | 48% |
| Labor | $320 | $730 | $1,150 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $620 | $1,400 | $2,150 | 100% |
French drain cost by metro in Maryland
0 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,400, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Lexington Park, MD | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −1% |
| Hagerstown, MD | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −8% |
Maryland labor market for French drain
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 1.03 for Maryland.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.58 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $26.70 an hour. About 20,920 work in the state. That is 75.7 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 $29.53 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.76 and $34.07 an hour. BLS counts 6,610 of them working in the state, 23.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $26.75 an hour, 14% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $23.99 and $29.28 an hour. About 650 work in the state. That is 2.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($26.70 an hour) would add about $65 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.98) would take off about $55. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,763,030 jobs across Maryland (May 2025), which is 1.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.98 | $22.58 | $26.70 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.76 | $29.53 | $34.07 | $28.78 | 1.03 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $23.99 | $26.75 | $29.28 | $23.56 | 1.14 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Maryland
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Maryland wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+2%) and concrete slab lowest (level), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,050 – $13,600 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,400 | +2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,350 | +2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,200 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,100 – $10,200 | +2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,500 – $114,000 | +1% |
Maryland against its neighbors
Maryland ranks 19 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. Maryland sits at $1,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 50 miles away | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +7% |
| Delaware | 60 miles away | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −4% |
| Pennsylvania | 70 miles away | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −3% |
| New Jersey | 110 miles away | $760 – $2,650 | $1,700 | +23% |
| Virginia | 150 miles away | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −5% |
Maryland seasons and French drain
Season matters for French drain. For each Maryland metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Lexington Park has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Maryland at 10 months (March through December); Hagerstown has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Hagerstown to 45 inches in Lexington Park.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | 30 | 90 | 44 | 9: March through June and August through December |
| Hagerstown | 22 | 86 | 44 | 8: April through November |
| Lexington Park | 30 | 87 | 45 | 10: March through December |
French drain: what moves the price in Maryland
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.
Quality levels and sizes in Maryland
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Maryland wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$620 to $1,250
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,100 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 – $620 | $540 – $850 | $770 – $1,100 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $620 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,150 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,250 – $2,450 | $2,150 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,300 |
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French drain in Maryland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Maryland?
$620 to $2,150 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Maryland can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Maryland is cheapest for French drain?
Hagerstown at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Baltimore at $1,400.
+Is French drain cheaper in Maryland than the US average?
It is 3% more expensive: $1,400 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Maryland?
About 52% ($730). Materials are 48%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.03x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Maryland?
The BLS statewide median is $22.58 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.98 to $26.70.
+Where does Maryland rank for French drain costs?
19th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,400 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Maryland?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $620 to $1,250 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.
+Does the season matter for French drain in Maryland?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Maryland metros we cover, Lexington Park has the most comfortable months (10 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 Maryland
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.