French drain cost in North Carolina
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (60 linear ft)
- $560 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.40 – $33
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,350
- Metros covered
- 11
What does it cost to install a French drain in North Carolina? Plan on $560 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft. Wages (0.91x the US blend), materials (price index 96.6) and permit costs (94.3) put the state below the national midpoint by 6%.
Inside North Carolina, the metros we cover range from $1,250 (Greensboro) to $1,300 (Charlotte) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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 North Carolina (statewide), standard level
$990 to $1,550
About $16.50 to $26 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $500 | $780 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $990 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in North Carolina
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $970 | 49% |
| Labor | $290 | $640 | $1,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Which North Carolina city is cheapest for French drain?
4 of the 11 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,250, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Durham, NC | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Raleigh, NC | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Asheville, NC | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Wilmington, NC | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Burlington, NC | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Hickory, NC | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Greenville, NC | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Winston, NC | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −3% |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in North Carolina
North Carolina's labor line is priced from 3 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.91 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.50 an hour, which is 5% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.97 and $23.59 an hour. BLS counts 35,620 of them working in the state, 72.1 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 $23.71 an hour, 18% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.97 and $27.82 an hour. About 16,580 work in the state. That is 33.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.70 an hour, which is 4% below the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $24.94 an hour. BLS counts 3,830 of them working in the state, 7.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($23.59 an hour) would add about $30 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.97) 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 4,941,820 jobs across North Carolina (May 2025), which is 3.2% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.97 | $21.50 | $23.59 | $22.66 | 0.95 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.97 | $23.71 | $27.82 | $28.78 | 0.82 | state |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.29 | $22.70 | $24.94 | $23.56 | 0.96 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
North Carolina versus the states around it
North Carolina ranks 40 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. North Carolina sits at $1,250. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 120 miles away | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Virginia | 180 miles away | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +4% |
| West Virginia | 240 miles away | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| District of Columbia | 260 miles away | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +17% |
| Georgia | 270 miles away | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −3% |
Basic, standard or premium: North Carolina prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$560 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$990 to $1,550
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,400 to $1,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $560 | $490 – $770 | $700 – $990 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,950 |
When North Carolina weather lets you install
Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen, and North Carolina is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Greensboro has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in North Carolina at 11 months (February through December); Asheville has the shortest at 9 (March through November). Rainfall runs from 41 inches a year in Asheville to 60 inches in Wilmington.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 32 | 90 | 44 | 10: February through June and August through December |
| Raleigh | 32 | 91 | 46 | 10: February through June and August through December |
| Greensboro | 30 | 89 | 46 | 11: February through December |
| Durham | 32 | 91 | 46 | 10: February through June and August through December |
| Winston | 31 | 88 | 43 | 11: February through December |
| Wilmington | 36 | 90 | 60 | 11: August through June |
| Asheville | 29 | 86 | 41 | 9: March through November |
| Hickory | 30 | 87 | 47 | 11: February through December |
| Fayetteville | 34 | 91 | 45 | 11: August through June |
| Greenville | 33 | 90 | 53 | 11: August through June |
| Burlington | 30 | 91 | 43 | 10: February through June and August through December |
Why two North Carolina 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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Other North Carolina jobs that often go with French drain
Each project weights the trades differently, so North Carolina's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, sod installation is −4% and retaining wall −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,350 – $12,400 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,450 | −7% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,350 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,200 – $104,000 | −8% |
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 $990 to $1,550 for North Carolina is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for North Carolina: 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 North Carolina: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in North Carolina?
$560 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Carolina can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Carolina is cheapest for French drain?
Greensboro at about $1,250 (midpoint, 60 linear ft). The priciest is Charlotte at $1,300.
+Is French drain cheaper in North Carolina than the US average?
It is 6% cheaper: $1,250 against $1,350 for 60 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Carolina?
About 51% ($640). Materials are 49%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.91x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in North Carolina?
The BLS statewide median is $21.50 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.97 to $23.59.
+Where does North Carolina rank for French drain costs?
40th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,250 for 60 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in North Carolina?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 to $1,150 and premium work $1,400 to $1,950. 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 North Carolina?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the North Carolina metros we cover, Greensboro has the most comfortable months (11 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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC$1,300 midpoint
- Durham, NC$1,300 midpoint
- Raleigh, NC$1,300 midpoint
- Asheville, NC$1,300 midpoint
- Wilmington, NC$1,250 midpoint
- Fayetteville, NC$1,250 midpoint
- Burlington, NC$1,250 midpoint
- Hickory, NC$1,250 midpoint
- Greenville, NC$1,250 midpoint
- Winston, NC$1,250 midpoint
- Greensboro, NC$1,250 midpoint
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.