French drain cost in Boston, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $710 – $2,500
- Per linear ft
- $12 – $41.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +18%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #27
- 1 = most expensive
Boston homeowners pay roughly $710 to $2,500 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $12 to $41.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Boston is 18% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $30.49 an hour in the Boston area, 35% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Boston, MA, standard level
$1,250 to $1,950
About $20.50 to $32.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $500 | $790 |
| Labor | $740 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,250 | $1,950 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Boston, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 40% |
| Labor | $420 | $950 | $1,500 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $710 | $1,600 | $2,500 | 100% |
Where the Boston 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 $30.49 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Boston is 1.35 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boston metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $650, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (108.3) and land at $0 to $0.
What nearby projects cost in Boston
Because every project leans on different trades, Boston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +21% and concrete slab +9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,900 – $15,800 | +20% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,800 | +16% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,700 – $3,750 | +13% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,700 – $5,650 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,850 – $12,100 | +21% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $43,400 – $135,500 | +20% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Boston bid
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.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Boston is 1.35 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $30.49 an hour, 35% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $26.22 and $45.11 an hour. About 11,580 work in the metro. That is 42.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $36.99 an hour, which is 29% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.11 and $55.00 an hour. BLS counts 6,370 of them working in the area, 23.6 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 $34.65 an hour, 47% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $30.37 and $41.61 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($45.11 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $230. At the 25th percentile ($26.22) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 14.2% or 4.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,703,890 jobs in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area. That makes it the 10th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.74% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $26.22 | $30.49 | $45.11 | $22.66 | 1.35 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.11 | $36.99 | $55.00 | $28.78 | 1.29 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $30.37 | $34.65 | $41.61 | $23.56 | 1.47 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.35 | |||||
Boston against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Boston. Manchester is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MAthis page | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −18% |
| Worcester, MA50 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | −2% |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −5% |
| Barnstable, MA70 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −3% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −14% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −15% |
Across 300 US metros, Boston comes in at #27 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, Boston is 0% above the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | −2% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −5% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −3% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −6% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −9% |
Cities with a workforce like Boston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −17% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −14% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −20% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | +19% |
Cost by quality level and size in Boston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boston 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
$710 to $1,400
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,250 to $1,950
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,750 to $2,500
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $350 – $710 | $620 – $970 | $890 – $1,250 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $710 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,500 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,850 | $2,500 – $3,900 | $3,550 – $4,950 |
When to schedule French drain in Boston
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Boston Logan Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Boston (8 of 12 months). 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 92 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Boston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, October and December (4.3 inches in December). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 14 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 | 37 | 23 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 25 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 31 | 4.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 60 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 66 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 65 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 58 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 48 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 38 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 42 | 29 | 4.3 | Cold |
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French drain in Boston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Boston?
For 60 linear ft, expect $710 to $2,500 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,250 to $1,950. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Boston?
About $12 to $41.50 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 Boston or Manchester?
Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 18% less than Boston ($1,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $950 out of $1,600. Materials are 40% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Boston?
$710 to $2,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Boston?
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 Boston area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boston expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Boston is 0% above 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 Boston?
The BLS median is $30.49 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.22 to $45.11.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Boston?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $710 to $1,400 and premium work $1,750 to $2,500. 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 Boston?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. 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 Boston
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.