French drain cost in Altoona, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $570 – $2,000
- Per linear ft
- $9.55 – $33.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #184
- 1 = most expensive
Altoona homeowners pay roughly $570 to $2,000 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.55 to $33.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Altoona is 4% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.03 an hour in the Altoona area, 3% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Altoona, PA, standard level
$1,000 to $1,600
About $16.50 to $26.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $510 | $800 |
| Labor | $500 | $780 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Altoona, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 51% |
| Labor | $280 | $640 | $990 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $570 | $1,300 | $2,000 | 100% |
Why Altoona prices look the way they do
Labor is 49% 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 Altoona the blended ratio comes out at 0.91.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Altoona metro is 100.7 (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 (89.5) 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 Altoona. The wage table below marks each row.
French drain: what moves the price in Altoona
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.
Planning more than one job in Altoona?
Because every project leans on different trades, Altoona's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +9% and gravel driveway −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,900 – $14,500 | +9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,750 | −4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −3% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,900 – $115,000 | +2% |
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 Altoona is 0.91 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.03 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.45 and $24.02 an hour. About 350 work in the metro. That is 59.7 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 $24.42 an hour, which is 15% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $27.36 an hour. BLS counts 230 of them working in the area, 39.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Altoona 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 ($24.02 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $30. At the 25th percentile ($18.45) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 2.4% or 4.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 58,650 jobs in the Altoona area. That makes it the 291st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.45 | $22.03 | $24.02 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.52 | $24.42 | $27.36 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.00 | $20.00 | $29.44 | $23.56 | 0.85 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Altoona: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Altoona 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
$570 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,000 to $1,600
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,450 to $2,000
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $290 – $570 | $500 – $790 | $720 – $1,000 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $570 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,000 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,300 | $2,000 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,000 |
When to schedule French drain in Altoona
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Altoona 3 W (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 Altoona (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 128 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Altoona gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 38 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and September (4.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.8 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 34 | 19 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 20 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 28 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 39 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 49 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 53 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 42 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 33 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 24 | 3.4 | Cold |
How Altoona compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Altoona. Hagerstown is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PAthis page | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | |
| State College, PA35 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +7% |
| Chambersburg, PA50 miles | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +3% |
| Harrisburg, PA65 miles | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +9% |
| Hagerstown, MD65 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA80 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | +6% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Altoona comes in at #184 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, Altoona is 4% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +12% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | +6% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +5% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +9% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +4% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +5% |
Cities with a workforce like Altoona's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Altoona against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $650 – $2,300 | $1,450 | +13% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +4% |
| Niles, MI | 59,970 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +4% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −10% |
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French drain in Altoona: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Altoona?
For 60 linear ft, expect $570 to $2,000 in the Altoona area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,000 to $1,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Altoona?
About $9.55 to $33.50 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 Altoona or State College?
State College is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,400, which is 7% more than Altoona ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Altoona?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $640 out of $1,300. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Altoona?
$570 to $2,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Altoona?
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 Altoona area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Altoona expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Altoona is 4% below 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 Altoona?
The BLS median is $22.03 an hour in the Altoona area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.45 to $24.02.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Altoona?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $570 to $1,150 and premium work $1,450 to $2,000. 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 Altoona?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. April 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 Altoona
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.