French drain cost in Allentown, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $600 – $2,100
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $35.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #131
- 1 = most expensive
Allentown homeowners pay roughly $600 to $2,100 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $10 to $35.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Allentown is almost level. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.70 an hour in the Allentown area, 5% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Allentown, PA, standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17.50 to $27.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $510 | $800 |
| Labor | $550 | $870 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Allentown, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 48% |
| Labor | $310 | $710 | $1,100 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $600 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
Where the Allentown price comes from
Labor is 52% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Allentown the blended ratio comes out at 1.01.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Allentown metro is 100.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $650, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.0) and land at $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 Allentown. The wage table below marks each row.
Allentown against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Trenton is the priciest of the group at $1,650. Scranton is the cheapest at $1,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PAthis page | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| Reading, PA40 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Scranton, PA45 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| Trenton, NJ50 miles | $730 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +22% |
| Philadelphia, PA60 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +6% |
| Lancaster, PA70 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Allentown comes in at #131 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, Allentown is 1% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +6% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +3% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Allentown's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Allentown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +5% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $610 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −9% |
Related projects, priced for Allentown
Because every project leans on different trades, Allentown's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete slab runs +3% and sod installation +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,200 – $13,600 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,500 | +3% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,350 | +1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,350 | +3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,100 – $10,200 | +2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,900 – $115,500 | +2% |
When to schedule French drain in Allentown
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Allentown Intl 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 Allentown (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 118 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Allentown gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 33 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 38 | 22 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 23 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 51 | 31 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 60 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 43 | 27 | 3.9 | Cold |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Allentown is 1.01 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.70 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.27 and $30.00 an hour. About 1,670 work in the metro. That is 44.3 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 $30.31 an hour, which is 5% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.46 and $36.55 an hour. BLS counts 920 of them working in the area, 24.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Allentown metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $20.00 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $29.44 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($22.27) it shrinks by about $20. The total moves by 7.2% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 377,180 jobs in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area. That makes it the 69th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.24% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.27 | $23.70 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.46 | $30.31 | $36.55 | $28.78 | 1.05 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.00 | $20.00 | $29.44 | $23.56 | 0.85 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Allentown
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Allentown 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
$600 to $1,200
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,050 to $1,650
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,500 to $2,100
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $300 – $600 | $530 – $830 | $760 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $600 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,100 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,400 | $2,100 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,250 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Allentown bid
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.
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French drain in Allentown: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Allentown?
For 60 linear ft, expect $600 to $2,100 in the Allentown area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,650. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Allentown?
About $10 to $35.50 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 Allentown or Reading?
Reading is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,350, which is 0% less than Allentown ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Allentown?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $710 out of $1,350. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Allentown?
$600 to $2,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Allentown?
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 Allentown area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Allentown expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Allentown is 1% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Allentown?
The BLS median is $23.70 an hour in the Allentown area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.27 to $30.00.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Allentown?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $600 to $1,200 and premium work $1,500 to $2,100. 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 Allentown?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May 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 Allentown
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.