French drain cost in Bend, OR
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
- +11%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #77
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Bend area: $670 to $2,350 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 11% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $25.37 an hour in the Bend area, 12% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Bend, OR, standard level
$1,150 to $1,850
About $19.50 to $30.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $830 |
| Labor | $630 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,150 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Bend, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 46% |
| Labor | $360 | $810 | $1,250 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $670 | $1,500 | $2,350 | 100% |
Why Bend 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, Bend wages are 1.16 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bend is at 105.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $680 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.6: $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 Bend. The wage table below marks each row.
Bend against nearby metros and the rest of Oregon
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 $1,450 to $1,600 across Bend and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, ORthis page | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | |
| Eugene, OR100 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −3% |
| Salem, OR110 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Portland, OR125 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Medford, OR150 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −3% |
| Yakima, WA160 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Oregon (statewide) | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bend ranks #77 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bend is 0% below the Oregon figure.
Elsewhere in Oregon
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −3% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bend against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −20% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −8% |
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −23% |
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −14% |
Who does the work: Bend 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 Bend the blend is 1.16.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $25.37 an hour, which is 12% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.68 and $29.52 an hour. BLS counts 780 of them working in the area, 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 $32.46 an hour, 13% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.73 and $38.88 an hour. About 580 work in the metro. That is 53.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bend metro, so we used the Oregon statewide median: $30.88 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.80 and $36.17 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $65 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $40. That is a swing of roughly 2.8% to 4.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bend has 108,240 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 193rd 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% | $22.68 | $25.37 | $29.52 | $22.66 | 1.12 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.73 | $32.46 | $38.88 | $28.78 | 1.13 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $27.80 | $30.88 | $36.17 | $23.56 | 1.31 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Bend
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bend wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+16%) and concrete slab lowest (+8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,800 – $14,600 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $11,100 | +9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,650 | +11% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,600 | +8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,650 – $11,600 | +16% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,100 – $125,500 | +11% |
Cost by quality level and size in Bend
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bend. 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
$670 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,150 to $1,850
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,650 to $2,350
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $330 – $670 | $580 – $910 | $830 – $1,150 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $670 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,350 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,650 | $2,350 – $3,650 | $3,350 – $4,650 |
The best months for French drain in Bend
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Bend (in the city). 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 Bend are May through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, November 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 168 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Bend gets about 11 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 22 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (2.1 inches in December). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 0.3 and 0.3 inches. The station averages about 16 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 | 43 | 25 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 46 | 24 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 28 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Apr | 58 | 31 | 0.8 | Cold |
| May | 66 | 37 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 42 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 49 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 48 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 41 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 34 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 28 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 41 | 23 | 2.1 | Cold |
French drain: what moves the price in Bend
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.
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).
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 $1,150 to $1,850 for Bend, OR is attached.
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French drain in Bend: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Bend?
For 60 linear ft, expect $670 to $2,350 in the Bend area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,150 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 Bend?
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 Bend or Eugene?
Eugene is 100 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,450, which is 3% less than Bend ($1,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bend?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $810 out of $1,500. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Bend?
$670 to $2,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Bend?
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 Bend area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bend expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Oregon?
Bend is 0% below the Oregon statewide estimate ($1,500 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Oregon; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Bend?
The BLS median is $25.37 an hour in the Bend area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.68 to $29.52.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Bend?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $670 to $1,350 and premium work $1,650 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 Bend?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. August and September 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 Bend
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.