French drain cost in Cleveland, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $670 – $2,350
- Per linear ft
- $11 – $39
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #68
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Cleveland, plan on $670 to $2,350 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $11 to $39 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $27.49 an hour in the Cleveland area, 21% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Cleveland, OH, standard level
$1,200 to $1,850
About $19.50 to $31 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $710 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Cleveland, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 40% |
| Labor | $400 | $910 | $1,400 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $670 | $1,500 | $2,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Cleveland number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $27.49 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Cleveland is 1.29 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Cleveland metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $610, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.9) and land at $0 to $0.
French drain: what moves the price in Cleveland
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
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.
Is Cleveland cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $1,500 across Cleveland and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OHthis page | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | |
| Akron, OH35 miles | $660 – $2,300 | $1,450 | −3% |
| Youngstown, OH45 miles | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −7% |
| Canton, OH65 miles | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −6% |
| Erie, PA75 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −13% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −10% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Cleveland comes in at #68 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, Cleveland is 4% above the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −4% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −5% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,450 | −3% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −5% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like Cleveland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cleveland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +10% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −11% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −11% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
What nearby projects cost in Cleveland
Because every project leans on different trades, Cleveland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +7% and sod installation −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,200 | +7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $10,900 | +7% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,300 | +3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,150 – $10,300 | +3% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $38,700 – $121,000 | +7% |
Climate in Cleveland: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Cleveland Burke 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 Cleveland (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 91 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Cleveland gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, July and August (3.7 inches in July). Inside the workable window, June and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 35 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 25 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 31 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 41 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 63 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 68 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 67 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 60 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 49 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 38 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 30 | 2.0 | Cold |
Cleveland labor market for French drain
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 Cleveland is 1.29 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $27.49 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.57 and $34.86 an hour. About 5,660 work in the metro. That is 54.9 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 $34.49 an hour, which is 20% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.73 and $45.63 an hour. BLS counts 2,660 of them working in the area, 25.8 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 $38.38 an hour, 63% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $30.78 and $44.12 an hour. About 100 work in the metro. That is 1.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($34.86 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($22.57) it shrinks by about $75. The total moves by 7.5% or 5.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,031,130 jobs in the Cleveland area. That makes it the 36th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.66% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.57 | $27.49 | $34.86 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.73 | $34.49 | $45.63 | $28.78 | 1.20 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $30.78 | $38.38 | $44.12 | $23.56 | 1.63 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Cleveland
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Cleveland 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
$670 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,850
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,700 to $2,350
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $340 – $670 | $590 – $920 | $840 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $670 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,350 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,700 | $2,350 – $3,700 | $3,350 – $4,700 |
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 $1,200 to $1,850 for Cleveland, OH is attached.
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Multi-page report for Cleveland, OH: 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 Cleveland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Cleveland?
For 60 linear ft, expect $670 to $2,350 in the Cleveland area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,850. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Cleveland?
About $11 to $39 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 Cleveland or Akron?
Akron is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,450, which is 3% less than Cleveland ($1,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cleveland?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $910 out of $1,500. Materials are 40% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Cleveland?
$670 to $2,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Cleveland?
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 Cleveland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cleveland expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cleveland is 4% above the Ohio statewide estimate ($1,450 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Cleveland?
The BLS median is $27.49 an hour in the Cleveland area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.57 to $34.86.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Cleveland?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $670 to $1,350 and premium work $1,700 to $2,350. 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 Cleveland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. June 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 Cleveland
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.