French drain cost in Barnstable, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $680 – $2,400
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $40
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #55
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Barnstable area: $680 to $2,400 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 runs 14% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $28.87 an hour in the Barnstable area, 27% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Barnstable, MA, standard level
$1,200 to $1,900
About $20 to $31.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $710 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,900 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Barnstable, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 41% |
| Labor | $410 | $910 | $1,400 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $680 | $1,550 | $2,400 | 100% |
Where the Barnstable price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.87 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Barnstable is 1.30 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 59% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Barnstable 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 98.4: $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 Barnstable. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Barnstable bid
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.
Who does the work: Barnstable 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 Barnstable the blend is 1.30.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $28.87 an hour, which is 27% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.38 and $34.67 an hour. BLS counts 750 of them working in the area, 79.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $35.06 an hour, 22% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.99 and $38.51 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 42.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Barnstable 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 $90 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $85. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 5.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Barnstable Town has 94,110 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 212th 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% | $23.38 | $28.87 | $34.67 | $22.66 | 1.27 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.99 | $35.06 | $38.51 | $28.78 | 1.22 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $30.30 | $34.99 | $41.61 | $23.56 | 1.49 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.30 | |||||
Barnstable: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Barnstable. 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
$680 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,900
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,700 to $2,400
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $340 – $680 | $600 – $940 | $860 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $680 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,400 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,750 | $2,400 – $3,750 | $3,400 – $4,800 |
Barnstable against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
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 Barnstable and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable, MAthis page | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −1% |
| Boston, MA70 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +4% |
| Worcester, MA100 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Norwich, CT100 miles | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −10% |
| Manchester, NH115 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −15% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +3% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Barnstable ranks #55 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Barnstable is 3% below the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +4% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Barnstable against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −21% |
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −13% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $510 – $1,750 | $1,150 | −26% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −14% |
Planning more than one job in Barnstable?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Barnstable wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+16%) and concrete slab lowest (+6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,600 – $15,200 | +16% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,300 | +11% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,650 | +11% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,450 | +6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $11,100 | +11% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,300 – $129,000 | +14% |
The best months for French drain in Barnstable
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Hyannis Barnstable Muni Ap (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 Barnstable are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 109 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Barnstable gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, October and December (4.7 inches in December). Inside the workable window, June and July are the driest, at 3.1 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 2 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 | 40 | 24 | 3.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 41 | 25 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 30 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 65 | 48 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 58 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 65 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 63 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 46 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 45 | 29 | 4.7 | Cold |
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French drain in Barnstable: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Barnstable?
For 60 linear ft, expect $680 to $2,400 in the Barnstable area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Barnstable?
About $11.50 to $40 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 Barnstable or Providence?
Providence is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,500, which is 1% less than Barnstable ($1,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Barnstable?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $910 out of $1,550. Materials are 41% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Barnstable?
$680 to $2,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Barnstable?
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 Barnstable area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Barnstable expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Barnstable is 3% 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 Barnstable?
The BLS median is $28.87 an hour in the Barnstable area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.38 to $34.67.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Barnstable?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $680 to $1,350 and premium work $1,700 to $2,400. 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 Barnstable?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. June and July 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 Barnstable
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.