French drain cost in Amherst, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $670 – $2,350
- Per linear ft
- $11 – $39
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #71
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Amherst, MA usually costs $670 to $2,350 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $11 to $39 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $160 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $27.96 an hour in the Amherst area, 23% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Amherst, MA, standard level
$1,150 to $1,850
About $19.50 to $30.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $680 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,150 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Amherst, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 42% |
| Labor | $390 | $880 | $1,350 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $670 | $1,500 | $2,350 | 100% |
Why Amherst prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $27.96 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Amherst is 1.25 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 58% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Amherst is at 97.0 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 100.2: $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 Amherst. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Amherst
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 Amherst the blend is 1.25.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.96 an hour, which is 23% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $36.52 an hour. BLS counts 280 of them working in the area, 42.6 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 $32.13 an hour, 12% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.45 and $38.91 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 27.4 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 Amherst metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $34.99 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $30.30 and $41.61 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $90. That is a swing of roughly 6.0% to 8.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Amherst Town-Northampton has 65,670 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 273rd 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% | $22.14 | $27.96 | $36.52 | $22.66 | 1.23 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.45 | $32.13 | $38.91 | $28.78 | 1.12 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $30.30 | $34.99 | $41.61 | $23.56 | 1.49 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.25 | |||||
Amherst weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Westfield Barnes Muni Ap (15 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 Amherst 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.
Amherst gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (4.7 inches in October). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 35 | 16 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 38 | 17 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 26 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 35 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 55 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 59 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 51 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 39 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 30 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Dec | 40 | 22 | 3.6 | Cold |
French drain: what moves the price in Amherst
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Amherst
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Amherst. 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
$670 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,150 to $1,850
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,650 to $2,350
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $330 – $670 | $590 – $920 | $840 – $1,150 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $670 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,350 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,700 | $2,350 – $3,700 | $3,350 – $4,700 |
Related projects, priced for Amherst
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Amherst wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+15%) and concrete slab lowest (+5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,450 – $15,100 | +15% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $10,900 | +7% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +9% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,600 – $5,400 | +5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $10,900 | +9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,500 – $126,000 | +12% |
Is Amherst 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 $1,450 to $1,550 across Amherst and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MAthis page | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | |
| Springfield, MA15 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | level |
| Pittsfield, MA30 miles | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −4% |
| Worcester, MA35 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +4% |
| Hartford, CT45 miles | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −3% |
| Waterbury, CT60 miles | $650 – $2,300 | $1,450 | −2% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +6% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Amherst ranks #71 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Amherst is 5% below the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +6% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +4% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | level |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Amherst against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −10% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −16% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −12% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +3% |
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French drain in Amherst: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Amherst?
For 60 linear ft, expect $670 to $2,350 in the Amherst area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,150 to $1,850. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Amherst?
About $11 to $39 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 Amherst or Springfield?
Springfield is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,500, which is 0% more than Amherst ($1,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Amherst?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $880 out of $1,500. Materials are 42% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Amherst?
$670 to $2,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Amherst?
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 Amherst area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Amherst expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Amherst is 5% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($1,600 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Amherst?
The BLS median is $27.96 an hour in the Amherst area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.14 to $36.52.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Amherst?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $670 to $1,350 and premium work $1,650 to $2,350. 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 Amherst?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. May 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 Amherst
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.