French drain cost in Greenville, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $550 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.25 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #227
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Greenville area: $550 to $1,950 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 8% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.40 an hour in the Greenville area, 10% below 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 Greenville, NC, standard level
$970 to $1,500
About $16 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $480 | $760 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $970 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Greenville, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $620 | $960 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $550 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Why Greenville prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Greenville wages are 0.88 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Greenville is at 96.6 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 88.4: $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 Greenville. The wage table below marks each row.
The best months for French drain in Greenville
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Greenville (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 Greenville are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Greenville gets about 53 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (7.3 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 53 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 | 53 | 33 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 41 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 67 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 71 | 5.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 70 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 64 | 7.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 52 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 35 | 3.5 | Workable |
French drain: what moves the price in Greenville
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Greenville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Greenville. 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
$550 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$970 to $1,500
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 – $550 | $480 – $760 | $690 – $970 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $550 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,500 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,900 |
How Greenville compares
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Durham is the priciest of the group at $1,300. Virginia Beach is the cheapest at $1,250.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NCthis page | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Raleigh, NC60 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Fayetteville, NC100 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Wilmington, NC100 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Durham, NC100 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Virginia Beach, VA100 miles | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Greenville ranks #227 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Greenville is 2% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Greenville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +15% |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
Who does the work: Greenville 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 Greenville the blend is 0.88.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $20.40 an hour, which is 10% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.36 and $23.08 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 55.7 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 $23.05 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.96 and $27.03 an hour. About 210 work in the metro. That is 26.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Greenville metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $22.70 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $24.94 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $40 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $45. That is a swing of roughly 3.8% to 3.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Greenville has 80,770 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 236th 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% | $17.36 | $20.40 | $23.08 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $20.96 | $23.05 | $27.03 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.29 | $22.70 | $24.94 | $23.56 | 0.96 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Greenville
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Greenville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−6%) and concrete slab lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,050 – $12,000 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,600 | −12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,200 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,300 – $101,000 | −10% |
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 $970 to $1,500 for Greenville, NC is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Greenville, NC: 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 Greenville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Greenville?
For 60 linear ft, expect $550 to $1,950 in the Greenville area. A standard-spec job lands at $970 to $1,500. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Greenville?
About $9.25 to $32.50 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 Greenville or Raleigh?
Raleigh is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 3% more than Greenville ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Greenville?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $620 out of $1,250. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Greenville?
$550 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Greenville?
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 Greenville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Greenville expensive for French drain compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Greenville is 2% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Greenville?
The BLS median is $20.40 an hour in the Greenville area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.36 to $23.08.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Greenville?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $550 to $1,100 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.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Greenville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February 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 Greenville
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.