French drain cost in Lancaster, 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
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #141
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Lancaster area: $600 to $2,100 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 lands close to the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.40 an hour in the Lancaster area, 3% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Lancaster, 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 | $540 | $850 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Lancaster, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 48% |
| Labor | $310 | $700 | $1,100 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $600 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
Where the Lancaster 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 Lancaster the blended ratio comes out at 0.99.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lancaster is at 100.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $650 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.3: $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 Lancaster. The wage table below marks each row.
How Lancaster compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Lancaster. Reading comes closest at about $1,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PAthis page | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| York, PA25 miles | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +4% |
| Reading, PA30 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA45 miles | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +4% |
| Philadelphia, PA50 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +7% |
| Baltimore, MD55 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +2% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lancaster ranks #141 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lancaster is 0% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +7% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +4% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lancaster against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −6% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +14% |
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $730 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +23% |
Cost by quality level and size in Lancaster
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lancaster. 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
$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 | $520 – $820 | $750 – $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 – $4,200 |
The best months for French drain in Lancaster
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Lancaster 2Ne Fltr Plt (5 miles from the city center). 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 Lancaster are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, 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 111 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Lancaster gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 21 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, September and October (4.8 inches in September). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 20 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 | 40 | 22 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 43 | 24 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 31 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 65 | 41 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 65 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 56 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 34 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 44 | 27 | 3.5 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Lancaster
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lancaster wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+2%) and sod installation lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,150 – $13,600 | +1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,400 | +2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | +1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,050 – $10,100 | +1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,600 – $114,500 | +1% |
Who does the work: Lancaster 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 Lancaster the blend is 0.99.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.40 an hour, which is 3% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.76 and $28.00 an hour. BLS counts 2,270 of them working in the area, 90.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $29.49 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.42 and $35.52 an hour. About 1,010 work in the metro. That is 40.0 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 Lancaster 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.
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 $25. That is a swing of roughly 1.9% to 5.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Lancaster has 252,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 103rd 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% | $21.76 | $23.40 | $28.00 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.42 | $29.49 | $35.52 | $28.78 | 1.02 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.00 | $20.00 | $29.44 | $23.56 | 0.85 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Lancaster
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.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Get 3 local quotes
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Multi-page report for Lancaster, PA: 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 Lancaster: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Lancaster?
For 60 linear ft, expect $600 to $2,100 in the Lancaster 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 Lancaster?
About $10 to $35 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 Lancaster or York?
York is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,400, which is 4% more than Lancaster ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lancaster?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $700 out of $1,350. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Lancaster?
$600 to $2,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lancaster expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Lancaster is 0% 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 Lancaster?
The BLS median is $23.40 an hour in the Lancaster area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.76 to $28.00.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster?
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 Lancaster
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.