French drain cost in Eugene, OR
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
- #91
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Eugene area: $640 to $2,250 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 7% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.85 an hour in the Eugene area, 1% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Eugene, OR, standard level
$1,150 to $1,750
About $19 to $29.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $830 |
| Labor | $600 | $940 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,150 | $1,750 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Eugene, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 47% |
| Labor | $340 | $770 | $1,200 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $640 | $1,450 | $2,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Eugene number
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, Eugene wages are 1.09 times the national level. Labor makes up about 53% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Eugene 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 101.6: $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 Eugene. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Eugene
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Eugene. 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
$1,150 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 – $890 | $810 – $1,150 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $640 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,250 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,300 – $2,600 | $2,250 – $3,550 | $3,200 – $4,500 |
What nearby projects cost in Eugene
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Eugene wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+11%) and concrete slab lowest (+5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,700 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,700 | +5% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,550 | +7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,600 – $5,450 | +5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $11,100 | +11% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,300 – $122,500 | +9% |
Who does the work: Eugene 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 Eugene the blend is 1.09.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.85 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.21 and $27.39 an hour. BLS counts 1,010 of them working in the area, 64.0 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 $31.44 an hour, 9% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $28.73 and $37.58 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 20.9 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 Eugene 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 $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $40. That is a swing of roughly 2.8% to 4.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Eugene-Springfield has 157,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 150th 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% | $20.21 | $22.85 | $27.39 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $28.73 | $31.44 | $37.58 | $28.78 | 1.09 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $27.80 | $30.88 | $36.17 | $23.56 | 1.31 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Eugene
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).
The best months for French drain in Eugene
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Eugene Mahlon Sweet Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Eugene: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Eugene gets about 41 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (7.2 inches in December). The station averages about 18 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 | 48 | 35 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 35 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 37 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 61 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 44 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 48 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 52 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 52 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 48 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 65 | 42 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 38 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 34 | 7.2 | Workable |
How Eugene compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Eugene. Medford is the lowest at about $1,450 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 105 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene, ORthis page | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | |
| Salem, OR65 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +6% |
| Bend, OR100 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +3% |
| Medford, OR105 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | level |
| Portland, OR115 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +9% |
| Yakima, WA205 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +6% |
| Oregon (statewide) | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Eugene ranks #91 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Eugene is 4% below the Oregon figure.
Elsewhere in Oregon
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +9% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +6% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +3% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Eugene against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $540 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −17% |
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −21% |
| Youngstown, OH | 160,160 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −3% |
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −14% |
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Detailed french drain report for Eugene, OR, $9
Multi-page report for Eugene, OR: 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 Eugene: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Eugene?
For 60 linear ft, expect $640 to $2,250 in the Eugene area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,150 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 Eugene?
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 Eugene or Salem?
Salem is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 6% more than Eugene ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Eugene?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $770 out of $1,450. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Eugene?
$640 to $2,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Eugene?
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 Eugene area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Eugene expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Oregon?
Eugene is 4% 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 Eugene?
The BLS median is $22.85 an hour in the Eugene area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.21 to $27.39.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Eugene?
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.
+Is there a bad season to install a French drain in Eugene?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
French drain near Eugene
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.