French drain cost in Syracuse, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $640 – $2,250
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $37.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #97
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Syracuse, NY usually costs $640 to $2,250 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $10.50 to $37.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $90 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.64 an hour in the Syracuse area, 4% above the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your french drain cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Syracuse, NY, standard level
$1,100 to $1,750
About $18.50 to $29.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $500 | $790 |
| Labor | $620 | $970 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,750 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Syracuse, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 45% |
| Labor | $350 | $790 | $1,250 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $640 | $1,450 | $2,250 | 100% |
Where the Syracuse 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 $23.64 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Syracuse is 1.13 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Syracuse is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $650 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.7: $0 to $0.
Syracuse against nearby metros and the rest of New York
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Albany is the priciest of the group at $1,550. Scranton is the cheapest at $1,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NYthis page | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | |
| Utica, NY55 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | level |
| Binghamton, NY60 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | level |
| Rochester, NY70 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +1% |
| Albany, NY115 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +7% |
| Scranton, PA115 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −7% |
| New York (statewide) | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +11% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Syracuse ranks #97 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Syracuse is 10% below the New York figure.
Elsewhere in New York
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $770 – $2,700 | $1,750 | +21% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +4% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +1% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +7% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +9% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Syracuse against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −8% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $490 – $1,750 | $1,100 | −23% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −13% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −1% |
Why two Syracuse quotes can differ
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.
What nearby projects cost in Syracuse
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Syracuse wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+5%) and sod installation lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,550 – $14,000 | +5% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,400 | +2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | +1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,300 | +2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,100 – $10,200 | +2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,600 – $117,500 | +4% |
What local crews earn in Syracuse
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 Syracuse the blend is 1.13.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.64 an hour, which is 4% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.52 and $34.90 an hour. BLS counts 1,660 of them working in the area, 55.3 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 $30.68 an hour, 7% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $26.67 and $50.65 an hour. About 700 work in the metro. That is 23.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $33.83 an hour, which is 44% above the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $26.08 and $37.09 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 2.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $170 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 2.3% to 12.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Syracuse has 300,130 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 85th 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% | $21.52 | $23.64 | $34.90 | $22.66 | 1.04 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $26.67 | $30.68 | $50.65 | $28.78 | 1.07 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $26.08 | $33.83 | $37.09 | $23.56 | 1.44 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Syracuse 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, Syracuse Hancock Intl 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 Syracuse 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 132 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Syracuse gets about 40 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 128 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and October (3.9 inches in October). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 10 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 | 17 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 34 | 18 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 42 | 25 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 36 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 47 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 53 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 33 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 37 | 24 | 3.3 | Cold |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Syracuse
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Syracuse. 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
$640 to $1,300
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,100 to $1,750
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,600 to $2,250
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $320 – $640 | $560 – $880 | $800 – $1,100 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $640 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,250 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,300 – $2,550 | $2,250 – $3,500 | $3,200 – $4,450 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,100 to $1,750 for Syracuse, NY is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Syracuse, NY: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
French drain in Syracuse: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Syracuse?
For 60 linear ft, expect $640 to $2,250 in the Syracuse area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,100 to $1,750. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Syracuse?
About $10.50 to $37.50 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 Syracuse or Utica?
Utica is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,450, which is 0% less than Syracuse ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Syracuse?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $790 out of $1,450. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Syracuse?
$640 to $2,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Syracuse?
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 Syracuse area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Syracuse expensive for French drain compared with the rest of New York?
Syracuse is 10% below the New York statewide estimate ($1,600 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Syracuse?
The BLS median is $23.64 an hour in the Syracuse area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.52 to $34.90.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Syracuse?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $640 to $1,300 and premium work $1,600 to $2,250. 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 Syracuse?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. September and November 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 Syracuse
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.